Friday, December 20th 2013

Board 1 North Deals None Vul	♠ J 8 4 ♥ A 9 7 ♦ 10 7 6 4 3 ♣ Q 7
♠ K ♥ J 6 4 3 ♦ K J 9 5 2 ♣ J 6 4	N W E S	♠ A 5 3 ♥ K Q 5 ♦ A Q 8 ♣ A 10 9 5
	♠ Q 10 9 7 6 2 ♥ 10 8 2 ♦ — ♣ K 8 3 2

East, in between a 1NT and 2NT opening, starts with 1C. West responds either 1D or 1H according to style; those of you who think 1H is ‘automatic” with this hand, be sure to check the box “Frequently bypass 4+ ♦” and be aware that not everyone bids that way. For my money I’d rather bid the good diamonds, steering partner toward a good notrump contract or possibly diamond slam, than the crummy hearts; when the opponents aren’t bidding I think information helps us more than them. But many experts will skip over diamonds unless they have a game-going hand. If you do ignore such a suit, your plan should be to continue to ignore it – if you bid diamonds later, that definitely shows 5+ hearts and at least game-invitational strength. As with many methods learned “at the table”, many don’t seem to have caught the full implications of such a style.

Regardless, East rebids 2NT and West raises to game. With a small singleton West might try another bid, but it’s usually right to stick to notrump with a stiff high honor and no major suit fit.

Not vulnerable, South may stick in a weak 2S jump over East’s 1C. Given the 6-4 shape I’d call that reasonable. West, looking at 9 hcp and four hearts, may try a negative double, but I’d be worried about that stiff King in the enemy suit. East has any easy 3NT bid over the double, expecting to shut South out by holding the Ace up once or twice. If you don’t like those odds passing for penalties is also reasonable. East can expect to take 4 tricks out of his own hand and partner should contribute two or three – there’s plenty of margin for error. After 1C-(2S)-dbl-(all pass), West should lead his King of trumps. Partner will surely have a high honor for his pass and is apt to misdefend looking for cards elsewhere in your hand. After the King holds the first trick, West shifts to a low heart. East can play two more rounds of hearts when he gets in, limiting declarer to four trumps, a heart and a club for +500 E/W.

If West passes the 2S jump, East re-opens with 2NT. This should be taken as a hand too strong to open notrump rather than, say, 14 hcp. East may re-open on a minimal hand short in spades but must have considerable extras to bid again with no shortage. With that understanding West has an easy raise to game.

 

Board 2 East Deals N-S Vul	♠ 8 ♥ K 7 6 2 ♦ J 6 5 4 ♣ A 7 5 2
♠ K 6 5 3 ♥ A 10 ♦ 9 8 3 ♣ K Q J 4	N W E S	♠ A Q 7 4 2 ♥ 8 4 ♦ A K 10 7 2 ♣ 10
	♠ J 10 9 ♥ Q J 9 5 3 ♦ Q ♣ 9 8 6 3

East opens 1S and West has a classic game-forcing raise; the popular method is Jacoby 2NT. East can rebid 3C to show his singleton but I think 4D showing his 5-5 shape with minimum range but concentrated values is better. Neither bid should excite West and 4S should end the bidding. Give West the Queen of diamonds instead of the Queen of clubs, however, and slam would be excellent. (Note: some older versions of Jacoby used the jump rebid to show a void, so don’t make this bid without prior discussion – better to bid 3C and talk about it later. You cannot safely assume either agreement.)

Twelve tricks are easy on anything but a heart lead. If South does lead a heart, East should grab the Ace and play the Ace and Queen of trumps, noting the 3-1 split. Lacking another entry to dummy, declarer should try a high diamond next, risking a ruff only if the suit is 5-0. When South drops his Quack (Queen or Jack), declarer pulls the last trump with the King and can apply the Rule of Restricted Choice – North is a 2-1 favorite to hold the other Quack. The finesse works and declarer can pick up the suit, pitching his losing heart. I think I’d play the same way whether in game or slam – this doesn’t look like a slam many will bid, so I would play for the max rather than hoping the slam fails.

 

Board 4 West Deals Both Vul	♠ 5 3 ♥ Q 7 3 ♦ 9 6 5 ♣ Q 9 7 5 4
♠ Q 10 8 ♥ A 8 5 2 ♦ A K Q ♣ 10 3 2	N W E S	♠ A K 7 6 2 ♥ K J 4 ♦ J 7 4 2 ♣ A
	♠ J 9 4 ♥ 10 9 6 ♦ 10 8 3 ♣ K J 8 6

 

West opens 1NT and East starts thinking slam. One approach would be to transfer and then rebid 3D, natural and forcing; but the diamonds are rather weak and that sequence could be based on mere game-going values. A more straightforward bid is 3S, natural, 5+ in length and with slam interest. Note that East and West have similar strength so there is no reason to worry about not transferring. Over 3S, West would bid 3NT to deny support or 4S to show poor controls; otherwise, as here, West cue-bids his cheapest control (4D.) That neatly cover’s East’s problem suit and a Blackwood or Key Card auction should end at 6S. Although E/W have all five key cards plus the Queen of trumps, there is no evidence they have enough strength to consider a grand slam, and 6S will often outscore 6NT by providing time to develop an extra trick.

Twelve tricks are easy and declarer can safely take the heart finesse for thirteen. At 6NT a club lead would make that too scary – but North may not risk underleading a high card at 6NT.

Board 5 North Deals N-S Vul	♠ A 7 5 2 ♥ 6 5 4 ♦ K 9 3 ♣ A 10 2
♠ 8 6 ♥ A K 10 8 7 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ Q 7 4	N W E S	♠ Q 10 9 3 ♥ J 3 ♦ A J 8 6 ♣ 8 6 5
	♠ K J 4 ♥ Q 9 ♦ 10 7 5 2 ♣ K J 9 3

 

How strong should a fourth seat weak two be? After three passes, West must surely open something; partner is marked with some values and West should expect to take 8 or 9 tricks with hearts as trumps. There is a popular notion, however, that since you would not open a 6 or 7 point hand in this situation, a weak two doesn’t exist and the bid shows better than an opening bid. I have yet to find an expert recommending that method: Howard Schenken says 10+-13; the Bridge Encyclopedia says “maximum weak two values, but rare”; Larry Cohen says 10-14; Richard Pavlicek says at least 8.  Schenken gives the logic that you must expect a plus score to open at all, but I feel like a good nine count qualifies, especially with a good suit. On the “Describe” line for two bids I write “4^th seat 9-12.” Unfortunately, the persistence of home-cooked opinions that such a bid shows 16 points or so means that you cannot use the bid in 4^th seat without prior discussion. So, West opens 1H on today’s 11 count unless partner will clearly understand 2H to include this range. 2H is better competitively but not worth the risk of a misunderstanding.

North doubles 1H with maximum passed-hand values despite his poor shape; he hopes partner can compete in spades but can tolerate either minor or even notrump. East should bid 1S – many doubles are made with only three cards in the unbid major and as far as East knows there could be a good 4-4 fit and a friendly split. I see little reason for South to take any action over 1S; it appears the opponents may not have a fit; why rescue them? Some may double “for the minors” but since North has implied spades, this double is often played for penalties. It certainly doesn’t qualify as a “responsive double”, which requires the opponents to have bid and raised a suit. It should be takeout only if you’ve agreed that no double of one of a suit can be for penalties. And that agreement seems to allow East to psyche a 1S bid any time he has two or three small spades and a heart fit, but many experts such as Larry Cohen do play that way. Today’s theme seems to be “bids you can’t make without discussion.”

If South prudently passes West rebids his hearts which likely ends the auction. Give South one of East’s spades, however, and N/S could probably make 2S. An original 2H opening both makes it harder for N/S to find such a fit and puts partner in good position to decide how high to compete.

Board 9 North Deals E-W Vul	♠ 8 4 ♥ K 9 4 ♦ K Q 6 4 2 ♣ Q 4 3
♠ A K 10 9 7 ♥ Q ♦ A 10 8 ♣ J 10 6 5	N W E S	♠ Q J 5 3 2 ♥ A 10 8 6 3 2 ♦ — ♣ K 8
	♠ 6 ♥ J 7 5 ♦ J 9 7 5 3 ♣ A 9 7 2

East, holding a nice 5-6-0-2 hand, may open or pass. This qualifies as a basic Goren 13 count or Rule of 20 opening; passing can easily  miss a game. However, with only 1 ½ quick tricks and ten hcp, this must be considered borderline and probably isn’t safe in a 2/1 Game Force style. If you open, should it be 1H or 1S? You can’t expect to show the full 5-6 shape, so basically you must decide whether to treat the hand as 5-5 or 4-6. Since the suits are comparable in quality (two honors each) I’d prefer 1S to 1H. Is vulnerability a factor here? Not much in my opinion – vulnerable, it can be safer to bid earlier rather than later, and stretching can cause partner to overbid or misjudge a penalty situation. I open a lot of shapely 10 counts and would probably open this one, but if you pass you might be able to show your 2-suiter later without overstating your values. One guideline is to treat “shape” as a substitute for Queen and Jack points, not Aces and Kings. That’s why Goren specified two quick tricks for borderline openings, but I’ll admit I often stretch that point when I have at least an Ace and a King. If the five card suit were a minor I might open 2H.

Over 1S West forces to game; a 4H splinter is best if that’s in the arsenal, otherwise Jacoby 2NT or, lacking any forcing raise, 2C followed by a jump raise. The hand is way too strong for a direct 4S, which could be the same shape but without either high spade. The splinter allows East to consider his chances at slam (!); a 4-2 heart split is likely, so it may take three ruffs to establish the suit. However, if West has the two high trumps and the Ace of clubs ( a mere 11 hcp) East could afford one losing heart. (West’s actual five-card support also works, but I’m unaware of any method to convey that information.) A 4NT bid appears to be risky, since you won’t know if partner has the wasted Ace of diamonds; but the combined chances of a 3-3 hearts split and partner having the Ace of clubs improves the odds. Since many will not open East’s hand I’d settle for 4S as did my partner.

If East passes West opens 1S, and now East knows about the huge fit. A rare passed-hand splinter (4D) encourages West – he can plan on ruffing his two little clubs. But it is hard to count 12 tricks, not knowing about the heart length or the lucky 3-3 split. And the King of clubs is exposed played from West’s side. This does not seem like a slam that can reasonably be bid without guessing. (At a team game, facing strong opponents, slam would be a great “swing” bid.)

Board 10 East Deals Both Vul	♠ 9 8 3 ♥ J 2 ♦ 8 6 5 2 ♣ 7 6 3 2
♠ K J 6 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ A Q 7 4 3 ♣ 8 5	N W E S	♠ A 10 7 5 ♥ Q 10 8 6 3 ♦ J ♣ A K J
	♠ Q 4 ♥ A 9 7 4 ♦ K 10 9 ♣ Q 10 9 4

East opens 1H; West bids 2D. Regardless of style on weaker hands, when you have full opening bid values, start with your best suit. There are several reasons: you do not want partner to avoid notrump if he is short in diamonds; there may be slam on a 5-4 fit; if the bidding turns competitive 2D lets partner know “it’s our hand”; and bidding your longer suit will help partner’s judgment if the enemy does compete – shortage there will favor defending, while length favors declaring. You can bid spades next in almost any auction, clearly showing exactly four.

East, with 15 hcp, has enough extras to force to game with 2S; 15+ 10 = 25. A reverse after a two-level response does not need 17 points, but does show extras and is game-forcing.  (An exception may be made for auctions beginning 1D-2C, where opener often lacks a five-card suit to rebid.) Weaker 4-5 hands can rebid 2H or 2NT, whichever is the agreed default (“nothing else looks right”) rebid. Those who think “partner would bid spades if he had them” should write “majors always first” somewhere on their convention card, but few experts endorse such an extreme treatment. West raises to 3S; even in a standard style this should promise extra values since a 10 or 11 point hand should not skip over the major. As with most hands today, you can’t be sure of much of anything without prior discussion.

So, East can figure on 27+ hcp, a 4-4 fit and a likely crossruff. There do not appear to be many losers, but are there 12 tricks? 27 hcp should produce 9 high card tricks; if trumps split 3-2 there will be an extra trump in each hand; and the fifth heart or diamond should be establishable for one more. Visualizing, West might have KQxx Kx Axxxx xx and you could always fall back on the club finesse if neither red suit behaved. But that’s a “perfect minimum” and slam is far from cold, so even the five level may not be safe; partner will often have more of his strength in diamonds, such as today’s actual hand. Trumps do in fact split 3-2, the Jack of hearts falls, and the diamond finesse wins; I’d call this one lucky and be happy to score +480 at 4S. No one bid this slam.

 

Board 22 East Deals E-W Vul	♠ A Q J ♥ J 6 5 2 ♦ K J 2 ♣ A Q 7
♠ K 6 5 3 ♥ Q ♦ A Q 10 6 5 4 3 ♣ 10	N W E S	♠ 9 7 4 ♥ 9 8 4 3 ♦ 9 8 ♣ J 5 4 2
	♠ 10 8 2 ♥ A K 10 7 ♦ 7 ♣ K 9 8 6 3

With 11 tables, at least one N/S pair must have missed both this board and #25. Ouch! After two passes, West may contemplate a preempt on his 4-7 “swan”, but I think I’d open 1D rather than risk missing a spade fit. North may overcall 1NT (15-18), but over a minor I prefer a tighter 15-17 range and would double first, planning to bid notrump later. I’m sure 1NT was the popular choice; North would likewise bid 2NT over an off-beat 2D (please don’t take such a non-jump call as Unusual!) or 3NT over 3D. With 18, North simply must do something. One guideline over preempts is to assume partner has a useful 7 count.

After 1D-1NT, South bids 2C (Stayman.) West rebids his diamonds, but a jump would be too risky vulnerable into the teeth of a notrump overcall. North shows hearts; should South contemplate slam? South’s hand counts 7 losers; partner probably needs 17-18 hcp to cover six of those, and it would be safest to assume some wastage in diamonds given his notrump overcall. I think I would settle for game. If South did want to make a move, what can he do? Anyone familiar with splinters ought to read a 4D jump that way and that looks like the most descriptive bid: fit for hearts, singleton or void in diamonds, slam interest. North has extras but poor trumps and the King-Jack in diamonds will not be as useful as the Ace or the same points elsewhere.

Against 4H East may as well lead a diamond; forcing dummy to ruff early may give declarer problems. There’s no point in leading a trump to cut down on ruffs as partner will not be able to continue them and East cannot regain the lead. West wins his Ace and counts 11 hcp in his own hand, 10 in dummy and 15-18 for declarer. That leaves 1-4 for partner, and it appears  from the lead they aren’t in diamonds. Useful cards would include the Ace or Queen of spades or the Ace of clubs; there seems little chance of defeating 4S. I guess I would try a low spade. North confidently finesses (West did open, after all) and plays a low trump to dummy. When West’s Queen drops, declarer crosses to hand with a club, noting West’s ten. What’s going on -- two short suits? Well, West did show at least 6 diamonds. Anyway declarer can try one more trump. When West shows out, a singleton club seems unlikely; might West have been splitting honors in clubs? Well, game will make in any case so declarer can finish pulling trumps and lead another club toward his hand. When West also shows out there it’s easy to finesse in clubs and claim twelve tricks. Note that a 3D opening would probably lead to N/S playing in either 3NT or a makeable slam.

 

 

 

 

 

Board 25 North Deals E-W Vul	♠ Q 8 5 3 ♥ A J 10 8 6 ♦ J 10 ♣ A 4
♠ J 6 ♥ Q 7 2 ♦ Q 9 8 7 4 2 ♣ 9 3	N W E S	♠ 7 2 ♥ 5 4 3 ♦ K 5 3 ♣ Q 10 7 6 2
	♠ A K 10 9 4 ♥ K 9 ♦ A 6 ♣ K J 8 5

North opens 1H; South has more than enough for a strong jump shift, but most American bidders would settle for a nebulous 1S response. North raises to 2S and now South jumps anyway, to 4NT. What exactly were we saving that bidding room for? North replies 5H (two Aces) or 5S (two key cards plus the Queen of trumps.) South confirms “all of the above” with 5NT and North denies any Kings (or non-trump kings) with 6C. OK, give North the two Aces, the Queen and 45xx shape. Pulling three rounds of trumps and ruffing two hearts should set up the fifth one; 4 spades + 5 hearts/heart ruffs + A AK in the minors = 12 tricks. So, any of the Queen of hearts, the Queen of clubs, a 2-2 trump split, a 3-3 heart split or the club finesse could provide trick 13. This looks like a good shot for grand slam. Partner turns out to have only a couple of extra Jacks but anything declarer tries works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board 33 North Deals None Vul	♠ Q 8 ♥ 8 4 ♦ K J 10 7 6 4 2 ♣ 10 6
♠ K 10 6 4 2 ♥ K 9 2 ♦ 3 ♣ A Q 4 2	N W E S	♠ A J 9 7 ♥ 10 3 ♦ A ♣ K 9 8 7 5 3
	♠ 5 3 ♥ A Q J 7 6 5 ♦ Q 9 8 5 ♣ J

 

North opens 3D and East has a problem: the club suit is rather weak for either an immediate 4C bid or double-then-4C if partner replies in hearts. Also, 12 hcp is very light for the four level and the Ace in preemptor’s suit does not carry full weight – sure, you won’t lose any tricks in diamonds, but it won’t combine with anything in partner’s hand. I would pass, reluctantly. South can leap to 5D or bid 3H first – this may get partner off to a good lead and may also talk West out of bidding, though at this club I wouldn’t count on that. Also, of course, North might have three hearts to raise and 4H could be a better spot. Preempts sometimes work: N/S could steal this hand at 5D, undoubled.

My partner decided to double and I had no problem bidding 5S over 5D; partner then "doubled down" with 6S. If E/W stopped at 5S at your table, I hope no one gave then another shot with 6D. This is called a fielder’s choice – they can double you for blood or bid the makeable slam. Or, give North the Ace of diamonds and East the King of hearts and 5S was going down. As it happens, the 2-2 trump split brings home the slam. 5D doubled, down three, scored well despite N/S having 11 trumps.