Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 417

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Mon 1^st N-S 1^st Jeremy & Sean 64% 2^nd Bob P & Robbie 57%

E-W 1^st Gerard & Derek 60% 2^nd Alan K & Jan 58%

Wed 3^rd N-S 1^st Ivy & Robbie = Johan & Tobjorn 56%

E-W 1^st Hans V & Janne 60% 2^nd Gerard & Derek 56%

Fri 5^th N-S 1^st Hans V & Jean W 58% 2^nd Bengt & Eddie 57%

E-W 1^st Gerard & Derek 55% 2^nd Alan K & Jan 54%

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Bidding Quiz Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A LHO opens 1♥ and partner dbls. What do you bid?

♠ J86 ♠ J94 With Hand B you are in 1^st seat at both vulnerable

♥ 843 ♥ KJ6 (a) What do you open?

♦ 10652 ♦ Q86 (b) What do you open if you are playing a weak NT?

♣ 632 ♣ AJ63

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

♠ QJ4 ♠ AK753 With Hand D RHO opens 1♥. (a) What do you bid?

♥ QJ6 ♥ Q107 (b) Suppose you double and partner bids 2♦, what do you bid?

♦ AKQ53 ♦ K87 (c) Suppose you double and partner bids 1♠, what do you bid?

♣ 84 ♣ AK

Hand E Hand F What do you open with Hand E?

♠ AK62 ♠ 104 (a) What do you open with Hand F?

♥ KQJ104 ♥ AKQJ10952 (b) What do you open with Hand F if you play Benji twos?

♦ 82 ♦ 9

♣ A2 ♣ Q6

Bidding Sequence Quiz

G 2♠ 2NT What is 2NT, UNT for the minors or natural?

H 1♣ pass 1♠ pass

2♠ How many ♠’s does the 2♠ bid promise?

J 1♣ pass 1♦ pass

2NT pass 3♣ What is 3♣, to play or forcing?

K 1♣ pass 1♦ pass

2NT pass 4♣ What is 4♣, ♣ support looking for slam, or something else?

L 1♣ pass 1♦ pass

2NT pass 4♣ pass Assuming 4♣ is Gerber, how many aces is 4♦?

4♦

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Overcall with AKQxx or overcall 1NT? Board 15 from Wednesday 3^rd Nov

Dealer: ♠ K983 Table A

South ♥ K9753 West North East(C) South

N-S vul ♦ 8 - - - pass

♣ AJ2 pass 1♥ 2♦ (1) dbl (2)

pass (3) 2♠ pass pass

♠ 65 N ♠ QJ4 3♦ all pass

♥ 1082 W E ♥ QJ6

♦ J64 S ♦ AKQ53 Table B

♣ KQ1053 ♣ 84 West North East(C) South

♠ A1072 - - - pass

♥ A4 pass 1♥ 1NT (1) pass (4)

♦ 10972 pass pass

♣ 976

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this East hand C in this week’s quiz? This is reasonable, but I much prefer the bid at table B.

(2) negative, showing four ♠’s.

(3) 3♦ now is an alternative.

Table B: (1) I much prefer this answer to question C. It is more important to show the 15-17 points and a ♥ stop that it is to show a ♦ suit.

(4) It’s not so easy for South to show his ♠ suit now, and dbl could be dangerous opposite a 3^rd seat opener.

And what happened? 3♦ was bid three times and went -2. 1NT was bid three times and went just -1 twice for a good score and actually made (doubled) once for a top.

The bottom lines:

- With a good stop and a source of tricks, consider a 1NT overcall rather than a suit overcall if you have 15-18 points.

- This example shows just how powerful the negative double (not usually used over a 1NT overcall) is.

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	1915.1 Janne Roos 1896.2 Hans Vikman 1862.9 Paul Quodomine 1775.2 Tomas Wikman 1755.3 Guttorm Longberg 1739.6 Jan Chris v Koss 1734.7 Johan Bratsburg	670.4 Janne Roos 662.4 Hans Vikman 642.6 Tomas Wikman 640.1 Paul Quodomine 632.7 Sally Watson 629.1 Alan Kleist 628.9 Derek & Gerard 625.6 Jean Wissing 623.7 Jeremy Watson 623.3 Jan v Koss	344.6 Janne Roos 338.9 Hans Vikman 332.3 Tomas Wikman 327.5 Derek & Gerard 325.6 Sally Watson 325.1 Jan v Koss 325.3 Jeremy Watson 325.0 Alan Kleist 323.8 Tonni Kjaer 323.4 Paul Quodomine

Leads against NT

You are on lead against 3NT and choose to lead this suit which nobody has bid or implied, which card do you lead?

Example A Example B Answers on back page.

♥ KQ62 ♥ KQ102

Responding to a take-out double Board 30 from Monday 1^st Nov

Dealer: ♠ J86 Table A

East ♥ 843 West North(A) East South(D)

Love all ♦ 10652 - - 1♥ dbl (1)

♣ 632 pass 1♠ (2) pass 3♠ (3)

all pass

♠ Q92 N ♠ 104

♥ 2 W E ♥ AKJ965 Table B

♦ QJ3 S ♦ A94 West North(A) East South(D)

♣ J109754 ♣ Q8 - - 1♥ dbl (1)

♠ AK753 pass 2♦ (2) pass 2♠ (4)

♥ Q107

♦ K87

♣ AK

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand D(a) in this week’s quiz? This hand is really too good for a simple 1♠ overcall, and dbl, with the intention of bidding 2♠ next go (to show a hand too good for a 1♠ overcall) is fine.

(2) What did you bid with this North hand A in this week’s quiz? This 1♠ bid is incorrect, with a minimal hand bid your cheapest 4-card suit in preference to a 3-card suit.

(3) What did you bid with this South hand D(c) in this week’s quiz? This 3♠ bid may be a bit optimistic, but with presumably 4 ♠’s opposite South considered that game would be possible opposite a non-minimum.

Table B: (2) This is the correct answer to question A.

(4) What did you bid with this South hand D(b) in this week’s quiz? This show a hand too good for a simple 1♠ overcall and is quite sufficient when partner has denied four ♠’s.

And what happened? 3♠ went down and 2♠ generally made exactly.

The bottom lines:

- When partner makes a take-out double, any non-sump suit response shows about 0-8, so with a weak hand bid your longest cheapest suit.

Dave’s Column Here is Dave’s 1^st problem this week.

West East West North East South

♠ AJ ♠ Q72 1♦ pass 1♥ 2♣

♥ QJ65 ♥ AK10942 2♥ pass 3♥ pass

♦ Q1072 ♦ 6 4♥ all pass

♣ K96 ♣ 843

You are East, declarer in 4♥. South leads the ♠4, how should you play the hand?

Dave’s Column Answer Board 24 from Wednesday 3^rd November

Dealer: ♠ K953 Book Bidding

West ♥ 73 West North East South

Love all ♦ KJ8543 1♦ pass 1♥ 2♣

♣ 7 2♥ pass 3♥ pass

4♥ all pass

♠ AJ N ♠ Q72

♥ QJ65 W E ♥ AK10942

♦ Q1072 S ♦ 6

♣ K96 ♣ 843

♠ 10864

♥ 8

♦ A9 South leads the ♠4, how should East play the hand?

♣ AQJ1052

Should declarer finesse at trick one? One might be tempted to do so because of South’s overcall. Since North has not bid, South may be more likely to have the ♣K than North.

However, before deciding, East should consider this: If the finesse wins, East draws trumps and ruffs his third ♠, but he cannot avoid losing two ♣’s and a ♦.

If the finesse loses, East opens the door to other possibilities. In this layout North wins the ♠K and returns his singleton ♣ to South’s ♣A. South returns the ♣10 (suit preference) to trap dummy’s ♣K, which North ruffs. Now a ♦ to South’s ♦A allows South to cash another ♣ for two down.

Why should declarer not take the ♠ finesse? He should know that South has the ♣A. Otherwise why would South have led a ♠ rather than a ♣? And if South has the ♣A, the ♠ finesse cannot gain; it can only loose.

To cinch the game, declarer should win the ♠A at trick one and draw trumps. After he surrenders a ♠ to the ♠K, he discards a ♣ on the ♠Q and the defenders win only three tricks – one ♠, one ♦ and one ♦.

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge club? 5♥-2, 5♥-1, 4♥*=, 4♥= twice, and a few spurious results.

Dave’s 2^nd Column Here is Dave’s 1^st problem, on defence.

N ♠ Q10743 Book Bidding

W E ♥ A62 West North East South

S ♦ KJ10 - 1♥ pass 2♥

♣ Q3 pass 4♥ all pass

♠ J5

♥ 853

♦ A654

♣ J765

You are East and lead a low ♠. The lead turns out badly when dummy’s ♠J wins. The ♥3 is then led to the ♥7 and declarer’s ♥K. How do you defend? Do you take the ♥A or play low?

Dave’s 2^nd Column Answer Board 21 from Wednesday 3^rd Nov

Dealer: ♠ AK62 Book Bidding

North ♥ KQJ104 West North(E) East South

N-S vul ♦ 82 - 1♥ (1) pass 2♥

♣ A2 pass 4♥ (2) all pass

♠ 98 N ♠ Q10743 Table A

♥ 97 W E ♥ A62 West North(E) East South

♦ Q973 S ♦ KJ10 - 1NT (1) 2♦ (3) pass (4)

♣ K10984 ♣ Q3 2♥ (5) dbl (6) 2♠ pass (7)

♠ J5 pass 3♥ (8) …

♥ 853

♦ A654

♣ J765

Book: (1) What did you open with this North hand E in this week’s quiz? This 1♥ looks pretty obvious to me as you can show the power and shape of the hand with a reverse into 2♠ next go.

(2) 2♠ is an alternative here (with the intention of bidding 4♥ if partner does not raise to 3♠). There may be 5-3 ♥ fit and a superior 4-4 ♠ fit.

Table B: (1) But two very experienced players did open 1NT. I don’t like this at all with nine cards in two good major suits and an easy (reverse) rebid.

(3) Showing a single suited hand. I don’t like this either as I would prefer six ♠’s and also a far better suit.

(4) After a long pause. I can see no reason at all for South to pause with this hand and pass is clear.

(5) Relay

(6) Showing ♥’s

(7) After a long pause. I can see no reason at all for South to pause (for a 2^nd time!) with this hand and pass is clear.

(8) Bidding his hand three times. E-W called the director. North insisted that his bid was clear and not influenced by his partner’s two long pauses. I agreed with E-W and the contract was re-set to 2♠ by East.

Anyway, onto the play in 4♥. Assuming North bids sensibly you are East and your unfortunate low ♠ lead is won by dummy’s ♠J. The ♥3 is then led to the ♥7 and ♥K. How do you defend? Do you take the ♥A or play low?

East won the ♥A and led another ♠ won by declarer’s ♠A. Declarer cashed the ♥Q and then ruffed his last small ♠. A ♣ was played to the ♣A and the declarer drew trumps and claimed.

The correct defence is for East not to cover the ♥K. Then either West will get an over-ruff or East will win a ♥ continuation and lead another ♥. Either way the contract is one down.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 4♥=, 3NT=, 1NT+3, 3♥+1, 2♥+1 twice, 2♠*(E)-1, 2♠(E)-1 and 4♥-2.

The bottom lines:

- If you take a long pause and then pass, this is passing unauthorized information to your partner (that you have something to think about).

- Most (but apparently not all) experienced players know not to bid their hand three times and know not to take advantage of unauthorized information.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 2♦, with a minimal hand, bid you cheapest 4-card suit; so 1♠ would be an error.

Hand B: (a) pass. Deduct a point for 4333 and with nothing to compensate, it’s a clear pass.

(b) pass. And playing a weak NT this is even more important as a double would be for penalties and this totally flat ten-loser hand has little trick-taking potential.

This hand is North from board 13 on Friday 28^th Oct. This hand opened a weak 1NT, got doubled, then ran to 2♣ (partner had ♠763 ♥942 ♦K43 ♣Q852). So they found their fit, but still went for 1100. Beware of 4333, especially for a weak 1NT. This is just another example of how bad 4333 is, and note that it is inherently incorporated in both the Losing Trick Count and the Rule of 20.

Hand C: 1NT. Showing the ♥ stop is far better than bidding the ♦ suit. Dbl, with this shape, is obviously out of the question.

Hand D: (a) dbl. This hand really is too good for a simple 1♠ overcall.

(b) 2♠. This shows a hand too good for a simple 1♠ overcall.

(c) 2♠ or 3♠? 2♠ shows a good hand but many would make a more serious try for game. The hand is not good enough for a jump to 4♠ which some may make?

Hand E: 1♥, with a reverse into 2♠ in mind to show the power and shape of the hand. A 1NT opening (as chosen by two experienced players at the club) is a terrible bid in my opinion because (a) there are nine cards in the majors, and (b) the hand is too good (this ♥ suit is worth more than six points and the hand has great top cards). I am a great believer in showing one’s hand with 1NT, but here there is no problem with bidding it naturally and not distorting the bidding.

Hand F: (a) 4♥. It is probably slightly light for a Namyats 4♣ if you play that.

(b) 4♥. A Benjamin 2♣ (i.e. an Acol strong two in this case) is defined as a hand of power and quality with 8-9 playing tricks. This hand does not conform with the former and 4♥ is a far better opening even playing Benjamin or strong twos.

Bidding Sequence Quiz Answers

G 2♠ 2NT 2NT here is natural.

H 1♣ pass 1♠ pass 2♠ here could be just 3 cards, typically with a weak

2♠ doubleton or singleton in a red suit.

J 1♣ pass 1♦ pass

2NT pass 3♣ This is up to you, I play it as forcing.

K 1♣ pass 1♦ pass Again, up to you. I prefer Gerber. I play that 4♣ is Gerber

2NT pass 4♣ when partner’s last natural bid was 1NT or 2NT.

L 1♣ pass 1♦ pass

2NT pass 4♣ pass A 4♦ response to Gerber is zero or four aces.

4♦

Leads against NT answer

Example A ♥ KQ62 Lead the ♥2, 4^th best

Example B ♥ KQ102 Lead the ♥K, top of a (broken) sequence.

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