Friday 11/12/10

Right-click here for hands.

Board 7: West opens 1H, East replies 1S. West's hand is huge, but not worth driving to slam without extras from partner; what's the best way to invite? I jumped to 4D, a splinter (singleton or void in diamonds, 4 trumps and game-going values.) Although East has significant extra strength and shape, the King of diamonds is wasted and anything opener has in hearts beyond the top two tricks will be wasted.

West can issue an even stronger invitation by way of a jump shift in clubs, followed by 4S. As it happens, however, a heart lead defeats 6S when played by East. Will South lead hearts? North can double 6S, but South won't know whether that suggests a heart lead (dummy's suit) or a long-suit lead (North could have a minor suit void.) Three pairs defeated 6S, with South perhaps leading his singleton hoping partner has either major suit Ace.

Board 10: North had lots of hands to "fall in love with"; after three passes, North opens a strong 2C. South makes whatever bid is most discouraging in th epartnership style, a negative, waiting or "steps" 2D or a super-bust 2H. North's 2S should be forcing for one round no matter how much weakness South has shown; North is still unlimited and may need South's help choosing which suit to play a grand slam in! Over 2S, South again discourages as best possible, with a second negative 2NT or 3C, or a natural 3C if no second negative is part of the system. It looks from the results that the only pairs to stay out game did so by way of an undisciplined pass of 2S by South. A tolerant partner might forgive such masterminding at matchpoints, where 8 or 9 tricks are, in fact, more likely than 10+.

Board 11: South may open a weak 2H, giving West a choice of double, 2NT, or a direct 3NT. Playing the lebensohl convention, double is best; if East bids spades, West can raise to 3; if East bids a forward-going 3C or 3D, West takes a shot at 3NT. When East has less than 7 points, he can bid 2NT in reply to the double; this generally shows a weak hand and requests that doubler bid 3C so East can pass that or correct to 3D. Here, East has a poor 7 but help for notrump in the heart suit, so 3C (showing about 7-10) seems justified and West bids the excellent game. Whether North leads his stiff heart or from his ugly spade suit, West should scramble something like 2 spades, 3 hearts, 2 diamonds and 2 clubs.

If 2H isn't to South's taste, normal bidding would be 1C-2C-3NT. For all the "inverted minor" bidders out there, would East's jump (1C-3C) promise 6+ points? I always insist on that when the opponents are silent; if East jumps on xx xxx xx Jxxxxx or such, West is faced with a pure guess. With a known fit and neither opponent bidding, East can predict West has a big hand and should pass with less than 6 hcp. Over interference, "inverted minors" are off; East cue-bids or redoubles with a game-inviational raise, bids 2D with a normal 6-9 raise, and is free to use 3D as a strictly preemptive bid (0-5.).