Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 310

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com

My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880 19^th Oct 2008

It is best to use my home number to contact me unless I am at the bridge club. Updated 21st Oct

My e-mail is terry@pattayabridge.com or pattayabridge@yahoo.com

My MSN messenger ID is tj_quested@hotmail.com

Mon 13^th N-S 1^st Noreen & Sean 65% 2^nd Gus & Richard M 59%

E-W 1^st Hans v & Janne 65% 2^nd Guttorm & Tomas 65%

Wed 15^th N-S 1^st Hans & Sally 60% 2^nd Guttorm & Bam Bam 54%

E-W 1^st Lewis & Terry 62% 2^nd Lars & Sigurd 60%

Fri 17^th N-S 1^st Lars & Bam Bam 62% 2^nd Gus & Richard M 58%

E-W 1^st Noreen & Sean 64% 2^nd Lewis & Paul Q 57%

	to news-sheet main page
	to Pattaya Bridge home page
	to bridge book reviews	to bridge conventions	to No Trump bidding
	to bridge CD's and computer games and software

Bidding Quiz Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A RHO opens 1♣, what do you bid?

♠ KJ ♠ Q7

♥ AJ98 ♥ K4 With Hand B partner opens 1♥, what do you bid?

♦ QJ ♦ KQJ652

♣ KQ1073 ♣ J63

Hand C Hand D With Hand C LHO opens 1♥ and partner doubles. RHO

bids 2♥, what do you bid?

♠ KJ1083 ♠ 93

♥ 86 ♥ K1062 With Hand D everybody is vulnerable. Partner opens 1♣ and

♦ 6 ♦ K62 (a) RHO doubles, what do you do?

♣ K10975 ♣ AJ92 (b) RHO overcalls 1NT, what do you do?

You can support the Pattaya Bridge Club by using one of these search boxes to shop at Amazon or by joining the RonKlinger.com club.

The Club Championships

Here are the latest standings in the club competitions. There’s not much movement this week, with most consolidating their positions.

	Gold Cup = Best 30	Silver Plate = Best 10	Bronze Medal = Best 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	1859.9 Hans Vikman 1837.9 Dave Cutler 1823.3 Sally Watson 1797.4 Bob Pelletier 1794.2 Janne Roos 1782.5 Ivy Schlageter 1727.5 Jan v Koss	671.6 Hans Vikman 661.8 Dave Cutler 661.1 Sally Watson 661.1 Jeremy Watson 644.3 Lewis Berg 643.4 Lars Gustafsson 642.7 Ivy Schlageter 636.4 Janne Roos 636.1 Bob Pelletier 634.3 Derek & Gerard	347.2 Hans Vikman 342.3 Dave Cutler 341.1 Jeremy Watson 341.1 Sally Watson 336.9 Lars Gustafsson 335.3 Ivy Schlageter 333.5 Lewis Berg  328.5 Derek & Gerard 327.4 Tomas Wikman 326.2 Bob Pelletier

A silly double Board 13 from Monday 6^th

It happens week after week, a take-out double should be short in the suit opened and playable in the other three suits (unless very strong).

Dealer: ♠ 93 Table A

North ♥ K1062 West(A) North(D) East South

both vul ♦ K62 - pass pass 1♣ (1)

♣ AJ92 dbl (2) redbl (3) 1♠ (4) dbl (5)

2♣ (6) dbl (5) 2♦ dbl (5)

♠ KJ N ♠ 87542 2NT (6) dbl (5) 3♦ dbl (5)

♥ AJ98 W E ♥ 73 all pass

♦ QJ S ♦ 108753

♣ KQ1073 ♣ 4 More sensible table

♠ AQ106 West(A) North(D) East South

♥ Q54 - pass pass 1♣ (1)

♦ A94 1NT (2) dbl (7) 2♦ (8) pass (9)

♣ 865 pass dbl (9) all pass

Table A: (1) This is not worth an opening (4333 shape) in 1^st or 2^nd seat but is fine in 3^rd seat.

(2) What did you bid with this West hand A in this week’s quiz? This take-out double, with two doubletons and 5 of the suit opened is ridiculous.

(3) What did you bid with this North hand D(a) in this week’s quiz? With a decent 11 count and vulnerable opponents, redouble is clear.

(4) East assumed that West had a sensible take-out double and chose to bid his 5-card ♠ suit.

(5) Penalties

(6) This is also ridiculous – the opponents have advertised the balance of power. Pass is clear. Bail out ASAP and do not play in NoTrumps.

Sensible: (2) This West got question A right with the obvious 1NT overcall.

(7) What did you bid with this North hand D(b) in this week’s quiz? You have the balance of power and you should double for penalties.

(8) Partner’s 1NT overcall does not carry the inference of a ♠ suit that the double at (2) did, so East is better off bidding his ♦’s.

(9) It’s not quite so obvious for either North or South to double this, but I guess most North’s would.

And what happened? You would think that most Wests would go for a number, but there were only three doubled contracts: 3♦*-3; 2♥*-3 and 2♠*-4. So I guess that most people got the answer to question D(a or b) wrong.

The bottom lines: -

- When partner opens and RHO doubles, then redouble with 9+ points unless you have a great fit for partner’s major.

- When partner opens and RHO overcalls 1NT, then double with 9+ points.

Avoid Minor Suit games – part 1 Board 6 from Monday 13^th

I believe it was Paul Soloway who said “there are only three game contracts in bridge: 3NT, 4♥ and 4♠”. 5♣/♦ are rarely the best spot.

Dealer: ♠ Q7 West North(B) East South

East ♥ K4 - - pass 1♥

E-W vul ♦ KQJ652 pass 3NT (1) all pass

♣ J63

(1) What did you bid with this North hand B

♠ KJ54 N ♠ 9862 in this week’s quiz? Now there’s nothing

♥ AQ109 W E ♥ 86 wrong with the ‘obvious’ 1♦, but I quite

♦ 984 S ♦ 3 like this 3NT bid. It shows 13-15 without

♣ 75 ♣ AQ10842 4 ♠’s or 3 ♥’s.

♠ A103

♥ J7532 And what happened? 3NT was bid and made three times.

♦ A107 5♦ went -3 and ♦ partscores scored badly. 4 out of 8 pairs

♣ K9 somehow failed to bid game.

Avoid Minor Suit games – part 2 Board 17 from Monday 13^th

Dealer: ♠ AQ3 West North East South

North ♥ Q3 - 1♣ pass 1♠

Love all ♦ 842 pass 1NT (1) pass 3♣

♣ KQ765 pass 4♠ (2) all pass

♠ 85 N ♠ 976 (1) If the ♥’s were weaker I would bid 2♠, but

♥ A10872 W E ♥ 654 ♥Qx belongs in declarer’s hand if NT is going

♦ AK97 S ♦ QJ1065 to be the final strain.

♣ 84 ♣ 92 (2) It’s now clear to North that the hand, with a

double fit, belongs in ♠’s

♠ AJ1042

♥ KJ9 And what happened? 5 pairs reached 4♠ making +1. 5♣ was

♦ 3 bid at one table and made for a poor score. One pair missed

♣ AJ103 game and a silly 3NT went -2.

The bottom lines:

- Generally avoid 5♣/♦ contracts – 3NT (or a 5-3 major suit fit) is usually better.

That terrible 4333 shape again Board 6 from Monday 13^th

Most players past the beginner’s stage realise that 4333 type shape is the worst possible. This is especially true in a suit contract as this example from Wednesday shows:

Dealer: ♠ KJ52 West North East South

East ♥ A84 - - pass pass

Both vul ♦ AQ3 pass 1NT (1) pass 2♣

♣ Q107 pass 2♠ pass 4♠ (2)

all pass

♠ 1093 N ♠ Q4

♥ KQ63 W E ♥ 1092 (1) The 4333 shape is bad, but with 16 points

♦ 742 S ♦ J10986 and a ten it’s a clear 1NT opener.

♣ K94 ♣ A52 (2) With a known 4-4 fit and decent shape,

♠ A876 South decided to bid game. I would bid 3♠.

♥ J75

♦ K5 So, N-S arrive in 4♠ with a fit and 25 combined points.

♣ J863 So an easy game? No! It went -1 twice, even with the best

declarer in the club at the helm at one table. Why?

Because 4333 is terrible, and note that 3NT is no better.

Deduct a point for 4333.

There has been a lot of activity on the internet recently about the infamous 4333 type shape and how good/bad it is in a NoTrump contract. Don/Cheryl were kind enough to give me a copy of “BRIDGE” magazine, the Oct 2008 issue. David Stevenson was asked about opening a (weak) NoTrump out of range. His reply ‘One might open a 12-14 1NT with a 15 point hand with poor intermediates, especially if it is flat – 4333’

So there it is again, this time in a recent (2008) magazine, deduct a point for 4333 type shape (unless you have compensating factors in good intermediates). There are apparently some who argue that 4333 is good for NoTrump contracts. However, even with a 1NT opening, there is no guarantee that NoTrumps will be the final strain and 4333 is really terrible in a suit contract; most players are not clairvoyant enough to predict that when they open 1NT then final contract will be in NoTrumps rather than a suit, that is unless they are a hog and bid a number of NoTrumps over whatever partner says!

So it really is so simple, deduct a point for 4333, it’s the worst shape possible. Anybody past the beginner’s stage should be able to grasp and appreciate this.

Dave’s Column Here is Dave’s first input involving the play of the hand.

North South You are South, declarer in 3NT.

♠ KQJ109 ♠ 73 West leads the ♣4 to East’s ♣K and your ♣A, plan the play.

♥ 543 ♥ AK86

♦ 876 ♦ AKJ109

♣ 75 ♣ AQ

Dave’s Column answer Board 23 from Wednesday 15^th

Dealer: ♠ KQJ109 West North East South

South ♥ 543 - - - 2NT

both vul ♦ 876 pass 3♥ pass 3♠

♣ 75 pass 3NT all pass

♠ 42 N ♠ A865

♥ 92 W E ♥ QJ107 West leads the ♣4 to East’s ♣K and your ♠A.

♦ Q54 S ♦ 32 Plan the play.

♣ J106432 ♣ K98

♠ 73

♥ AK86

♦ AKJ109

♣ AQ

The ♠’s may have limited use in No Trumps, but they do serve one useful purpose. East must duck the first ♠, to take it would give South four ♠ tricks. Having scored a ♠ trick, it would be an error for declarer to play a 2^nd ♠, East can take this and lead a ♣ to restrict declarer to 7 tricks.

Having scored one ♠ trick, declarer should immediately shift to ♦’s, finessing. The finesse loses but South has 1 ♠, 2 ♥’s, 4 ♦’s and 2 ♣’s to make the contract.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 3NT+1 five times. 4♠= once.

The bottom lines: -

- When you cannot establish enough tricks for 3NT in one suit (♦’s), you may need to grab a trick in another suit (♠’s) before turning to your main source of tricks. This can be very effective if the defenders cannot afford to take the first trick in the suit led by declarer.

- I don’t know for sure where everybody at our club got the extra trick. I guess declarer led ♠’s twice and E-W had no count signals in this situation and East ducked again? So it looks like every declarer failed the test but got poor defence and thus an overtrick.

- It is very important to give partner a count signal if dummy has a long suit missing the ace and no outside entry.

- Playing normal count signals, West plays the ♠4 to trick one. It’s not totally obvious to East that it’s a doubleton (declarer may have ♠732) but with ♠732 South would probably be playing in a ♠ contract. So East should play South for two ♠’s and go up with the ♠A on the second round of ♠’s (and thus defeat the contract with a ♣ return).

Dave’s Comment. Why not play in 4♠? – that makes +1 easy enough!

Dave’s 2^nd Column Here is Dave’s second input involving the play of the hand.

West East You are West, declarer in 4♠. North leads the ♣2 to the

♠ KJ1083 ♠ Q94 ♣3, ♣J and you win with the ♣K. Plan the play.

♥ 86 ♥ 74

♦ 6 ♦ AQJ2

♣ K10975 ♣ AQ63

Dave’s 2^nd Column answer Board 24 from Wednesday 15^th

Dealer: ♠ A52 Table A

West ♥ KQ1092 West(C) North East South

Love all ♦ K1053 pass 1♥ dbl 2♥

♣ 2 3♥ (1) pass 4♦ pass

4♠ all pass

♠ KJ1083 N ♠ Q94

♥ 86 W E ♥ 74 Table B

♦ 6 S ♦ AQJ2 West(C) North East South

♣ K10975 ♣ AQ63 pass 1♥ dbl 2♥

♠ 76 4♠ (1) all pass

♥ AJ53

♦ 9874 (1) What did you bid with this West hand C in this week’s quiz?

♣ J84 I don’t like the unnecessarily convoluted 3♥ bid at Table A

and would bid the straightforward 4♠ as at Table B.

Anyway, onto the play. North leads the ♣2 to the ♣3, ♣J and you win with the ♣K.

One of the opponents is ready to ruff a ♣, probably the opening leader.

There may not be anything that will work to stop the loss of two ♥’s, the trump ace and a ♣ ruff or two – but you must try. Finesse the ♦Q at trick two and when it wins, discard a ♥ on the ♦A. To cut communications entirely and stop even one ♣ ruff, play the ♦J and pitch the 2^nd ♥ as North wins with the ♦K. Now you will lose only the trump ace for eleven tricks.

It’s true that you will lose extra tricks if the ♦ finesse loses, but this gives you the best chance of making the contract.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 4♠*-1, 4♠-1 twice, 2♠+2 and 3♥-1 & 3♥= by North.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 1NT, perfect. Double, with 5 ♣’s and two doubletons, is ridiculous.

Hand B: 3NT. 13-15 and no 4-card major. I prefer this to 2♦ as a Qx holding is usually much better in declarer’s hand rather than dummy. Obviously I would not argue if you chose 2♦, it’s just that I prefer 3NT.

Hand C: 4♠. Although this hand is a little short on HCP’s, the known double fit in the black suits is sufficient for a shot at 4♠. When your partner will not know which of his cards are going to be especially useful, it’s a good idea to bid game and relieve the pressure on partner. Opposite this hand, the ‘right’ 10-count makes game very good while some much stronger hands will not be as useful.

Hand D: (a) Redouble, to show the balance of power and hopefully get a lucrative penalty.

(b) Double, to show the balance of power and hopefully get a lucrative penalty.