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Board 4: With 2 1/2 quick tricks and a void, West is much too strong for any preempt; this is a 1H opening regardless of style. North doubles for takeout. East shows his strength with a redouble, planning to support hearts later. (With 4 trumps most players would bid 2NT, the Jordan convention, showing the values for a redouble along with a big fit. This convention gives up nothing since a strong balanced hand should redouble.)
South has a high-offense, low-defense hand, ideal for preemptive action; South should not be willing to defend against four of a major and should simply leap to 5D, putting maximum pressure on E/W. (3D would be constructive had East passed but preemptive over the strength-showing redouble; but 3D doesn't so justice to South's hand.)
If South passes or bids any number of diamonds below 5, West should rebid his hearts. This action does not show any extra high cards but simply announces West's extra shape. Over 5D, West should probably still bid given his seven card suit and diamond void. However, pass is plausible at this level. North must not misinterpret South's jump as showing any strength; East cannot justify bidding 5H and the probable result is 5D doubled, down 2 for a disappointing +500. 4H or 5H scores +680 when the club finesse works.
Board 15: West opens 1H or1NT; the concentrated values argue for a suit contract. Over 1H North might overcall 2C but with an extra Ace and Ten and a fair five-card suit the hand can be upgraded to a 1NT overcall. East bids 2H over either bid, and South should make a "responsive double." This gadget applies when your left-hand opponent (LHO) opens a suit, partner overcalls or doubles, and RHO raises opener's suit -- it does not apply when RHO bids another suit. South has a minimal hand but when one side has a fit, the other is a heavy favorite to have one as well, and South can expect to ruff one of his losing hearts in North's hand. West has minmum range (up to 15 hcp) and minimal shape (5332) and so has no reason to bid over the double. If North overcalled in clubs he can assume South has spades and diamonds and so bid 3D; if he overcalled notrump he must bid clubs at this point. Either way the bidding is at the 3 level and neither East nor West has any reason not to defend. West's extra values will be just as useful on defense as declaring. This is the basic "Law of Total Tricks" situation -- push the opponents to the three level, then sell out if you do not have some distributional asset to favor declaring. At matchpoints, West might try a "hair-trigger" double, showing general high card strength rather than any particular trump holding.
N/S can theoretically make 8 tricks at diamonds or 7 at clubs, but in practice I think it will be hard to avoid an extra loser -- . Down 2 doubled or down 3 doubled or not beats 3H making 3.
Board 21: Any number of auctions are possible with this wild collection; North's ahnd qualifies for a strong 2C opening but the shape is difficult to bid out without forcing to game. Assuming 1S, some Easts might preempt with 3C but I recommend a pass. South has another high-offense, zero defense collection and should jump to 4S. West has a good hand for an Unusual 4NT. North doubles this to show his strength; East leaps to 6C; North probably buys the contract at 6S. Playing West (who showed a two-suiter) for possible short spades allows North or South to avoid all but one spade loser. A 7C sacrifice would pay off on this ocassion; that would be more likely if East preempted at his first chance, but both East and West have too much potential defense to guess 7C otherwise.
Board 32: West opens 1C, East replies 1H, and South preempts 3D. West doubles, showing general strength, and North raises to 4D. East should bid 4H almost no matter what the previous auction. 4H should buy the contract but if N/S compete to 5D West can reasonably bid 5H based on the potential source of tricks in clubs.
East ruffs the diamond lead and tries a club toward dummy, hoping to establish the suit. South's Queen is a mixed blessing, but East has plenty of high trumps and proceeds by ruffing a club high, heart to dummy, ruff a second club high, heart to dummy, and since that pulls the last trump, discards three spades, cashes the Ace of spades and gives up a spade trick, making 6. I don't see an obvious way to reach the slam.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday 12/27/2010
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Board 10: East opens 1S; West has a classic "splinter raise", 4D showing a singleton or void in diamonds, 11-14 hcp (less with a void), and good 4 card trump support. East's Queen of diamonds is wasted opposite the singleton, and the Ace is of limited value (it won't combine with anything in partner's hand), but basically he can count four losers (King of spades, Ace-King of hearts, Ace of clubs) and can expect responder to cover three of those. It is possible to contruct a hand for responder missing both high hearts, but there isn't much room to investigate; a 5C cue-bid takes the bidding beyond 4NT and prevents checking on key cards (the four Aces plus the King of trumps.) East bids 4NT; if that's RKCB, West replies 5H (two key cards without the Queen of trumps) and East bids the slam. (If East opts for a 5C cue-bid, West should cue-bid 5H and then raise to slam.)
12 tricks are easy; it would be difficult to manage 13 even without a club lead.
Board 17: North opens 1D and East jams the bidding with 2S. South can see slam possibilities in three suits; 3H eats a lot of bidding space but nothing else appeals -- clubs is a much stronger suit but risks landing in a 5-2 fit there rather than 5-3 in hearts. West competes with 3S, North raises to 4H and South can either cue-bid 4S or try 4NT despite the void. Playing RKCB, 4NT will probably yield more useful information than the cue-bid; North replies 5S (two key cards + Q) which East likely doubles for the lead; South redoubles to show control. North bids 6H; although 7 can be made double-dummy, there is no easy line aside from finessing in clubs, and you don't want ot bid a grand slam needing a finesse.
South ruffs the spade lead. If trumps are 3-1, pulling three rounds leaves one in each hand for a total of 5 more trump tricks, along with 3 diamonds and 2 clubs. One trick short -- declarer must establish a club trick or "reverse the dummy", ruffing at least twice more in hand before pulling the trump. Heart to dummy (noting both follow, so no 4-0 split), ruff a second spade low (the bidding make 8-1 implausible), diamond to dummy, ruff a third spade with the King, heart back to dummy to pull trumps, then AK of clubs and ruff a club (too dangerous to finesse), cash two more diamonds and concede a spade.
Board 29: With both sides vulnerable, no one should be feeling "frisky" and the bidding should start with three passes to West. With 4 1/2 quick tricks and only 4 losers, West qualifies for a 2C opening, but it can be difficult to show two-suited hands with that opening, so 1S is the recommended bid -- you won't miss many games if partner passes that. North overcalls 2D and East scrapes up a 2S raise. South might consider a preemptive diamond raise but the vulnerability and "poison Queen" in the enemy suit (when you have their Queen, they have something you need) argue for passing.
West still has 4 losers, including that stiff King; a simple raise will typically cover 2 or 3 losers, so West can try for slam. His 3H bid should be initially taken as a "game try"; East raises to 4H, indicating more hearts than spades. Now West bids 4NT, RKCB, and bids 6H when East shows one key card. 11 trumps makes the slam easy; 6S is trickier but should make in practice barring the double-dummy King of clubs lead (which fouls declarer's communications.)
Board 10: East opens 1S; West has a classic "splinter raise", 4D showing a singleton or void in diamonds, 11-14 hcp (less with a void), and good 4 card trump support. East's Queen of diamonds is wasted opposite the singleton, and the Ace is of limited value (it won't combine with anything in partner's hand), but basically he can count four losers (King of spades, Ace-King of hearts, Ace of clubs) and can expect responder to cover three of those. It is possible to contruct a hand for responder missing both high hearts, but there isn't much room to investigate; a 5C cue-bid takes the bidding beyond 4NT and prevents checking on key cards (the four Aces plus the King of trumps.) East bids 4NT; if that's RKCB, West replies 5H (two key cards without the Queen of trumps) and East bids the slam. (If East opts for a 5C cue-bid, West should cue-bid 5H and then raise to slam.)
12 tricks are easy; it would be difficult to manage 13 even without a club lead.
Board 17: North opens 1D and East jams the bidding with 2S. South can see slam possibilities in three suits; 3H eats a lot of bidding space but nothing else appeals -- clubs is a much stronger suit but risks landing in a 5-2 fit there rather than 5-3 in hearts. West competes with 3S, North raises to 4H and South can either cue-bid 4S or try 4NT despite the void. Playing RKCB, 4NT will probably yield more useful information than the cue-bid; North replies 5S (two key cards + Q) which East likely doubles for the lead; South redoubles to show control. North bids 6H; although 7 can be made double-dummy, there is no easy line aside from finessing in clubs, and you don't want ot bid a grand slam needing a finesse.
South ruffs the spade lead. If trumps are 3-1, pulling three rounds leaves one in each hand for a total of 5 more trump tricks, along with 3 diamonds and 2 clubs. One trick short -- declarer must establish a club trick or "reverse the dummy", ruffing at least twice more in hand before pulling the trump. Heart to dummy (noting both follow, so no 4-0 split), ruff a second spade low (the bidding make 8-1 implausible), diamond to dummy, ruff a third spade with the King, heart back to dummy to pull trumps, then AK of clubs and ruff a club (too dangerous to finesse), cash two more diamonds and concede a spade.
Board 29: With both sides vulnerable, no one should be feeling "frisky" and the bidding should start with three passes to West. With 4 1/2 quick tricks and only 4 losers, West qualifies for a 2C opening, but it can be difficult to show two-suited hands with that opening, so 1S is the recommended bid -- you won't miss many games if partner passes that. North overcalls 2D and East scrapes up a 2S raise. South might consider a preemptive diamond raise but the vulnerability and "poison Queen" in the enemy suit (when you have their Queen, they have something you need) argue for passing.
West still has 4 losers, including that stiff King; a simple raise will typically cover 2 or 3 losers, so West can try for slam. His 3H bid should be initially taken as a "game try"; East raises to 4H, indicating more hearts than spades. Now West bids 4NT, RKCB, and bids 6H when East shows one key card. 11 trumps makes the slam easy; 6S is trickier but should make in practice barring the double-dummy King of clubs lead (which fouls declarer's communications.)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sunday, 12/26/2010
Right-click here for hands. Six tables the day after Christmas -- ot bad! Good to see the Saunier clan out in force, and congratulations to the Stanwix-Hays.
Board 1: North opens 2NT in most styles (20-21.) South has 10 hcp and some shape; slam in notrump probably has poor odds, but 6H or 6C could be right if partner has 4 card support for either suit and good controls. Playing transfers, South shows his heart suit by bidding 3D. This might be a very weak hand but consider these hands:
North Possible South (Actual South)
I'd want to be in game opposite even a hand that weak, especially with the lead coming up the strong hand, and wouldn't expect partner to bid it. I'm cautious about super-accepting but with 20 points in Aces and Kings, a big fit and a side doubleton I think North should leap to 4H. A super-accept should indicate a hand that has revalued to stronger than the announced range of the notrump bid; North is easily worth 22 points in support of hearts.
South could bid 4NT (Blackwood, RKCB or 1430) but with no control of either minor I think a 4S cue-bid is best. North can then bid 4NT and settle for 6H when he learns one Ace is missing. Playing RKCB, South would reply to 4NT with 5D (1 or 4 key cards.) North would like to ask about the Queen of trumps -- it's usually poor to bid slam missing a key card and the Queen -- but there's no asking bid below 5H. Combining the odds partner has the Queen or the suit breaks 2-2, North goes ahead with 6H.
Playing RKCB-1430, South replies 5C and North can bid 5D to ask about the Queen. South confirms her majesty with a 5S or 5NT bid depending on style, and North bids 6H. The slam is a bit iffy thanks to the duplicated values in spades; declarer can cash most of the winners but sooner or later must try the diamond finesse. 6C and 6NT come down to the same play; this time the 4-4 fit doesn't help.
Board 5: East opens 1C. South should not act surprised or start asking questions about what 1C means; might as well scream "I have clubs." South cannot possibly wish to bid vulnerable and should pass in tempo. West responds 1H and North should pass -- that isn't a vulnerable overcall.
East has a fine hand in support of hearts. Adding 3 for the singleton and 1 for the doubleton to the 12 high card points, East has a maximum raise to 2H. Add the 10 & 9 of clubs and it would be clear to jump to 3H.
West bids 4H over the single raise, but should try for slam over a jump, unless partner is known to jump light. The clubs can't be set up and the spade finesse loses, so 4H is the winning spot. North leads a club and declarer should consider whether to try and establish the clubs or ruff several times in dummy. Declarer lacks the entries to his hand for multiple ruffs; I think it's easier to set up the clubs but either way declarer should manage 10 tricks. The double-dummy analysis says West can make 5H but the lineis not obvious.
Board 10: East passes and South opens 1H. Some Wests might trot out the Michaels cue-bid, but I think that's gadgetitis -- this is a spade overcall. North passes and East replies 1NT, about 8-11 over an overcall. West's strength and shape are enough for a 3D jump, though I'm reluctant to make that bid with relatively "empty" suits. Settling for 2D, East has just enough for a raise. (East's hand is NOT worth 2NT, which would suggest 11 hcp; 2NT is almost always a game invitation or a gadget of some sort, it requires more strength to make 8 tricks at notrump than nine in a suit when you have a good fit and shape.) Back to West -- with four card support expected, and two or three tricks in high cards, West's hand grows enormously; he can cue-bid 4C or just blast 6D. (3S would be another option if you could be sure partner would never pass.)
I can't give a point-count formula for a hand like West's; without a fit, he could go down in a part-score. But when East raises diamonds, showing four-card support, West expects 3 losers: one each in spades, hearts, and diamonds; East needs any two of the Ace of spades, King of hearts, and King of diamonds for slam to be excellent.
At 6D declarer ruffs the club lead, crosses to dummy with a trump, and leads the spade toward his KQ. South must take his Ace or it will be ruffed out. Now one spade ruff sets up the suit and makes the slam. If North had the spade Ace, the suit could still be established with two ruffs (one low and the second high if needed.)
Board 12: Some Norths would open a weak 2S but I think that's wrong with such a poor suit and the side major. South must choose among a "pushy" 2C, an off-beat 2NT, or a really heavy 1C. I expect 1C would be the overwhelming choice of experts; improve the suit to AQ109xx and I would open 2C, as 3NT might make opposite zero points. The hand is definetely too strong for 2NT; 2C followed by 2NT would be better, but 1C-1H-3NT looks like a sensible auction.
North responds 1S rather than 1H; now what? Experts and well-oiled partnerships would bid 2D, a forcing "reverse" bid (partner must go to the three level if he prefer's opener's original suit.) There are various agreements over reverses, including 4th suit strong, other bids weak; lebensohl (2NT for weak hands); and Ingberman (cheaper of 2NT or the 4th suit for weak hands, 2H in this case.) In all cases, however, 2S should be unlimited, forcing, and the preferred bid with a 5 card suit -- this is an exception to all the advice you read about needing 6 cards to rebid your suit.
Here, most Norths would rebid 2H (whether natural or artificial) but I think 2S is better. South isn't likely to have 4 hearts after his reverse and a 6-2 fit is usaully better than 5-3. South is delighted and jumps to 4S. North counts 5 losers (AK of spades, AQ of hearts, A of clubs) and can deduct one since there South must be short in hearts. The Kx in clubs is a big asset on this bidding. Blackwood is always a problem with a void, you'd really like to know which Aces partner has, but it doesn't pay to start cue-bidding at the five level when you need multiple cards. I'd bid 4NT, whatever variety, and bid 6 when partner shows 3 aces or 4 key cards. As is usually the case, you don't need to bid 7 to get a good score on a difficult to bid hand. Both black suits behave and declarer claims 14 or 15 tricks.
What if you don't have clear agreements about reverses? Then I think 3NT over 1S is the practical bid, or perhaps you should stretch to open 2C to avoid underbidding the hand.
Board 1: North opens 2NT in most styles (20-21.) South has 10 hcp and some shape; slam in notrump probably has poor odds, but 6H or 6C could be right if partner has 4 card support for either suit and good controls. Playing transfers, South shows his heart suit by bidding 3D. This might be a very weak hand but consider these hands:
North Possible South (Actual South)
Kx xxx AQ
AKxx Qxxxx Q1098x
Kxx xxx xx
AKJx xx QxxxI'd want to be in game opposite even a hand that weak, especially with the lead coming up the strong hand, and wouldn't expect partner to bid it. I'm cautious about super-accepting but with 20 points in Aces and Kings, a big fit and a side doubleton I think North should leap to 4H. A super-accept should indicate a hand that has revalued to stronger than the announced range of the notrump bid; North is easily worth 22 points in support of hearts.
South could bid 4NT (Blackwood, RKCB or 1430) but with no control of either minor I think a 4S cue-bid is best. North can then bid 4NT and settle for 6H when he learns one Ace is missing. Playing RKCB, South would reply to 4NT with 5D (1 or 4 key cards.) North would like to ask about the Queen of trumps -- it's usually poor to bid slam missing a key card and the Queen -- but there's no asking bid below 5H. Combining the odds partner has the Queen or the suit breaks 2-2, North goes ahead with 6H.
Playing RKCB-1430, South replies 5C and North can bid 5D to ask about the Queen. South confirms her majesty with a 5S or 5NT bid depending on style, and North bids 6H. The slam is a bit iffy thanks to the duplicated values in spades; declarer can cash most of the winners but sooner or later must try the diamond finesse. 6C and 6NT come down to the same play; this time the 4-4 fit doesn't help.
Board 5: East opens 1C. South should not act surprised or start asking questions about what 1C means; might as well scream "I have clubs." South cannot possibly wish to bid vulnerable and should pass in tempo. West responds 1H and North should pass -- that isn't a vulnerable overcall.
East has a fine hand in support of hearts. Adding 3 for the singleton and 1 for the doubleton to the 12 high card points, East has a maximum raise to 2H. Add the 10 & 9 of clubs and it would be clear to jump to 3H.
West bids 4H over the single raise, but should try for slam over a jump, unless partner is known to jump light. The clubs can't be set up and the spade finesse loses, so 4H is the winning spot. North leads a club and declarer should consider whether to try and establish the clubs or ruff several times in dummy. Declarer lacks the entries to his hand for multiple ruffs; I think it's easier to set up the clubs but either way declarer should manage 10 tricks. The double-dummy analysis says West can make 5H but the lineis not obvious.
Board 10: East passes and South opens 1H. Some Wests might trot out the Michaels cue-bid, but I think that's gadgetitis -- this is a spade overcall. North passes and East replies 1NT, about 8-11 over an overcall. West's strength and shape are enough for a 3D jump, though I'm reluctant to make that bid with relatively "empty" suits. Settling for 2D, East has just enough for a raise. (East's hand is NOT worth 2NT, which would suggest 11 hcp; 2NT is almost always a game invitation or a gadget of some sort, it requires more strength to make 8 tricks at notrump than nine in a suit when you have a good fit and shape.) Back to West -- with four card support expected, and two or three tricks in high cards, West's hand grows enormously; he can cue-bid 4C or just blast 6D. (3S would be another option if you could be sure partner would never pass.)
I can't give a point-count formula for a hand like West's; without a fit, he could go down in a part-score. But when East raises diamonds, showing four-card support, West expects 3 losers: one each in spades, hearts, and diamonds; East needs any two of the Ace of spades, King of hearts, and King of diamonds for slam to be excellent.
At 6D declarer ruffs the club lead, crosses to dummy with a trump, and leads the spade toward his KQ. South must take his Ace or it will be ruffed out. Now one spade ruff sets up the suit and makes the slam. If North had the spade Ace, the suit could still be established with two ruffs (one low and the second high if needed.)
Board 12: Some Norths would open a weak 2S but I think that's wrong with such a poor suit and the side major. South must choose among a "pushy" 2C, an off-beat 2NT, or a really heavy 1C. I expect 1C would be the overwhelming choice of experts; improve the suit to AQ109xx and I would open 2C, as 3NT might make opposite zero points. The hand is definetely too strong for 2NT; 2C followed by 2NT would be better, but 1C-1H-3NT looks like a sensible auction.
North responds 1S rather than 1H; now what? Experts and well-oiled partnerships would bid 2D, a forcing "reverse" bid (partner must go to the three level if he prefer's opener's original suit.) There are various agreements over reverses, including 4th suit strong, other bids weak; lebensohl (2NT for weak hands); and Ingberman (cheaper of 2NT or the 4th suit for weak hands, 2H in this case.) In all cases, however, 2S should be unlimited, forcing, and the preferred bid with a 5 card suit -- this is an exception to all the advice you read about needing 6 cards to rebid your suit.
Here, most Norths would rebid 2H (whether natural or artificial) but I think 2S is better. South isn't likely to have 4 hearts after his reverse and a 6-2 fit is usaully better than 5-3. South is delighted and jumps to 4S. North counts 5 losers (AK of spades, AQ of hearts, A of clubs) and can deduct one since there South must be short in hearts. The Kx in clubs is a big asset on this bidding. Blackwood is always a problem with a void, you'd really like to know which Aces partner has, but it doesn't pay to start cue-bidding at the five level when you need multiple cards. I'd bid 4NT, whatever variety, and bid 6 when partner shows 3 aces or 4 key cards. As is usually the case, you don't need to bid 7 to get a good score on a difficult to bid hand. Both black suits behave and declarer claims 14 or 15 tricks.
What if you don't have clear agreements about reverses? Then I think 3NT over 1S is the practical bid, or perhaps you should stretch to open 2C to avoid underbidding the hand.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday 12/22/2010
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Board 6: East has two Aces, good shape, and good intermediates in his long suits, but is a bit shy of an opening bid. West opens 1D and rebids 1NT if East responds 1S. 2C at this point would be "New Minor Forcing" in the modern style, showing 5 spades and game-invitational values; most pairs do not have an agreed way for East to show his long clubs in this sequence. East can pass or raise to 2NT.
If, instead, East responds 2C, he shows his good hand and source of tricks. In most styles West would rebid 2NT to show a minimum balanced hand, but West has good intermediates also and may leap to 3NT. My preferred style would be that 2C does not deny a major (for a hand such as East's) and West can rebid 2H or 2S on a balanced hand like this without prmising extra values. So, pass-1D-2C-2H-2S, and again an optimistic East who trusts partner to have a good hand for such bidding may jump to 3NT. Four pairs bid game, which makes with 4 club tricks, two red Aces, two spades, and a ninth trick in spades or one of the red suits depending on the defense. 22 hcp will not generally be enough for 3NT even with an establishable six card suit; notice how critical the tens and nines are. 2NT making four yields a decent score.
Board 8: There has been a recent trend of opening very light 6-5 hands with a weak two; I personally feel that bidding very weak hands tends to cause partner more problems that the defenders. Weak two bids in the 8-10 range often catch both defenders with awkward hands; with only 4 points, at least one defender is liekly to have enough strength to bid. I don't have a problem with opening a good 6 card suit within the normal range of a weak two when you happen to have a weak four or five card suit on the side.
Assuming West and North pass, East opens 1C. Doubling with flat hands has never appealed to me -- I'd pass South's hand with little thought -- but South has all Aces and Kings and I suspect most would double. West redoubles to show 10+ hcp and a fairly balanced hand; this invites opener to double anything they bid where he has length. North can expect South to have either a normal takeout double, and so a big spade fit, or a strong balanced hand or strong one-suiter. I feel very strongly one should never double with a singleton in an unbid major; North can thus count on a fit and preempt with 3S or 4S (I'd bid 4S if I trusted partner to have the sort of hand I would double with.) Over 3S, East's 4C should end the auction -- South has no more support than promised and his high cards are equally suitable for declaring or defending; West has nothing extra; North should not second-guess himself. Over 4S, East has a tough guess, but his values are mostly offensive and I'm sure I would bid 5C. Do you see why North should not bid 3S and then 4S? East gets to show his long suit and then pass the decision to West, who doubles 4S for +100 or +300. When preempting, bid as much as you dare and then let it go -- don't give the opps "two bites at the apple." North loses 2 trumps and 2 or 3 hearts at a spade contract.
Board 14: If East opens 3C, North doubles, planning to bid 4D (or 3NT) over a spade response from South. Although it is generally better to bid down-the-line in response to a takeout double -- the doubler won't bid four card suits, so it isn't an up-the-line situation -- I suspect most Souths would bid the strong hearts rather than the crummy spades. North has an easy raise to 4H and can't go wrong doubling 5C or contnuing with 5D or 5H if East or West tries to sacrficie over 4H.
But North should not have it so easy: with an 8 card suit, East should open 4C. (I wouldn't open 5 with such a crummy suit.) Now North and South must guess; North may not be willing to double and then bid 5D over a spade response. His 4D may well end the auction.
Board 17: Nine cards in the majors is too much for a notrump bid in my opinion, and I would expect few experts to disagree. Nothing wrong with opening 1H on the North's fine 20-count, South will respond with as little as 6 including perhaps support points. South is worth 2D in any style (his strong suit and heart fit make this enough for game.) North reverses with 2S; some 2/1 bidders may play this as not showing any extras, but most would interpret it as 15+ or so. South considers the 4-4 fit but slam usually requires strong trumps and so he follows his plan of showing support with 3H. North bids 4NT (Blackwood or Key cards) and settles for 6H when one Ace or Key card is found missing. 6NT runs the risk that partner was counting on some ruffs for his game force.
6NT is actually easier; at 6H, warned off the diamond lead, East may try a club and knock out dummy's late entry. Declraer must either finesse twice in spades (a worse than 25% shot) or lead diamonds before pulling trumps. East likely grabs the first diamond but even if he holds off, a second diamond sets the suit up and declarer can arrange to win the third trump in dummy and pitch away all his spade losers. 6S is of course hopeless; a key card auction should reveal two are missing and allow N/S to either stop at 5S or guess to bid 6H or 6NT. 5S making 5 would yield an average score. With a choice of trump suits for slam, make sure the one you pick is strong.
Board 6: East has two Aces, good shape, and good intermediates in his long suits, but is a bit shy of an opening bid. West opens 1D and rebids 1NT if East responds 1S. 2C at this point would be "New Minor Forcing" in the modern style, showing 5 spades and game-invitational values; most pairs do not have an agreed way for East to show his long clubs in this sequence. East can pass or raise to 2NT.
If, instead, East responds 2C, he shows his good hand and source of tricks. In most styles West would rebid 2NT to show a minimum balanced hand, but West has good intermediates also and may leap to 3NT. My preferred style would be that 2C does not deny a major (for a hand such as East's) and West can rebid 2H or 2S on a balanced hand like this without prmising extra values. So, pass-1D-2C-2H-2S, and again an optimistic East who trusts partner to have a good hand for such bidding may jump to 3NT. Four pairs bid game, which makes with 4 club tricks, two red Aces, two spades, and a ninth trick in spades or one of the red suits depending on the defense. 22 hcp will not generally be enough for 3NT even with an establishable six card suit; notice how critical the tens and nines are. 2NT making four yields a decent score.
Board 8: There has been a recent trend of opening very light 6-5 hands with a weak two; I personally feel that bidding very weak hands tends to cause partner more problems that the defenders. Weak two bids in the 8-10 range often catch both defenders with awkward hands; with only 4 points, at least one defender is liekly to have enough strength to bid. I don't have a problem with opening a good 6 card suit within the normal range of a weak two when you happen to have a weak four or five card suit on the side.
Assuming West and North pass, East opens 1C. Doubling with flat hands has never appealed to me -- I'd pass South's hand with little thought -- but South has all Aces and Kings and I suspect most would double. West redoubles to show 10+ hcp and a fairly balanced hand; this invites opener to double anything they bid where he has length. North can expect South to have either a normal takeout double, and so a big spade fit, or a strong balanced hand or strong one-suiter. I feel very strongly one should never double with a singleton in an unbid major; North can thus count on a fit and preempt with 3S or 4S (I'd bid 4S if I trusted partner to have the sort of hand I would double with.) Over 3S, East's 4C should end the auction -- South has no more support than promised and his high cards are equally suitable for declaring or defending; West has nothing extra; North should not second-guess himself. Over 4S, East has a tough guess, but his values are mostly offensive and I'm sure I would bid 5C. Do you see why North should not bid 3S and then 4S? East gets to show his long suit and then pass the decision to West, who doubles 4S for +100 or +300. When preempting, bid as much as you dare and then let it go -- don't give the opps "two bites at the apple." North loses 2 trumps and 2 or 3 hearts at a spade contract.
Board 14: If East opens 3C, North doubles, planning to bid 4D (or 3NT) over a spade response from South. Although it is generally better to bid down-the-line in response to a takeout double -- the doubler won't bid four card suits, so it isn't an up-the-line situation -- I suspect most Souths would bid the strong hearts rather than the crummy spades. North has an easy raise to 4H and can't go wrong doubling 5C or contnuing with 5D or 5H if East or West tries to sacrficie over 4H.
But North should not have it so easy: with an 8 card suit, East should open 4C. (I wouldn't open 5 with such a crummy suit.) Now North and South must guess; North may not be willing to double and then bid 5D over a spade response. His 4D may well end the auction.
Board 17: Nine cards in the majors is too much for a notrump bid in my opinion, and I would expect few experts to disagree. Nothing wrong with opening 1H on the North's fine 20-count, South will respond with as little as 6 including perhaps support points. South is worth 2D in any style (his strong suit and heart fit make this enough for game.) North reverses with 2S; some 2/1 bidders may play this as not showing any extras, but most would interpret it as 15+ or so. South considers the 4-4 fit but slam usually requires strong trumps and so he follows his plan of showing support with 3H. North bids 4NT (Blackwood or Key cards) and settles for 6H when one Ace or Key card is found missing. 6NT runs the risk that partner was counting on some ruffs for his game force.
6NT is actually easier; at 6H, warned off the diamond lead, East may try a club and knock out dummy's late entry. Declraer must either finesse twice in spades (a worse than 25% shot) or lead diamonds before pulling trumps. East likely grabs the first diamond but even if he holds off, a second diamond sets the suit up and declarer can arrange to win the third trump in dummy and pitch away all his spade losers. 6S is of course hopeless; a key card auction should reveal two are missing and allow N/S to either stop at 5S or guess to bid 6H or 6NT. 5S making 5 would yield an average score. With a choice of trump suits for slam, make sure the one you pick is strong.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday 12/20/2010
Right-click here for hands.
Board 5: 31 high card points and a diamond fit, but both North and South are flat. North has a clear-cut pass after deducting a point for no Ace (and no ten or nine either.) South upgrades for all four Aces (along with a ten and two nines) and opens 2NT. North, still counting his hand as 11, figures the hands total 31 or 32 points -- not enough for slam with such flat shape. A simpe raise to 3NT should end the auction, but 8 out of 13 pairs reached hopeless slams.
On lead against 6NT, I figured partner for zero points and so punted with a heart; underleading either King may also prove safe but seems unlikely to gain. Declarer cannot manufacture anything and is held to 10 tricks.
Board 14: East lacks two quick tricks and should deduct something for the doubleton Jack, but I suspect almost all duplicate players would open 1S. West trots out Jacoby 2NT and East's leap to 4S (showing a minimum) closes the bidding. We won't talk about that silly 3NT...well, OK, partner forgot to jump and I thought he had a big hand but wasn't sure how big so I stalled with 3NT to let him cue-bid (thinking 3NT would surely make even if he passed) and, er, on to the next board...I do recommend this use of 3NT ("Courtesy 3NT") after finding a big major suit fit; West would cue-bid with definite slam values but has nothing extra here; opener, however, is unlimited and 3NT says "if you cue-bid I'll cooperate but if you are minimum for your 3S rebid let's stop at game." Many experts play "Serious 3NT" but that seems wrong to me, as it forces cue-bidding on hands which lack the values for slam.
Board 19: West opens 1C, East replies 1S, and West raises to game. East has no club control, but if he cue-bids 5D it will be a guess whether sufficient controls are avaible for slam. I think 4NT is the practical bid, especially playing some version of RKCB. An RKCB auction might continue 4NT-5C (0 or 3 key cards) 5D (asking for the Queen)-6D (showing the Queen of spades and the King of diamonds)-6S. Seven makes on a finesse, which would be a poor bet. Here, 13 tricks can also be made at notrump, but neither player can be sure the other isn't counting on ruffing something so 6S is the proper spot.
Board 5: 31 high card points and a diamond fit, but both North and South are flat. North has a clear-cut pass after deducting a point for no Ace (and no ten or nine either.) South upgrades for all four Aces (along with a ten and two nines) and opens 2NT. North, still counting his hand as 11, figures the hands total 31 or 32 points -- not enough for slam with such flat shape. A simpe raise to 3NT should end the auction, but 8 out of 13 pairs reached hopeless slams.
On lead against 6NT, I figured partner for zero points and so punted with a heart; underleading either King may also prove safe but seems unlikely to gain. Declarer cannot manufacture anything and is held to 10 tricks.
Board 14: East lacks two quick tricks and should deduct something for the doubleton Jack, but I suspect almost all duplicate players would open 1S. West trots out Jacoby 2NT and East's leap to 4S (showing a minimum) closes the bidding. We won't talk about that silly 3NT...well, OK, partner forgot to jump and I thought he had a big hand but wasn't sure how big so I stalled with 3NT to let him cue-bid (thinking 3NT would surely make even if he passed) and, er, on to the next board...I do recommend this use of 3NT ("Courtesy 3NT") after finding a big major suit fit; West would cue-bid with definite slam values but has nothing extra here; opener, however, is unlimited and 3NT says "if you cue-bid I'll cooperate but if you are minimum for your 3S rebid let's stop at game." Many experts play "Serious 3NT" but that seems wrong to me, as it forces cue-bidding on hands which lack the values for slam.
Board 19: West opens 1C, East replies 1S, and West raises to game. East has no club control, but if he cue-bids 5D it will be a guess whether sufficient controls are avaible for slam. I think 4NT is the practical bid, especially playing some version of RKCB. An RKCB auction might continue 4NT-5C (0 or 3 key cards) 5D (asking for the Queen)-6D (showing the Queen of spades and the King of diamonds)-6S. Seven makes on a finesse, which would be a poor bet. Here, 13 tricks can also be made at notrump, but neither player can be sure the other isn't counting on ruffing something so 6S is the proper spot.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday, 12/19/2010
Right-click here for hands. Nine tables, with 10 99er or youth/mentor pairs. Georgia discussed courtesy before the game, then she and I reminded each other to watch our volume and tone of voice!
Board 4: E/W should reach 3NT after an auction like 1C-(1S overcall)-2D-2H-3C-3NT. If North instead jumps to 2S, East has a tougher bid but should risk 3C rather than be shut out or make a game-forcing 3D call. Six clubs is makeable from West's side (protecting the King of spades from the opening lead) but it requires finessing in diamonds and then ruffing to establish three disards for hearts -- not a good bet.
At 3NT North leads a spade, West wins and counts 8 tricks. If South gains the lead another spade would be fatal, but there is no obvious alternative to the diamond finesse. West may as well run the clubs first, pitching a heart; nothing interesting happens, but the finesse wins. West may score an overtrick if the defenders pitch diamonds or North has to lead another spade.
Board 8: West opens a weak 2S, North passes and East should raise preemptively. With three card support, a raise to 3 is normal, but I think with the singleton heart (suggesting N/S has a 9 card fit) an aggressive East may gamble 4S, maximizing the pressure on South. When each side has nine card major fit, it is often right to bid 4 spades over 4 hearts at equal vulnerability; bidding it immediately forces South to guess whether to double, pass, or bid 5H. Bidding only 3S lets South bid 4H (he can expect to ruff some spades in partner's hand) making it easy for North to continue to 5H over a delayed 4S.
Here, South cannot guess to bid 5H and probably doubles 4S, which North should pass. The result is probably down 3, but defenders sometimes slip and South might not double. If East bids only 3S the first round, it is best to pass the second round.
Board 11: South opens a weak 2S and West doubles (takeout.) North should not bid with a poor hand, only an 8 card fit, and the opponents already forced to the three level. East makes the practical bid of 3NT; passing for penalties might work but looks iffy.
South leads the King of spades from his sequence, East ducks once and wins the second round. East cashes 3 rounds of clubs and two diamonds (ending in hand), when diamonds break 4-1, he finesses the heart. This is safe since North should be out of spades. North wins and returns a diamond. Declarer wins in dummy and cashes the 13th club; North is squeezed and declarer winshis 11th trick in whichever suit North pitches.
Board 15: South opens preemptively; it is normal to open 4 with an eight card suit, but at this vulnerability South may open only 3. North must decide whether to settle for game try for slam with 4NT; slam looks cold if opener has the King of hearts and the Ace of clubs, and will have a play if South has the Ace of spades, but the five level isn't safe on a club lead. If North passes 4H or raises 3 to 4, East comes in with 4S; it might make or might be a good sacrifice at this vulnerability. North takes the push to 5H, which requires a minimum of luck. E/W actually have a good sacrifice at 5S but I don't think it is obvious to bid it. A pure guess club lead beats 5H; on the more likely spade lead, East should win and take his Ace of clubs -- it is obvious declarer has few other losers and futile to hope partner can get in to lead clubs.
Board 17: East opens 1S and West is too strong for a 4D splinter. It is unusual to bid Jacoby 2NT with a singleton, but West can benfit from learning a bout a minor suit singleton or extra values in partner's hand, so the forcing raise is probably best. Otherwise, West can start with 2D, planning to bid clubs next and then support spades. Over 2NT, East bids 4S to show a minimum. A minmum opener generally counts to 7 losers, and West has five crisp winners plus his singleton; West checks on key cards and bids slam. East cannot be prevented from scoring two heart ruffs, five trumps, and five minor suit winners. For point-counters, West's hand revalues to at least 19 by adding 3 points for the singleton with four trumps when raising partner.
Board 21: North opens 1NT (15-17) and East preempts 3C. South should simply bid 3NT; the strong notrump will usually contain a stopper. It does, and declarer scores ten or eleven tricks (finessing early in diamonds and probably later in spades after East's J9 drops.) We reached an unmakeable 6D after a "Precision" sequence in which South portrayed his hand as worth 14 points. Remember to deduct a point from strong but Aceless hands.
Board 27: South opens 1S and West overcalls 2D. North has only 10 hcp but visions of slam opposite a hand like AQxxx Kxx xxxx x so bids 2H before blasting to game. (Another possibility would be 4D as a splinter raise, but I'd rather have something in both side suits for that bid.) An aggressive East competes with 3D and South likes his hand enough to venture 3S. West blasts to 5D but North likes the sound of the auction (partner's values should be outside diamonds) and bids 6S, which makes easily with 6 trumps, 3 hearts, 2 diamond ruffs and a club.
Board 4: E/W should reach 3NT after an auction like 1C-(1S overcall)-2D-2H-3C-3NT. If North instead jumps to 2S, East has a tougher bid but should risk 3C rather than be shut out or make a game-forcing 3D call. Six clubs is makeable from West's side (protecting the King of spades from the opening lead) but it requires finessing in diamonds and then ruffing to establish three disards for hearts -- not a good bet.
At 3NT North leads a spade, West wins and counts 8 tricks. If South gains the lead another spade would be fatal, but there is no obvious alternative to the diamond finesse. West may as well run the clubs first, pitching a heart; nothing interesting happens, but the finesse wins. West may score an overtrick if the defenders pitch diamonds or North has to lead another spade.
Board 8: West opens a weak 2S, North passes and East should raise preemptively. With three card support, a raise to 3 is normal, but I think with the singleton heart (suggesting N/S has a 9 card fit) an aggressive East may gamble 4S, maximizing the pressure on South. When each side has nine card major fit, it is often right to bid 4 spades over 4 hearts at equal vulnerability; bidding it immediately forces South to guess whether to double, pass, or bid 5H. Bidding only 3S lets South bid 4H (he can expect to ruff some spades in partner's hand) making it easy for North to continue to 5H over a delayed 4S.
Here, South cannot guess to bid 5H and probably doubles 4S, which North should pass. The result is probably down 3, but defenders sometimes slip and South might not double. If East bids only 3S the first round, it is best to pass the second round.
Board 11: South opens a weak 2S and West doubles (takeout.) North should not bid with a poor hand, only an 8 card fit, and the opponents already forced to the three level. East makes the practical bid of 3NT; passing for penalties might work but looks iffy.
South leads the King of spades from his sequence, East ducks once and wins the second round. East cashes 3 rounds of clubs and two diamonds (ending in hand), when diamonds break 4-1, he finesses the heart. This is safe since North should be out of spades. North wins and returns a diamond. Declarer wins in dummy and cashes the 13th club; North is squeezed and declarer winshis 11th trick in whichever suit North pitches.
Board 15: South opens preemptively; it is normal to open 4 with an eight card suit, but at this vulnerability South may open only 3. North must decide whether to settle for game try for slam with 4NT; slam looks cold if opener has the King of hearts and the Ace of clubs, and will have a play if South has the Ace of spades, but the five level isn't safe on a club lead. If North passes 4H or raises 3 to 4, East comes in with 4S; it might make or might be a good sacrifice at this vulnerability. North takes the push to 5H, which requires a minimum of luck. E/W actually have a good sacrifice at 5S but I don't think it is obvious to bid it. A pure guess club lead beats 5H; on the more likely spade lead, East should win and take his Ace of clubs -- it is obvious declarer has few other losers and futile to hope partner can get in to lead clubs.
Board 17: East opens 1S and West is too strong for a 4D splinter. It is unusual to bid Jacoby 2NT with a singleton, but West can benfit from learning a bout a minor suit singleton or extra values in partner's hand, so the forcing raise is probably best. Otherwise, West can start with 2D, planning to bid clubs next and then support spades. Over 2NT, East bids 4S to show a minimum. A minmum opener generally counts to 7 losers, and West has five crisp winners plus his singleton; West checks on key cards and bids slam. East cannot be prevented from scoring two heart ruffs, five trumps, and five minor suit winners. For point-counters, West's hand revalues to at least 19 by adding 3 points for the singleton with four trumps when raising partner.
Board 21: North opens 1NT (15-17) and East preempts 3C. South should simply bid 3NT; the strong notrump will usually contain a stopper. It does, and declarer scores ten or eleven tricks (finessing early in diamonds and probably later in spades after East's J9 drops.) We reached an unmakeable 6D after a "Precision" sequence in which South portrayed his hand as worth 14 points. Remember to deduct a point from strong but Aceless hands.
Board 27: South opens 1S and West overcalls 2D. North has only 10 hcp but visions of slam opposite a hand like AQxxx Kxx xxxx x so bids 2H before blasting to game. (Another possibility would be 4D as a splinter raise, but I'd rather have something in both side suits for that bid.) An aggressive East competes with 3D and South likes his hand enough to venture 3S. West blasts to 5D but North likes the sound of the auction (partner's values should be outside diamonds) and bids 6S, which makes easily with 6 trumps, 3 hearts, 2 diamond ruffs and a club.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday 12/17/10
Right-click here for hands. Nine tables despite the weather, not bad :) Lots of potential slam hands.
Board 2: I'll sometimes open a 6-5 hand with a weak two, but only if the long suit is good. Assuming two passes, West opens a strong 2C. East's response will vary, let's assume 2D as a semi-positive artificial (4+, game forcing, where 2H would be the bust bid.) Personally I'd like to bid 2S with Wet's hand but most would require a 5 card suit so presumably West bids 3C. East continues with 3D, natural; if 2D was simply "waiting" 3D here might be a "second negative". West bids 3S and East has a potentially huge hand if the diamonds can be established. However, West's first suit was clubs and that does little for East so he may simply raise to 4S, especially if he has already shown some values (2D semi-positive or 2H = 4-6 playing "steps".)
West has already shown a powerhouse but with the spade raise he can revalue his hand to 3 losers (2 hearts, 1club.) Partner should cover one with a useful high card (heart or club honor or the King of diamonds), can he cover another? It is usually wrong to venture beyond game without 12 tricks in view, so West should perhaps pass, but he has 4 key cards plus the Queen of trumps and cannot really expect responder to risk 4NT.
Should East have bid more? He knows about the 9 card fit, and one or both of his singletons is apt to be useful; he cannot be sure about the Queen of diamonds. Three key cards plus the Queen of spades or four key cards is certainly possible given the 2C opening, and three such cards would make the 5 level reasonably safe. The real difficulty is evaluating tricks. I think 2C-then-3C should suggest at least 9 1/2 tricks; this does not make a lock for 12 tricks but opener could have 10 full.
If East risks 4NT, West reveals 3 aces or 4 Key cards (5C in regular RKCB, 5D in "1430") and East can follow with a Queen asking bid (next suit). I recommend "Specific Kings" so the complete bidding may be:
2C-2D; 3C-3D; 3S-4NT; 5C-5D; 5H-5NT (5C = 0 or 4 key cards, 5D asks for Queen, 5H confirms Q + King of hearts, 5NT confirms all 5 key cards + Q.) At this point West has nothing to add and should bid 6S; East might bid the grand slam if he had the King of clubs but in this case passes.
With the high trumps all in West's hand, the obvious approach is to ruff clubs and a heart in dummy. Two club ruffs establish the suit and a heart ruff eliminates West's last loser; then three rounds of trumps and claim. Note how much harder it would might be to establish clubs with only a 4-4 fit; slammish hands with a two-suiter often play a trick or two better than with only an eight card fit.
Board 6: South opens 1D, West overcalls 1H and North raises to 2D (the chance South has only 3, with exactly 4432 shape, are too low to worry about.) East has only 5 hcp but he has a high-offense, low-defense hand. In the modern style a 3D cue-bid would show a limit raise or better, freeing the 3H jump in competition for this sort of high-offense hand. South may have visions of slam; a 4H cue-bid seems in order, staking a claim to the hand and suggesting slam interest. At this point West can expect to score two tricks defensively, and ten tricks on offense, so 5H seems justified despite the vulnerability. North may double to show a poor hand in context; if he does not, South may overbid to 6D. +200 (5H doubled down one) scores poorly for N/S but 6D is a cold bottom.
If East merely raises to 2H, West can reasonably expect either to score his Ace or for East to provide a trick; he certainly should not consider bidding 5H. Every declarer was allowed to play some level of diamonds. Back to East's jump: he has not merely 4 good trumps but also a shapely hand, expecting to ruff some of partner's losers or establish his own side suit (spades) ruffing in declarer's hand. Three offensive tricks and less than zero defense makes the preemptive raise a standout.
Baord 14: South opens 1C ( a 1NT upgrade with 2 Aces, 2 tens and a good five card suit would be OK), North responds 1D (no need to conceal such a good suit with such a good hand, you might have slam in diamonds.) South rebids 1NT, which in standard methods generally denies a four-card major; if so, North probably raises to 3NT. If 1NT does not deny a major, North reverses with 2H and South takes a preference to 3D. North has a fine hand but South's 1NT limited both his strength and shape so North still signs off in 3NT. 6D makes "double-dummy" but takes a winning heart finesse and ruffing three clubs in dummy, not a contract I'd want to bid.
Board 17: North might open based on a Goren 13 count or the "Rule of 20", but with only one Ace and no King I recommend a pass (unless playing Precision.) East has 2 1/2 quick tricks but only a flat 11, again a pass in any standard method. South opens 1H, North responds 2C (or 1NT if 2C would be fit-Drury.) South can reverse to 2S over either 1NT or 2C and North likely leaps to 3NT. This looks like the normal spot; 6C and 6S make but require a ruffing finesse in diamonds to set up the 12th trick.
Board 19: West opens 1D and North overcalls in spades. East plans on bidding at least game and shold start with his longest suit, clubs, rather than a negative double. West can leap to 4C, forcing (no such thing as a preemptive raise by opener.) East would like to inquire about Aces or key cards but can he deal with a 5H or 5S reply? Better to cue-bid 4S. West can then bid 4NT and bid 6C when responder shows one Ace or two key cards.
Did you have such a mild auction? Facing a passed hand, North may try a tactical jump to 2S, and South may blast to 4S given on the 10 card fit and favorable vulnerability. E/W may still reach slam, but they may have to guess rather than have the comfort of a Blackwood or RKCB auction.
Board 2: I'll sometimes open a 6-5 hand with a weak two, but only if the long suit is good. Assuming two passes, West opens a strong 2C. East's response will vary, let's assume 2D as a semi-positive artificial (4+, game forcing, where 2H would be the bust bid.) Personally I'd like to bid 2S with Wet's hand but most would require a 5 card suit so presumably West bids 3C. East continues with 3D, natural; if 2D was simply "waiting" 3D here might be a "second negative". West bids 3S and East has a potentially huge hand if the diamonds can be established. However, West's first suit was clubs and that does little for East so he may simply raise to 4S, especially if he has already shown some values (2D semi-positive or 2H = 4-6 playing "steps".)
West has already shown a powerhouse but with the spade raise he can revalue his hand to 3 losers (2 hearts, 1club.) Partner should cover one with a useful high card (heart or club honor or the King of diamonds), can he cover another? It is usually wrong to venture beyond game without 12 tricks in view, so West should perhaps pass, but he has 4 key cards plus the Queen of trumps and cannot really expect responder to risk 4NT.
Should East have bid more? He knows about the 9 card fit, and one or both of his singletons is apt to be useful; he cannot be sure about the Queen of diamonds. Three key cards plus the Queen of spades or four key cards is certainly possible given the 2C opening, and three such cards would make the 5 level reasonably safe. The real difficulty is evaluating tricks. I think 2C-then-3C should suggest at least 9 1/2 tricks; this does not make a lock for 12 tricks but opener could have 10 full.
If East risks 4NT, West reveals 3 aces or 4 Key cards (5C in regular RKCB, 5D in "1430") and East can follow with a Queen asking bid (next suit). I recommend "Specific Kings" so the complete bidding may be:
2C-2D; 3C-3D; 3S-4NT; 5C-5D; 5H-5NT (5C = 0 or 4 key cards, 5D asks for Queen, 5H confirms Q + King of hearts, 5NT confirms all 5 key cards + Q.) At this point West has nothing to add and should bid 6S; East might bid the grand slam if he had the King of clubs but in this case passes.
With the high trumps all in West's hand, the obvious approach is to ruff clubs and a heart in dummy. Two club ruffs establish the suit and a heart ruff eliminates West's last loser; then three rounds of trumps and claim. Note how much harder it would might be to establish clubs with only a 4-4 fit; slammish hands with a two-suiter often play a trick or two better than with only an eight card fit.
Board 6: South opens 1D, West overcalls 1H and North raises to 2D (the chance South has only 3, with exactly 4432 shape, are too low to worry about.) East has only 5 hcp but he has a high-offense, low-defense hand. In the modern style a 3D cue-bid would show a limit raise or better, freeing the 3H jump in competition for this sort of high-offense hand. South may have visions of slam; a 4H cue-bid seems in order, staking a claim to the hand and suggesting slam interest. At this point West can expect to score two tricks defensively, and ten tricks on offense, so 5H seems justified despite the vulnerability. North may double to show a poor hand in context; if he does not, South may overbid to 6D. +200 (5H doubled down one) scores poorly for N/S but 6D is a cold bottom.
If East merely raises to 2H, West can reasonably expect either to score his Ace or for East to provide a trick; he certainly should not consider bidding 5H. Every declarer was allowed to play some level of diamonds. Back to East's jump: he has not merely 4 good trumps but also a shapely hand, expecting to ruff some of partner's losers or establish his own side suit (spades) ruffing in declarer's hand. Three offensive tricks and less than zero defense makes the preemptive raise a standout.
Baord 14: South opens 1C ( a 1NT upgrade with 2 Aces, 2 tens and a good five card suit would be OK), North responds 1D (no need to conceal such a good suit with such a good hand, you might have slam in diamonds.) South rebids 1NT, which in standard methods generally denies a four-card major; if so, North probably raises to 3NT. If 1NT does not deny a major, North reverses with 2H and South takes a preference to 3D. North has a fine hand but South's 1NT limited both his strength and shape so North still signs off in 3NT. 6D makes "double-dummy" but takes a winning heart finesse and ruffing three clubs in dummy, not a contract I'd want to bid.
Board 17: North might open based on a Goren 13 count or the "Rule of 20", but with only one Ace and no King I recommend a pass (unless playing Precision.) East has 2 1/2 quick tricks but only a flat 11, again a pass in any standard method. South opens 1H, North responds 2C (or 1NT if 2C would be fit-Drury.) South can reverse to 2S over either 1NT or 2C and North likely leaps to 3NT. This looks like the normal spot; 6C and 6S make but require a ruffing finesse in diamonds to set up the 12th trick.
Board 19: West opens 1D and North overcalls in spades. East plans on bidding at least game and shold start with his longest suit, clubs, rather than a negative double. West can leap to 4C, forcing (no such thing as a preemptive raise by opener.) East would like to inquire about Aces or key cards but can he deal with a 5H or 5S reply? Better to cue-bid 4S. West can then bid 4NT and bid 6C when responder shows one Ace or two key cards.
Did you have such a mild auction? Facing a passed hand, North may try a tactical jump to 2S, and South may blast to 4S given on the 10 card fit and favorable vulnerability. E/W may still reach slam, but they may have to guess rather than have the comfort of a Blackwood or RKCB auction.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sunday 12/12/2010
21 teams for "Eight is Enough". A new record! Personally, I much prefer the 2:00 starting time to playing in the evening, winter or summer.
No hand records since the boards were hand-dealt, but I jotted down the first board we played:
Neither vulnerable, North deals, IMP scoring. West - East hands:
AJ7 3
KQ3 J654
K A10642
AKQ852 1043
West opens a strong 2C in fourth seat, and East replies 2D (negative, waiting, or semi-positive) or 2H (steps, 4-6 hcp) depending on partnership style. I prefer the 2H "super-bust", 2D = 4+ artificial; some define 2D as at least one Ace or King. "Steps" is often inefficient as the 2H and 2S responses are more common than 2D. However, let me proceed assuming a 4-6 step response:
2C-2H; 3C: East's response creates an absolute game force, West should not open 2C if he doesn't want to be in game opposite 4 hcp. So West can start describing his hand by bidding his long suit. On a bad day opposite a busted partner, West's hand might take only 7 tricks, but the clubs will usually produce 6 and partner's values should combine with some of Wet's 13 hcp outside of clubs. A more reasonable estimate would be 9 1/2 tricks, and partner's response should provide 1-2 more in high cards alone. That's 11 tricks; if partner can ruff something or provide a long suit discard slam is within reach.
--3D: East might raise clubs immediately, but his hand will be more useful if partner fits diamonds or hearts, and bidding diamonds allows partner to re-evelaute any diamond honors.
3NT: West does not know of a fit; he has shown a huge hand and now bids the obvious game.
--4C: East's Ace plus singleton is enough to try for slam. 4C should be veiwed as forward-going, not fear of notrump.
4H: West cue-bids a control; 4D might sound like support.
--4NT: With all suits under cotnrol, East trots out Blackwood/RKCB/1430. I'll assume RKCB here.
5C: 0 or 3 key cards, but the 2C opening and cue-bid assure 3.
--5H: Queen ask. Many would use 5D but I find it dangerous to use suits which have been bid naturally for such purposes. East knows one key card is missing but should bid slam unless also missing the club Queen.
5NT or 6C: some play first step denies the Queen, second shows (5NT here), others play 5 of the agreed suit denies, other bids show the Queen along with a King if any. Here, West cannot afford to bid 6D but can use 6C to say "Q+ some other King".
--Pass or 6C: As East is counting on a ruffing value, it would be a serious error for either player to "correct" to 6NT. Far more slams can be made with a trump suit than without.
West wins any lead, clears the King of diamonds, cashes the Ace of spades and ruffs a spade, pitches the third spade on the Ace of diamonds, pulls trumps and concedes a heart. The slam would fail on a 4-0 trump split or a 5-1 heart split (allowing a defensive ruff), neither very likely.
As this hand illustrates, it is often the weaker hand that must push to slam after a strong opening. West's 2C,3C,3NT sequence is a good description of this powerhouse.
No hand records since the boards were hand-dealt, but I jotted down the first board we played:
Neither vulnerable, North deals, IMP scoring. West - East hands:
AJ7 3
KQ3 J654
K A10642
AKQ852 1043
West opens a strong 2C in fourth seat, and East replies 2D (negative, waiting, or semi-positive) or 2H (steps, 4-6 hcp) depending on partnership style. I prefer the 2H "super-bust", 2D = 4+ artificial; some define 2D as at least one Ace or King. "Steps" is often inefficient as the 2H and 2S responses are more common than 2D. However, let me proceed assuming a 4-6 step response:
2C-2H; 3C: East's response creates an absolute game force, West should not open 2C if he doesn't want to be in game opposite 4 hcp. So West can start describing his hand by bidding his long suit. On a bad day opposite a busted partner, West's hand might take only 7 tricks, but the clubs will usually produce 6 and partner's values should combine with some of Wet's 13 hcp outside of clubs. A more reasonable estimate would be 9 1/2 tricks, and partner's response should provide 1-2 more in high cards alone. That's 11 tricks; if partner can ruff something or provide a long suit discard slam is within reach.
--3D: East might raise clubs immediately, but his hand will be more useful if partner fits diamonds or hearts, and bidding diamonds allows partner to re-evelaute any diamond honors.
3NT: West does not know of a fit; he has shown a huge hand and now bids the obvious game.
--4C: East's Ace plus singleton is enough to try for slam. 4C should be veiwed as forward-going, not fear of notrump.
4H: West cue-bids a control; 4D might sound like support.
--4NT: With all suits under cotnrol, East trots out Blackwood/RKCB/1430. I'll assume RKCB here.
5C: 0 or 3 key cards, but the 2C opening and cue-bid assure 3.
--5H: Queen ask. Many would use 5D but I find it dangerous to use suits which have been bid naturally for such purposes. East knows one key card is missing but should bid slam unless also missing the club Queen.
5NT or 6C: some play first step denies the Queen, second shows (5NT here), others play 5 of the agreed suit denies, other bids show the Queen along with a King if any. Here, West cannot afford to bid 6D but can use 6C to say "Q+ some other King".
--Pass or 6C: As East is counting on a ruffing value, it would be a serious error for either player to "correct" to 6NT. Far more slams can be made with a trump suit than without.
West wins any lead, clears the King of diamonds, cashes the Ace of spades and ruffs a spade, pitches the third spade on the Ace of diamonds, pulls trumps and concedes a heart. The slam would fail on a 4-0 trump split or a 5-1 heart split (allowing a defensive ruff), neither very likely.
As this hand illustrates, it is often the weaker hand that must push to slam after a strong opening. West's 2C,3C,3NT sequence is a good description of this powerhouse.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Friday, 12/10/2010
Right-click here for hands.
Board 7: West has choice of opening 1S or 1D. With such strong diamonds and fairly weak spades, I'm inclined to open the longer suit.With these 6-5 hands, ask yourself if you are comfortable bidding the major at a high level if the opponents preempt in your shortest suit; here, I'm willing to bid spades over any club bid.
North should preempt 3C at this vulnerability and East is strong enough to chime in with 3H; the diamond fit helps. This bid should be treated as forcing; East's hand is unlimited. With four trumps and a singleton, South should leap to 5C. Who knows who can make what, but 5C is apt to either make or be a good sacrifice.
West wonders if he should've opened 1S after all, and whether his side has slam. He has too much unrevelaed shape to consider defending 5C; partner may have stretched his 3H bid in competition but should have something useful. 5S will probably find the proper strain but risks doing so at too high a level, so I would settle for 5D as West. North has already told his story and has nothing to add. East wonders if 5H or 6D would be better; add the ten of hearts and I would rebid the suit, but I would pass 5D rather than guess to raise with no Ace or rebid the hearts which could be a misfit.
As it happens, E/W have an incredible triple fit, but the 5-0 spade break is disastrous with such weak trumps. Five of either red suit scores well. On this kind of wild auction, I'm glad I bid my strongest suit rather than the shorter and weaker major. On another day, of course, spades would be the magic place to play.
Board 11: West's hand is too strong for a weak two, with three first round controls, a four-card major and good intermediates. It's a classic Goren 13 count or "Rule of 20" one diamond opener. The aces should please partner at any contract while the diamonds provide a good source of tricks.
East makes a disappointing but not surprising response of 2C, and West rebids diamonds to limit his hand. If East had hearts, he would bid them sooner or later so West need not fear to lose the major. Over 2D, East tries 3NT.
North may have overcalled in spades, which takes South off a guess for the lead. Failing that, South likely leads his fourth-best heart. Assuming a spade lead, East can hope for 5 diamond tricks, 2 spades, a heart and a club. The key is to have an entry back to diamonds once they are established. Ducking the spade might allow an inspired switch to clubs, so East should win the first spade with the King and run the Queen of diamonds. Normal technique would be to lead a low diamond toward the Queen, but there aren't enough sure entries for that line. Running the Queen will work if South has either or both diamond honors, roughly a 75% chance.
South covers the Queen, dummy takes the Ace and East leads another diamond to establish the suit. North wins and continues spades; East has a problem -- win and he can't afford to lose a heart to either defender, or hold up and he may not have an entry to the diamonds. Not everyone will be in 3NT so East should go all out to make 3NT which means holding up and hoping. North knows that leading another spade lets declarer into dummy, but he also knows the Queen of hearts is a probable entry. A club switch could hand declarer his ninth trick if he has the Queen. I expect North would lead another spade. Declarer cashes the diamonds, pitching clubs, and leads the Queen of hearts -- he needs South to have the Ace (North has the setting tricks in spades) and he needs an entry to the Ace of clubs. Whether South wins or ducks, the Jack of hearts drops on the next round and East scores his game.
Five diamonds also succeeds as long as West does not guess to finesse the wrong way against the Jack of hearts.
Board 7: West has choice of opening 1S or 1D. With such strong diamonds and fairly weak spades, I'm inclined to open the longer suit.With these 6-5 hands, ask yourself if you are comfortable bidding the major at a high level if the opponents preempt in your shortest suit; here, I'm willing to bid spades over any club bid.
North should preempt 3C at this vulnerability and East is strong enough to chime in with 3H; the diamond fit helps. This bid should be treated as forcing; East's hand is unlimited. With four trumps and a singleton, South should leap to 5C. Who knows who can make what, but 5C is apt to either make or be a good sacrifice.
West wonders if he should've opened 1S after all, and whether his side has slam. He has too much unrevelaed shape to consider defending 5C; partner may have stretched his 3H bid in competition but should have something useful. 5S will probably find the proper strain but risks doing so at too high a level, so I would settle for 5D as West. North has already told his story and has nothing to add. East wonders if 5H or 6D would be better; add the ten of hearts and I would rebid the suit, but I would pass 5D rather than guess to raise with no Ace or rebid the hearts which could be a misfit.
As it happens, E/W have an incredible triple fit, but the 5-0 spade break is disastrous with such weak trumps. Five of either red suit scores well. On this kind of wild auction, I'm glad I bid my strongest suit rather than the shorter and weaker major. On another day, of course, spades would be the magic place to play.
Board 11: West's hand is too strong for a weak two, with three first round controls, a four-card major and good intermediates. It's a classic Goren 13 count or "Rule of 20" one diamond opener. The aces should please partner at any contract while the diamonds provide a good source of tricks.
East makes a disappointing but not surprising response of 2C, and West rebids diamonds to limit his hand. If East had hearts, he would bid them sooner or later so West need not fear to lose the major. Over 2D, East tries 3NT.
North may have overcalled in spades, which takes South off a guess for the lead. Failing that, South likely leads his fourth-best heart. Assuming a spade lead, East can hope for 5 diamond tricks, 2 spades, a heart and a club. The key is to have an entry back to diamonds once they are established. Ducking the spade might allow an inspired switch to clubs, so East should win the first spade with the King and run the Queen of diamonds. Normal technique would be to lead a low diamond toward the Queen, but there aren't enough sure entries for that line. Running the Queen will work if South has either or both diamond honors, roughly a 75% chance.
South covers the Queen, dummy takes the Ace and East leads another diamond to establish the suit. North wins and continues spades; East has a problem -- win and he can't afford to lose a heart to either defender, or hold up and he may not have an entry to the diamonds. Not everyone will be in 3NT so East should go all out to make 3NT which means holding up and hoping. North knows that leading another spade lets declarer into dummy, but he also knows the Queen of hearts is a probable entry. A club switch could hand declarer his ninth trick if he has the Queen. I expect North would lead another spade. Declarer cashes the diamonds, pitching clubs, and leads the Queen of hearts -- he needs South to have the Ace (North has the setting tricks in spades) and he needs an entry to the Ace of clubs. Whether South wins or ducks, the Jack of hearts drops on the next round and East scores his game.
Five diamonds also succeeds as long as West does not guess to finesse the wrong way against the Jack of hearts.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday, 12/5/10
Right-click here for hands. 9 1/2 tables, including 8 99er pairs.
Board 1: North passes, East opens 1H, South overcalls 1S or 2S (looks more like 1S to me but styles differ.) West, with 5 trumps, a singleton, and less than 10 points (ignoring the spade King) has a classic jump to 4H. Partner may or may not make this bid but you don't want to defend any part-score with this much shape. North might bid 4S but he has some defense and fairly shapeless hand; if South bid a weak 2S (suggesting more offense and less defense than 1S) 4S might be a reasonable sacrifice. If South overcalled 1S and 4H is passed back to him, his void argues for bidding again but his empty suit and fair defense argue for passing. If North or South bid 4S East should double for penalty.
Against 4H, South leads the safe Jack of diamonds (unless West bid them.) East wins and leads a spade to establish a discard; the defense collects two Aces. Against 4S doubled, West leads the King of diamonds. East doesn not want to ruff with his natural trump trick and so plays the six. West cannot be sure who has what -- declarer might have AJ9; he switches to a heart and South grabs the Ace and discards a diamond. The defense collects 2 spades, 2 diamonds and a club for a disappointing +300; a club, spade, or low diamond lead would've netted +500 and a top, but the darn cards are awfully hard to see through.
Board 5: North passes, East opens 1H (way too good for 3H or 4H), South ovecalls 1S and West bids 2D.
North raises to 2S; now what for East? 3H would be encouraging, and won't often be passed, but why risk it? East has 7 1/2 tricks and partner has shown 10+ points and a diamond suit, which should cover some of East's losers. East needs no support and so should bid 4H and wonder if he's bidding enough!
South may bid 4S but probably passes at this vulnerability, he has no exceptional source of tricks. West has 7 tricks himself, controls the spade suit, and if they bid and raised spades can fully expect partner's values to be elsewhere. 4NT, Blackwood or Roman Key-Card, produces a 5H (two aces) or 5S (two key-cards plus the Queen of Hearts.) Either 6H or 6D is reasonable, I selected 6D since the trumps were solid, and, if partner is missing the King of hearts, he might have the King of clubs allowing me to pitch a heart. (He would need a late trump entry for me to use his hearts to dump my spades.) Either slam socres well; no need to risk going down at 7.
Board 1: North passes, East opens 1H, South overcalls 1S or 2S (looks more like 1S to me but styles differ.) West, with 5 trumps, a singleton, and less than 10 points (ignoring the spade King) has a classic jump to 4H. Partner may or may not make this bid but you don't want to defend any part-score with this much shape. North might bid 4S but he has some defense and fairly shapeless hand; if South bid a weak 2S (suggesting more offense and less defense than 1S) 4S might be a reasonable sacrifice. If South overcalled 1S and 4H is passed back to him, his void argues for bidding again but his empty suit and fair defense argue for passing. If North or South bid 4S East should double for penalty.
Against 4H, South leads the safe Jack of diamonds (unless West bid them.) East wins and leads a spade to establish a discard; the defense collects two Aces. Against 4S doubled, West leads the King of diamonds. East doesn not want to ruff with his natural trump trick and so plays the six. West cannot be sure who has what -- declarer might have AJ9; he switches to a heart and South grabs the Ace and discards a diamond. The defense collects 2 spades, 2 diamonds and a club for a disappointing +300; a club, spade, or low diamond lead would've netted +500 and a top, but the darn cards are awfully hard to see through.
Board 5: North passes, East opens 1H (way too good for 3H or 4H), South ovecalls 1S and West bids 2D.
North raises to 2S; now what for East? 3H would be encouraging, and won't often be passed, but why risk it? East has 7 1/2 tricks and partner has shown 10+ points and a diamond suit, which should cover some of East's losers. East needs no support and so should bid 4H and wonder if he's bidding enough!
South may bid 4S but probably passes at this vulnerability, he has no exceptional source of tricks. West has 7 tricks himself, controls the spade suit, and if they bid and raised spades can fully expect partner's values to be elsewhere. 4NT, Blackwood or Roman Key-Card, produces a 5H (two aces) or 5S (two key-cards plus the Queen of Hearts.) Either 6H or 6D is reasonable, I selected 6D since the trumps were solid, and, if partner is missing the King of hearts, he might have the King of clubs allowing me to pitch a heart. (He would need a late trump entry for me to use his hearts to dump my spades.) Either slam socres well; no need to risk going down at 7.
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