Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 286

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My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880 4^th May 2008

It is best to use my home number to contact me unless I am at the bridge club.

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Mon 28^th 1^st Jeremy & Sally 64% 2^nd Dave & Jean 58%

Wed 30^th 1^st Jean & Bob 61% 2^nd Gene & Terry 58%

Fri 2^nd 1^st Dave & sally 62% 2^nd Bob & Tomas 57%

Bidding Quiz

Hand A Hand B With Hand A LHO opens 1NT and RHO bids 2♣, what do you do?

♠ A9854 ♠ J98 With Hand B it’s both vulnerable. (a) What do you open?

♥ 109 ♥ AQ8 (b) Suppose you open 1♣. LHO bids 1♦, partner bids 1♥ and

♦ 3 ♦ 1053 RHO bids 1♠, what do you bid now?

♣ Q10963 ♣ AJ64

Hand C Hand D With Hand C you choose to open 1NT - I think that that’s better

than the reasonable alternative of 1♦. Anyway, LHO overcalls 2♥

♠ KJ ♠ Q7 and partner doubles (penalties of course). What do you do?

♥ 95 ♥ A

♦ AKJ84 ♦ KQ987 With Hand D partner opens 1♥. (a) What do you bid?

♣ K653 ♣ KQ1083 (b) Suppose that you accidentally bid 2♣ and partner bids 2♥

What do you bid now?

Bidding Sequence Quiz

E 1NT pass 2♣ dbl 1NT is 15-17, 2♣ is Stayman; what does the dbl mean?

F 1NT 2♥ dbl 1NT is 15-17, what does the dbl mean?

G 1♥ pass 2♣ pass Is 3♦ forcing, and how many ♣’s/♦’s does responder have?

2♥ pass 3♦

H 1♥ pass 2♣ pass What is the 4♦ bid?

2♥ pass 4♦

Going past 3NT Board 1 from Monday 28^th

Dealer: ♠ A98 Table A

North ♥ Q97654 West North East South(D)

Love all ♦ J3 - 1♥ (1) pass 2♣ (2)

♣ A2 pass 2♥ pass 4♦ (3)

pass 4♥ (4) all pass

♠ 10653 N ♠ J1042

♥ J3 W E ♥ K1082 Sensible Table

♦ A62 S ♦ 1054 West North East South(D)

♣ J764 ♣ 95 - 1♥ pass 2♦ (2)

♠ Q7 pass 2♥ pass 3♣ (5)

♥ A pass 3NT (6) all pass

♦ KQ987

♣ KQ1083

Table A: (1) A reasonable opener that conforms to the rule of 20. It’s too strong for 2♥ in my style, especially with two outside aces.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand D(a) in this week’s quiz? With 5-5’s and a hand worth two bids you always bid from the top down – so 2♦.

(3) What did you bid with this South hand D(b) in this week’s quiz? You have already mis-led partner, but 3♦ - a forcing reverse showing a strong hand with both minors (but more ♣’s than ♦’s) is the best lie now. This 4♦ bid – going past 3NT is totally ridiculous. Apparently South thought that there must be a minor suit slam despite holding a singleton in partner’s suit and partner showing a minimum.

(4) West asked what 4♦ meant. North replied that with his regular partner it would be a splinter promising three card ♥ support and ♦ shortage. He then added that he had no idea opposite this partner and that he may well have a ♦ suit.

‘Sensible (2) The obvious first bid.

Table’ (5) And again obvious. This is forcing and does not lie about the relative lengths of the minor suits.

(6) With ♠A98 North can reasonably try 3NT.

And what happened? Two pairs reached the sensible 3NT and made or made +2. Two pairs bid 4♥ which stands no chance and both deservedly went -1.

The bottom lines: -

- Bid 5-5’s from the top down.

- Devalue a hand with a singleton in partner’s suit.

- An unnecessary jump (such as one above a forcing reverse) is a splinter.

- Do not criticize partner for your own mistakes – South actually blamed North, saying that he should not have opened.

Too high and no fit Board 20 from Monday 28^th

Here we have the same problem as a couple of articles last week – ignoring the Law Of Total Tricks and bidding too high when vulnerable.

Dealer: ♠ Q2 West(B) North East South

West ♥ K109 1♣ (1) 1♦ 1♥ 1♠

both vul ♦ KQ642 2♥ (2) all pass

♣ K92

(1) What did you open with this West hand B(a)

♠ J98 N ♠ 763 in this week’s quiz? It’s 12 points but is

♥ AQ8 W E ♥ J632 totally flat and does not conform with the

♦ 1053 S ♦ AJ97 rule of 20. I would pass.

♣ AJ64 ♣ 107 (2) What did you bid with this West hand B(b)

♠ AK1054 in this week’s quiz? Apparently West did not

♥ 754 want to bid 1NT with no stopper in either of

♦ 8 the opponents’ suits (I agree) and so that only

♣ Q863 left 2♥ (I disagree). This 2♥ bid is totally undisciplined, it’s likely a Moysian fit and this hand has no ruffing values. Pass, to show a weak opening, is very clear.

And what happened? 2♥ went -2 for 200 away and a clear bottom.

The bottom lines: -

- Moysian fits usually only play well if you have shortage in the three trump hand.

- It may not surprise you to learn that this West, who bid his heap that does not conform to the rule of 20 twice, is the same person as South in the previous deal and he again tried to blame partner for playing it badly.

- The rule of 20 (for opening bids in 1^st or 2^nd seat) is written up on the website:

- Conventions > Section 1 > Rule of 20.

Dave’s Column Here is this week’s Dave input involving the best play for the contract.

North South You are North, declarer in 3NT, East leads the ♠2.

♠ AK5 ♠ 643 West plays the ♠J and you win with the ♠K.

♥ QJ98 ♥ 32 You continue with three round of ♦’s and West wins the 3^rd round,

♦ KQ4 ♦ J1065 East having followed once and then discarded two ♥’s.

♣ AQ3 ♣ K1075 West continues with the ♠9 which you duck but win the 3^rd ♠, all

following. How do you play the ♣’s and why?

Dave’s Column answer Board 21 from Wednesday 30^th

Dealer: ♠ AK5 West North East South

North ♥ QJ98 - 2NT pass 3NT

N-S vul ♦ KQ4 all pass

♣ AQ3

♠ J97 N ♠ Q1082 You are North, declarer in 3NT, East leads the ♠2.

♥ K107 W E ♥ A654 West plays the ♠J and you win with the ♠K.

♦ A9872 S ♦ 3 You continue with three round of ♦’s and West wins

♣ 94 ♣ J862 the 3^rd round, East having followed once and then

♠ 643 discarded two ♥’s. West continues with the ♠9

♥ 32 which you duck but win the 3^rd ♠, all following.

♦ J1065 How do you play the ♣’s and why?

♣ K1075

You should play East for 4 ♣’s and cash your ♣AQ and lead low to the ♣10. Why?

First of all, you need four ♣ tricks to make the contract (unless the opponents open up the ♥’s for you) so your play in the ♣ suit is vital. You have 5 tricks outside of ♣’s – 3 ♦’s and 2 ♠’s.

You know that East started with 4 ♠’s and one ♦, that leaves him 8 other cards. If those cards were divided 5-3 there is a good chance that the lead would have been from a 5-card rather than a 4-card suit. Therefore you should assume that East’s original distribution was 4414 and play the ♣’s accordingly.

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge Club? 3NT made once; 3NT made +1 when East led a ♥ initially; one pair bid to 6NT -5; and one pair stopped in 2NT which would have scored badly no mater how many tricks were made but West rescued them by bidding 3♦ doubled for 1100 away.

The bottom lines: -

- When an opponent leads from a known 4-card suit and subsequently shows up with a void, then assume that he was 4441 type shape initially and play accordingly.

- Don’t overcall 3♦ with 2NT opened on your left holding ♦Axxxx !

- If you have a choice of lead against 3NT holding ♠ Q1082 and ♥ A654, choose the ♠’s as you have good intermediates and a sure entry later with the ♥A.

Dave’s 2^nd Column Here is Dave’s 2^nd input involving the best play for the contract.

West East You are West, declarer in 4♠ and North leads the ♣Q, you cover

♠ KQJ6 ♠ A542 and South wins with the ♣A. South returns the ♣3 to North’s

♥ 6 ♥ A109543 ♣10. At trick 3 North shifts to the ♥2, plan the play.

♦ AK8743 ♦ 2

♣ 95 ♣ K4

Dave’s 2^nd Column answer Board 20 from Wednesday 30^th

Dealer: ♠ 10873 West North East South

West ♥ 2 1♦ pass 1♥ pass

both vul ♦ J965 1♠ pass 4♠ all pass

♣ QJ108

♠ KQJ6 N ♠ A542 You are West, declarer in 4♠ and North leads the ♣Q,

♥ 6 W E ♥ A109543 you cover and South wins with the ♣A. South returns

♦ AK8743 S ♦ 2 the ♣3 to North’s ♣10. At trick 3 North shifts to the ♥2,

♣ 95 ♣ K4 plan the play.

♠ 9

♥ KQJ87 The play of hands that both long suits and shore suits on both sides

♦ Q10 as well as a 4-4 trump fit are dependent upon the strength of the side

♣ A7632 suits as well as the strength of the trump suit.

With high trumps on both sides think crossruff. When one hand (West here) has a trump holding a great deal stronger than his partner, it’s usually right to ruff in the weaker hand, retaining the stronger for pulling trumps later.

Win the ♥A and play ♦A and ruff a ♦ low. Back to the ♠K and ruff a 2^nd ♦ with the ♠A. The ♦’s are now good. Re-enter the West hand with a trump. If both opponents follow, draw the last trump and claim. If someone shows out, play a 3^rd high trump and run the good ♦’s; the opponents can take no more than one trump trick.

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge Club? 4♠=. 3NT=, 4s-1 and 4c-1 by South.

Dave’s 3^rd Column Here is Dave’s 3^rd input which is a double-dummy problem.

Dealer: ♠ QJ73 This is not a deal from Dave’s book but was dealt

East ♥ 6 by the computer for the Friday 25^th April session.

Love all ♦ Q54 The computer says that East can make 7♥ on

♣ QJ864 any (i.e.best) defence.

Sally disputes this – suggesting that 7♥ cannot be

♠ A104 N ♠ 62 made on a ♠ lead.

♥ AJ W E ♥ KQ109753 Obviously on any other lead declarer simply

♦ AK108 S ♦ 9732 throws two ♦’s on the ♣AK and ruffs a ♦ high

♣ AK102 ♣ - to set up a ♦ in dummy for a ♠ discard.

♠ K985 But on a ♠ lead there is no entry to do this as

♥ 842 the trumps do not split 2-2.

♦ J6 So is there a line (with perfect defence) such

♣ 9753 that East can make 13 tricks or is Sally correct

in saying that the computer is frequently wrong?

I maintain that the computer is never wrong.

What do you think?

Dave’s 3^rd Column answer Board 14 from Friday 25^th April

Dealer: ♠ QJ73 So how can East make 7♥ on a ♠ lead?

East ♥ 6 Obviously you win the ♠A, but what now?

Love all ♦ Q54 Dave found the answer - to squeeze North!

♣ QJ864

♠ A104 N ♠ 62

♥ AJ W E ♥ KQ109753

♦ AK108 S ♦ 9732

♣ AK102 ♣ -

♠ K985

♥ 842

♦ J6

♣ 9753

You draw 5 rounds of trumps, throwing 2 ♠’s and 1 ♦ from dummy and that leaves this 7-card end position.

♠ - You now lead another ♥ and throw the ♦10 from

♥ - dummy. What does North discard?

♦ Q54

♣ QJ86

(a) If North discards a ♦ then you cash the ♦AK and

♠ - N ♠ 6 the ♣AK and ruff a ♣ for the two good ♦’s in hand.

♥ - W E ♥ 75 (b) If North discards a ♣ then declarer leads the ♣AK

♦ AK10 S ♦ 9732 and ruffs a ♣, the 4^th ♣ in dummy is then the 13^th trick.

♣ AK102 ♣ -

♠ K98

♥ -

♦ J6

♣ 97

The bottom lines: -

- The computer is never wrong!

- But you are welcome to keep on trying to prove it wrong, Sally.

Leading Quiz Board 11 from Friday 2^nd

♠ 7 You hold this hand. RHO opens 1NT (15-17) and LHO bids 2♣, Stayman.

♥ J632 Partner doubles and RHO bids 2♥. LHO bids 2NT and RHO passes.

♦ K9842 What do you lead?

♣ KJ7

Trust Partner – part 1 Board 20 from Friday 2^nd

Dealer: ♠ A9854 West North(A) East South

South ♥ 109 - - 1NT pass

Love all ♦ 3 2♣ (1) dbl (2) 2♥ pass

♣ Q10963 2NT pass pass (3) pass

♠ J1063 N ♠ KQ2 (1) This hand is worth an effort, 2♣ is Stayman.

♥ 854 W E ♥ AKQ7 (2) What did you bid with this North hand A in this

♦ A65 S ♦ QJ107 week’s quiz? I like this double found by one of

♣ A52 ♣ 84 the club’s top players. This shows ♣’s and asks

♠ 7 partner to lead a ♣.

♥ J632 (3) Although East has an absolute maximum he

♦ K9842 declined the game offer because he had such

♣ KJ7 poor ♣’s and also respect for North.

What did you lead in the leading quiz on the previous page? The ♣K should be totally obvious to anyone but a beginner unless they have no respect for partner whatsoever.

And what happened? East was (sort of) right to pass 2NT as that’s the limit on a ♣ lead which he would certainly get from most South’s. This South, however, totally ignored partner despite holding excellent ♣’s and led a ♦ so that 2NT made +2 instead of making exactly.

As it turns out N-S got a totally undeserved top on this board and the two over-tricks were irrelevant. At the two other tables East made 3NT+3 and 1NT+5. No justice, eh?

Trust Partner – part 2 Board 14 from Friday 2^nd

Dealer: ♠ Q972 West North East South(C)

East ♥ Q84 - - pass 1NT (1)

Love all ♦ Q9 2♥ dbl (2) pass 3♦ (3)

♣ Q1097 pass 3NT (4) all pass

♠ A64 N ♠ 10852 (1) I too would open 1NT in preference to 1♦.

♥ AKJ107 W E ♥ 632 (2) North has to make a decision here. It’s equal

♦ 106 S ♦ 7532 vulnerability and game is by no means certain.

♣ J42 ♣ A8 There is no way to invite (2NT is Lebensohl)

♠ KJ and so North decided to take the money.

♥ 95 (3) What did you bid with this South hand C in

♦ AKJ84 this week’s quiz? Pass is MANDATORY.

♣ K653 Unfortunately this South is the same one as above and over-ruled partner again.

(4) Desperation!

And what happened? South converted an absolute top (2♥ doubled goes one down) into a bottom (3NT went two down).

The bottom lines: -

- If you open 1NT, LHO overcalls and partner doubles than that’s it. Full stop. Partner is the captain, you have said you hand and can NEVER bid. To bid a new suit at the 3-level is totally ridiculous.

- If you think that it is reasonable for South to bid at (3), then don’t open 1NT !

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: Double – for a ♣ lead. If the opponents end up in NoTrumps you want a ♣ lead as they have solidity and you have the ♠A for a later entry.

Hand B: (a) Pass. The hand does not conform to the rule of 20

(b) Pass. You are vulnerable and will likely go for 200 if you bid this flat heap again.

Hand C: Pass. You chose to open 1NT and you cannot change your mind now. Partner’s double is penalties and you have said your hand. A 3♦ bid, found by one player at the club, is atrocious (that’s putting it mildly).

Hand D: (a) 3♦. Bid 5-5 top down.

(b) 3♦. You have mis-bid the hand but at least you have shown both suits. Note that 3♦ here is a reverse and 100% forcing. A bid of 4♦ would be a splinter agreeing ♥’s

Bidding Sequence Answers

E 1NT pass 2♣ dbl Double shows ♣’s and asks for a ♣ lead.

F 1NT 2♥ dbl Double is 100% penalties (unless you have agreed something to the contrary which I certainly do not recommend).

G 1♥ pass 2♣ pass 3♦ is a reverse by responder, promising longer ♣’s than ♦’s.

2♥ pass 3♦ It is natural and 100% forcing…

H 1♥ pass 2♣ pass … so given that 3♦ is forcing, 4♦ here is a splinter agreeing

2♥ pass 4♦ ♥’s, presumably with just 3 ♥’s and a good ♣ suit.