Wednesday, 3/9/2011

Right-click here for hands.

Competition Corner -- Board 18:

South opens 1C, West overcalls 1D, North responds 1S -- does this show 4 or 5? Probably most play that a negative double after specifically 1C-(1D) shows 4-4 in the majors, but some double with only 4 and promise 5 if they bid. I would assume most Kennedy Club bidders have that understanding.

East raises to 2D; the hand seems a bit strong for a preemptive 3D bid. Penalty doubles are rarely useful below the 3 level when the opponents bid and raise a suit, so South can double to show a desire to compete but no obvious bid. West has no reason to bid again with his balanced shape; North bids his hearts, which reveals his 5-4 shape (with 4-4, he would clearly have doubled 1D.) East competes to 3D based not on any extra high cards but on his extra shape -- a fourth trump and side five card suit. In competitive bidding, where both sides may be able to make a part score, bidding freely says nothing about high card strength but instead reveals a hand more suitable for offense than defense. South competes to 3H on the same basis -- a known double fit plus the shortage in diamonds (at least there won't be three fast losers.) West passes -- the only plausible bid would be double to show extra high cards (compared to the 8 or so promised by his overcall) but the opponents have just volunteered for the three level, neither game nor the desirable two level for part-scores. Why rescue them? North has minimal values, including the dubious King of diamonds (it won't combine with anything in partner's hand on this auction, and may or may not be located over the Ace) and having already revealed his shape has nothing to add.

With both majors breaking well and both of North's Kings favorably placed, game can be made in either major, but only one N/S pair managed as much as +140.

Slamarama:

Board 9: East has a borderline opening, with 11 hcp but a Goren 13 count. It fails the Rule of 20 -- the Goren short-suit count is a bit more aggressive on three-suiters, due to the high probability of a 4-4 or better fit. The stiff Ace should be devalued but two the two tens are encouraging,

Assuming East passes, South has a clear second-seat pass, deducting for both the stiff Queen and no Ace. West opens 1S, East trots out Reverse Drury or perhaps blasts to game; a splinter 4C bid is possible but I usually avoid that with a stiff Ace or King since partner will discount high cards opposite the short suit. We were the only pair to reach slam after a Precision 1D opening (11-15 with 2+ diamonds) and strong jump shift. The opening heart lead was ducked to the King and I think South returned the Jack, establishing the fourth heart for me to discard my diamond loser.

Board 10: East has an excellent 3C opening but Axxx support for spades argues for an initial pass. South has an equally wild hand; expecting E/W to have a big spade fit, an offbeat 2D or 2D opening might steal some bidding room, but again pass looks normal. West opens 1S (or overcalls 2S if South opened) and East's hand becomes worthy of inviting slam. A splinter bid of 4H is possible; better is a passed hand jump to 3C, promising a good suit and four-card support for partner. This should be the agreement of every pair that plays strong jump shifts, and is probably better than weak jumps after both opponents have passed, but could be hard to remember. West has excellent controls and a fitting honor in clubs; 4NT confirms partner has an Ace and West knows with 10 trumps no spade loser is likely; the clubs can probably be established, but seven is not clear-cut as partner passed originally and bad breaks could be fatal. 6S seems a reasonable contract, and in fact no pairs bid it so bidding the grand would be an unnecessary risk.

In the play, West may lead the Jack of trumps from his hand and North must be prepared to duck smoothly -- there is nothing to promote by covering. West is apt to go up with the Ace and expostulate when South shows out. However, another spade, then Ace and King of clubs establishes all the tricks needed for slam.

***continued***

 Board 19: South might preempt 3S, not vul vs.vul, but I'm not a fan of bidding such weak hands -- the enemy has enough strength to bid freely, and partner probably has enough to get you in trouble. West opens 1D, North might overcall but should pass for lack of the usual 8 hcp minimum for one level overcalls. Many an East bid 3NT if the bidding developed this way at their table; with a good source of tricks and good slam controls, I would start with 2C. West jumps to 3D to show his extra strength and strong suit. East should like his hand but 16+13 = 29, not enough for slam; East bids 3NT. West, however, has 17 hcp plus a six card suit and a fit for partner' clubs; a heart control and an Ace should be enough. West bids 4C; removing 3NT to 4 of a minor is a clear slam try unless you've already limited your hand. East would like to ask about key cards for diamonds or have partner ask for clubs, but 4NT appears to ask about clubs while bidding 4D probably forces partner to ask. Instead, cue-bid 4H, which allows West to bid 4NT, RKCB for clubs. East shows three key cards (5C in regular, 5D in 1430 style; the cue-bid eliminates the possibility of 0), then 5H (cheapest suit that can't be trumps) asks about the Queen. East makes a positive reply (5NT either as second step = yes or as yes, but no side King to show.) If both minors run West can count 13 tricks; the Jack of clubs solidifies that suit, but partner might have only one diamond or the suit could break 4-1. Best slam choices would be 6NT or 7C, where a ruff could set up the diamonds if needed, hoping for a 13th trick elsewhere. Not surprisingly, with only 30 hcp only two pairs reached slam --  no need to risk bidding seven.

Board 23: South's suit is below par for a vulnerable weak two, so West may be able to start with a strong 2C. East replies 2D negative, waiting, semi-positive (where 2H = bust) or 2H ("steps", 4-6.) I favor 2H = 0-3, 2D = 4+ (forcing to game.) So, 2C-2D; 2H-2NT; 3H-4H. Neither partner has enough extra to move beyond game.

If South opens 2S, West starts with a double, and East bids a lebensohl 2NT to show a weak hand (0-6 hcp generally.) This asks West to bid 3C with a normal takeout double, but here West follows through with his planned rebid of 4H, arriving at the same place.

Board 26: South has normal opening bid values and a seven card suit; some might open 4S or a Namyats 4D but 1S should be routine. West's crummy collection is not worth a double with no Ace, four points in a doubleton, and only three card support for the unbid major. North has a fit for spades and a hand full of slam controls, but slam may be better in either red suit where the spades can be used for discards. North starts with 2D. Assuming a modern style where a 2/1 bid is forcing to at least 2NT if not game, South can simply rebid 2S without fear of partner passing. North now raises spades, to 3 if the 2D bid was game-forcing, to 4 if it wasn't. South counts roughly 8 tricks (6 spades and the two Kings); partner has forced to game, which suggests 4 cover cards, so slam may be on. Bidding beyond 4S looks risky but the 2/1 GF style leaves room for a 4C control bid. North can then ask for key cards (5D or 5C = 1) followed by a 5H bid to check on the Queen (5NT = yes, or 5H = yes, plus this King.)

The King of diamonds opening lead puts the slam in immediate peril. South must dispose of the second diamond, and so must guess one opponent or the other for Qxx or Qxxx in hearts. South can stand to lose a trump but not a heart; so, low heart or Jack to the King, heart to the Jack or Ten, dump the diamond on the Ace of hearts, and finally take the losing finesse in spades.

Board 27: I would probably open South's hand 3C at this vulnerability at matchpoints, but most probably passed. If it looks like a good weak two in a suit I don't play weak twos, I go ahead and open 3 not vulnerable. Assuming South passes, West counts 10 tricks and a wealth of controls, easily good enough for a strong 2C. East should respond 3NT: 10-12 hcp, a balanced hand, but not very good slam controls. West can expect some of those points to cover his spade and heart loser, and hope partner has three diamonds or Qx or the suit breaks 2-2 -- 2C-3NT; 7D! "Step" responders might bid 2C-2NT (10-12); 3D-3S; 4D (West is uncertain how many diamonds partner has)-4NT; 5C or 5D (4 key cards)-6D, and now West can assume no diamond loser and take a shot at 7D.

If the 3NT response is not one partner would understand, the bidding may begin 2C-2D (4+ GF); 3D-3S; 4D, East should again drive to 6D with 11 hcp opposite a 2C opener; and West can again bid 7D once he's confident of some diamond support. 3 pairs of 9 bid the grand (one doubled), and four more bid six of something.

Board 31: After two passes, North may preempt 3S, but pass would be normal vulnerable vs. not. East has a terrific hand but only about 7 tricks if partner cannot respond to a one bid, so 1H rather than 2C is best. West bids a natural, passed-hand 2D, East leaps to 4NT (or 4D if that's agreed as Minorwood), West shows one key card, East continues with 5S as a Queen ask (not 5H, that might be passed!), West answers "yes" (6C, or 6D "yes, no King I can afford to show.") Here, either black King is probably enough for East to bid the grand slam. West has tricks to burn.

Norths who preempted (such as against us) scored well since East is apt to make the practical bid of 3NT and West has no ideas of slam.

Board 34: South opens a slightly off-shape 1NT (15-17). North transfers to spades and then rebids a game-forcing 3D, showing his second suit and some doubt about 3NT, such as a singleton or interest in slam. South bids 3NT with both unbid suits well-controlled. North continues with 5NT, "pick a slam." This may be a slight stretch but there are at least 32 hcp and North has good shape if partner fits either suit, or the spades may split 3-3 or opener may have Jx. South bids 6D or, if he thinks carefully about what partner must have for such bidding, 7D. Quite a hand when 6NT making 7 nets an average score!