Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 406

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com

My mobile phone number is 083 6066880 22^nd Aug 2010

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

My MSN messenger ID is tj_quested@hotmail.com

Mon 16^th 1^st Tony H & Kenneth 63% 2^nd Dave C & Paul S 61%

Wed 18^th 1^st Hans V & Janne 65% 2^nd Mike G & Terry Q 62%

Fri 20^th 1^st Georges & Jean-Charles 59% 2^nd Bob S & Hans V 58%

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Bidding Quiz Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

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

♠ A1084 ♠ AK875

♥ AQ ♥ AQJ103 With Hand B you open 1♠ and partner raises to 2♠, what

♦ Q762 ♦ - do you bid?

♣ Q82 ♣ QJ9

Hand C With Hand C RHO opens 3♠, what do you bid?

♠ 4

♥ A2

♦ AKQJ9

♣ KJ532

Bidding Sequence Quiz

D 1♣ pass 2NT what is the 2NT response over a minor?

E 1♥ pass 2NT what is the 2NT response over a major?

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	1885.7 Janne Roos 1871.5 Hans Vikman 1860.7 Paul Quodomine 1714.7 Johan Bratsberg	670.1 Janne Roos 657.7 Hans Vikman 640.1 Paul Quodomine 628.3 Sally Watson 626.8 Tomas Wikman 619.8 Lars Broman 615.9 Jean Wissing 610.7 Johan Bratsburg 610.0 Derek & Gerard 609.5 Duplessy & Coutlet	344.6 Janne Roos 338.3 Hans Vikman 329.6 Tomas Wikman 325.4 Sally Watson 323.4 Paul Quodomine 322.9 Lars Broman 322.7 Derek & Gerard 320.3 Jean Wissing 319.5 Duplessy & Coutlet 316.0 Sigurd Zahl

Another Jacoby 2NT Auction – part 1 Board 1 from Monday 9^th August

Recently we have had a few deals where a Jacoby 2NT auction can keep you low at 4♥/♠. Here we have a example where the bid led to an excellent slam which was missed using ‘older’ methods.

Dealer: ♠ 52 Table A

North ♥ K74 West North East South

Love all ♦ K62 - pass 1♠ pass

♣ Q10963 2NT (1) pass 3♣ (2) pass

3♦ (3) pass 3♥ (3) pass

♠ KQ8 N ♠ AJ943 4NT (4) pass 5♣ (5) pass

♥ Q1032 W E ♥ AJ8 6♠ all pass

♦ AQJ S ♦ 7543

♣ K54 ♣ A Table B

♠ 1076 West North East South

♥ 965 - pass 1♠ pass

♦ 1098 2♣ pass 2♦ pass

♣ J872 4♠ (6) pass pass (7) pass

Table A: (1) Jacoby 2NT

(2) Playing the most popular version of Jacoby 2NT East would bid 3♠ (or maybe 3NT) to show a good opener and would not show a singleton ace. However, this pair play a simplistic version and 3♣ was simply a cue bid showing slam interest.

(3) Cue bid

(4) RKCB

(5) (0 or 3) key cards

Table B: (1) This pair do not play Jacoby 2NT and have to go through the ‘older’ bidding system of a delayed game raise.

(6) So this shows a sound raise to 4♠. However is does not show the extra values.

(7) And East too has a bit extra but does not know that West has.

And what happened? 6♠= three times, 3NT+3 and 4♠+2 twice. So three pairs missed the 75% slam.

The bottom lines:

- The Jacoby 2NT is a great convention and really helps slam bidding. As we see from this example slam is easily bid using Jacoby, where both West and East can show slam interest; but is very difficult at table B where neither can.

Another Jacoby 2NT Auction – part 2 Board 16 from Wednesday 18^th August

Dealer: ♠ KQJ73 Table A

West ♥ KJ76 West North East South(A)

E-W vul ♦ A8 pass 1♠ pass 4♠ (1)

♣ K10 pass pass (2) pass

♠ 962 N ♠ 5 Table B

♥ 853 W E ♥ 10942 West North East South(A)

♦ 95 S ♦ KJ1043 pass 1♠ pass 2NT (1)

♣ A9753 ♣ J64 pass 3♠ (3) pass 4♥ (4)

♠ A1084 pass 4NT (5) pass 5♥

♥ AQ pass 6♠ all pass

♦ Q762

♣ Q82

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? This jump to 4♠ is a poor bid as it is generally played a pre-emptive with long ♠’s.

(2) Believing that partner had a weak hand, North passes.

Table B: (1) This pair play the Jacoby 2NT in response to a major suit opening, and this is the answer to question A. It shows at least opening values and 4-card trump support and no small singleton (otherwise splinter).

(3) This shows a strong opening with no other 5-card suit and no small singleton.

(4) A cue bid, here showing a ♥ control and denying a ♣ or ♦ control.

(5) RKCB.

And what happened? 6♠= twice and 4♠+2 three times. So three pairs missed the cold slam.

The bottom lines:

- The Jacoby 2NT is a great convention that really helps slam bidding.

Dave’s Column Here is Dave’s 1^st problem, on defence.

♠ K42 N Book Bidding

♥ AQ653 W E West North East South

♦ Q83 S - 2♠ pass 4♠

♣ 74 all pass

♠ A86

♥ K7

♦ J765

♣ AKQJ

You are West, defending 4♠. East leads the ♥10 and declarer played low from dummy. You win the ♥Q and declarer plays the ♥J. You continue with the ♥A which declarer ruffs. Declarer takes a losing ♠ finesse to your ♠Q, with partner playing the ♠3. How do you proceed?

Dave’s Column Answer Board 16 from Wednesday 11^th August

Dealer: ♠ QJ10975 Book Bidding

North ♥ J West North East South

E-W vul ♦ K42 - 2♠ pass 4♠

♣ 1096 all pass

♠ K42 N ♠ 3

♥ AQ653 W E ♥ 109842

♦ Q83 S ♦ A109

♣ 74 ♣ 8532

♠ A86

♥ K7

♦ J765

♣ AKQJ

East leads the ♥10 and declarer played low from dummy. West wins the ♥Q and declarer plays the ♥J. West continues with the ♥A which declarer ruffs. Declarer takes a losing ♠ finesse to West’s ♠K, with East playing the ♠3. How should West proceed?

Fear got the best of today’s West. He knew that the ♦ suit offered the only hope for two more tricks. What he didn’t realize was that there was no reason to rush to get them.

North ruffed the second ♥ and took the losing trump finesse. With two tricks in the bag and with dummy’s solid trumps staring at him. West knew that North’s weak spot was in ♦’s. Accordingly West shifted to a ♦. When North guessed to duck, East had to play his ♦A, and declarer had no more losers. He drew trumps and discarded his low ♦ on a ♣.

So how does West conclude that he need not rush to collect whatever he can in ♦’s?

It’s not that difficult, but West must do some counting. He knows that North had six ♠’s and just one ♥. That leaves him with six unknown cards in the minors. Unless North held five or more ♣’s then after he drew trumps and cashed dummy’s ♣’s, he would still have two ♦’s. Therefore, there is no need for West to panic. Better to exit safely in trumps (or ♣’s) and force declarer to play ♦’s himself.

After West exits calmly and safely with a black card at trick four, North cannot avoid two ♦ losers. Forced to play the suit himself, he cannot escape and must go one down.

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge club? 4♠= three times, 3♠+1 and 4♠-1. So it appears that just one pair defended correctly and did not attack ♦’s, and that was against Janne & Hans – well done the non-fearful John & Marnie.

The bottom lines:

- This is a typical example of whoever breaks a suit loses a trick – typically when all players hold one honour card in the suit.

Dave’s 2^nd Column Here is Dave’s 2^nd problem, again on declarer play.

West East Book Bidding

♠ J1096 ♠ AK875 West North East South

♥ 742 ♥ AQJ103 - - 1♠ pass

♦ KQ5 ♦ - 2♠ pass 3♥ pass

♣ K107 ♣ QJ9 4♠ all pass

You are East, declarer in 4♠. South leads the ♦J to the ♦Q and North’s ♦A, which you ruff. A ♦ comes back which you win, discarding a ♥ from hand. You lead the ♠A and North shows out.

Dealer: ♠ - It’s best to stop with trumps now, so you switch to

East ♥ 98 the ♣Q. South wins the ♣A and leads another ♦ to

Both vul ♦ 76 dummy’s ♦K and you discard a ♥. You then take a ♥

♣ 854 finesse but South wins and punches with another ♦.

♠ J109 N ♠ K8 This is the seven card position, with you reduced

♥ 74 W E ♥ AJ10 to only the ♠K8 while South has ♠Q43.

♦ S ♦ -

♣ K10 ♣ J9 How do you avoid losing two more tricks?

♠ Q43

♥ 6

♦ 10

♣ 62

Dave’s 2^nd Column Answer Board 26 from Wednesday 18^th August

Dealer: ♠ - Book Bidding

East ♥ 985 West North East(B) South

Both vul ♦ A76432 - - 1♠ pass

♣ 8543 2♠ pass 3♥ (1) pass

4♠ all pass

♠ J1096 N ♠ AK875

♥ 742 W E ♥ AQJ103

♦ KQ5 S ♦ -

♣ K107 ♣ QJ9

♠ Q432 (1) What did you bid with this East hand B in this

♥ K6 week’s quiz? I also made this 2♥ bid, not as a

♦ J1098 game try (I was always bidding game), but to

♣ A62 perhaps uncover a superior ♥ fit.

South leads the ♦J, covered by dummy’s ♦Q and North’s ♦A, with declarer ruffing. The ♠A reveals that South holds four trumps.

Declarer abandons trumps and switches to his ♣Q. South wins the ♣A and leads another ♦ to dummy’s ♦K, declarer enjoying a useless discard. Declarer takes a ♥ finesse but South wins and punches with another ♦. Reduced to only the ♠K8 while South has ♠Q43, how can declarer avoid losing two more tricks?

What initially appeared to be a laydown game presents another dimension when trumps are 4-0. Did you find the escape route out of the trap?

Dealer: ♠ - In this position, cashing the ♠K and leading

East ♥ 98 another trump won’t work. South will win his ♠Q

Both vul ♦ 76 to lead another ♦, forcing dummy’s last trump and

♣ 854 promoting South’s last trump to the setting trick.

♠ J109 N ♠ K8 Cashing ♥’s won’t work either, South will enjoy

♥ 74 W E ♥ AJ10 a ruff as well as the trump queen for one down.

♦ S ♦ -

♣ K10 ♣ J9 The solution? Lead the ♠8. If South wins and

♠ Q43 continues ♦’s, declarer trumps with his ♠K and

♥ 6 crosses to dummy in ♣’s to draw South’s pesky

♦ 10 trumps. And is South refuses to win his ♠Q,

♣ 62 declarer cashes his ♠K and plays out winners,

losing only one trump to South’s remaining ♠Q.

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge club? Five different results! 5♠*-1, 4♠-1, 2♠+2, 4♠= and 4♠+1.

2/1 make slam bidding easy Board 5 from Wednesday 11^th August

Our top pair reached the easy 6♥ slam here at table A, but I don’t like their methods!

Dealer: ♠ Q63 Table A

North ♥ KJ10987 West North East South

N-S vul ♦ A10 - 1♥ pass 2♣

♣ K4 pass 2♥ pass 4NT (1)

pass 5♥ pass 6♥

♠ K105 N ♠ J942 all pass

♥ 432 W E ♥ 5

♦ K95 S ♦ QJ6432 2/1 auction

♣ 10832 ♣ 76 West North East South

♠ A87 - 1♥ pass 2♣ (2)

♥ AQ6 pass 2♥ pass 3♥ (3)

♦ 87 pass 4♦ (4) pass 4NT (5)

♣ AQJ95 pass 5♥ pass 6♥

All pass

Table A: (1) This is the bid I don’t like – but what else is South to do? I don’t like the bid for two reasons:

(a) Opener may have a minimal opener unsuitable for slam, with 11 or 12 points

(b) It is generally accepted that you should not bid Blackwood with a wide open suit that partner has shown no values in as there may be two top losers there. In this example South does not know that North has this huge hand and if North replies just one keycard then South does not know if there are two ♦ losers off the top. Is there a solution?

Auction (2) Yes! Play 2/1. This 3♥ bid is game forcing playing 2/1.

Playing 2/1(3) Game forcing, showing three ♥’s and slam interest. 4♥ would show a weaker hand and 4NT is a bid that would hardly ever be used.

(4) With this monster (just look at the solidity of this ♥ suit) North obviously cue bids the ♦A.

(5) And now South can bid RKCB in complete confidence, knowing that partner has a ♦ control.

And what happened? 6♥+1 three times, 4♥+3 twice.

The bottom lines:

- The 2/1 bidding system gives you more bidding space to sensibly investigate slam.

Ace in their pre-emptive suit Board 2 from Monday 9^th August

Dealer: ♠ 8 Table A

East ♥ KQ1085 West(C) North East South

N-S vul ♦ 7653 - - - 3♠

♣ A98 5♦ (1) all pass

♠ 4 N ♠ A1063 Table B

♥ A2 W E ♥ 94 West(C) North East South

♦ AKQJ9 S ♦ 1042 - - - 3♠

♣ KJ532 ♣ Q764 dbl (1) pass 3NT (2) all pass

♠ KQJ9752

♥ J763

♦ 8

♣ 10

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this West Hand C in this week’s quiz? It is difficult (that’s why people pre-empt) but I don’t like this 5♦ bid as it is too unilateral and rules out a possibly better 3NT or ♣ contract.

Table B: (1) This is much better than the 5♦ bid, but is not perfect because partner is likely to bid 4♥ and then a 5♣ bid by you may be construed as a ♣ hand rather than a minor suit two-suiter. I guess that this is up to partnership agreement.

(2) East is minimum for a 3NT bid, but the ♠Axxx are really great. This is because the ♠A can be held up for a round if necessary and hopefully South will have no entry for his long ♠’s.

And what happened? 6♣=, 3NT+2, 5♦=, 3♦+1 twice and 3♦+2.

The bottom lines:

- The ace in their long suit is very important as you can safely hold up as necessary. Here it was very important as declarer could safely win the first ♠ lead and knock out the ♣A before the ♥’s were attacked.

- 6♣ and 3NT are both good contract and both will only fail on an initial ♥ lead.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 2NT. The Jacoby 2NT, hands like this cannot be sensibly bid without a forcing raise available.

Hand B: 3♥ (to be followed by 4♠ if partner does not bid 4♥). I prefer this to 4♠ as it may uncover a superior ♥ fit. I do not consider the hand good enough for a 4♦ splinter.

Hand C: dbl or 4NT. This is up to partnership agreement. The problem with double is that partner will surely bid 4♥, and then what do you do? An immediate 4NT as a two-suited take-out is probably best. Bids of 4 or 5 of a minor are not good as they are too unilateral.

Bidding Sequence Quiz Answer

D 1♣ pass 2NT This is best played as 10-12 with no 4-card major.

F 1♥ pass 2NT This is best played as the Jacoby 2NT.