Our website is www.pattayabridge.com                           Club News Sheet – No. 397

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Bidding Quiz                    Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

 

Hand A           Hand B           What do you open with Hand A?

 

AK4             AQ10           With Hand B LHO opens 1 and RHO bids 1. (a)   What do you

K832            AJ8              do? Suppose you pass, LHO bids 1NT and RHO bids 2

A73              K86              (b)  What do you do?  Suppose you again pass and this goes to

AQ6             A1098          partner who bids 2and RHO passes. (c)  What do you do?

                                               

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

                                               

AJ74             76

542               86                 With Hand D LHO opens 1, partner overcalls with 1

AQJ7            AKJ762        and RHO passes. What do you do?

Q5               987

 

Hand E            Hand F            With Hand E you open 1 (with a 18-19 2NT rebid in mind),

but LHO overcalls 1 and this is passed to you. What now?

KQ               K10982                               

KJ107          9                   With Hand F LHO opens 1 and partner doubles. RHO bids

AQ93           10864           2, what do you bid?    

K85             KJ3

 

Hand G           Hand H           What do you open with Hand G?

 

KJ53            Q64

KQ5             A                  What do you open with Hand H?

Q963            AQ92

A8                AKJ72

                                                                       

Bidding Sequence Quiz

 

J      1      1      pass   pass           What does 1NT show?

1NT

K     1      1      pass   pass           What does 2NT show?

2NT                                        

L      1      1      pass   2              What does 2 show – a suit, asking for a stop, or what?

     
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That 4333 shape yet again                                  Board 21 from Monday 14th May

 

I mentioned just last week a hand (K62 AQ43 KQ8 AQ4) that is not worth a 2NT opener because of the totally flat 4333 type shape. Of course nearly everybody totally ignored these words of wisdom and they paid for it on this deal.

 

Dealer:             J1075                                         Table A

North               J4                                               West          North         East          South(A)

N-S vul            86542                                        -                 pass           pass         2NT (1)

                        94                                              all pass

 

632                     N               Q98                    Table B

A105              W    E            Q976                  West          North         East          South(A)

KJ                      S                Q109                 -                 pass           pass         1   (1)

KJ1072                                853                    pass (2)      pass           pass

AK4                                          

K832                                         

A73                                          

AQ6                                    

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you open with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? It’s a balanced 20 count and doubtless everybody will open 2NT (20-21). This is copied word-for-word from last week’s news sheet.

Table B:     (1)  This totally flat hand with no intermediates is not worth 2NT; 1 is my answer to question A and was chosen by Mike Guin at the table to get a top score.

(2)   With length in ’s West has no sensible option but to pass.

 

And what happened? 3NT-3, 3NT-2 twice, 3NT-1 and 1-1. Deep Finesse says that 1 goes -1 and 2NT goes -2. 3 makes but is impossible(?) to reach.

The bottom lines (again copied from last week):

-         Deduct a point for a totally flat 4333 type shape hand.

-         This deal again demonstrates how bad the totally flat 4333 shape is.

 

No psyches please!                                              Board 16 from Wednesday 16th May

 

Dealer:             1076                                           West          North         East          South

West                A6                                              pass           pass           1  (1)      dbl   (2)

E-W vul           1074                                           redbl          … whatever onto a partscore.

                        J9764                                        

 

9                         N               KJ8432        (1)  Third seat opening can be light, but this

J83                 W    E            109754               5-count is totally unacceptable. A pre-emptive

8632                   S                J                         opening would be fine (16 for the Australian

AKQ105                              8                        rule of 15) but at the 1-level this is a psyche

AQ5                                          and so not allowed at this club.

KQ2                                    

AKQ95             Every other N-S pair ended up in 3NT making or +1 and

32                      so this partscore was discarded and the board averaged.    

 


Bidding the opponent’s suit – part 1                   Board 23 from Monday 14th May

 

Biding the opponent’s suit is usually some sort of cue bid, but it can be natural as in this deal:

 

Dealer:             J74                                             West          North         East          South

South               KQJ85                                       -                 -                 -               1

both vul            Q8                                             pass (1)      1              pass         1

                        1098                                          pass           2              pass         pass

3   (2)      pass           pass         dbl   (3)

AQ10                 N               K98                    pass           pass           pass (4)

-                     W    E            1097432            

A952                  S                K764            (1)  West can do nothing when RHO opens his suit.

QJ5432                                -                   (2)  But now this is natural and to play.       

8632                                     (3)  With a real suit headed by the AK South

A6                                              doubled for penalties.

J103                                     (4)  Showing trust in partner.      

AK76                                  

 

And what happened? On the lie of the cards 3 always makes. Results were 2(W)*+1, 3*=, 3=, 4(N)-4 and 5=.

 

 

Bidding the opponent’s suit – part 2                   Board 9 from Friday 18th May

 

Here we have an unwise bid of the opponent’s suit:

 

Dealer:             AK54                                         West(D)     North         East          South

North               J104                                           -                 1              1            pass

E-W vul           Q983                                          2    (1)     pass           4    (2)    all pass

                        Q6                                            

(1)  What did you bid with this West hand D in

76                       N               QJ32                  this week’s quiz? 2 in this scenario does

86                   W    E            AK7532             not show a suit and is best played as an

AKJ762             S                4                        Unassuming Cue Bid – promising a sound

987                                      102                    raise to 3 or better.

1098                                     (2)  Since the USB has appeared many times  

Q9                                              in the news sheets East assumed that his

105                                             partner knew it and with his good suit and

AKJ543                                     shape he bid game.

 

And what happened? 4 stood no chance and went two down for a bottom. Other results were 3(S)+1 and 3(N)-1.


Balancing with a two-count                            Board 11 from Monday 14th May

 

One normally needs about 6+ points to balance, but there are always exceptions:

 

Dealer:             9                                                 West          North         East(B)     South

South               109654                                       -                 -                 -               1

Love all            AQ9                                          pass (1)      1              pass (2)    1NT

                        J752                                           pass           2              pass (3)    pass

2    (4)      pass           3    (5)    all pass

J65432               N               AQ10          

32                   W    E            AJ8              (1)  Far too weak for a weak 2 jump of course.

J75                     S                K86              (2)  What did you bid with this East hand B(a) in     

63                                        A1098                this week’s quiz? Bidding in the sandwich

K87                                           seat between two unlimited opponents is very

KQ7                                           dangerous, especially with a balanced hand.

10432                                         I would never dream of bidding 1NT here.

KQ4                                    (3)  And pass is also the answer to question B(b)

(4)   Now is the time for West to show his suit.

(5)  What did you bid with this East hand B(c) in this week’s quiz? I call this ‘hanging partner’. Partner is balancing and is bidding the points in your hand. There is absolutely no chance of game with this flat hand as the opponents have shown around 20 points and you should pass.

 

And what happened? 2 is the limit, but the defence was not accurate at four tables. Results were 3=twice, 2+1 twice and 2=.

 

 

A re-opening double?                                           Board 20 from Monday 14th May

 

A recurring theme. When playing negative doubles, do not forget the ‘automatic’ re-opening double.

West          North         East(C)    South

Dealer:             J74                                             pass           pass           1            1    (1)

West                652                                            pass (2)      pass           2NT   (3)  pass

both vul            652                                           3NT           all pass

                        Q763                                        

(1)  very dubious with this miserable 4-card suit.

10852                 N               KQ               (2)  Perhaps knowing South’s bidding, West     

A9                  W    E            KJ107                passed with the intention of passing partner’s

7                         S                AQ93                 coming re-opening double for penalties.

AJ10942                              K85             (3)  What did you bid with this East hand C in

A963                                          this week’s quiz? This jump to 2NT is

Q843                                          unnecessary – 1NT shows 18-19. But

KJ1084                                      double is an alternative as it’s just possible

-                                                 that partner has a penalty hand (if South is known to overcall on rubbish).

 

And what happened? 2**(E)+3, 3NT+2 twice, 3NT= and 5-1. 1 doubled would have gone for 800 but clearly the 1960 for 2** was an unbeatable top.


Worth a 1NT opening?                                        Board 1 from Wednesday 16th May

 

Dealer:             KJ53                                          Table A

North               KQ5                                           West          North(G)    East          South

Love all            Q963                                          -                 1NT (1)      dbl           pass

                        A8                                              all pass

 

976                     N               A1084                Table B

J1054             W    E            A9                      West          North(G)    East          South

J104                   S                AK2                   -                 1    (1)     1NT         pass

KQ10                                  J952                   2   (2)      pass           2            all pass

Q2                                             

8732                                          

875                                           

7643                                   

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you open with this North hand G in this week’s quiz? It’s a balanced 15 count and doubtless everybody will open 1NT.

Table B:     (1)  This North, however, chose to devalue the hand because of the lack of intermediates and it worked out well.

(2)   Stayman. I simply cannot understand why people do this. You may luck out if partner has 4 ’s but otherwise you are certain to land in an inferior contract.

 

And what happened? 1NT*-3, 1NT-3, 1NT*-2, 1NT-3 and 2(E)-1.

The bottom lines:

-         Do not bid Stayman unless you can cope with any (2, 2 or 2) response.

 

 

Worth a 2 opening?                                           North 9 from Wednesday 16th May

 

Q64                    What did you open with this North hand H in this week’s quiz?     

A                        One North opened 2 followed by 3, and ended up in a hopeless 7.

AQ92                 This hand is nowhere near good enough for that bidding and I would     

AKJ72               open 2NT. Any singleton is acceptable for a 2NT opening (but for 1NT it needs to be an ace or king).

 

 


Dave’s Column                                         Board 20 from Wednesday 16th June

 

A bidding problem this week – Hand F in the ‘Book Bidding’ sequence.

     

Dealer:             65                                               Book Bidding

South               Q1073                                        West(C)     North         East(F)       South

E-W vul           K53                                           -                 -                 -                 1

                        10762                                        dbl   (1)      2              2    (2)      3

pass           pass           3              all pass

AJ74                   N             K10982               

542                 W    E          9                           My Table

AQJ7                  S              10864                  West(C)     North         East(F)       South

Q5                                     KJ3                      -                -                 -                 1

                        Q3                                             pass (1)      2              pass           pass    

AKJ86                                       dbl   (3)      pass           2              3

92                                              3              pass           pass (4)      dbl (5)

A984                                          all pass

 

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you bid with this West hand C in this week’s quiz? This is from an article by Mike Lawrence, famous for his book on doubles, and he says nothing about this bid and so presumably condones it? I don’t like it at all as it has length in the suit opened and is not playable in the other three suits – what do you do if partner responds in ’s?

(2)  What did you bid with this East hand F in this week’s quiz? This is actually the point of Lawrence’s article and he is adamant that East should jump to 3.

Table B:     (1)  This was my choice at the table for question C – I do not think it’s correct to double with this hand. It’s true that the hand has 4 ’s and you may luck out, but not if partner bids ’s.

(3)   This is where I backed in with a double. Now if partner bids 3’s I could bid 3 to show both pointed suits without promising a huge hand which it would show if I had doubled immediately.

(4)   East could bid 4 here – partner’s 3 bid cannot be a ‘law’ bid as he can only have 4 ’s (no overcall) and so he must have exactly what he has – 4 ’s, extra values, and length.

(5)   Unwise.

 

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge club? 4*=, 3*=, 4=, 3(S)= and 5(S)-3.

 

Dave’s 2nd Column         Here is Dave’s second problem, on the play of the hand.

                                                                                                                                   

North               South                                       Book Bidding

AQ76           K9853                                  West        North         East          South

AQ97           52                                         1           dbl             pass         1

K85              A92                                      2           2              pass         4

65                873                                      all pass

                                     

You are South, declarer in 4. West leads the A,K with East indicating a doubleton. West continues with the Q, plan the play.


Dave’s 2nd Column answer                    Board 20 from Wednesday 16th June

     

Dealer:             AQ76                                         Book Bidding

West                AQ97                                         West          North         East            South

Both vul            K85                                          1             dbl             pass           1

                        65                                              2             2              pass           4

all pass

4                         N             J102                    

K103              W    E          J864              

Q74                    S              J1063             North’s 2 raise showed extra values and South    

AKQJ92                            104                raised to game directly as he could hardly have  

                        K9853                                  more for his 1 bid. Indeed, most experts would            

52                                        have responded 2, showing about 8-11 points,

A92                                      with 4 or 5 ’s.

873                           

 

West leads the A and continued with the K as East showed his doubleton (4 followed by 10 if playing low to encourage). When West leads the Q declarer ruffed with dummy’s Q and East discarded a . When West followed to the A with the 4 and showed out on the K, declarer had to lose a trump trick and later a for one down even with the K onside.

Do you see the error in declarer’s play?

The line of play adopted by declarer was not hopeless. He needed only 2-2 trumps, or the singleton J or 10 with West (when a restricted choice finesse against East works). But there is a simple play available to guard against this particular 3-1 break. As declarer has an unavoidable loser, he should discard a from dummy on the third round of ’s. now declarer can manage the 3-1 break as he still has three high trumps, take the finesse, and ruff a with dummy’s fourth .

This is a typical loser-on-loser play.

 

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge club? 4=, 3+1 twice, 3=, 1(W)*+1.

 

 


Bidding Quiz Answers

 

Hand A:    1 (with a 2NT rebid in mind). This totally flat hand with no intermediates is not worth a (20-21) 2NT opening, which is what everybody except Mike chose. You should deduct a point for this totally flat shape and with no intermediates there is no reason not to devalue the hand.

Hand B:    (a)  Pass. Partner must be bust and bidding (1NT) between two bidding opponents is very dangerous.

(b)   Pass. As above. You have a flat hand and nothing sensible to say.

(c)    Pass. Partner is bidding your points for you. You know that partner probably has at most two points and raising to 3 is simply hanging him for balancing.

Hand C:    Double or pass? Dave’s first column this week is an article by Mike Lawrence in which he seems to recommend a double here. I cannot see this as the hand is not playable in the other three suits and I would (did) pass.

Hand D:    Pass. 2 here is not usually played as natural but as a good raise.

Hand E:    1NT or maybe double. When partner has passed there is no need to jump to 2NT to show a balanced 18-19. Double is an alternative as it’s just possible that partner has a penalty hand, especially if LHO is known to make dodgy overcalls.

Hand F:     3. Here is what Mike Lawrence says: The hand has good high-card points with five ’s and with a singleton this hand is worth around 10 points.

Hand G:    1NT or 1. 1NT is obviously fine (but minimum) but I would not argue if you decided to devalue this hand because of no good suit and lack of intermediates and open 1.

Hand H:    2NT. The hand is not worth 2 and 2 followed by 3 is an overbid.

 

 

Bidding Sequence Quiz Answer

 

J      1      1      pass   pass           Partner may have very few points and so 1NT here is 18+

1NT

K     1      1      pass   pass           2NT here does NOT show 18-19, but is an unnecessary jump

2NT                                          showing a lack of understanding of bidding theory

L      1      1      pass   2             2 here, bidding the opener’s suit, is best played as showing a sound raise to 3 or better, the Unassuming cue Bid.

 

Current club championship standings

 

 

Gold Cup = Best 30

Silver Plate = Best 10

Bronze Medal = Best 5

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1871.3 Janne Roos

1846.9 Paul Quodomine
1816.9 Hans Vikman

658.5 Janne Roos

642.1 Hans Vikman

640.1 Paul Quodomine

626.8 Tomas Wikman

619.8 Lars Broman

615.9 Jean Wissing

615.9 Sally Watson

609.5 Duplessy & Coutlet

597.8 Bengt Malgren

591.0 Johan Bratsburg

335.5 Janne Roos

329.6 Tomas Wikman

327.9 Hans Vikman

324.8 Sally Watson

323.4 Paul Quodomine

322.9 Lars Broman

320.3 Jean Wissing

319.5 Duplessy & Coutlet

316.0 Sigurd Zahl

314.2 Niels Krojhaard

 

       
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