Club News Sheet – No. 190 www.pattayabridge.com 24^th June 2006

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Mon 19^th 1^st Jan & Phil 63% 2^nd Bob P & Dave 61%

Wed 21^st 1^st Ian & Peter L 63% 2^nd Bill & Mike 57%

Fri 23^rd 1^st Bob & Dave 63% 2^nd = Ivy & Jan 60%

2^nd = Bill & Mike 60%

Bidding Quiz Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A partner opens 1♠, what do you bid?

♠ 943 ♠ K4

♥ A1064 ♥ AQJ73 With Hand B you open 1♣ and partner responds 1♥. What do

♦ AQ106 ♦ - you bid?

♣ Q6 ♣ AKQ1075

Hand C Hand D What do you open with Hand C?

♠ KQJ10973 ♠ AQ53

♥ - ♥ KQJ95 With Hand D everybody is vulnerable. LHO opens 1♠ and RHO

♦ Q109 ♦ 5 responds 2♦, what do you do?

♣ AK8 ♣ 763

Hand E Hand F With Hand E partner opens 1♣, what do you bid?

♠ AQ2 ♠ 964

♥ Q94 ♥ Q9854 With Hand F everybody is vulnerable. Partner opens 1♥, what

♦ 92 ♦ KQ3 do you bid?

♣ AKQ94 ♣ 43

Hand G Hand H With Hand G partner opens 1♥, what do you bid?

♠ 6 ♠ AKQ3 (a) What do you open with Hand H?

♥ Q1062 ♥ A8 (b) Suppose you choose 1♦ and partner responds 1♥, what

♦ K96 ♦ KQ9873 do you bid now?

♣ AK1074 ♣ Q

Hand J Hand K What do you open with Hand J?

♠ A ♠ A

♥ K863 ♥ Q64 What do you open with Hand K?

♦ A653 ♦ AJ976

♣ KJ84 ♣ A943

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

L 1♠ - 3♠ 3♠ is invitational. But (a) How many ♠’s? (b) How many ♥’s?

M 1♠ - 4♠ (a) What is 4♠? (b) How many ♠’s?

N 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 3♥ (a) What is 3♥? (b) What is 3♥ if you play 2/1?

P 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 4♥ (a) What is 4♥? (b) What is 4♥ if you play 2/1?

Q 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♣ What is 4♣?

R 1NT - 2♥ - 3♠ - 4♣ What is 4♣?

Don’t bid Blackwood with a void Board 6 from Wednesday 21^st

If you bid Blackwood with a void, then you have no idea if partner’s ace is useful or useless (in your void suit): -

Dealer: ♠ AQ8 Table A

East ♥ 8654 West North East South(B)

E-W vul ♦ KQ103 - - pass 1♣

♣ 63 pass 1♥ (1) pass 4NT (2)

pass 5♦ (3) pass 5♥ (4)

♠ 109753 N ♠ 962 all pass

♥ 102 W E ♥ K9

♦ 7642 S ♦ AJ985 Expert Table

♣ 82 ♣ J94 West North East South(B)

♠ K4 - - pass 1♣

♥ AQJ73 pass 1♥ (1) pass 5♦ (2)

♦ - pass 5♥ (5) pass 6♥ (6)

♣ AKQ1075 all pass

Table A: (1) It’s a matter of style if you bid ‘up the line’ – so 1♦ or bid 1♥ here.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand B in this week’s quiz? This 4NT was RKCB but is a poor bid with a void – if partner shows one or two key cards you do not know if that includes the useless ♠A or not. 4♦ (a splinter) is a very reasonable bid and is what I would bid if partner had never heard of Exclusion Roman Keycard Blackwood (ERKCB - see expert table). No, I did not just make that up – it is a convention advocated by Eddie Kantar (the world’s acknowledged expert on RKCB) and many other experts. Nobody in this club plays it. I did bid it once with an ex-partner but we got a zero as he knew it was exclusion but did not realise it was Roman Keycard.

(3) 1 key card.

(4) With no idea what North has, South signed off.

‘Expert’ (1) Let’s suppose that our expert also chooses 1♥ (I would bid 1♦ with a big hand).

Table: (2) Exclusion RKCB. Asking for key cards outside ♦’s.

(5) One (so either the ♠A or the ♥K).

(6) 6♥ is now very clear.

And what happened? Three tables out of 4 stopped in 5♥, presumably with a similar Blackwood sequence. Just one pair bid 6♥. Everybody made 13 tricks.

The bottom lines: -

- Do not bid Blackwood with a void, it is pointless.

- If you/partner do not play ERKCB, then splinter with a void and then cue bid the suit later.

- In a situation where 4NT would be RKCB, then a jump to the 5 level of a suit shows a void and asks for key cards: ERKCB. If ♥’s was the last suit bid (at the one level) then a jump to 3♠ is a splinter and so 4♠ would be ERKCB.

2/1 makes slam bidding a cinch Board 28 from Wednesday 21^st

3 out of 4 tables again missed an easy 6♥ making 13 tricks on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ QJ32 Table A

West ♥ 932 West North East South

N-S vul ♦ J43 1♥ pass 2♦ (1) pass

♣ KJ10 2♥ pass 4♥ (2) pass

pass (3) pass

♠ AK10 N ♠ 95

♥ AQ10874 W E ♥ J65 Expert Table

♦ Q10 S ♦ AK982 West North East South

♣ 98 ♣ A43 1♥ pass 2♦ (1) pass

♠ 8764 2♥ pass 3♥ (4) pass

♥ K 3♠ (5) pass 4♣ (5) pass

♦ 765 4NT (6) pass 5♥ (7) pass

♣ Q7652 6♥ (8) all pass

Table A: (1) This is best – and support ♥’s next go.

(2) This now shows a sound raise to 4♥.

(3) But should West go slamming? Bidding Blackwood with a weak doubleton is poor bidding, with two weak doubletons it’s a very poor bid. A 4♠ cue bid is perhaps safe, but then you will reach slam if East holds something like

♠QJ8 ♥KJ5 ♦AK982 ♣43. The problem is that East needed to jump to 4♥ to show a good hand (3♥ is not forcing in standard) and there is no room for West to safely investigate slam.

‘Expert’ (1) Our experts have no problem with this deal as they play 2/1 and this 2♦ bid is

Table: game forcing.

(4) And now 3♥ is the exact opposite of the above – it is looking for slam (4♥ would be fast arrival).

(5) Cue bids.

(6) East has shown the ♣A and so RKCB is relatively safe (a 5♠ cue bid is an alternative).

(7) Two key cards.

(8) West knows that just the ♥K or the ♦A are missing and so bids the small slam.

And what happened? Three tables out of 4 stopped in 5♥, presumably with a similar sequence. Just one pair bid 6♥. Everybody made 13 tricks.

The bottom lines: -

- Playing standard, the sequence 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 3♥ is invitational, showing 3 card support.

- Playing standard, the sequence 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 4♥ is a sound raise. It may or may not be interested in slam.

- 2/1 makes slam bidding a walk in the park: -

- Playing 2/1, the sequence 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 3♥ is game forcing and slam seeking.

- Playing 2/1, the sequence 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 4♥ shows a sound raise without slam interest.

A jump raise promises 4 card support Board 5 from Wednesday 21^st

This time it’s only a 4♥ game, but nobody found it!

Dealer: ♠ AKQ105 Table A

North ♥ Q932 West North East South(A)

N-S vul ♦ J97 - 1♠ pass 3♠ (1)

♣ J pass pass (2) pass

♠ 862 N ♠ J7 Expert Table

♥ KJ75 W E ♥ 8 West North East South(A)

♦ 53 S ♦ K842 - 1♠ pass 2♦ (1)

♣ AK75 ♣ 1098432 pass 2♥ (3) pass 4♥ (4)

♠ 943 all pass

♥ A1064

♦ AQ106

♣ Q6

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? 3♠ is incorrect because (i) it promises 4 ♠’s, and (ii) it generally denies 4 ♥’s.

(2) North had a look at his opponents and said ‘I’m not bidding game against you two’. Very wise as it turns out.

‘Expert’ (1) Our experts know how to bid invitational hands with 3 card support. Bid a minor

Table: first and then raise a minimal rebid like 2NT(12-14) or 2♠ to 3♠.

(3) North bids his 2^nd suit of course.

(4) And now that there’s a 4-4 ♥ fit in addition to the 5-3 ♠ fit South has an easy raise to the 4♥ game (4-4 usually plays better than 5-3). If you are a bit pessimistic you can bid 3♥ but partner should raise this to 4♥ anyway.

And what happened? North at table A was right! East led his stiff ♥, dummy played low, West won and carefully returned the ♥5 (Lavinthal, asking for a ♣), East ruffed, led a ♣, got a 2^nd ruff and N-S were held to 9 tricks. Now out of 4 tables nobody found the 4-4 ♥ fit. So did North’s caution pay dividends? No. At all of the other 3 tables North declared in 4♠ and it seems that their poor bidding was matched by their opponent’s poor defence as everybody made 4♠ (even +1 and +2!).

The bottom lines: -

- The sequence 1♠ - 3♠ is invitational, promising 4 ♠’s.

- The sequence 1♠ - 3♠ is invitational, often denying 4 ♥’s.

- The 4-4 fit usually plays better than 5-3. Even with the bad ♥ break 4♥ makes.

- Return partner’s suit.

At the other tables, did West not return a ♥? I guess North played it safe and went up with the ♥A? Presumably North’s play was better than South’s bidding?

Namyats does not leave partner guessing Board 27 from Wednesday 21^st

Two pairs found the nice slam on this deal. And we don’t need an expert table this time as I like the bidding of Mike/Bill. Unfortunately it was against me!: -

Dealer: ♠ 42

South ♥ A1095 West North East South(C)

Love all ♦ A43 - - - 4♦ (1)

♣ QJ102 pass 4♥ (2) pass 4♠ (3)

pass 4NT pass 5♠ (4)

pass 6♠ all pass

♠ 6 N ♠ A85

♥ QJ6432 W E ♥ K87

♦ J762 S ♦ K85

♣ 54 ♣ 9763

♠ KQJ10973

♥ -

♦ Q109

♣ AK8

(1) What did you open with this South hand C in this week’s quiz? It’s about 8½ playing tricks but I suppose that many will open 2♣. I don’t like that because (i) I like to have more points for a 2♣ opener, and (ii) the opponents may get in with ♥’s. And this latter point is true if you open 1♠ or some sort of strong two (say a strong 2♠ or Benjamin). So I want to open at the four level – but 4♠ could well be a much weaker hand. Is there a sensible solution? Yes, and Mike found it (guess he had a good teacher?). This hand is ideal for 4♦, Namyats, showing a good (as opposed to totally pre-emptive) 4♠ opener.

(2) Simply asking South to bid 4♠. This is a good bid with no tenace in the North hand as he wants partner be declarer.

(3) RKCB

(4) Two key cards + ♠Q.

Simple, eh?

And what happened? Two out of 4 pairs bid the good slam. A ♦ lead would beat it but West has no reason that I can see to lead a ♦ (I led the ♥Q).

The bottom lines: -

- If you do not pay Namyats then you may miss slam if partner has a decent hand.

- Namyats 4♣/♦ shows a good 4♥/♠ opening – about 8½ playing tricks according to my Max Hardy book. South was spot on here.

- I hope this write-up silences my critic(s) (well, there is only one really – he says that I only write negative things – but then he does not even play Namyats himself).

Double = playable in the unbid suits Board 23 from Wednesday 21^st

If you double an opening bid, then the hand is playable in the other three suits (or very strong). If both opponents bid then the hand is playable in the other 2 suits (or very very strong). See what happens when you double with a mediocre one-suited hand: -

Dealer: ♠ 4

South ♥ - West North East(D) South

Both vul ♦ KJ10962 - - - 1♠ (1)

♣ AQ9854 pass 2♦ (2) dbl (3) 2♥ (4)

3♣ (5) dbl (6) 3♥ (7) dbl (8)

♠ J102 N ♠ AQ53 all pass

♥ 1052 W E ♥ KQJ95

♦ A87 S ♦ 5

♣ KJ102 ♣ 763

♠ K9876

♥ A8764

♦ Q43

♣ -

(1) Only 9 ‘points’ but I have no problem with (my partner) opening this hand. With 5-5 in the majors and a void this is a sound opener.

(2) I chose to bid the ♦’s first as I can then bid the ♣’s later if necessary.

(3) What did you bid with this East hand D in this week’s quiz? Since the opponents’ bidding so far has indicated 23+ points I think that pass is prudent. If you really want to bid (I would not) then bid 2♥. Double (showing ♥’s and ♣’s) is a terrible bid.

(4) South obviously assumed that East had a big ♣ hand and so bid his hand out. I concur.

(5) And I also agree with this bid. West has an excellent 9+ points with a fit for partner’s ♣’s. This 3♣ bid is totally correct, assuming partner has his bid.

(6) Penalties.

(7) As Hardy (or was it Laurel) once said, what a fine pickle I’ve gotten us into, Stanley.

(8) Penalties.

And what happened? 3♥ doubled went -2 for a joint bottom. Amazingly, at another table, E-W got to 4♥ doubled and also went -2.

The bottom lines: -

- A take-out double is just that, take-out – so playable in the unbid suits.

- Do not make a take-out double with a single suited hand (unless extremely strong).

Don’t ask unless you need to know Board 20 from Monday 19^th

When the opponents are up at the 4-level, cue bidding, Blackwood whatever, do not ask about a bid unless it is going to affect your bid. If you are going to pass anyway, then don’t ask until the end of the auction.

Dealer: ♠ J6

West ♥ 932 West North East South

Both vul ♦ 98 1♥ pass 1♠ pass

♣ AQ8753 4♣ (1) pass 4NT (2) pass

5♣ (3) pass 5♥ (4) pass (5)

♠ AQ942 N ♠ K873 pass (6) pass

♥ KQJ765 W E ♥ A8

♦ 5 S ♦ AKJ

♣ J ♣ K942

♠ 105

♥ 104

♦ Q1076432

♣ 106

(1) A splinter, showing ♣ shortage, agreeing ♠’s and showing about 18-19 points (this hand is worth that after partner has bid ♠’s). I have noticed a marked improvement in this player’s bidding over the past few months. Not long ago he would always use 4♣ to ask for aces and now he’s playing splinters and RKCB (1430 even?). Good show.

(2) RKCB.

(3) 1(or 4) keycards playing 1430.

(4) But East did not understand this bid! Apparently he thought that they played standard RKCB and that partner has no ace, and so he signed off.

(5) At this juncture one of the opponents asked East what the 4♣ bid was and East replied no keycards.

(6) Now, having heard the explanation, West can be pretty sure that 6♥ is making. But it is totally unethical and against the laws to bid on in a situation like this. Fortunately West was totally ethical and passed.

And what happened? Everybody made 12 or 13 tricks in ♥’s, but only one pair bid the slam.

The bottom lines: -

- It is best to keep questions until the end of the auction as asking during the auction may tell the opponents that they have a mix-up.

- This is especially true up at the 4-level when you probably don’t want to bid whatever.

- This is one advantage of having bidding cards. At the end of the auction an opponent can ask for the bidding cards to remain on the table and ask about all of the bids. Easy.

- If you play RKCB then standard is 3014 and 1430 would have to be agreed. Playing 1430 may sometimes be better, it is marginal, and the only real solution is to play Kickback. It’s on the web but perhaps a bit advanced.

An ‘Impossible’ response? Board 25 from Monday 19^th

Here we have a very difficult hand using standard methods: -

Dealer: ♠ KJ63 Table A

North ♥ 85 West North East South(E)

E-W vul ♦ AK3 - 1♣ pass 1♠ (1)

♣ J642 pass 2♠ pass 3NT (2)

pass pass (3)

♠ 98 N ♠ 10754

♥ K762 W E ♥ AJ103 Table B

♦ 107654 S ♦ QJ8 West North East South(E)

♣ 83 ♣ 107 - 1♣ pass 4NT (1)

♠ AQ2 etc to 6NT

♥ Q94

♦ 92 Expert Table

♣ AKQ94 West North East South(E)

- 1♣ pass 2♣ (1)

pass 2♦ (4) pass 2♠ (5)

pass 3♣ (6) pass 5♣ (7)

all pass

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand E in this week’s quiz? This is impossible without a decent system. In standard, neither 2♣ nor 3♣ are forcing and so this South invented a ♠ suit.

(2) And now he simply bid 3NT, hoping that partner would not convert to 4♠.

(3) I would bid 4♠ because in my style North may have just 3 ♠’s for his initial support and the 4-4 ♠ fit should play better.

Table B: (1) This South did not know what to do either, so he simply charged into slam.

‘Expert’ (1) Our experts play Inverted Minors, So 2♣ is forcing, showing 11+ points and no 4

Table: card major.

(4) Playing Inverted minors one is often looking for 3NT and stoppers are bid up the line. So 2♦ here shows a ♦ stop.

(5) And 2♠ shows a ♠ stop and denies a ♥ stop.

(6) North knows that the ♥’s are wide open and so signs off in 3♣.

(7) But South has a big hand. He knows that there are 2 ♥’s losers off the top but that should be all and so he bids the minor suit game.

And what happened? The fortunate 4-4 ♥ split means that 3NT makes, but 6NT made +1 and 3NT made +2. Seems that the defence did not know how to play this ♥ suit:

West should lead the ♥2 to East’s ♥A and then the ♥J by East collects 4 ♥ tricks whatever South does.

The bottom lines: -

- Playing Inverted Minors is the only way to sensibly bid these hands when you have game going values and support for partner’s minor (but no major to bid).

- The ‘standard’ approach when not playing Inverted Minors is to ‘dig up’ the other minor as that’s forcing and is not lying about a major suit holding. So a somewhat uncouth 1♦ at (1)!

- If you do not play inverted minors then it could go: -

1♣ - 1♦ - 1♠ - 2♥ (4^th suit, game forcing) - 3♦ (no ♥ stop) - 5♣.

Splinter! Board 24 from Friday 23^rd

Everybody stopped short in 5♥ with this board from Friday: -

Dealer: ♠ 104 Table A

West ♥ AKJ73 West North East South(G)

Love all ♦ A1072 pass (1) 1♥ pass 2♣ (2)

♣ Q2 pass 2♦ pass 4♥ (3)

pass 4NT (4) pass 5♦

♠ A98753 N ♠ KQJ2 pass 5♥ (5) all pass

♥ 95 W E ♥ 84

♦ QJ S ♦ 8543 Expert Table

♣ J63 ♣ 985 West North East South(G)

♠ 6 pass 1♥ pass 3♠ (2)

♥ Q1062 pass 4♦ (6) pass 5♣ (7)

♦ K96 pass 6♥ (8) all pass

♣ AK1074

Table A: (1) Looks like a sound 2♠ opener to me.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand G in this week’s quiz? If you do not play splinters then 2♣ is best – with the intention of jumping to 4♥ next go to show a sound raise to 4♥.

(3) A sound raise to 4♥. This is not shut-out and invites slam if opener has a good hand.

(4) It is not a good idea to bid Blackwood with a weak doubleton (two even)! Cue bidding really is a better approach (see expert table).

(5) North knows that South has just one black ace and so there could be two top losers in the other black suit and so he signed off.

‘Expert’ (2) This is the correct bid for hand G – a splinter showing ♠ shortage, slam interest

Table: and agreeing ♥’s

(6) A cue bid, showing the ♦A

(7) A cue bid showing the ♣A. (RKC) Blackwood now is an alternative.

(8) North knows that South has the ♣A and a singleton ♠ and so only one top loser. With nothing else to cue he simply bids the small slam.

And what happened? Everybody stopped in 5♥, making 12 or 13 tricks.

The bottom lines: -

- Playing splinters really is important.

- A splinter is usually followed by a cue bidding sequence (and then often by Blackwood). Often this is a far better approach than using Blackwood directly

- Bidding Blackwood with a weak suit is poor technique. With two weak suits it’s …?

Who underbid? Board 22 from Friday 23^rd

Nobody bid to the nice 4♠ with these E-W cards, so whose fault?: -

Dealer: ♠ J52

East ♥ KJ West(H) North East South

E-W vul ♦ A52 - - pass pass

♣ K9763 1♦ pass 1♥ pass

1♠ (1) pass pass (2) pass

♠ AKQ4 N ♠ 9873

♥ A8 W E ♥ Q10972

♦ KQ9873 S ♦ 4

♣ Q ♣ A42

♠ 106

♥ 6543

♦ J106

♣ J1085

(1) What did you bid with this West hand H(b) in this week’s quiz? 1♠ is nowhere near good enough (it’s not forcing). With a shapely 20 count a jump to 2♠ is called for. If partner has something like ♠J73 ♥109732 ♦A4 ♣642 then he will clearly pass and 5♦ is cold.

(2) What would you do with this East hand? 2♠ is best as partner may well have a decent 16 count or so and make game. And even if he does not have a big hand then 2♠ should be safe and it will prevent the opponents from coming in with their ♣’s.

And what happened? 1♠ made +5 and scored an average! One pair managed to stop in 2♦ and another pair overbid to a dodgy 6♠ but made it on the ♦A lead.

The bottom lines: -

- A jump, like 1♦ - 1♥ - 2♠ shows a big hand (18+) with 4 ♠’s and 5+ ♦’s.

- 1♦ - 1♥ - 1♠ is not forcing.

Spacefiller

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The guy, wide-eyed, says, "You're bullshittin' me!"

The social worker says, "Yeah, well... You started it."

Worth a raise to 3♥? Board 5 from Friday 23^rd

South at table A was unjustly criticised by her partner on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ Q87

North ♥ AJ1062 West North East South(F)

N-S vul ♦ A5 - 1♥ pass 2♥ (1)

♣ A98 all pass

♠ KJ3 N ♠ A1052

♥ - W E ♥ K73 (1) What did you bid with this South hand F in

♦ J984 S ♦ 1076 this week’s quiz? Now this is where some

♣ KQJ652 ♣ 107 people get confused about the Law.

♠ 964 If necessary you may consider competing to

♥ Q9854 4♥ (10 combined trumps) but with no singleton

♦ KQ3 at this vulnerability I would simply raise to 2♥

♣ 43 and compete no higher than 3♥ later.

And what happened? N-S scored a top as everybody else bid 4♥ or even 5♥. At the end of the Hand North commented that South should raise to 3♥ (and then he would bid 4♥ and go down like the rest of the field). I disagree. A 3♥ bid (unlike 4♥) is constructive, showing 11-12 points and inviting game. This South hand is nowhere near; bid 2♥ and go to 3♥ later if pushed, and at this vulnerability go no further unless partner invites (and then bid game).

The bottom lines: -

- Don’t incorrectly criticise partner; this South bid perfectly.

- The difference (between bidding 3♥ directly and bidding 2♥ followed by 3♥ if pushed) is that 3♥ promises 11-12 points and 2♥ followed by 3♥ shows 6-9 points but 4 ♥’s (or maybe 5 ♥’s if vul).

- A jump raise (1♥ - 3♥) is constructive (11-12) unless you play something like Bergen raises.

Do not open 1NT with a singleton North hands 4 & 25 from Friday

I witnessed the same North as the above deal open 1NT with both of these hands. He then explained that opening 1NT with a singleton ace is OK. It is not. Apart from the fact that it is very silly, you are not allowed to open 1NT with a singleton. So how should you bid these hands? : -

Hand J Hand K With Hand J some would open 1♦. However, I always open 1♣ when 4-4 in the minors. So I open 1♣ and have no rebid problem.

♠ A ♠ A Over 1♦ I bid 1♥, I raise 1♥ to 3♥ and over 1♠ I bid 1NT. Note

♥ K863 ♥ Q64 that a 1NT (12-14) rebid is fine as a singleton ace in partner’s

♦ A653 ♦ AJ976 suit should be downgraded. Over 1NT I pass or bid 2♣.

♣ KJ84 ♣ A943 Hand K is even easier. Open 1♦. Raise 1♥ to 2♥. Over 1♠ then either 1NT or 2♣ are fine (purists will say 2♣). Over 1NT bid 2♣.

♠ A But note that it is allowed to open 2NT with a singleton. I would not argue if

♥ KJ63 you chose to open this hand with 2NT.

♦ AQ53

♣ AQJ4

What is 4♣ after a transfer? Board 2 from Friday 23^rd

E-W got too high on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ 4

East ♥ 9742 West North East South

N-S vul ♦ QJ985 - - 1NT pass

♣ A83 2♥ pass 3♠ (1) pass

♠ KJ8732 N ♠ AQ96 4♣ (2) pass 4♦ (3) pass

♥ Q86 W E ♥ A103 4♠ pass 4NT pass

♦ K4 S ♦ A1032 5♦ (4) pass 6♠ (5) all pass

♣ J6 ♣ K9

♠ 105

♥ KJ5

♦ 76

♣ Q107542

(1) A super-accept. With a max and 4 ♠’s this is fine.

(2) I really don’t know what West was doing here. I believe that he thought that it was Gerber, but simply bidding 4♠ is the obvious bid. The 4♣ bid in this sequence is a cue bid.

(3) A cue bid, showing the ♦A.

(4) One key card (playing standard RKCB)

And what happened? 6♠ was one down for a bottom.

The bottom lines: -

- I have written a leaflet on when 4♣ is ace-asking or a cue bid, it’s on the web and also in the conventions folder.

- Basically, 4♣ is Gerber only if partner’s last natural bid was 1NT or 2NT and no trump suit has been agreed. So: -

After 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♣ is Gerber (2♠ was not a natural bid) - sequence Q

4NT is quantitative

After 1NT - 2♥ - 3♠ - 4♣ is a cue bid (♠’s are agreed as trumps) - sequence R

4NT is RKCB.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 2♦. You plan to raise a minimal rebid by partner (2NT or 2♠) to 3♠, showing an invitational hand with 3 ♠’s. A direct 3♠ bid now is a poor bid because it denies 4 ♥’s and promises 4 ♠’s.

Hand B: 4♦. A splinter agreeing ♥’s and showing ♦ shortage, with the intention of cue bidding ♦’s again (to show a void). 4NT is a very poor bid with a void as you do not know if partner’s response includes the useless ♦A or not. But actually the very best bid, instead of a 4♦ splinter, is 5♦ - Exclusion Roman Keycard Blackwood, agreeing ♥’s and asking for keycards outside ♦’s.

Hand C: It depends upon your system. It’s too good for 4♠, I don’t like 2♣ with just 15 HCPs, I don’t like 1♠ as it let’s the opponents in cheaply with their ♥’s. I don’t like a strong two (or a Benji two) for the same reason. So there is no sensible opening? Of course there is, provided that you know about Namyats. Undoubtedly the best (only sensible) bid is a 4♦ Namyats – showing a good 4♠ opener (about 8½ playing tricks).

Hand D: Pass. The opponents have advertised 23+ points and you are vulnerable. The only vaguely sensible bid is 2♥. Double is atrocious as partner will undoubtedly bid ♣’s and then you are up at the 3 level and going for a number.

Hand E: 1♦. You cannot bid 2♣ or 3♣ as that is not forcing. 3NT is an underbid as there may be slam and a red suit may be wide open in any case, You cannot bid a major because you may end up in a 4-3 fit with 3NT a far better contract. So the only thing to do is lie in the other minor and wait to see what happens. If you play inverted minors then it’s simple, a forcing 2♣.

Hand F: 2♥. The hand is not worth 3♥. Now some people seem to be confused here, at favourable vulnerability some may consider 4♥ and I would not argue too much, but a 3♥ bid is not pre-emptive. It shows 11-12 points and this hand, although nice, is way short. So bid 2♥ to show your values and then compete to 3♥ later if necessary to show the extra length. I would compete to just 3♥ when vulnerable.

Hand G: 3♠. A splinter agreeing ♥’s, showing ♠ shortage and slam interest.

Hand H: (a) 1♦. It’s not good enough for 2♣ and the totally unsuitable shape for 2NT.

(b) 2♠. But now you have to show your strength. After partner has responded there is game, so force with a jump to 2♠. 1♠ here is not forcing.

Hand J: 1♣. Do not open 1NT with a singleton, even an ace.

Hand K: 1♦. Do not open 1NT with a singleton, even an ace.

Bidding Sequences Quiz Answers

L 1♠ - 3♠ 3♠ is invitational. (a) promising 4 ♠’s (b) usually denying 4 ♥’s

You may occasionally make this bid with 3 good ♠’s – but then you would never have 4 ♥’s.

M 1♠ - 4♠ (a) what is 4♠? – weak. (b) How many ♠’s? – usually 5.

N 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 3♥ (a) what is 3♥? – 11-12 pts, invitational.

(b) what is 3♥ if you play 2/1? – game forcing, slam interest

P 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 4♥ (a) what is 4♥? – 13+, maybe slam interest.

(b) what is 4♥ if you play 2/1? 13ish, with no slam interest.

Q 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♣ what is 4♣? – Gerber, the NT bidder has not shown a suit.

R 1NT - 2♥ - 3♠ - 4♣ what is 4♣? – A cue bid (♣A), ♠’s are agreed and 4NT would be Roman Keycard Blackwood.