Club News Sheet – No. 189    www.pattayabridge.com        17th June 2006

 

Winners                                                  Runners-up

Mon 12th    1st N-S       Jean-Marc & Michael       58%       2nd    Jim & Phil                           57%

                  1st E-W      Mike Bell & Sid               56%       2nd    Clive & Dave                     54%

Wed 14th    1st              Chuck & Clive                 66%       2nd    Hans Bijvoet & Henrik       61%

Fri    16th    1st              Ivy & Terry                      68%       2nd    Mike Guin & Bill Noe         58%

                 

Bidding Quiz                           Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

 

Hand A           Hand B           With Hand A you open 1♣ and partner responds 1♠, what do you bid?

♠ A953            ♠ KJ63                                   

♥ AK9             ♥ K72              (a)  What do you open with Hand B?

♦ AJ6               ♦ A106            (b)  Suppose you choose 1♣ and partner responds 1♦, what do

♣ K104           ♣ AK4                   you bid now?

 

Hand C           Hand D           With Hand C partner opens 1♦, what do you bid?      

 

♠ 8532             ♠ KJ               

♥ A103            ♥ AQ542         With Hand D partner opens 1♣ and you respond 1♥. Partner

♦ A87              ♦ Q2                then bids 1NT, what do you do?

♣ QJ7              ♣ J942

 

Hand E            Hand F            With Hand E you open 1♥ and partner responds 1♠. What

do you bid?

♠ A43              ♠ 765            

♥ AKQJ962    ♥ AQ               With Hand F you pass as dealer. This is passed round to RHO

♦ -                    ♦ KJ83             who opens 1♣. LHO bids 1♥ and this is passed round to you.

♣ 752              ♣ J732             What do you do?

 

Bidding Sequences Quiz              There is no interference in the following sequences: -

 

G     1♦ - 1♠ - 2NT                        How big is 2NT?

H     1♦ - 2♦ - 2NT                        How big is 2NT?

J      1♥ - 1♠ - 3♥                          (a) Is 3♥ forcing? (b) Is it forcing if you play Acol?

K     1♥ - 2♣ - 3♥                         (a) Is 3♥ forcing? (b) Is it forcing if you play Acol?

L      1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 3♥               (a) Is 3♥ forcing? (b) Is it forcing if you play Acol?

 

Editorial - A Short ♣ needs alerting

I believe that about 50% of the club play better minor and about 50% a short ♣. Our club (and international) rules state that a short ♣ (that may be two cards) needs alerting. If there is a failure to alert and there is no convention card filled out then I see no reason why either opponent cannot ask ‘is that a real ♣?’. This may imply that he himself has a ♣ holding and thus passing unauthorized information but I think that’s it’s OK if there is no convention card and no alert or pre-alert.

 Why bid past game? Board 11 from Monday 12th

 

I was called over by a defender who queried the ‘ethics’ of an opponent’s bidding at table A. Now the pair did not bid the hand perfectly, but had a reasonably sensible auction to the top spot and I see no reason whatsoever why I should have been called: -

 

Dealer:             ♠ KQ42                                         Table A

South               ♥ Q                                                West          North         East          South(A)

Love all            ♦ 972                                             -                 -                 -               1♣

                        ♣ A9765                                        pass           1♠              pass         2NT (1)

pass           3NT           pass         4♠   

♠ J76                    N             ♠ 108                       pass           4NT (2)      pass         5♠

♥ 865432           W    E          ♥ J107                     pass           6♠              all pass

♦ 1085                   S              ♦ KQ43                  

♣ 8                                        ♣ QJ32                    Expert Table

                        ♠ A953                                          West          North         East          South(A)

♥ AK9                                           -                 -                 -               1♣

                        ♦ AJ6                                             pass           1♠              pass         4♠    (1)

                        ♣ K104                                         pass           4NT (3)      pass         5♣  

pass           6♠              all pass

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you bid with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? This 2NT jump shows a balanced 18-19 points but it is not forcing and denies ♠ support.

                  (2)  After South has (belatedly) shown ♠ support North decided to have a shot at slam. I would not because I simply would not understand South’s bidding! Anyway, whether or not you think that the opponent’s bidding is silly that is no reason for East to call the director.

‘Expert’      (1)  This is the correct answer to bidding quiz hand B. It promises a 18-19

 Table               count with 4 card ♠ support and balanced (you splinter with shortage).

(3)  Our experts play RKCB (0314) and the slam is reached with decent bidding.

 

And what happened? Just this one pair bid slam. 4 pairs were in 4♠ and one pair failed to find the 4-4 ♠ fit and played in 3NT for a total bottom. Quite right too.

 

The bottom lines: -

-         Never deny a 4 card major.

-         The sequence 1♣ - 2NT denies a 4 card major.

-         But note that the sequence 1♣ - 1♦ - 2NT may well hide a 4 card ♥ and or ♠ suit.

-         If you do not see the (subtle?) difference then have a word with me or I’ll write it up.

-     DO NOT call the director just because you believe that the opponents have bid badly.

Deduct a point for the 4333 type shape              Board 8 from Wednesday 14th

 

Here we go again (I mention this just about every week), and this time the ‘culprit’ knew all about it but decided to try to prove the guideline wrong: -

 

Dealer:             ♠ A542                                          Table A

South               ♥ AQ8                                           West(B)     North         East          South

Love all            ♦ 853                                             -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♣ J32                                             1♣   (1)      pass           1♦            pass

1♠    (2)      pass           1NT (3)    pass

♠ KJ63                 N             ♠ Q7                        3NT (4)      all pass      

♥ K72                W    E          ♥ J54                      

♦ A106                  S              ♦ KJ92                    

♣ AK4                                   ♣ 8765                    Table B

                        ♠ 1098                                           West(B)     North         East          South

♥ 10963                                         -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♦ Q74                                            1NT (1)      all pass

                        ♣ Q109                                        

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you open with this West hand B(a) in this week’s quiz? It’s a totally flat 18 and I would open 1NT (knock off a point for 4333 shape).

                  (2)  What did you bid with this West hand B(b) in this week’s quiz (assuming that you had opened 1♣)? If you consider the hand too good for 1NT then jump to 2NT. This shows a balanced 18-19 and may or may not have a 4 card major. This is not considered as denying a 4 card major (it’s just like opening a 18-19 1NT) as partner rarely passes and any major suit fit will come to light. 1♠ is not a good bid here as it is not forcing or even encouraging and 2♠ would show a much more shapely hand.

Table B:     (1)  The best opening.

                                                           

And what happened? Just two pairs out of 5 took my advice (actually it is the advice of most experts), opening 1NT, and playing there. Three pairs bid to 3NT and all went one down. Serves them right.

 

The bottom lines: -

-         Deduct a point for the totally flat 4333 type shape. This really is important, 4333 hands are really lousy and do not generate tricks.

-         This deal is a perfect example. 25 points but nobody made 3NT.

Who’s the joker? - A Psychic cue bid                 Board 11 from Wednesday 14th

 

Chuck has told me that he does not like his name being mentioned in the news sheets. Then why does he do things like this? Keep it up and keep getting written up!

 

Dealer:             ♠ A1083                                        West          North         East          South

South               ♥ J8                                               Clive          Hans K      Chuck      Terry

Love all            ♦ KQJ1053                                    -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♣ 9                                                1♣             2♦              2♥            pass

3♥              pass           4♣   (1)    pass

♠ KQJ6                N             ♠ -                           4♦  (2)        pass           4♠    (3)    pass

♥ 1072               W    E          ♥ AKQ96                5♥  (4)        pass           6♥    (5)    all pass

♦ A                        S              ♦ 742

♣ Q10732                             ♣ KJ854                  Sensible Bidding

                        ♠ 97542                                         West          North         East          South

♥ 543                                             -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♦ 986                                             1♣             2♦              2♥            pass

♣ A6                                              3♥              pass           3♠    (6)    pass

4♦    (7)      pass           6♣   (8)    all pass

 

(1)  A cue bid, showing 1st round control in ♣’s. Obviously this is simply stupid, the correct bid is 3♠ showing 1st round control in ♠’s. This psychic ♣ cue bid was presumably meant to fool the defence. But who was the fool? Read on.

(2) A cue bid, showing 1st round control in ♦’s.

(3)  A cue bid, showing 2nd  round control in ♠’s.

(4)  This says nothing more to cue. But 5♦, showing 2nd round ♦ control, is an alternative.

(5)  6♣, offering 6♣ as an alternative final contract to 6♥ would be very sensible here. But why make a sensible bid after two silly ones?

(6)  A cue bid, showing 1st round control in ♠’s.

(7)  A cue bid, showing 1st round control in ♦’s and denying the ♣A.

(8)  As this East has correctly cue bid ♠’s first at (6) he has found out that the ♣A is missing and that there is a real danger of ♣A lead and a ♣ ruff if ♥’s are trumps. So he offers 6♣ as an alternative final contract if West has a real ♣ suit.

And what happened? I (South) was on lead. I asked if the 4 level bids were cue bids and Clive said yes. Chuck was silent. So did Chuck have a ♣ void? I assumed he was messing about and so I led the ♣A. Now when this held I realised that Chuck would not leap to slam missing the ♣A without 1st round ♠ control, so I followed with the ♣6 in the hope that partner had the ♣K - but a ruff was just as good. Chuck said that I found a lucky lead and that I should have led a ♦, partner’s suit. Yes!! Chuck actually tried to criticise an opponent after his ridiculous bidding! Of course I was lucky – to have an opponent who, like Papa the Greek, tries to be too clever. And I did not lead a ♦ because I believed Clive’s ♦ cue bid. I did not believe any of Chuck’s bids; seems I was right as every bid of his after 2♥ was a joke.

Just one pair did bid to 6♣ (well done Jean-Marc/Michael).

The bottom lines: -

-         Psyching, or lying about a control, may be allowed in higher level competitions, but it is not allowed at the Pattaya Bridge Club. However, I would not call going down in 6♥, when 6♣ is cold, ‘higher level’ bidding.

-         Cue bidding is a very powerful tool if used correctly and should have enabled E-W to bid to the cold 6♣ contract.

Garbage Stayman? 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♥               Board 17 from Monday 12th

 

Considering Chuck’s disgraceful behaviour on the previous page, I see nothing wrong with mentioning what happened here. He said that he would never make a particular bid – but he had done so on a previous occasion when partnering me! Fortunately not only do I have a good memory for things like this, but they are all fully documented in the news-sheets on the web!

 

Dealer:             ♠ KQ5                                           West          North         East          South

North               ♥ AQ8                                                             Chuck       

Love all            ♦ 105                                             -                 1NT           pass         2♣   (1)

                        ♣ KJ762                                        pass           2♦              pass         pass (2)

pass    

♠ 1084                  N             ♠ A93                     

♥ 973                 W    E          ♥ 654                      

♦ AK62                 S              ♦ QJ94

♣ 543                                    ♣ A108                   

                        ♠ J762                                          

♥ KJ102                                       

                        ♦ 873                                            

♣ Q9                                            

 

(1)  This really is a gamble. It will work well if partner has a 4 card major but you have nowhere to go if partner responds 2♦. There may be a ♦ fit, but the worse case scenario is when opener is 3325 and it’s a 3-2 ♦ fit.

(2) Oh dear!

 

And what happened? It was the worst case scenario and the 3-2 fit did not play well! At the end of the hand Chuck told his partner that if he chose to bid Stayman then he should have pulled the 2♦ response to 2♥ (promising a weak hand with 5 ♥’s and 4 ♠’s) and opener would then pass that or play in a 4-3 ♠ fit. Now I found this very amusing and innocently asked Chuck what would happen if opener raised the 2♥ bid to 3♥. Chuck said that he would never do that and that pass or a correction to 2♠ are opener’s only options. You may like to refer to news-sheet 158 when I was partnering Chuck and bid 2♥ in this same sequence which Chuck did indeed raise to 3♥, thus converting the top I would have got for making 2♥ into a bottom for 3♥ minus 1. He blamed me of course.

 

The bottom lines

-         You are simply gambling if you bid garbage Stayman and cannot cope with a 2♦ reply.

-         People who continually criticise others should perhaps remember their own blunders?

-         Like everybody else, I too make blunders, but I do have the memory of an elephant.

 

I’ll just repeat some of the bottom lines from news-sheet 158 when it went

1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 3♥ : -

-     When you open 1NT you have said it all – partner is the captain.

-     The sequence 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♥/♠ is weak and opener should pass.

-     The above sequence shows 5 cards in the major bid – it is taking a view if you have only 4 and obviously you should just ride it out in a 1NT if partner is likely to bid on.

-     Obey The LAW. 5 + 3 = 8, so the two level. Opener bidding 3 is asking for a minus.

Psyching at our club

 

Psyching at our club is not allowed. That does not just mean psyching an opening bid, but includes psychic control bids and bidding a non-existent suit with the express intention of inhibiting it from being led. I did not bother to adjust the score on Wednesday’s board 11 as they got a bad one anyway, but I will give psychers a zero score. Also, repeated psyching will lead to a suspension. People who cannot adjust to playing with beginners and repeatedly disregard the club rules will be thrown out. And I like the California rules – a third strike and it’s life.

Bear in mind that there are a lot of inexperienced players at our club. And it’s time for me

to quote the ACBL yet again: - ‘psyching against less experienced players is unsportsmanlike’. At our club it simply gets you a zero and a suspension/ban for repeated offences.

 

 

Never deny a 4 card major                                  Board 18 from Wednesday 14th

 

 

Dealer:             ♠ 8532                                           Table A

East                  ♥ A103                                          West          North(C)    East          South

N-S vul            ♦ A87                                            -                 -                 pass         1♦

                        ♣ QJ7                                            pass           2NT (1)      pass         3♥    (2)

pass           3NT (3)      all pass

♠ J107                  N             ♠ Q6                           

♥ Q5                  W    E          ♥ 9872                     Table B

♦ K932                  S              ♦ 65                         West          North(C)    East          South

♣ 10532                                ♣ AK964                 -                 -                 pass         1♦

                        ♠ AK94                                         pass           1♠    (1)      pass         2♠   

♥ KJ64                                          pass           3♥    (4)      pass         4♠

                        ♦ QJ104                                         all pass

                        ♣ 8

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you bid with this North hand C in this week’s quiz? This North thought that with a totally flat hand and no points in the ♠ suit that he should not bid the poor ♠ suit and simply show his values. I would bid as table B.

(2)   South has a shapely hand and was worried about the ♣’s and so he elected to bid 3♥.

(3)   North has even more reason to bid ♠’s (so 3♠) now, but stuck to his guns.

Table B:     (1)  This North knew not to deny a 4 card major.

(4) A help suit game try (HSGT).

                                                           

And what happened? 3NT went one down. Everybody else was playing in ♠’s and making.

 

The bottom lines: -

-     Never deny a 4 card major (twice!).

 

It’s not forcing – part 1                                        Board 20 from Monday 12th

 

What was your answer to sequence L in this week’s quiz?

 

Dealer:             ♠ A86                                           

West                ♥ 108                                             West          North         East(D)    South

Both vul            ♦ AJ976                                         1♣             pass           1♥            pass

                        ♣ Q75                                           1NT           pass           3♥    (1)    pass

pass (2)      pass

♠ 9752                  N             ♠ KJ                           

♥ K9                  W    E          ♥ AQ542                

♦ K85                    S              ♦ Q2                       

♣ AK106                               ♣ J942                    

                        ♠ Q1043                                               

♥ J763                                          

                        ♦ 1043                                          

                        ♣ 83

 

(1)   What did you bid with this East hand D in this week’s quiz? With 13 points and a fit for partner’s ♣ suit East clearly has to make a forcing bid. Now I believe that this East was brought up on Acol and 3♥ is indeed forcing here in Acol. But in  Standard American the 1NT rebid is 12-14 (it’s 15-16 in Acol) and so the 3♥ bid is just invitational. Anyway, to answer the question as to what to bid - in Standard American you are too strong for 3♥. If you play Checkback Stayman then bid 2♣. If you play new minor forcing then bid 2♦. If you don’t know what I am talking about then bid 3♦ or 2♠ – it’s a ‘lie’ but it is forcing (none of  2♥, 3♣ or 3♥ are forcing).

(2)   And with little more than a minimum and only two ♥’s West reasonably passed.

 

And what happened? They lucked out as 3NT does not make and 3♥ making scored a top.

 

The bottom lines: -

-         Sometimes you have to ‘dig up’ a non-existent minor (or sometimes a major) if you are stuck for a forcing bid. Note that this is not psyching – you are making the bid because it is the most descriptive forcing bid available, not with the intention of misleading the opponents. I would consider 2♠ or 3♦ at (1) perfectly acceptable as the more descriptive 3♣ or 3♥ bids are non-forcing.

-         Read up on Checback Stayman (CBS) or New Minor Forcing (NMF). CBS is undoubtedly superior as you have more room for the responses after a 1♣ opening but NMF is, for some strange reason, more commonly played.

-         It is acceptable to ‘lie’ about a suit – especially a minor – if you have no other forcing bid available.

 

It’s not forcing – part 2                                        Board 21 from Monday 12th

 

What was your answer to sequence J in this week’s quiz?

 

Dealer:             ♠ K6                                              Table B

North               ♥ 83                                               West          North         East(E)     South

N-S vul            ♦ AQ973                                       -                 pass           1♥            pass

                        ♣ J983                                           1♠              pass           3♥    (1)    pass

pass (2)      pass

♠ J10985              N             ♠ A43                         

♥ 74                   W    E          ♥ AKQJ962            Table B

♦ 854                     S              ♦ -                            West          North         East(E)     South

♣ AQ6                                   ♣ 752                      -                 pass           1♥            pass

                        ♠ Q72                                            1♠              pass           4♥    (1)    all pass  

♥ 105                                            

                        ♦ KJ1062                                      

                        ♣ K104

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you bid with this East hand E in this week’s quiz? Unfortunately 3♥ is not forcing.

(2)  And West passed.                         

Table B:     (1)  This ♥ suit is self-sufficient and 4♥ is the good simple approach. ‘Digging’ up a minor (3♣) would also be reasonable but a 4♦ splinter is not wise as that would set ♠’s as trumps and partner may have only 4 ♠’s.

 

And what happened? Everybody else reached game in ♥’s or ♠’s.

 

The bottom lines: -

-         A jump rebid in your suit is not forcing over a 1-level response.

-         With a self sufficient major suit and game values, bid game.

 

Balancing                                                              Board 16 from Friday 16th

 

If the opponents stop bidding at the one level, then say something: -

 

Dealer:             ♠ K943                                         

East                  ♥ J964                                           West(F)     North         East          South

E-W vul           ♦ 76                                               pass           pass           pass         1♣

                        ♣ K106                                         pass           1♥              pass (1)    pass (2) 

pass (3)

♠ 765                    N             ♠ Q2                           

♥ AQ                 W    E          ♥ 875                      

♦ KJ83                   S              ♦ Q1042                 

♣ J732                                   ♣ AQ95                  

                        ♠ AJ108                                        

♥ K1032                                       

                        ♦ A95                                           

                        ♣ 84

 

(1)   East cannot say anything here as South may well have a big hand sitting over him.

(2)   Even though South is minimum, he should raise to 2♥; to stop West form balancing cheaply…

(3)   … but fortunately for South, West did not understand balancing. What did you bid with this West hand F in this week’s quiz? Once South passes you know that the points are evenly spread and that partner has around 10. So don’t let the opponents play in an easy 1-level contract. Without 4 ♠’s I would not double (but it is an acceptable alternative). Holding the ♥AQ a 1NT bid looks right to me. Note that this is not 15-18 points in the balancing seat – and obviously not by a passed hand. It simply shows scattered values without 4 ♠’s (double) and hopefully a decent ♥ stop.

 

And what happened? 1♥ made exactly for a top to N-S, with the same bidding at another table. Had West balanced then that would have scored a top for E-W. At two other tables N-S got too high and went down. The computer saying that N-S can make no more than 1♥/♠ and that E-W can make 2NT or 4♣/♦.

 

The bottom lines: -

-         When the opponents stop bidding at the one level – then bid in the balancing seat.

-         1NT in the balancing seat is not 15-18.

-         1NT by a passed hand is not 15-18.

-     Understand balancing – either you will often make something your way or you will push the opponents up.


Bidding Quiz Answers

 

Hand A:     4♠. This shows a balanced 18-19 with 4 card ♠ support. 2NT is wrong because

(i) it is not forcing and (ii) it denies 4 ♠’s.

Hand B:      (a)  1NT. Knock off a point for the totally flat 4333 shape.

(b)   2NT. If you considered this hand too good for 1NT then bid 2NT now. This is not considered as denying a 4 card major as partner rarely passes and any major suit fit will come to light.

Hand C:     1♠. Never deny a 4 card major. 2NT (11-12 points balanced) is a poor bid as it denies 4 ♠’s and partner is likely to be short in ♣’s when he opens 1♦, so NT may be a poor strain.

Hand D:     3♦ or 2♠, unless you play CBS(2♣) or NMF(2♦). 3♥ is not forcing. Sometimes you have to ‘dig up’ a non-existent suit in order to make a forcing bid.

Hand E:      4♥. 3♥ is not forcing. Digging up a minor, so 3♣ is also reasonable. 4♦, a splinter, is not good as it set’s ♠’s as trumps.

Hand F:      1NT (or maybe double or even 2♦). Do not sell out at the one level. Without 4 ♠’s I do not like double too much but it is acceptable as you can pull 1♠ from partner to 2♣ - thus showing the minors. Note that this does not show a strong hand as you have already passed. I would never pass in the balancing seat and with ♥AQ to protect I much prefer 1NT. Note that you know that partner has around 10 points here when the opponents have stopped at the one level. And since the opponents have a fit then that means that you do and so 2♦ is also a reasonable bid. In fact, anything but pass is reasonable.

 

Bidding Sequences Quiz Answers

 

G     1♦ - 1♠ - 2NT              How big is 2NT? It is a big hand, 18-19, too strong to open 1NT. Partner may have as few as 6 points and so this bid is highly invitational but can be passed if partner struggled to find his initial response.

H     1♦ - 2♦ - 2NT              How big is 2NT? It is a big hand, 18-19, too strong to open 1NT. This is exactly the same as sequence G, partner may have as few as 5-6 points and 2NT invites game. It most definitely is not about 14 points and ‘looking for a better spot’ as one distinguished member stated. I would be happy to reproduce any article he would like to print to back up his ‘reasoning(?)’ behind this absurd statement.

J      1♥ - 1♠ - 3♥                (a) Is 3♥ forcing? No, but highly encouraging.

(b) Is it forcing if you play Acol? No, exactly the same.

K     1♥ - 2♣ - 3♥               (a) Is 3♥ forcing? Yes. Partner has promised a good 10+ for his two level response and so a jump must logically have enough values for game.

(b) Is it forcing if you play Acol? No! In Acol the two level response only promises 8+ points and so the bid is highly invitational but can be passed.

L      1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 3♥     (a) Is 3♥ forcing? No opener is 12-14. 2♥ would be weak (to play) and 3♥ is invitational. With a game forcing hand responder should bid 2♣ (CBS), 2♦(NMF) or else ‘dig up’ a forcing bid like 3♦ or 2♠.

 (b) Is it forcing if you play Acol? Yes. This time the 1NT rebid

is 15-16 and so a jump must be forcing.