tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56813206222876505242024-03-13T11:47:49.562-07:00Bridge Q & A with H. Anthony MedleyH. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-2971075064131678482020-06-30T10:06:00.000-07:002020-06-30T10:16:04.103-07:00Do Something Intelligent<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s your hand sitting east, EW vulnerable and you are
dealer:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♠</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> KQ10</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♥</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> J8632</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♦</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> AK10</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♣</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> J6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A pretty normal 14 HCP 1H opener.
Here’s the bidding:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <u>North</u> <u>East</u> <u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 1H Dbl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rdbl * 2D P P<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dbl P ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">*10+ HCP, implies no fit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">What’s that? My partner, who is a
teaching pro when playing with others, and I had only played a few times and
hadn’t established enough rapport to know what ambiguous bids mean. Is it
penalty or takeout or DSI (Do Something Intelligent)? I’ve got a run of the
mill 14 HCP opener, a seven-loser hand. We’re vulnerable. Can we make 3NT? If
we can make game we would have to set them four to get a good board (800 v.
600), which means we would have to take nine of the 13 tricks (in which event
we could make 3NT). Was it worth the risk? If we only set it three we only get
500 for a certain bottom board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">North was in one of the most
unenviable positions in bridge in this auction. Almost by definition in an
auction that goes as this one did; 1 of a suit, dbl, rdbl, the fourth hand
can’t have much. Two players, opener and doubler, are pretty much promising
opening hands, at least 12 HCP each and redouble is promising at least 10 HCP.
That’s a minimum of 34 HCP, leaving fourth hand with a maximum of six, and
probably less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">However when you find yourself in
that position in fourth seat, you <u>must bid</u> if you have an unbid four
card suit. Why? Because if you don’t bid and it is passed around to doubler,
doubler has to guess what is in your hand. Where is your longest suit? You have
to tell her immediately by bidding your unbid longest suit if it’s got at least
four cards in it. If you pass, you are telling partner you don’t have an unbid
four card suit but can support any unbid suit she bids, so she may freely bid
her longest suit, confident that you have at least three of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here are the four hands:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">North</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
54<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
Q954<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
6542<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
Q74<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠ J982<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠
KQ10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥ A10<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♥
J8632<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦ QJ9 <span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♦ AK10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣ A1032<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♣ J6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
A763<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
K7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
873<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
K985<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sitting north was a
teaching pro playing with a student. The student’s takeout double was dubious
at best and this hand exemplifies why. When my partner redoubled, North was
required to bid his longest unbid suit, but South should know he doesn’t have
much, if anything. So he bid diamonds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have you decided yet
what you would do? I had a tough call because I didn’t know exactly how strong
partner was. We might be able to make 3N. If so, we would have to set them four
doubled to get a good board. I decided to defend so passed my partner’s double,
knowing that it was a top or bottom decision. South, who got her partner into
this mess can’t do anything but pass with her three little diamonds. It was
their longest suit at 4-3 because the other two suits were 4-2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
figured that we had the bulk of the points and the only way they could make
tricks was by ruffing, so I led the AK10 of diamonds and we took the first
three tricks. It was downhill from there on for North. We took nine tricks (three
diamonds, two spades [declarer got the ace and a ruff with his fourth diamond],
two hearts and two clubs) for down 4, doubled, 800 for us and a top board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The hand was played
12 times, nine EW were in 3NT, making three and four; two made four spades,
although only one bid it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If there’s a lesson
here, it’s to be careful with your takeout doubles. With only two quick tricks
and only 10 HCP, that’s not a hand with which to make a takeout double in
second seat because it puts partner on the horns of a dilemma if LHO redoubles,
which happens a lot. And if you are playing against experienced players, they
double low level contracts more than the average player.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After the hand was
over I asked my partner what his double was. He looked at our 800 point score
and said, “penalty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-58786154133882653002020-05-28T14:48:00.001-07:002020-05-28T14:48:52.226-07:00How to Find Slam With a Distributional Hand<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">Here’s your hand sitting South, North dealer, nobody vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">♠</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> KQ6432<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">♥</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">♦</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">♣</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> KQ9732<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">West</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> <u>North</u> <u>East</u>
<u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> 1C
P
1S<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">2H Dbl*
P
?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">*Support Double<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You’ve got a huge hand now that you know you have a double fit
(you know that North has at least three clubs). You know that you and partner
have two suits in which you have at least nine cards. You have to make a
forcing bid, but what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Any bid of one of your two suits would be non-forcing. If you jump
to game, the bidding will probably be over if partner has a simple 12-14 HCP
opener. You want to look for slam. If she’s got both black aces, six spades
should be cold. Lacking one of them, though, it would be down unless she’s got
the diamond ace or the heart ace and gets a heart lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Your best bid here could be 3H, but that could be ambiguous
because partner could interpret it as Western Cue, asking for a heart stopper to
play in no trump instead of showing first round control and telling partner you
are interested in slam. If it were Western Cue, North would bid 3N showing a
heart stopper. So this depends on partnership understanding. If it’s Western
Cue, North’s response of 3S would simply deny a heart stopper. Because most
pairs play Western Cue, 3H is not a good bid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Here are the four hands:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<u style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">North</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
A85<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
K1032<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
J95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
AJ4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠ 97<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ J10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥ AQJ854<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♥ 976<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦ A873 <span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♦ KQ1042<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣ 5<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♣ 1086<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
KQ6432<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
Void<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
KQ9732<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s how the bidding could go with
an advanced pair:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: black;">West</span></u><span style="color: black;"> <u>North</u> <u>East</u>
<u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 1C <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P
1S<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2H Dbl*
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P
4H**<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4S***<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5C****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6C*****<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6S<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All Pass<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Support Double showing three spades<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**Big hand implying but not promising first round control of
hearts, confirming spades as trump, looking for slam<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***Cue bid showing the spade Ace but this could be an ambiguous
bid and partner could just be signing off in spades.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">****Regardless of North’s ambiguous bid, I’ve got a great club
suit and fit for you and worst case it’s a three loser hand! Even if you were
signing off in 4S I still think we might have slam because you opened and you
should have at least two tricks for me. If not, bid 5S and I’ll pass.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*****I’ve got the Club Ace but you pick the slam, clubs or spades<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This bidding shows how an experienced pair can reach a difficult-to-find
slam with cooperative bidding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This hand was played 12 times. One pair got to 6C, two pairs got
to 6S. Confirming the difficulty in bidding this hand, 4S making seven was an
average board. Two pairs were in 6N, a ridiculous contract, but one made it,
and it was played by south! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West, on lead, has two aces. How could this possibly have made 6N
when West can take the first two tricks? Even if north plays 6N, the standard
lead would be the diamond queen or partner’s suit. If the diamond, West would
overtake with his ace, take the heart ace, and return a diamond so EW should
take the first six tricks for down five. But even if East leads his partner’s
bid suit, hearts, west should take his two aces for down at least one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s what makes bridge such a challenging game. It’s not so much
who is playing the hand as who is defending!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-64520859128160810902020-04-18T14:42:00.001-07:002020-04-18T14:42:38.287-07:00Two Minor suited hand response to minor suit open over a preemptive 3H bid<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s your hand sitting south:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♠</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Void</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♥</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> J</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♦</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> AKQJ94</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♣</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> J109754<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Your partner, North, opens 1C. Here’s
the bidding to you:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">West</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> <u>North</u> <u>East</u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> 1C<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>3H<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You’ve got a terrific diamond suit and for all you know your
partner might only have three little clubs and the AKQ are held by opponents,
so you could lose two clubs and a heart, so a jump to 5C is not the best bid for
two reasons; you might not make 5C and you might miss a slam. But a simple
raise to four clubs doesn’t do justice to this hand. And to bid your diamond
suit, which would be forcing, puts your partner in a bind if she opened with, let’s
say distribution of 4-3-2-4. So what’s your call?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You have a perfect call, 4H! This is a cooperating call because
you are a partnership and you should make decisions together, not unilaterally.
This bid tells partner that you have a good hand with support for her suit. And
if she goes to 5C, you have an easy call to six, thinking that you certainly
won’t lose anything but a heart. You just have to hope that she’s got the AK of
clubs. Sometimes you have to rely on instinct and take a chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the four-hand
layout:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<u style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">North</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
AJ84<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
A6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
76<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
AK862<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠ KQ752<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠
10963<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥ Q98<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♥
K1075432<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦ 1083<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♦ 52<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣ Q3<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♣ Void<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
Void<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
J<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
AKQJ94<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
J109754<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This hand was played
13 times in a club game. Five played it in 5C. Four played it in 3N. Two played
it in 5D. Two pairs found the club slam and played it in 6. All pairs made
seven except one who somehow lost a trick and only made 6N.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-45969954550989821612020-01-17T10:08:00.000-08:002020-01-17T10:08:51.436-08:00A hand with a weak response playing inverted minors<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s your hand sitting East as dealer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">♠</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> K5</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">♥</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> A8</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">♦</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> A9</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">♣</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> AQ109652<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Bidding:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <u>North</u> <u>East</u> <u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 1C P<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3C* 3S ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*weak, at least five clubs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">EW was playing inverted minors, so the jump to three clubs showed
a weak, preemptive hand with at least five clubs. So what’s your call?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You have seven clubs. You know partner has five clubs but not many
points. Forget slam and forget about playing it in five clubs. You have 3N
cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you bid 3N, and get the contract, you can make three (nine
tricks) regardless of the lead. Since you know that partner has five clubs
there is only one club outstanding in opponents’ hands. If it’s the king it
will drop. So with a diamond or a heart lead you will make three (seven clubs,
the ace of hearts and the ace of diamonds. If you get a spade lead, you will
make at least four because the lead into you makes your king of spades a
winner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are the four hands:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">North</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ♠
AQ1082<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ♥
Q10632<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ♦
J73<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ♣
VOID<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠ J94 ♠
K6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥ 95 ♥
A8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦ 1054 ♦ A9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣ KJ743 ♣ AQ109652<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ♠
763<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ♥
KJ74<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ♦
KQ862<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ♣
8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the actual hand as
played by East, she jumped to five clubs over 3S, going down one, not
even attempting 3NT. If north bid 4C instead of 3S, East would be in a quandary
because if she didn’t get a spade lead she would not make 4NT. She could take 9
tricks off the top but once the two red aces are gone she’s got no stopper in
the red suits. And she’s going to get a heart lead (despite South’s good, five
card diamond suit; from the bidding South knows partner has five hearts, so her
best lead is from her four card heart suit) so after East takes her nine
tricks, they are going to run their hearts and the spade ace for down one. Even
if South leads the diamond six, the result will be the same, only the winners
they take will be in diamonds, not hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only question on
the hand depends on North. An aggressive north might bid 4C (Michaels Cue Bid
promising 5-5 in the majors). This would be aggressive because it’s a game-forcing
bid when he doesn’t have an opening hand as it doesn’t even satisfy the Rule of
20 (10 cards in two suits and 10 HCP). So to make a game forcing bid like this
would be super aggressive. When this north merely overcalled 3S (a good
overcall giving partner a lead), South didn’t think a nine point hand was worth
taking action by bidding game, 4S. But if North bids 4C, South can comfortably
bid 4H if East passes, and 4H makes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was an interesting
hand with game for both pairs if they can find it. This hand was played 9 times, only three got it right. However,
if EW is not playing inverted minors, West’s initial response would be 2C (a
weak raise) and North could then overcall 3C showing the majors at a lower
level so it would not force to game, and NS would find their good heart fit. Two pairs played in 3NT, making three;
one pair played in 4NT, making four; two pairs played in 5C, down one; only one
NS found a heart bid, playing in 3H making four; one pair played in 5S down one
and one pair played in 6C, down two.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What should East do
if North bids 4C? She has only three possible tricks on defense, the aces of
hearts and diamonds and possibly the spade king. One of the opponents is void
in clubs (she’s got seven and her partner is promising five) so her club ace is
dead. As a result, she doesn’t want them to find a major suit fit, so it would
be appropriate to sacrifice in 5C. If they go to five spades or hearts she
would set it, since North, with the strong hand, has the spade ace and East is
sitting behind with the king. </span>H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-30605654705322817622019-11-12T15:40:00.000-08:002019-11-14T20:21:06.621-08:00Bidding in Response to Partner's Overcall<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here’s your hand sitting East:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♠</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> A98</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♥</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Void</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♦</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Q8653</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♣</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> KJ982<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Here’s the bidding,
South dealer<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">West</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> <u>North</u> <u>East</u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1S<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">2H <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2S<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">First, what do you know? South opened the bidding so probably has
12-14 HCP. Your partner, West, overcalled 2H at the two level. She probably has
an opening hand or a terrific Heart suit. North raised opening bidder to the
two level, so he has a minimum, probably at least three spades and six HCP. You
have 10 HCP and a void in partner’s suit. For partner’s overcall she should
have at least 10 HCP (with a big heart suit), or an opening hand of at least 12
HCP. That adds up to 18 HCP for opponents and 22 HCP for you, at a minimum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">The result of this analysis is that you should not pass. This
should be your hand, but obviously not in hearts. You have two unbid five card
minors. You have two possible calls, one of which is 2NT. But with only one
stopper in opponents’ suit and a void in partner’s suit, that’s not a pleasing
prospect. The bid here is to double. That’s not a penalty double. You are an
unbid hand. You should be telling partner that you feel that you have the
preponderance of the points and you can support both of the unbid suits. So
your double is for takeout to one of the unbid suits, and to tell partner that
you have no support for her suit. This is called a “Responsive double.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">People play this differently, but the requirements for a
responsive double are generally:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Opponents have bid the
same suit;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Partner has either
doubled or bid a suit;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">You cannot support
partner’s suit;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">You have at least four
cards in each of the unbid suits;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">You have at least 8 HCP
if you force partner to bid a major at the one level or a minor at the two
level;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">You have at least 9 HCP
if you force partner to bid a major at the two level;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">You have at least 10 HCP
if you force partner to bid at the three level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Here is the four hand layout:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration-line: underline;">North</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
KQ3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
8654<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
42<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
Q1075<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠ 74<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ A98<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥ Q10973<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♥ Void<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦ AK9 <span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♦ Q8653<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣ A64<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♣ KJ982<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
106532<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
AKJ2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
J107<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Clearly, South took an extremely
optimistic view of her hand by opening 1S in first seat with only 9 HCP, but
this is a perfect hand for East to make a Responsive Double with 10 HCP and 5-5
in the two unbid suits. Double dummy (looking at all four hands) the hand makes
game in either minor, although it’s better in diamonds due to the unfavorable
club split.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be sure that you and partner are on
the same wave length. You don’t want to make a responsive double and have your
partner take it as penalty, and vice-versa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-79943382536755068642019-09-04T17:51:00.000-07:002019-09-05T14:46:23.100-07:00What to Lead Against No Trump When Partner Has Made a Lead-Directing Double<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s your hand
sitting West:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♠</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> J32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♥</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> K54<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♦</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 9643<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♣</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> A97<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Here’s the auction with North dealer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">West</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> <u>North</u> <u>East</u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1N<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">P <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2C*<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>D**<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">P <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2N<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3N<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">All Pass <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">*Stayman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">**Lead-directing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">What do you lead? In the actual hand, West led the club 7. Here is
the four hand layout: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">North</span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Q976<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> A107<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Q10852<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West</span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
J32<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> A107<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
K54<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 98632<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
9643 <span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Void<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
A97<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> QJ1062<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> K54<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> QJ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> AKJ7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> K843<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">South has seven sure
tricks, five diamonds and two hearts. With a club lead, which is
certain with the lead-directing double, that make eight tricks because the king will be good.
After taking the diamonds he leads a spade to his king. Because the ace was
East’s only entry, he ducked, so South had seven tricks and when the heart king
is onside, South made 3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The mistake was
West’s opening lead. He must lead the Ace and then follow with the club 9. That
forces out South’s king and when South leads a spade, East
can rise with his ace and run the three remaining club tricks for down one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In this situation,
West <u>must</u> lead his club ace. His partner has made a lead directing
double. He must have a reason. If he doesn’t have the ace or the king, he must
have at least five good clubs. Why else make a lead-directing double? But when
West does not lead the ace, what is east to think? South bid 3N over his
lead-directing double. The obvious conclusion is that he has both the ace and
king of clubs when his partner doesn’t lead one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">West, an experienced
player, was upset that East didn’t take his spade ace and lead a club to his
ace, but how was East to know that West had the Ace? He led the club 7. As far
as East knows, he has two or three little clubs and is just being a good
partner by leading the suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t make an
ambiguous lead when you can tell your partner something important. One of the
axioms of bridge defense on opening lead is “Don’t lead an ace and don’t
underlead an ace.” That doesn’t apply when defending no trump when you often
underlead an ace if it’s your longest suit. But when you are defending no trump
and your partner makes a lead-directing double, always lead your highest card
in your partner’s suit, even if it’s ace or king doubleton. That tells him the
layout and aids him in the play of the hand. West’s lead of the club 7 (his
lowest club) was worse than awful because it told partner nothing and implied that's all he had in clubs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In the actual hand,
just about everybody made 3 or 4 no trump, undoubtedly because no defender made
a lead-directing double of the 2 club Stayman bid. This pair got halfway there
but was done in</span> by a terribly ambiguous lead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-71347849438493590232019-08-11T14:57:00.002-07:002019-08-20T11:16:56.398-07:00Evaluating HCP in determining whether to open 1NT<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
How would you open this hand?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♠</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> K104</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♥</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> AQ82</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♦</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Q8</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♣</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> A753<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">With 15 HCP, it’s tempting to open
in 1NT, which shows 15-17 HCP and a balanced hand. This is a balanced hand and
it has 15 HCP. But two of the points are the doubleton diamond queen. Is that
worth 2 HCP?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here’s what happened when South,
in second seat, opened the hand 1NT:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">South</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b><u>West</u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>North<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>East</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 1.5in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">1NT<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2C<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">2H<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4C*<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">4S**<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>6H<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>All
Pass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">*Gerber (asking for aces)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">**Two aces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Here’s
the layout:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u><u style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">North</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
AQJ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
KJ103<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
96<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
KJ109<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠ 9875<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠
632<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥ 965<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♥ 74<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦ AJ1042<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♦ K753<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣ Q<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♣
8642<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
K104<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♥ AQ82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
Q8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
A753<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West led the diamond ace and east
signaled she had the king by playing the diamond 7, so south lost the first two tricks for
down one. Lots of people don’t go to slam holding a worthless doubleton without
confidence that partner has a first or second round stopper in the suit. But
North was aggressive and should not have jumped to slam because she only has 15
HCP. If partner is at the bottom of his bid with 15 HCP, there should be no
slam and that’s the situation here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
The question is, how to invite? The answer is not an
ace-asking auction. After South bids 2H, North can cue bid her spade ace. That
would not be showing a spade suit because if North had four spades but not four
hearts, she would bid 2N, then if South has four spades as well as four hearts,
he can bid 3S. And if North had five spades to go with her four hearts there is
no reason to bid the spades after finding the 4-4 heart fit. So for her to bid
the spade ace, that should be confirming a heart fit and showing slam interest
and South could either accept the invitation by cue bidding an ace or just
going directly to blackwood. In this instance, with a minimum, South would
close out in four hearts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, South arguably erred by opening this hand 1NT. His
doubleton diamond queen is not worth 2 HCP. A doubleton king would be worth 3
HCP because it is a trick unless the ace is behind him. The doubleton queen
cannot be counted on as a trick or even a possible trick, so it is an illusory
2 HCP. The hand could (and probably should) have been downgraded to 13-14
HCP and opened 1C. When North bids 1H, South would then bid 2H showing a normal
opening hand with seven losers. North would forget about slam and close out in
four hearts. However, many players would still open this 1NT.<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The hand was played 13 times in a
club game. Five pairs were in slam, all going down. I don’t know how the
bidding went elsewhere but I would bet that all slam players opened the hand
1NT and those that were in four hearts (five pairs; two others played in 3NT
and one played in 5 hearts) opened it 1C because if it’s opened 1NT by South,
any good player holding the north cards with 15 HCP opposite at least 15 HCP will
look for slam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-24735770179489119852019-08-04T12:08:00.000-07:002019-08-04T12:08:40.447-07:006-5 Hand and Unfairness at the Bridge Table<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are West, in third seat. How would you open this hand:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♠</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> 4</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♥</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> 6</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♦</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> A10743</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♣</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> AQ10654<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only 10 HCP but 6-5 distribution.
Many players who play reverses would open 1D and then rebid 2C because a
reverse (opening 1C and rebidding 2D) would promise 17 HCP at least. But if you
have 6-5 distribution and an opening hand, you may still reverse by opening 1C
and then rebidding the diamonds twice to show that your distribution is 6-5
rather than 5-4.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But is this an opening hand? It
only has 10 HCP. According to modern bidding practice, this qualifies as an
opening hand because it has 10 HCP and 10 cards in its two longest suits (called
the Rule of 20). With only five losers and 2-1/2 quick tricks and satisfying
the rule of 20, this hand clearly qualifies. So the corollary to this rule is
that if your hand is 6-5 and you have enough points to qualify for an opening
hand, it is strong enough to reverse. Here’s the layout followed by the
bidding:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">East dealer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>North</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
AQJ32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
KQ9832<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
K9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>West</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">♠ 4<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ 10987<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">♥ 6<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♥
A4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">♦ A10743 <span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♦ KQ92<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">♣ AQ10654<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♣ 872<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
K65<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
J1075<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
J865<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
J3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But as played at a local bridge club,
North opened the bidding out of turn with a conventional Precision opening bid
of 1C which shows 16+ HCP and says nothing about clubs. The director was called
and East did not accept the bid so North was advised that when the bidding came
around to him he could make a “comparable” call but if he did anything else his
partner would be barred for one round. East and South both passed and West
opened 1C. North bid 1H, which the director ruled was a “comparable call.” This
was incorrect (see below), but the bidding went on as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">West</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>North</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>East</u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>South</u></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1C<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1H<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1NT<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2D<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2H<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3D<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4H<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5D<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All
Pass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this point the director showed up
and pulled the boards, saying everyone would get a “No Play” because the next
round had already begun. West protested, saying that they had to wait more than
five minutes to start the round because NS was slow in playing the previous
round and then north’s bid out of turn caused an additional delay of a few
minutes while the director was called and had to make a ruling, so EW should not
be penalized, but should be protected. He also said that his opinion was that 5D making would be a
top board and a “No Play” would damage EW. The director was not persuaded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the game the printout revealed west was correct because at all 11 tables the NS pairs were in 4 or 5 hearts, making. No E/W was in 5D.
5D is cold, but even if it goes set one trick it would be a top for EW. The only problems are the 4-0 trump break to the jack and playing clubs correctly. But normal
play when there are four trump to the jack missing is to first lead to the hand
that has two of the top three honors to discover the distribution of the
missing cards because that keeps a two-way finesse in play. When west leads to
dummy’s KQ and reveals that South holds all four trump, the finesse is easy to
take back to west’s hand to the A-10. Played correctly, West loses only the spade ace and the
club king. Had North had all four diamonds, West could come back to his hand
with the ace and finesse through the board which would still have the Q-9.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As to playing the clubs, the correct play is to put the king in North's hand since he showed a big hand and finesse by playing the 10. If North wins the jack, then play the ace hoping that North had KJ tight. As the hands exist, though, the finesse of the 10 forces out the king and the jack falls under the play of the Ace and the queen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though it is clear that
fairness requires that EW get a top board since all the scores (except one
where North bid 6H and went down one) are NS and the delay was clearly not the
fault of EW, the director refused to grant EW equity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a telephone call to the American
Contract Bridge League (ACBL), West was advised that once cards are pulled from
the board, the hand must be played, either immediately or as a late play,
further buttressing the EW claim that they should have been awarded the top
score on that hand. The ACBL said that at the very least EW should get an
average plus, but the director only awarded the average of their game, which
was less than an average plus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ACBL further stated that the
director was wrong in ruling that North’s 1H overcall was “comparable” to a
Precision 1C opening bid and that his partner should have been barred from
bidding for one round. Since his partner passed anyway, that didn’t matter, but
she took her unauthorized information (that North had 16+ HCP) to jump to game
when she only had 6 HCP, something she’s unlikely to do without knowing that
North had a huge hand, which she could not know from the bidding as it existed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-61326174275366669442019-06-14T09:56:00.000-07:002019-06-14T10:04:50.635-07:00Do You Rebid 1 No Trump, or Make a Support Double?<br />
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here’s
your hand sitting west as dealer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♠</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> KJ5</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♥</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> AK2</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♦</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Q8632</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">♣</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> 74<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here’s the
bidding:<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">West</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>North</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>East</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>South</u></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1D<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1H<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1S<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many players play a convention
called “support doubles.” This means that if you open and partner bids a suit
and your RHO overcalls, if you double you are promising three cards in the suit
your partner bid. Since partner may have only four cards in the suit, you
should not raise with only three cards in her suit, so this gives you the
opportunity to tell her that you have exactly three cards in her suit. This is
a nice conventional bid, but it can cause problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Without a support double, you would
have to decide whether to raise her suit with only three cards, or to bid 1NT
over South’s 1S. This 1NT call limits your hand to not more than 14 HCP but
promises a stopper in your RHO’s suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So what do you do here? You have two
possibilities, the support double or 1NT. The answer is that you should bid
1NT. Why? Two reasons; the first is that if you bid 1NT, your partner may use
New Minor Forcing to show that she has five cards in her suit and 10 HCP, if
she does. The second is that it limits your hand to not more than 14 HCP. If
you make a support double, it has two negatives; first is that it does not
limit your hand, so your partner doesn’t know if you are minimum or huge.
Second, it does not tell her that you have a stopper in your RHO’s suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here’s the four hand layout:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">North</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
1083<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
764<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
AJ10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
A1085<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♠ KJ5<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠
Q4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♥ AK2<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♥ Q953<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♦ Q8632<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♦ 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">♣ 74<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♣
KQJ632<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
A9762<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
J108<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
K975<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If West bids 1NT, the bidding will
probably end there, although with a pretty good six card suit, East might raise
to 2NT, which West will pass. That’s the way it should be bid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alas, in the actual hand, West chose
to make a support double. That really screwed things up because North then
raised partner’s 1S overcall to 2S (something he probably would not do with his
meager 3 little spades knowing West has a stopper in spades, although he might
still bid on since he has two aces) and East bid 3C! The bidding got out of
hand and West bid 3NT, which went down one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The hand was played 12 times. It is unlikely that South overcalled 1S at many of the other 11 tables because it is a very aggressive bid. Five
were in 1NT making two. Four were in 3NT, down one. One was in 2H, making two
and one was in 4H, down one. One was in 2NT, down two, which is
incomprehensible; right contract, but how in the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>world was it played to go down two?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This hand also shows the way
aggressive bidders can mess up opponents’ bidding. South’s 1S overcall was
precarious with only 8 HCP. But if South doesn’t overcall, West will bid 1N and
the auction will end. South’s overcall enabled North to enter the bidding and
get West and East to bid to an unmakeable contract. Good bid, South!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-63564538801495566842019-05-14T11:05:00.000-07:002019-05-15T10:41:03.775-07:00Defense: What do you lead after taking partner's opening lead?<br />
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here’s your hand sitting North, and the
bidding:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♠ 82<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♥ AKQ864<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♦ 96<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♣ 1097<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: black;">West</span></u><span style="color: black;"> <u>North</u>
<u>East</u> <u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> P
2H 3S P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All Pass<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Partner leads the JH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here’s the dummy (on your right):<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♠ Q7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♥ 53<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♦ KQ432<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♣ J652<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You take the Queen and declarer discards the 10. What do you
return?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you said that you would take the second heart immediately you
probably lost the hand. Partner’s lead of the jack must be either a singleton
or a doubleton because declarer discarded the 10. That is probably a false
card, to keep you from continuing hearts. If partner has a doubleton (probably), that means that declarer has three hearts and will lose all three
unless she can trump your third heart lead. There are two trumps on the board.
You want to get a third heart trick so you want to get the queen of trump off
the board.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So the answer is that you must lead a trump. Even if declarer has
the ace, she has to lead another heart to be able to trump with her queen and
you can take it and lead your last trump to get rid of the last trump on the
board, so she’s stuck with a losing heart in her hand and she goes down one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is the four hand layout<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>North</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
♠ 82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
♥ AKQ864<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
♦ 96<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
♣ 1097<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>West</u>
<u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♠
Q7
♠ KJ109653<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♥
53
♥ 1092<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♦
KQ432
♦ A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">♣
J652
♣ AQ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<u>South</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
♠ A4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
♥ J4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
♦ J10875<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
♣ K843<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is
a real unfortunate hand for east because she has only one possible entry to the
board, and that’s the heart ruff which you denied her. She can take her ace of
diamonds, then the A of clubs, then leading the club Q to south’s king and
she’s got good cards in the minor suits to get rid of her heart loser, but she
can’t get there after you take out her trump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
this was played in a club game, three declarers made either three or four
because defenders failed to play trump early to keep declarer from ruffing a
heart and discarding her losers on the diamonds. If north never leads a trump,
the hand easily makes four. Since partner has the ace of trump even if north
takes both hearts immediately, if he then leads a trump partner can take the
ace and lead another, getting rid of both trumps on the board. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
north should not count on that. The safest and best play is to lead a trump
immediately before taking the second heart because if declarer has the trump
ace and takes the return, she still has to lead another heart to get rid of the
last heart on the board and north can take that trick and lead the second trump.
If he takes the second heart immediately and then leads a trump it’s too late
because the board is now void of hearts and if declarer has the trump ace (a
better than 50% chance) declarer can take the belated trump lead, play the
diamond ace and trump his third heart to get to the diamond king and queen to
rid himself of his club loser.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Played
correctly, NS should take three hearts, the spade ace and the club king, five
tricks for down one in a 3S contract.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-45277654237460175052019-01-27T16:30:00.001-08:002019-01-27T20:03:18.662-08:00Your First Play From Dummy Can Make or Break Your Contract<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is the bidding, NS passing throughout, East dealer:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>East</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>West</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2C*<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2D<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2H<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3D**<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4N<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5C***6N<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Game Forcing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
** Showing 5 cards<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*** 0-3 Key cards<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>West</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠ J2<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♠ AKT853</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ AQT4<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♥ 76</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ KJ <span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♦ Q9754</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♣ KQJ64<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♣ Void</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Opening lead Club 10<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
West is declarer. What do you discard from dummy?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While you are thinking about that, let’s discuss the
bidding, which was deplorable. The first four bids were fine, 1S-2C-2D-2H.
East’s rebid of 3D to show at least 5-5 in the two suits was worse than awful,
for several reasons. One is that in a game forcing auction like this, after
showing his tentative shape of at least 5-5, his first obligation is to show
that he has a six card spade suit. And it is a very good suit, headed by the
AK. His diamond suit is terrible. There’s no reason to show a weak 5 card
diamond suit before showing a strong 6 card spade suit. When he confirms he has
6 spades, West can confirm spades as trump since he’s holding two and the
bidding proceeds from there. West’s bid of 3S shows slam interest. Since they
are in a game-forcing auction, 3S is much stronger than jumping to game in 4S.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It went from bad to worse from there. East forgot that they
were playing 3014 key card and responded in 1430, showing 1 or 4 key cards
(since Trump had not yet been agreed upon, east was responding as if diamonds
were trump). West thought he was showing 0 or 3 and assumed it was 3 and went
straight to 6N, lacking two aces.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
North was on lead. North was one of the best players in Los
Angeles, if not the world and made the best lead that could give West a chance
to make it, the club 10. Why was it so good? Two reasons: First, it wasn't the diamond ace. Second, it pulls the club ace without having to force it out by playing the King, which, it turns out, would have doomed the slam because clubs would produce only two tricks instead of three.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now back to my original question, what do you discard
from dummy? If you said one of your two little hearts, you just lost any chance to make the slam. You have to discard a diamond because you have
to retain a heart on the board to make the heart finesse. If you discard a
heart initially, the only remaining heart will be gone if south leads her
heart and there’s no way to get her king.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
East took her ace and returned the jack of hearts! Manna
from heaven! You are holding the AQT4. If North has the king of hearts, you are
down two. If he doesn’t, you can make it if spades break correctly, so you have
no choice. You <u>must</u> take the heart finesse.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When it holds, showing that South has the king, you first
try to run your clubs. You find out that North has six clubs and you only get
three club tricks. But that’s OK because you discard three diamonds on those
three club tricks and then lead the jack of spades. North covers, so you run
the spades, getting rid of your two diamonds and two remaining clubs in your hand on the
long running spades and then lead the remaining heart on the board to finesse
south’s king and you end up getting six spades, three clubs and three hearts,
making a slam that has only a 5% chance of making, at best. If south returns a
diamond, you’re dead because north will get the ace he failed to cash at the
beginning. In bridge as in any other game it’s better to be lucky than good.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As to the bidding, here’s the way it should have gone:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>East</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>West</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2C<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2D<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2H<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3S<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4N<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5H*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>5S<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Two key cards without the queen<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though West signs off because he knows they are lacking
two key cards, East goes to 6S because of the club void, even though it’s in
partner’s first bid suit. As long as the spades behave, which they do, 6S is a much easier play than 6N, losing only the diamond ace so long as the heart and spade finesses work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are all four hands:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>North</u><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠ Q7</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ 985</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦ A2</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣ T98532</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>West</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠ J2<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♠ AKT853</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ AQT4<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♥ 76</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ KJ <span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♦ Q9754</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♣ KQJ64<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♣ Void</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠ 964</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ KJ32</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦ T863<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣ A7</div>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-84404193588361363322018-12-11T11:53:00.000-08:002018-12-14T10:27:56.308-08:00Reverse Drury<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Players have known for a long time that it is wise to open
very aggressively in third seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
not uncommon to open 1S on a hand like this one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠ KQ875<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ A74<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ 984<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♣ J10<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bidding 1S makes life tougher for the opponents and it may
help you on defense, but it comes with a downside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your partner has a maximum passed hand she
may start jumping around, getting you too high.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When your partner opens one of a major in third or fourth
seat, you need a way to show your good hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Often you will have a hand worth ten or eleven points in support of
partner’s suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might like to jump
to three of the major but if she has a weak or sub-minimum opening bid you may
go down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The answer is this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you have a limit raise for partner’s major, bid 2C instead of jumping
to 3 of the major.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is artificial,
stating that you have a maximum passed hand, a limit raise, with at least
three-card support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This converts the
jump to 3 of the major to weak instead of a limit raise. Because the 2C bid is
artificial and says nothing about clubs, it is alertable, as is the jump to 3
of the major.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
QUIZ<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
W<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>N<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>E<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>S<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>ONE</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>TWO</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>THREE</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>FOUR</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u> </u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠ KJ84<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ J72<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠ J10754<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ 974<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ Q83<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ AK983<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♥ 34<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ 64<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ Q983<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♦ K6<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦ QJ8<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♦ AQ43<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♣ J3 <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣ 732<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣ Q108<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♣ KQ97<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand One</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make your normal bid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need ten good support points for a Reverse
Drury bid.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand Two</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the Reverse Drury
bid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says nothing about clubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says you have better than a normal raise,
typically a good ten points and up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
not bid 2H.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your partner may pass a two
over one bid when you are a passed hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand Three</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jump raise is weak but it promises long
trumps without much else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand Four</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2C,
Reverse Drury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do have three trumps
and you have eleven high card points along with a doubleton<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OPENER’S REBIDS AFTER PARTNER’S REVERSE DRURY BID<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2D or 2H:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Opener
says she has a full opening bid and is interested in game if responder has a
good Reverse Drury hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is possible
that opener has a very big hand and is waiting to see what responder does
next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Opener may have real diamonds but
she may not and just be waiting to see what responder thinks. If she bypasses
diamonds and bids hearts, she has at least 4, but still promises a full opening
hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 of the major: In this case, 2S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If opener rebids her major, it shows a weak
hand and denies any possibility of game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Responder should pass.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is called Reverse Drury because originally the way to
show the full opener was to bid 2 of the major suit by opener and the bid of 2D
by opener showed the weak hand. When this was changed, the use of 2D to show
the strong hand was called “Reverse” Drury. Most people just refer to now it as
Drury because I don’t know anybody who plays it the original way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Opener can bid other things besides 2D or two of the major.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other bids confirm a full opening bid, too. For
instance, a rebid of 2N by opener should promise 18-19 HCP.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
QUIZ<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
W<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>N<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>E<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>S<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2C<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>ONE</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>TWO</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>THREE</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>FOUR</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>FIVE</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>SIX</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠ AKJ87<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ Q9874<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ J9874<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ KJ98743<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ QJ874<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♠ KJ763<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ 87<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ 3<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ AK<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ 2<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ KQJ<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ KQ<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ Q87<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦ AK108<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♦ 92<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦ AK7<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦ KQ9<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♦ Q98<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♣ 873<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣ K105<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♣ AQ84<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>♣ AQ<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣ AJ<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣ Q104<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand One</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have less than an opening
bid and want partner to pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
opener rebids the major, responder always passes no matter how good his passed
hand happens to be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand Two</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2D.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Counting distribution you
have better than a minimum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are
willing to go to game if partner has a maximum hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If partner has a minimum Reverse Drury hand
he will bid 2S and you will pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand Three</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>4S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Counting distribution you
have around sixteen points and your partner has ten or more with spade
support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bid game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not bother bidding clubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why tell the opponents something you prefer
they do not know?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand Four</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>4NT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask for aces and bid a slam
if partner has one or two aces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have
about 22 HCP now that spades have been supported.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand Five</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>4S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just bid a game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a big hand but East has a maximum of
eleven points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you know game is
worth bidding and when you know there is no slam, do not waste time making bids
that you do not have to make.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Hand Six</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a 13 HCP hand but it
is balanced and minimum and it has poor quality points, (queens and
jacks).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have a hand with clubs and no support for partner’s
major, you cannot bid 2C because that would promise support for partner’s
major.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bid 1NT and hope for a sane
result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conventions all come with
benefits but they all have the occasional drawbacks too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-7540204848282767372018-11-14T11:09:00.000-08:002018-11-14T11:16:45.245-08:00Timing is Key to Playing a Hand Correctly<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Here are
the West and East hands and the bidding; you are sitting West:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-insideh: none; mso-border-insidev: none; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ª</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> Q632</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">©</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> AJT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">¨</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">AKQ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">§
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">KQ4</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">East</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ª
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">AKT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">©</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">753<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">¨</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">T964</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">§
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A76</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">South</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b><u>West</u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>North<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>East</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>P!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2N*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4N**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6N<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All
Pass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">!
I would open this hand with three quick tricks, even though there are only 11 High
Card Points. The bidding would then go 1C-1S-1N-6N because West would figure
East with a minimum of 12 HCP for the opening bid. Adding his 21 HCP to 12,
that’s 33 HCP and clearly a slam opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">*20-21
HCP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">**Asking
to bid 6N if at the top of his bid, pass if at the bottom. Since West was at
the top, 21 HCP, he bid 6N. With 32 HCP, slam should be tried; with 31, it’s a
longshot without a long running suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Opening Lead </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">8</span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">§</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You’ve got 10 tricks, AKQ of spades and diamonds and
clubs and the ace of hearts. Where do you get the other two? If the jack of
spades is a doubleton and it drops on the AK, you’ve got another spade because
that makes the 10 good, or if spades split 3-3 you’ve got your 4<sup>th</sup>
spade trick. That’s two chances for your 11<sup>th</sup> trick. If you lead out
the AKQ of diamonds and the jack falls, that’s another. Considering the odds,
let’s say that half of those work. You still need another trick. The only place
to get it is to finesse twice in hearts. The question is, what do you do first?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
opening lead gives you the answer right off the bat. You must try the heart
finesse first. You know that your Left Hand Opponent (LHO) does not have both
the king and the queen of hearts. If he did he would have led the heart king,
top of connecting honors. So Right Hand Opponent (RHO) is finessible, either
holding both of the heart honors or one. Because of the opening lead, you know
he has at least one of them. The reason why you must try the finesse first is
that let’s say you lead out the AKQ of diamonds and the jack doesn’t fall. That
means that when you take the heart finesse and it loses, the jack of diamonds
will be another winner and if the winner of the finesse has that card, you are
down. When you take the finesse first and lose it, you don’t have a sure loser
to lose because you still have control of the diamonds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">After
you take the heart finesse and it loses to North, you may then confidently lead
out your AKQ of diamonds to see if the jack falls, which it didn’t. Then go to
the board and take your AK of spades. If the jack doesn’t fall, take the heart
finesse to your hand, which works because, as you knew, the honors were split,
and hope that spades break evenly by leading the queen. As it was, the jack was
a doubleton and when it fell, the spade 10 was good so your queen of spades was
your 12<sup>th</sup> trick, 3 diamonds, 4 spades, 3 clubs and 2 hearts.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This
hand was played eight times in a club game consisting of experienced players, mostly Life Masters, and everyone but one person played
it wrong. Interestingly, only four found the slam. The other four were in 3N,
making 5. Two of those in slam were down one; one was down two and one made it.
Here’s the four hand layout:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-insideh: none; mso-border-insidev: none; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">North</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ª
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">9754</span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">©
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">K2</span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">¨
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">J732</span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">§
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">853</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ª</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> Q632</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">©</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> AJT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">¨</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">AKQ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">§
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">KQ4</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">East</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ª
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">AKT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">©</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">753<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">¨</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">T964</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">§
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A76</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">South</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ª</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">J8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">©</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Q9864<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">¨</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">85<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">§
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">JT92</span><span style="font-family: "symbol";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-25086247190486926372018-10-16T17:23:00.000-07:002018-10-16T17:23:19.513-07:006 no trump hand bidding and play<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here are the east and west hands
and the bidding:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">♠KJ965<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>AQJ6<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>85<br />
♣A3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt 6.0pt; width: 84.0pt;" width="112">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">♠Q8<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>53<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>AKJ<br />
♣KQ9754<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">South</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b><u>West</u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>North<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>East</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1C<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2C<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2H<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2N<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4N*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5D**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6N<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">*
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman Key Card blackwood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">**1
key card with hearts, the last bid suit, as trump<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Opening
lead: 10D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bidding:
West got into a bind jumping to 4N so fast, although about the only forcing bid
he could make would be 3D. How this would be interpreted is questionable. If
East bid 3N, West is still in a bind about blackwood. Had Clubs been
established as trump, East could have then responded 5S to RKC blackwood
showing 2 key cards and the queen of trump. As it was, West was stuck because
if he bid 5N, that would be asking for kings. The only way to get partner to
stop in 5N would be to bid an unbid suit, which asks partner to bid 5N. Alas,
the only unbid suit was diamonds and that was what East bid in response to
blackwood, so West just bit the bullet and bid 6N.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Play:
Actually, both 6N and 6C can make. But East, as declarer, ran the clubs,
discarding spades, ending her chance to make the contract.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
diamond lead into her AKJ gave her 10 cold tricks, 6 clubs, 3 diamonds and one
heart. How do you get two more? You can try to finesse the heart king twice,
but that’s a 50% play. If it loses, you also lose the ace of spades. There is,
however, a 100% play. What you have to do immediately is to set up the spades,
and it doesn’t matter how they split. Lead the spade queen. If that holds for
the 11<sup>th</sup> trick, go to the board in spades where you have the king
and the jack. When they take the ace, your jack is your 12<sup>th</sup> trick
and you don’t have to take the heart finesse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
played this hand at a club game, playing West. Nobody got to the right
contract, 6N, but us. Just about everyone was in 3N, making 5 or 6. A heart
lead (hard to find) holds it to 5.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here
are the four hands:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: .75pt 0in .75pt .75pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"></td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt 0in; width: 55.5pt;" width="74">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">♠AT2<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>KT42<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q742<br />
♣JT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dlr:
North<br />
Vul: N-S<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">♠KJ965<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>AQJ6<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>85<br />
♣A3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt 6.0pt; width: 84.0pt;" width="112">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">♠Q8<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>53<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>AKJ<br />
♣KQ9754<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt 42.0pt; width: 84.0pt;" width="112">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">♠743<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>987<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>T963<br />
♣862<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-45956599142366051822018-08-15T10:53:00.003-07:002018-08-17T15:46:49.484-07:00Aggressive Bidding with a 4 HCP Distributional Hand<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s
your hand, sitting East, second seat, NS vulnerable:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Q987542<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Q9863<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Only
4 HCP, but 7-5-1-0 distribution! If we have a fit we can make beautiful music
because then it’s only a 5 loser hand! North, my right hand opponent (RHO), dealt
and opened 1S. At favorable vulnerability (they were vulnerable and we were
not) I bid 2S, Michaels, to partially describe my hand as at least 5-5 in
hearts and a minor. If my partner can’t support hearts and wants to know what
minor I have she asks by bidding no trump. There’s no way I could describe a
hand with a singleton and a void in one bid, but my partner knew that I had at
least 5 hearts and an unnamed 5 card minor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
bidding continued with my left hand opponent (LHO), south, raising to 3S. My partner
passed and my RHO raised to 4S. I wasn’t going to go down without a fight so I
bid 5H. Now my partner should know I had a strangely distributional hand and
probably 6-7 hearts. LHO bid 5S and my partner doubled. I can’t do anything but
trust her, so I passed. However, when I saw my partner’s hand, I nearly passed
out! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
is the four hand layout:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>North</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ª</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AKT642<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>J6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>KJ954<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ª</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 95<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ª</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> AKT3<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Q987542<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Q3<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> AKT54<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Q9863<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ª</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> QJ876<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> AT872<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> J72<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have a massive two suit fit and 6 hearts is a cold laydown (of course 7 spades
or diamonds is also cold for NS).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
was the thinking of my partner, who is a fairly experienced player with
potential? She knows we have a terrific hearts fit. She has the best hand at
the table yet she didn’t open her mouth to bid or support me. Then she doubles!
She must know that her AK of hearts is worthless on defense. Of course with her
sitting there silent I can’t go on above 5S. I have to trust her and sit for
the double. We didn’t take a trick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
actually had two choices here. One is to immediately bid game in hearts. But
the other is to bid no trump to ask for my minor. If it’s clubs, which it was, with
the AK plus length in both of my suits she could jump to 6H or at least explore
for it. If she gives me a support bid for hearts, I’m not going to stop
competing short of 6H (after all, I bid 5H without a peep from my partner). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked North, who opened the bidding, if he
would have bid 6S over our 6H bid and he said that he would not have. South
agreed, saying he had done all he could with his 8 HCP hand. I had done all I
could to communicate this hand to my partner with my meager 4 HCP, but to no
avail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
partner actually made two mistakes. The first was not entering the bidding immediately
to communicate her support for my hearts, and the other was to double. It’s
dangerous to double distributional hands unless you hold a lot of trumps because
HCP are often worthless in such hands. As can be seen by this distributional
hand, both pairs can make slam, but all four hands are worthless on defense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like
the beautiful woman who got away, this is a hand I shall never forget.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-45939093739478017752018-07-08T15:44:00.000-07:002018-07-08T15:44:51.238-07:00The losing Trick Count<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Here’s your
hand which was played recently in a club game:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>West</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠ 9843<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ A7<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ A4<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♣ T9652<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Bidding:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<u>South</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>West</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>North</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1D!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">1H<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P*<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2D**<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4D***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">* West
should make a negative double here, showing at least six HCP and four spades<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Limit raise (10-12 HCP) or better (but since
north is a passed hand it is clearly not more than 12 HCP). North stretched
here but with 4 card support and a doubleton, this is a reasonable limit raise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">***
Extra values (16+ HCP) and at least a six card suit, probably
longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">High Card
Points aren't the be all and end all in hand evaluation. Another aid in
evaluating hands is called "The Losing Trick Count" (LTC). There have
been entire books written on it, but I believe in keeping the game simple and
this explanation is really simple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">First you
count your "losers." For this method, there is a maximum of three
losers in every suit. They are offset by high honors. So if you have a heart
suit consisting of the 9,7,5,3, and deuce, you have three losers, the maximum.
But if the suit is Ace, 7, 5, and 3, you only have two losers because the Ace
is a winner. With AQ753, you only count one loser because you have two of the
top three honors. Q532 would be two losers because the queen is not a loser.
But Q5 would be two losers because a doubleton queen is a loser. Q53 is counted
as ½ loser. AKJ would be one loser. AKJ432 would still be only one loser. Get
the picture? I hope so because that ends the explanation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">After you
determine how many losers are in your hand, you listen to partner's bid. If she
gives you a one over one raise, she should have 8-10 losers. A typical opening
hand has 6-7 losers. A limit raise has eight losers, no more. Any bid that
shows extra values, like an invitational jump, or a jump shift, should be
evaluated as five losers or less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">After you
hear partner's response, you add her losers to your losers and subtract the total
from 24 and that's the number of tricks you should take. So if you open with a seven
loser hand and she raises your suit, she has at least eight losers, maybe more. That's 15
losers between you. Subtract that from 24 and the difference is nine. That's
the maximum number of tricks you should take and not enough for game. If,
however, you open a major suit with six losers and she gives you a limit raise,
that promises not more than eight losers. 8+6=14. 24-14=10 tricks, so you
should bid game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">There is a
big caveat here, however. The losing trick count should only be used after you
have found a trump fit. If you don’t have at least 8 trumps between you, you
should not evaluate your hand using LTC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Here’s the
entire hand where using LTC would have found the game:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<u>North</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
Q652<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
8542<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
83<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
AQJ<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>West</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠ 9843<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♠
AK<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ A7<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♥
3<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ A4<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♦
KQJT9765<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♣ T9652<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>♣
87<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠
JT7<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥
KQJT96<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦
2<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣
KT83<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Using LTC, west should count her losers, three spade losers, one heart loser, one diamond loser, three club losers for a total of eight losers, and realize that with her two diamonds she and partner have a trump fit. Due to East’s strong jump, she should place no more than five losers in east’s hand (actually it’s a 4 loser hand). 8+5=13. 24-13=11, the number of tricks east should be able to take, so west should easily bid 5D. As it was, west passed and EW missed a cold game.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">As to the
bidding, however, East could open this hand 2C because she has 9 sure tricks,
seven diamonds and two spades, which qualifies for a strong 2C opening bid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">I’ll have
more on LTC in future columns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-87586704865920371722018-05-10T14:21:00.000-07:002018-05-13T10:03:48.643-07:00Use a Crossruff to Overcome a Bad Trump Split<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can you make 7 Diamonds with this
deal from an ACBL-sanctioned game several years ago? I was sitting East and my
partner, an advanced player, was West.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>North</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♠</span> 654<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♥</span> QJ943<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♦</span> 2<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♣</span>
J752<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>West</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♠</span> 2<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♠</span> AQJT9<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♥</span> AK7<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♥</span> 65<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♦</span> QJT7<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♦</span> AK54<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♣</span>
AKQ98<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♣</span> 63<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♠</span> K873<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♥</span> T82<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♦</span> 9863<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♣</span> T4<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Bidding:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <u>South</u>
<u>West</u> <u>North</u>
<u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>P <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1S<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P
2C
P 2D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P
2H*
P 2S<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P
3D
P 4D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P
4N
P 5C**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P
5N
P 6C***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P
7D! All Pass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> * <u>Fourth Suit
Forcing</u>. This means that partner <u>must</u> take another bid. She cannot
pass. Some people play that Fourth Suit Forcing is a game force, which means
that neither can pass until game is bid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">** <u>Roman Key Card Blackwood</u>,
0 or 3 key cards. This is an extension of Blackwood where, in addition to the
four aces, the trump king is also a key card, so if you hold 2 aces and the
king of trump (which I did), you respond with 5C which shows three key cards.
The responses to a bid of 4N are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5C<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>0
or 3 key cards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5D<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1
or 4 key cards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5H<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2
key cards without the trump queen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2
key cards with the trump queen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*** No kings. Since the trump king is a key card, it is not included in this response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Opening lead: ten of Hearts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The hand is relatively cold for 6N,
but only one pair in this game was in 6N. Some were in 6D, making 6. My partner
showed admirable confidence in me when he put me in 7D even though he knew I
didn’t have the king of spades and he only had one spade for me to make a
finesse. Also, it turned out that everything shaped up wrong. Clubs didn’t
split, the king of spades was offside, and there was a horrible 4-1 trump
split. Can you make 7D? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took the ace of hearts and led a
low diamond to my king, then another low diamond to the ten. North discarded the
4 of spades, so I got the bad news on the trump split . I started clubs and
South discarded the 4 and 10, so I figured that clubs split badly and that the
king of spades was offside. I took the ace of spades and started a ruffing
finesse sequence with the queen. South covered and I ruffed. I played the king
of hearts and ruffed a heart. That left me with the following holding:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>North</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♠</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♥</span> QJ<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♦</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♣</span> J7<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>West</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♠</span> <span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♠</span> JT9<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♥</span> <span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♥</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♦</span> Q<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♦</span> A<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♣</span> Q98<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♣</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♠</span> 87<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♥</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♦</span> 98<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">♣</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though south has two trump to
my one in each hand, the hand is over. I led the two spades and sluffed two
clubs, leaving me with a spade and the trump ace in my hand and a club and the
trump queen on the board. So I trumped the spade with my queen and trumped the
club with the ace, a high cross ruff that smothered South’s two trumps,
making 7 diamonds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paradoxically, the only way it can
make is if the spade king <u>is</u> offside. Otherwise the ruffing finesse
would not work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-68143850485437368792018-04-06T19:35:00.000-07:002018-04-06T19:35:28.305-07:00Michaels Not Always the Best Way to Show a Two-Suited Hand<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Here’s your
hand, sitting South:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♠</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> J<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♥</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Q<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♦</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> AJ98652<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♣</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> KQ98<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Here’s the
bidding:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Auction:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 60%px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">West</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">North</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">East</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">South</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">1D</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">2D*</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">P</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">?</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Michaels,
showing a hand containing at least 5 hearts and 5 spades<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Ah, this is
a puzzle. Partner has cue bid your seven card suit! But it’s a conventional
bid, Michaels, showing two five card majors. What to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">This was a
hand I played with my former partner, Mille Garrison, in a four section, two
game event in the 1996 Palms Springs Regional Tournament against some of the
best players in the world. Millie was sitting West and I was sitting East.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">In this
hand, this South passed. Millie, West, also passed so North had to play the
hand in 2D, a suit in which he was void. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">North</span></u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♠</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> AKT9654<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♥</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> A97643<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♦</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Void<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♣</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Void</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♠</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> 73<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♥</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♦</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> KQT74<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♣</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> AJ732</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">East</span></u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♠</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Q82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♥</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> JT852<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♦</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♣</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> T654</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">South</span></u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♠</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> J<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♥</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Q<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♦</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> AJ98652<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">♣</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> KQ98<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Auction:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 60%px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">West</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">North</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">East</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">South</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">1D</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">2D</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">P</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">P</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">P</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.7pt;" valign="top" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Bidding:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> This is a shining example of why
Michaels is not always the best way to show a huge 2-suiter. People think that
if they have a two-suited hand, they should always use it. I don’t agree. North
misbid. There is no way that his partner could know he had a hand that was 7-6.
He should overcall Millie’s 1D with 1S and then jump to 4 hearts with his
second bid, letting partner choose which suit. And partner, given two singleton
honors, should take him back to his first suit. </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">If North
bid Michaels, as here, and if East passed, as here, then South should bid 2
spades. Partner can’t possibly know the shape of that hand. Here, who wouldn’t
be tempted to pass 2 diamonds with a seven card suit headed by the AJ, even if
LHO did open 1D? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">However,
since his LHO, West, opened with South’s 7 card suit, there’s a good
possibility that West has four diamonds (you know she has at least three), so
how many diamonds could North have? He’s already shown an unbalanced hand, so
the chances of him having more than one are slim and the chances of his being
void are excellent. So if you think about it, you shouldn’t be tempted to pass
and take the chance that your partner will be forced to play this in a suit in
which he is obviously horribly short. If partner shows two 5-card majors (which
is all Michaels promises), and your RHO passes, make a choice between the two,
even if you have two singletons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Play:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> As East, I led the 4 of clubs,
Millie taking South’s king with her ace. She smothered the singleton queen of
hearts by leading her king. While South could get rid of one club on the AK
spades, South was doomed to play the hand out of her hand and we got 2 club
tricks and 4 diamond tricks for down one. Because Millie had five clubs, she
could always take South’s diamond lead and force him to ruff and lead into her
again. My club ten backed up by three other clubs was a huge card for the
defense, keeping South from getting any club other than the queen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Other
tables were playing the hand in 4 spades, making, losing a spade and two
hearts. I don’t know how they bid it. We were the only table at which North
played the hand in 2D. It was the last hand of the day for us. We set it one
trick and it gave us the best score in the room on this hand which was enough
for us to win the 64 table event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-15706182796937207572018-03-21T16:17:00.000-07:002018-03-21T16:44:26.406-07:00New Minor Forcing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your partner opens with one of a suit and you bid a
major.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Partner rebids 1NT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>What do
you bid with this hand?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span></span>
KJ874<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span> 87<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span> AJ8<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span> Q104<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2S is too weak a bid, and it should promise a six card suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Opener will pass it most of the time and that might cause you to miss a
game.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3S is too strong a bid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If your partner has a minimum with only two spades you could be too
high.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A good solution exists which is called New Minor Forcing
(NMF).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It works this way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If your partner rebids 1NT, and you have a five card major
with invitational values, you may bid two of the lower ranking unbid minor
suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the bidding started with 1H-
P-1S-P-1N-P-?, you use 2C as your asking bid. This says nothing about clubs and is alertable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your bid promises at least invitational values (10 High Card
Points [HCP]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and a five card major) and
it is possible that you have more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your main intent with the NMF bid is to show that you have at least five cards in the suit, not four cards, which is the minimum that your initial response promised, and to find out if partner has at least a three card fit
for your major. Since your initial bid only promised four cards in the suit, your partner should not raise with only three (there are exceptions to this, but not many). NMF is the best way to tell your partner that you have five cards in the suit and that she may now support it if she has only three cards in your suit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If your partner has three-card support she bids two of your
major with a minimum (12-13 HCP) and three of your major with a maximum (14-15
HCP).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she does not have a fit she
shows four of the other major if she has it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If she cannot bid a major she bids 2NT with a minimum and 3NT with a
maximum. Sometimes, however, she might bid 2 of your major with only two cards in your suit. This occurs if she opened with a weak hand, like only 12 HCP and feels that the best contract would be at the two level in a 5-2 fit. The thing to remember is that if she supports your suit, it does not absolutely promise three cards in the suit, although it generally does.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
QUIZ<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>West<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>North<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>East</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1D <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1S<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1NT<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>One</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>Two</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>Three<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>Four</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span></span>
QT874<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span></span> AQ874<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span></span>
K10874<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span></span> Q9874<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span> 32<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span> Q73<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span> AK<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span></span> 109764<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span> QT7<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span> 73<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span> K873<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span></span> A3<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span> KJ8<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span> K73<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span> 98<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span></span> 9<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>One:</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a balanced hand with too few points
to worry about game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is quite
acceptable to forget about the spades. If you were to bid NMF here and partner
had a singleton spade with a minimum hand, you could easily get too high, when
you could make 1N.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Two</u>:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2C,
NMF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have enough points to invite
game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If partner bids 2S you will know
she has a minimum opening most probably with three spades and if she bids 3S you will know
she has a maximum opening with three spades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You will go to game if she shows a maximum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she bids 2D, denying a major holding or
2H, showing four hearts but denying three spades, you will bid 2NT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can go on to 3NT with a maximum.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Three:</u> 2C, NMF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have game points but wish to check to see if 4S is the right game or
3NT.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Four</u>: 2H.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is a rare situation, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just about the only
auction where responder can bid a new suit which does not force opener to bid
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This auction occurs when partner
rebids 1NT and you are able to show spades and then hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are allowed to bid 1S and then 2H when
you have five spades and four or five hearts and less than ten high card
points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If partner has opened 1C instead of 1D, the new minor
forcing bid would be diamonds instead of clubs. That’s why it’s called “new”
minor. You bid the unbid minor suit to show your hand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Often, players are tempted to use NMF with less than
invitational hands (less than 10 HCP). Don’t succumb to this temptation because
by making a NMF bid you are promising your partner specific values. If you make
it without them, you don’t know what your partner is going to do. She might
have a big hand and take you to a game or slam, relying on your bid, when you
don’t belong there. Bridge is a game of trusting your partner. If you
unilaterally deviate from your agreements, you are just making it more
difficult for your partner to trust you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-84680207280424940572018-02-14T15:47:00.001-08:002018-02-15T09:22:15.535-08:00Don’t Make a Weak Preemptive Opening Bid in 4th Seat<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">There
is no reason to preempt (open with a weak 2 or 3) in fourth seat. The purpose
of a preempt is to keep opponents out of the bidding or to keep them from
finding a contract. If you are in fourth seat and everyone has passed, you know
that since neither opponent has an opening hand, the most they can have between
them is around 22 High Card Points (HCP) or less and probably don't have a
game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">So
if you have a weak hand with a good six card suit in 4<sup>th</sup> seat and
you open the bidding, there’s a good likelihood that between them your
opponents have more points than you and your partner. If you open with a weak
bid and they then enter the bidding you have allowed them to find a part score
they could make. As a result, there's no reason to open the bidding with a
sub-opening hand in 4<sup>th</sup> seat. To do so just invites opponents to
search for a part score contract they can make. If you don’t have enough HCP to
make an opening 1 bid in 4<sup>th</sup> seat, pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">As
a result of this, a two level opening bid in fourth seat is available for a
descriptive bid other than a weak two, if you have an opening hand. I use it to
show 12+ HCP with a six card suit. So if I have 12+ HCP with a five
card or less suit, I just open at the one level. But if I have a six card suit
with an opening hand or better, I open at the two level. This has two positive
effects:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">1.
It more specifically describes your hand to partner and allows you to
proceed bidding without having to rebid your suit to show six cards; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">2.
It hinders opponents from entering the bidding to find any contract they might
have because the level is too high to start exploratory bidding when they know
you have an opening hand or better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">With that
as a preamble, here's a hand we held recently:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> <u>North</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♠</span> AJT652<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♥</span> 6543<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♦</span> T<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♣</span> Q7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">West
(Me)</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> <u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">♠ K3 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♠</span> 84<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">♥ KQ972 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♥</span> Void<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">♦ J93 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♦</span> AKQ87542<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">♣ 986 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♣</span> AK3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> <u>South (Dealer)<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♠</span> Q97<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♥</span> AJT8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♦</span> 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">♣</span> JT542<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Bidding:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">South</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> <u>West</u> <u>North</u> <u>East</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">P P P! 2D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">P 2H P 3C<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">P 3N P P<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">P <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">My
partner played our system and opened 2D, although it's puzzling why North did
not preempt with 2 spades in third seat. There is a feeling that you should not
preempt if you have an outside four card major. But in this situation, North,
in third seat, must preempt with 2 spades, holding six spades and three of the
top five honors. He should forget his four little hearts, especially in third
seat. If North preempts with 2S, it would make our finding 3NT extremely
difficult, if not impossible. But when your opponents' make a mistake, take
advantage of it, and we did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">I
felt my partner probably had a pretty good hand, 15-16 HCP; I had no reason for
that other than instinct. I did know that she had an opening hand with six
diamonds, so I immediately thought we had a shot at 3NT since I had three
diamonds to an honor. My heart bid showed a good five card suit. Since I
already knew she had at least six diamonds, she was free to bid 3 clubs to show
a club stopper. That's all I wanted to know. When she had my unstopped suit and
I had a spade stopper, I bid 3NT, expecting a Spade lead into my king
doubleton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">You
can see that if North leads a heart, South takes the ace and if she shifts to
the queen of spades through my doubleton king they can defeat the contract,
taking one heart and six spades before I can get in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But, as anticipated,
I got the opening lead of the jack of spades (the unbid suit and the standard
lead given North’s spade holding) and we took 11 tricks (one spade, eight diamonds,
and two clubs) off the top. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-38005698326779036812017-08-16T14:39:00.000-07:002017-08-16T14:39:20.832-07:00Negative Doubles, Part III: The Reopening Double<div class="FT">
<br /></div>
<div class="FT">
<br /></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before getting into the
Reopening Double, there’s one last item to cover. You may use a Negative Double
to show minor suits if partner, for instance, opens 1H and your Right Hand
Opponent (RHO) overcalls 1S. If your hand is like the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> T943<br />
</span>♥<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> A<br />
</span>♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> KQT9<br />
</span>♣<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> JT98<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">A negative
double shows two four card minor suits and at least 8 High Card Points (HCP).
This is a perfect hand for a minor suit negative double.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you add any bid to your
repertoire, you give up something. When you play negative doubles, you give up
the ability to double some low-level bids by opponents for penalty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even a lot of experienced
players aren’t aware of the fact that the </span><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">reopening double</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is an integral part of the negative double system.
What if, not vulnerable v. vulnerable, in third seat and the bidding goes 1
Heart by your partner then 2 Diamonds by your RHO? It’s now your bid and you
hold the following cards:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> A86<br />
</span>♥<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 95<br />
</span>♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> AKJ86<br />
</span>♣<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> K42<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You could bid 3 No Trump, but
wouldn’t you like to double 2 Diamonds for penalty? Alas, you can’t double it because that
would be a negative double, which you can’t make because you don’t have four
spades. So how can you defend 2 Diamonds doubled in this hand? You clearly
cannot double because your partner will respond as she has to in the negative
double system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The answer is that if your
partner opens the bidding followed by a bid at the 2 level by your RHO, and you
pass and your Left Hand Opponent (LHO) passes, your partner should “reopen the
bidding” with a double if she has shortness in the suit bid by opponents and
tolerance for the unbid suits. </span><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shortness, </span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in this context, means no more than a doubleton. So
if your partner has two or less of your <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">RHO</st1:place></st1:city>’s
suit, she should double. To be specific, here’s how the bidding goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="TC">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Partner <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">RHO</st1:place></st1:city> You LHO<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="TB">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 Spade 2 Diamonds Pass Pass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="TX">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="TX">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the previous situation, your
partner should protect you by doubling when it’s her turn. Then you can either
let it sit for penalty, which you would do with the above hand, or pull it by
either bidding your partner’s suit at the 2 level if you can, or making the
best bid you have under the circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is called a </span><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">reopening double</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> because it’s made by the opening bidder, and she’s reopening the
bidding by doubling since, with two passes to her, if she passes, the bidding
will stop. If she doesn’t bid or double, the auction is over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of course, you might have a
legitimate pass, too. You might </span><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">not</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> be passing because you have opponents’ suit. You might have the
following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 86<br />
</span>♥<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 752<br />
</span>♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> T96<br />
</span>♣<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> QT873<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you have this holding and
your partner makes a reopening double, you should just pull the double and
support your partner’s opening suit, in which she’ll have at least a 5–2 fit.
Your partner anticipates this. Her double is just inviting you to let it stand
for penalty if you have a lot of opponents’ suit. If you don’t, just retreat to
the best contract. If you retreat, your partner will know you passed originally
because you don’t have much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Requirements for a reopening
double are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="BL" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A
reopening double may be made only by opening bidder (you, in this example);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BL" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After LHO
has overcalled and there are two passes by your partner and your RHO.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BL" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Opening
bidder has two or less cards in overcalled suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BL" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Opening
bidder must have tolerance (at least 3 cards) for all unbid suits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BX" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Opening
bidder’s hand cannot be distributional.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BX" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As to the last rule above, if
opener has a long suit , six cards or more, </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">without support for all unbid suites, </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">or is 5–5–2–1, she should either
rebid her six-card suit, in the former, or bid her second suit in the latter.
Look at the following two hands:</span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UX">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. </span></b>♠ <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">J5</span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 2. </span></b>♠ <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">J75<br />
</span>♥
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">AQT864 </span>♥ <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">AKT864<br />
</span>♦
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8 </span>♦ <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8<br />
</span>♣
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">AQT8 </span>♣ <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">AK9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UX">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bidding is as follows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="TC">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You LHO Partner <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">RHO</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="TB">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 Heart 2 Diamonds Pass Pass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="TX">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="TX">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How do you, as opening bidder,
respond with each?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UL">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hand
1</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">:
2 Hearts. This is not a hand with which you should use a reopening double.
True, you have a singleton in your LHO’s suit. And, true, your partner is
almost certainly sitting behind your LHO with a lot of Diamonds. But your hand
has two shortcomings that make it inappropriate for a reopening double:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UL">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="BL" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You don’t
have tolerance for all unbid suits. Your Spade doubleton is insufficient for
support if your partner responds to your double with a bid of 2 Spades.
Remember, your partner might be short in your suit. So if you double and your
partner doesn’t want to sit for the penalty double at the 2 level, she has to
either support your suit if she has two cards in it, or bid her longest suit.
If she has five Diamonds but not enough to sit for the double, her longest suit
might be Spades. She could be 4–1–4–4, so she would be forced to bid Spades,
and you can’t support her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BL" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="BX" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Your hand
isn’t strong enough. You really only have two fairly certain tricks, your two
Aces. Remember, you have to take six tricks to set them. Otherwise they’re
going to get a terrific score, making two or more, doubled!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BX" style="margin-left: 67.95pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="UL">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hand 2</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">: Double. This is a very good hand with which to make a reopening
double for two reasons:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="UL">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="BL" style="margin-left: .6in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You have
tolerance for both unbid suits, so if your partner can’t support your Heart bid
you have at least three cards in the unbid suits. The worst that can happen is
that your partner will be playing in a 4–3 fit at the two level, not a
disaster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BL" style="margin-left: .6in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="BX" style="margin-left: .6in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You have a
good hand, with two Ace–King combinations. In a defense you have good
trick-taking capability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BX" style="margin-left: .6in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Remember this: Just
because you have an opening hand and shortness in LHO’s suit, you don’t
automatically make a reopening double. Your hand must fit all the requirements set forth above in
addition to shortness and the appropriate bidding after your </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">open</span>H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-38240099472469394882017-07-12T15:29:00.001-07:002017-07-12T15:29:47.118-07:00Negative Doubles Part II<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
In
the last column we covered a negative double when partner opens a minor and RHO
bids a major. Those are the easy ones. It gets a little more complicated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u>Negative
Doubles and Five card majors at the one level<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
If you have a five card major and sufficient
points you must bid the suit. If you
have a four card major and a five card major, don't use a negative double to
describe this hand, bid the five card major.
Your partner will be relying on you to bid a five card major at the one
level if you have it. If you're using
negative doubles, bidding the suit at the one level over an intervening bid
promises five cards unless both majors are unbid. A double promises four cards.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u>Only
one four card major<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
If your partner and your RHO have both bid
minor suits, and you only have one four card major, you cannot use a negative
double to describe your hand, because a negative double promises four cards in
each unbid major suit. Look at the
following hand<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span> KQ75<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span> Q73<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span> 872<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span> 983<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
Partner
opens 1 Club, RHO bids 1 Diamond. You
can't make a negative double. Your only
bid is 1 Spade. If you made a negative
double you would be promising four Spades <i>and</i> four Hearts. Since you don't have four Hearts, you can't
make a negative double.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
To
repeat, if the bidding goes 1 Club by your partner, 1 Diamond overcall by your
RHO, you must have <i>2 four card majors</i> to make a negative double. As a result, an auction of<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u>Partner</u> <u>RHO</u> <u>You</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
1<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span> 1<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span> 1<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
does
<u>not</u> promise a five card heart suit. You bid as if there had been no
overcall and your heart bid only promises 4 cards in the suit. Partner <u>must</u>
be aware that the bidding of a major suit over 1C-1D does <u>not</u> promise at
least five cards in the suit, and may only show a 4 card suit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u>Two
Level Negative Doubles With A Five Card Major<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
If you have five cards in an unbid major in
this situation, but not enough points to make a suit bid at the two level, you
can utilize the negative double. Look at
the following hand:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span> J97<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span>
KJ852<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span> 73<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span> QT6<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
Bidding:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u>Partner</u> <u>RHO</u> <u>You</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
1<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span> 1<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span> ?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
You
can't bid 2 Hearts because you only have seven points. But you do have five Hearts. What to do?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
In this situation, I will make a negative
double. You don't have eight points, but
you do have five Hearts. So you can
amend the rule a little to say that you can make a negative double which forces
partner to bid your suit at the two level in the following circumstances:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
1) Four cards in the unbid major
and at least eight points, or<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
2) Five cards in the unbid major
and at least seven points.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u>Upper
bidding limit for Making Negative Doubles<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
Negative doubles are generally played
through bids of 2 Spades, but this is purely partnership agreement. I like to
play them through 3 Hearts. But if you play them only through 2 spades, any
double of an overcall over 2 Spades is for penalty. So, look at the following hand you hold:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span> 86<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span> KQJT<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span> A763<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span> 874<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
The
auction goes:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u>Partner</u> <u>RHO</u> <u>You</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
1<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span> 3<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span> ?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
You
cannot double the 3 Club bid here to show that you have four Hearts if you only
play negative doubles through 2 spades (which is why I like to play them
through 3 hearts). If you double 3
Clubs, partner will leave it in, probably, as a penalty double. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
However,
the upper limit for negative doubles is by partnership agreement. Many advanced
players play them through 3 spades. I had a partner who liked to play them
through 4 diamonds. Whatever you choose, just be sure you and your partner
agree.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u>Partner
opens 1D, RHO overcalls 2C:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
Here’s
your hand now:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">ª</span> Q86<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">©</span> KQJ6<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span> 76<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span> 8742<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
The
auction goes: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u>Partner</u> <u>RHO</u> <u>You</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
1<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¨</span> 2<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">§</span> ?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
Since
a negative double over 1C-1D <u>promises</u> two four card majors, you might
think that you cannot make a negative double with this hand. You would be
wrong. Why can you make a negative double here without 2 four card majors but
not over 1C-1D?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
The
answer is because you have a bid if you are 4-3 in the majors at the one level. You
may bid your four card suit. At the two level, however, if you cannot make a
negative double you cannot show your four card major. So over this auction, with
enough HCP (8) and 4-3 in the majors, you may make a negative double. If
partner bids your three card suit, you pass and she’s playing it in a 4-3 fit.
Worse things than that have happened in bridge. In fact, Alphonse Moyse Jr.
liked playing in 4-3 fits so much that it is named after him, “a Moysian Fit.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
That’s
not all, folks. This negative double primer concludes with my next column.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-83268381631803603262017-06-22T17:36:00.000-07:002017-06-23T19:37:46.999-07:00NEGATIVE DOUBLES, Part I<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">At its basics, a negative double is
a double by you when your partner has opened the bidding with a minor suit (clubs or diamonds), and your Right Hand
Opponent (RHO) has overcalled a major (hearts or spades). Your double tells your Partner that you have <i>exactly</i>
four cards in the unbid major and a certain number of High Card Points
(HCP).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also implies support in the other unbid
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<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">One level negative doubles</span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Let's say you're in third seat and
the bidding has gone 1 Diamond by your partner, 1 Heart by your RHO and you
hold the following:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♠<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> KQ75</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♥<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> T9</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> J762</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♣<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 873</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not
wonderful, is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you do have four
Spades and you do have six HCP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your
RHO had passed, you would just bid 1 Spade and let it go at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how does your partner know how many
Spades you have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could have five
Spades, or you could have four Spades.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
your RHO overcalls in this situation, the Negative Double takes care of that
problem for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have at least
five Spades and this hand, you bid 1 Spade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But if you have this hand, with four Spades, you <i>Double</i>!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
is a <i>conventional</i> bid that doesn't mean what it says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a <i>penalty double</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You aren't saying to your partner, "Hey,
pard, we got 'em.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can set this baby,
so I'm doubling!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No,
it doesn't say that at all. Instead, it says, "Partner, I have at least
six HCP and exactly four Spades in my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not five Spades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not six Spades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not three Spades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exactly four Spades."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
requirements for a one level negative double, that is, a negative double that
allows your partner to make a bid and stay at the one level, are as follows:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">1)
At least six HCP;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">2)
Exactly four cards in the unbid major;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Two level Negative Doubles</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
requirements become more stringent as you force your partner to higher levels
of bidding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, look at the following
hand:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♠<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> T97</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♥<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> KQ85</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 73</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♣<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> KT64</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Bidding goes like this:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 1.0in 1.7in 2.4in 3.1in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">P</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>RHO</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>You</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 1.0in 1.7in 2.4in 3.1in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">1</span>♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1</span>♠<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 1.0in 1.7in 2.4in 3.1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now,
you know you can't bid a new suit at the two level without at least ten
HCP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were to bid a new suit with
this hand at the two level you would be lying to your partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you don't want to have one of those
conversations when she takes action on your promised strength only to find out
you lied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
what are you to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your hand isn't bad
and you do have four Hearts, which your partner might like to know about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What to do?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ah,
you're probably way ahead of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Negative double!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this hand
you have four Hearts and eight HCP, exactly what you need to make a negative
double which forces your partner to bid at the two level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Negative Double is a terrific way to tell
your partner what you have without lying to her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">You might have more than six HCP
when you make a negative double at the one level and more than eight HCP when
you make it at the two level, but you are promising that you have <u>at least</u>
six HCP at the one level and <u>at least</u> eight HCP at the two level.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Again,
I am going to stress that you cannot lie to your partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If, instead of the hand above you had the
following:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♠<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> T97</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♥<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> KJ85</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 73</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♣<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> QT64</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">and the bidding went as above, 1
Diamond by Partner and 1 Spade by your RHO, you may not make a negative double
because, if you did, you would be forcing your partner to bid at the two level
and you do not have eight HCP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your bid
here would be to Pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Partner has another
bid so you have no obligation to keep the bidding open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can't bid a new suit at the two level
because you don't have ten HCP and you can't bid 1 No Trump because you don't
have Spades, your RHO's bid, stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
all you can do is pass.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
know a lot of players who would be tempted to make a negative double with this
hand, even though they don't have enough HCP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I hope you are not one of these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don't lie to your partner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Following is a chart showing point
requirements for negative doubles:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Level</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>HCP</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">1<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">2<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">3<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>10</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">To recapitulate, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">1)
If your negative double will allow your partner to bid your suit at the one
level, you can make a negative double with only 6 HCP in your hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">2)
If your negative double will force your partner to bid your suit at the two
level, you must have at least eight HCP in your hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">3)
If your negative double will force your partner to bid your suit at the three
level, you must have at least ten HCP in your hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">That's a start. We'll get into more variations next time. </span></div>
</div>
H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-40516214199000812282017-01-14T11:02:00.002-08:002017-01-15T11:00:40.548-08:00How to Respond to a Reverse<br />
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<br />
<div class="FT">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Janson Text"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">A </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "I Janson Text Italic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">reverse</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Janson Text"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;"> is when opener for her second call bids a suit at the 2 level that is
higher ranking than the suit that she opened at the 1 level. Example: You open
1 Club. Your partner responds 1 Spade. You bid 2 Diamonds. Diamonds is higher
ranking than Clubs, and you have bid them at the 2 level, so you have reversed.
It also promises more cards in your first bid suit than in your second, either
5-4 or 6-5. </span></div>
<div class="FT">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Janson Text"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">A reverse promises that you
have at least 17 <span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">HCP</span> and is </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "I Janson Text Italic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">forcing</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Janson Text"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;"> on your partner for one round. In other words, if you reverse,
your partner </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "I Janson Text Italic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">must</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Janson Text"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;"> bid again, no matter how weak her hand. In today’s modern bridge,
almost everybody plays reverses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="FT">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Janson Text"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">As a caveat, if your hand is
6-5, you need only an opening hand to reverse and you show your hand by bidding
the second suit twice, for example</span></div>
<div class="FT">
<br /></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">South</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b><u>West</u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>North<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>East</u></b></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">1C<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1H<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">2D*<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2N<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">3D**</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">*Reverse<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">**shows 6 clubs and 5 diamonds and at
least 13 HCP</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">When inexperienced players have a five card major and a
six card minor, they often open the bidding with the five card major. This is a
mistake because once you do that, you can never accurately describe your hand.
Although there might be a few rare exceptions, you should always open the
bidding with your longest suit.</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Janson Text"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">The difficult question is, what
do you rebid when your partner has reversed (and most reverses involve a 5 card
suit and a 4 card suit)? Here’s a hand that arose recently:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">North</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"></span></div>
<br />
♠ 853<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ KJ5</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ AJ7</div>
♣ T953<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Here’s the bidding:</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">South</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>West<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>North</u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>East</u></b></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">1C<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1N<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2D*<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>?</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">*Reverse</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">What’s
your call? You have to bid again and you have a pretty good hand. Partner has reversed,
showing at least 17 HCP and you have 9 HCP. You should have game somewhere, but
where? Obviously no trump is where you want to be, but you don’t know where
partner’s points are. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">This
is where communication in bidding arises. You should show partner that you have
a stopper in hearts with your KJ5 <span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">by bidding 2H</span>. Even though you only have three hearts,
partner knows you don’t have 4 or more because you bypassed hearts to bid 1N.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">If
partner has the other suit stopped (spades), she can bid 3N. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Here
is the actual hand:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>North</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♠<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 853</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♥<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> KJ5</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> AJ7</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♣<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> T953</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">West</span></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>East</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♠<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> T6<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span>♠<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> AQ972</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♥<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> QT964<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♥<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 8732</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> T843<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♦<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> Q5</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
♣<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> KJ <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♣<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> 84</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>South</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♠<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> KJ3</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♥<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> A</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♦<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> K962</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>♣<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> AQ763</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">With this holding, South can
confidently bid 3N because she’s got a spade stopper but would be worried
about a heart lead if you had not told her that you had hearts stopped. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Here’s the correct bidding:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">South</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>West<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>North</u></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><u>East</u></b></span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">1C<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1N<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2D<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2H<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>P</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">3N<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>All Pass</span></div>
<div class="UX" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">In the actual hand, North did not
bid her heart stopper. Instead she bid 3C. South invited with 4 clubs and North
went to 5, for down 1 when it sails 3N.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681320622287650524.post-78978201320020761892016-12-13T13:48:00.000-08:002017-07-13T11:52:07.865-07:00Pick a SlamHere's your hand sitting third seat as South.<br />
<br />
♠ K4<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ AK732 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ Q53</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♣ T95<br />
<br />
Here's the auction with North dealer:<br />
<br />
<u>West</u> <u>North</u> <u>East</u> <u>South</u><br />
2N P 3D*<br />
P 3H P ?<br />
* Transfer<br />
<br />
Wow! You have 12 HCP and your partner, North, opens 2N showing 20-21 HCP and a balanced hand. You know you should be in slam, but in what strain, hearts or no trump? You don't know if your partner has only 2 hearts or 3 or more. How do you probe with your second bid after you have transferred to hearts? A bid of 3N would surely stop the bidding if partner only has 2 hearts, when you would want to be in 6N. You could bid a new suit but that would misinform opener and could lead down the primrose path to the wrong bid. In the actual hand, South just made a unilateral bid of 6H, hoping opener had 3 hearts.</div>
<br />
Here's the four hand layout:<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>North</u><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠ AQJT</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ 65</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦ A987</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣ AKQ</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>West</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>East</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♠ <span style="mso-tab-count: 3;">9872 </span>♠ 653</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♥ J84<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>♥ QT9</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♦ <span style="mso-tab-count: 4;">42 </span>♦ KJT6 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
♣ <span style="mso-tab-count: 4;">J872 </span>♣ 643</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>South</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♠ K4</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♥ AK732</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♦ Q53</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>♣ T95<br />
<br />
Alas, opener only had 2 hearts. There is, however, a perfect bid for South's dilemma. She jumps to 5N. This says, "Partner I know we should be in slam but I don't know whether you have 3 hearts or more or only 2 hearts. So if you have at least 3 hearts, bid 6H. If you only have two hearts, bid 6N. It's up to you. But please do not pass 5N!"<br />
<br />
In the actual hand, I was playing in 6H. I got a club lead and took the Ace. I led a low heart to the dummy and ducked the 9, hoping for a 3-3 split. When East returned a club I easily made 6 when hearts split, taking 4 spades, 4 hearts, 3 clubs, and a diamond. It plays exactly the same way in 6N, which is the correct contract.<br />
<br />
The only problem would come with a diamond lead. If East leads the diamond jack (which is a standard lead from KJTx against no trump), I have to play the queen. If I go low I have to take the trick with my Ace. Then when I lose a heart, which I must to set up 4 heart tricks, I lose the King of diamonds and it's down 1. But with the lead of the jack, I have to play the queen because if west has the king I have to lose a diamond either way, since it will set up east's Ten. Going low forces me to take it with the Ace regardless of where the king is. Going up with the queen and hoping east underled the king is the only way to make the slam with a lead of the diamond jack. That's why this is a less than 50% slam; it requires either a lead of something other than a diamond or that east underleads the diamond king <u>and</u> that hearts split 3-3.<br />
<br />
So remember this when your partner has a big hand with a no trump opener and you have a five card major and want to be in slam. The only way to discover how many cards in your major that your partner has is to jump to 5N after you transfer to your 5 card major at the 2 level, Pick a Slam. Discuss this with your partner so she'll know what you're doing.</div>
H. Anthony Medleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583622210220853669noreply@blogger.com0