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Bidding Quiz 2nd July, 2008
West’s 3♥ in this situation is usually based on an extra trump rather than on extra strength, so we can be reasonably sure that there are 17 total trumps. If that translates into 17 total tricks then the chances are that one side can make 9 and the other can make 8. That being the case, and if both sides were non-vulnerable, it would always be right to bid 3♠ here, because either 3♠ makes or else it is a good save against 3♥. With both sides vulnerable, a double of 3♠ would change the arithmetic, but we would bid 3♠ anyway, it’s the bid with different ways to win: - Maybe 3♠ will make - Maybe 3♠ is down one but the opponents won’t double (we do have strong trumps so the likelihood of a Double is correspondingly reduced) - Maybe 3♠ can be beaten but won’t be due to an unfortunate lead or defense
On the actual board, the Law of Total Tricks is out by one, as there are only 16 total tricks, 8 for each side. Does that mean that bidding 3♠ was wrong? Not at all, in practice it worked out just fine, as the defense to beat 3♠ will not be found in real life and 9 tricks will be made.
North is not good enough to try for game, but it does seem likely that one of the majors will provide a better part-score contract that 1NT. Here are some possibilities: - Simply transfer to 2♥, giving up on the Spades - Bid 2♣, planning to bid 2♥ if Opener responds 2♦. This is known as “Garbage Stayman” and asks Partner to pick her better major.
Garbage Stayman has a couple of variations. One method is to play that the majors could be 4-4 or 4-5 or 5-4 (or more), so that, after 1NT 2♣, 2♦ 2♥, Opener may put the partnership into a 4-3 fit instead of a 5-3 fit. Another method is for Garbage Stayman is that Responder never has longer Spades, which solves the aforementioned problem but which creates a new problem in the shape of hands with 5 Spades and 4 Hearts. With those hands the alternative solutions are either (a) just transfer directly to Spades (no Stayman), or (b) treat 1NT 2♣, 2♦ 2♠ as a weak hand with 5 Spades and 4 Hearts (but that sequence may be better used as invitational with 5 Spades and 4 Hearts). To summarize, nothing is perfect!
There’s nothing inherently wrong with Opener raising Responder’s Hearts with 3-card support. But it’s not a good idea when Opener also has 4 Spades, there’s no point in committing to a potentially 4-3 Heart fit when there might be a 4-4 Spade fit available. So, we would bid 1♠ here, planning to raise to 2♥ next time if Responder bids 1NT.
First of all, what does Partner’s 3♠ mean? Does it show a 6th Spade or is Partner merely unable to bid 3NT (presumably having no Diamond stopper)? Surely 3♠ shows a 6th Spade, as 3♦ was available as a “mark time” bid. That being the case, South should now have her sights firmly set on a Spade slam. What’s the next move? South could make a cue-bid of 4♦, which surely agrees Spades, but we’d just grab the bull by the horns and launch straight into Roman Key Card. There appear to be plenty of tricks, it’s just a matter of controls, so 4NT it is.
13, 24 From this week’s set here are two South hands with a common theme.
Board 13 ♠ 6 South West North East ♥ JT54 1♠ Pass ♦ T5 ?? ♣ QJT964
Board 24 ♠ JT543 South West North East ♥ 42 Pass 1♣ Pass ♦ QJ92 ?? ♣ 75
After Partner has opened one of a suit, we’ll almost always find something to say with a 6-count, and quite often also with a 5-count. The question in both these instances is whether or not to dredge up a response on those meager 4-counts. We would.
On Board 13 it would be a shame to languish in a 5-1 Spade fit when there might be greener pastures in Hearts, and even if Partner does not have 4 Hearts then 3♣ is likely to a better spot (look at those nice Club fillers!). So we’d bid 1NT and await developments. It’s worth pointing out that, as quacky 4-counts go, this one is rather nice!
On Board 24, the South hand is also blessed with quacks and fillers. The shape is less exciting than before but there is the lure of that 5-card major and, if we do not bid, there could be a missed game in our future. So we would try 1♠ here. And if Partner now rebids a 12-14 1NT? Well, obviously we cannot leave her there, our side has combined assets of 16-18 HCP’s and 1NT is most unlikely to be a success. So, we’d try 2♠ and hope for the best.
2♣ was game-forcing, and therefore 3♣ is unlimited. West has no extras and suspects that 3NT will be the best spot. Does that mean that West should bid 3NT here? We don’t think so, that would be rather committal with such a tenuous Spade holding. Better to bid 3♥ showing something in Hearts and seeing what Partner will do next: - With a minimum hand and a suitable Spade holding Partner can bid 3NT - With a minimum hand and an unsuitable Spade holding Partner can always bid 3♠, passing the buck back to us
Could 3♥ be an attempt to play in Hearts? No, Partner would not have raised Clubs without first showing a Heart suit, so once Clubs have been bid and raised it’s safe to say that there is no 4-4 Heart fit.
Partner’s 3♥ bid showed something in Hearts, presumably he is reluctant to bid 3NT, either because of a Spade weakness or because he has extras and entertains hopes for a slam in Clubs. Anyway, whichever it is, this East hand is worth some kind of slam move. Here are some possibilities: - East could just up and bid 6♣ directly, there’s something to be said for the direct approach. But perhaps not here, West is still unlimited, and bidding 6♣ will put an end to any grand slam possibilities. - Let us suppose that you have a Minorwood (4♣) or Redwood (4♦) option available, allowing Roman Key Card to invoked more cheaply. That would commit the side to slam, as East won’t be staying out of 6 just because one Key Card is missing. - As before, suppose that Minorwood or Redwood are available. If that is the case then what does 4NT mean here? We’d suggest that it be a natural slam try, inviting Partner’s opinion. After 4NT West has the option of passing, bidding 5♣, or going to slam.
What are the rebid choices here? Just two, either 3♣ or an off-shape 2NT. Here is why we like 2NT: - Notwithstanding that singleton K♦, this hand just plain looks No-Trumpish, don’t you think? But, if that 5-card suit had been a major, we would bid the major, not 2NT, that would be the bid most likely to succeed. - If we bid 3♣, there’s a danger that we might miss a 4-4 Heart fit. - Bidding 2NT limits the hand, whereas 3♣ is highly nebulous in the strength department and could be bid on any number of different strength hands. In fact, an auction which starts 2♣ 2♦, 3♣ is so unwieldy that we would actually prefer to open the hand with 1♣.
OK, we rebid 2NT, let’s say that it shows 22-23 HCP’s. Partner bids 3♣, we bid 3♥, and Partner bids 4NT. What does that mean? We suggest that it is quantitative, and that 4♠ be used as Roman Key Card here, but that is a matter for partnership agreement. Now for the final question “Do you accept the slam invitation?” We certainly would, even though we have only 22 HCP’s the controls are good and we have a good 5-card suit as a source of tricks.
You’d hate to bid 3♦ here and see the auction proceed “Pass, Pass, Pass”. Nor would you want to Double with that good hand and see a 4♥ bid from Partner. No, the practical course of action here is 3NT, bidding the game that is most likely to make. Ideally the suit would be solid, but this one is close enough, we think. 3NT is a contract which will make in comfort if the Diamond suit comes in. And if it doesn’t? Then down 4 or 5 is quite possible!
South’s Redouble showed 3-card Heart support, a variation of the Support Double. What next? First of all, what does Partner’s Pass show? Surely with 5 Hearts and a mediocre hand she would bid 2♥ directly, making it clear that Hearts is where N-S belong and that North has nothing much extra. Therefore, Partner could have almost any hand-type with extras, or a weak hand with just 4 Hearts. If South had a better Diamond holding she might try 2NT here, but, in the absence of that we suggest a value-showing Double, we want to compete further but we are not sure where this one is going.
Post Script Anyone for a 15-17 1NT opening with the South hand? We happen to think that this would be a rather fine idea with that square 18 and with no Ten in sight. On the actual deal, opening 1NT may work out rather well, probably buying the contract and scoring 8 tricks for a good board.
With some 9-counts we would charge into game opposite a 15-17 hand but this poor collection is not one of them. We especially don’t like the square shape so inviting 3NT is all this hand is fit for. In the good old days, with no 4-4 major fit on the cards, the prescribed method would be a simple 2NT bid. Nowadays, with many pairs using 2♠ and 2NT as Minor Suit Transfers, 2NT is no longer an option. That being the case, when Responder wants to invite 3NT opposite a 1NT opening, she must go via Stayman even if she does not have a 4-card major.
System Note If, as per the above, N-S are using Stayman even when they may not have a 4-card major, then it’s as well to distinguish between these two auctions: 1NT 2♣ 2♥ 2NT Invites to 3NT without 4 Spades
1NT 2♣ 2♥ 2♠ Invites to game with 4 Spades.
By making the above distinction, Opener can pass 2♠ when she has 4 Spades and a rotten hand.
Alert Procedure Some time back, it was required to alert Stayman when the bid could be made without a 4-card major. Now, the procedures have changed, and Opener only alerts the 2NT rebid. But, if Responder rebids 3NT, there’s no nothing to alert, as the sequence 1NT 2♣, 2♥ 3NT does show a 4-card major.
Let’s assume that South’s 2♣ is game-forcing, so that North’s 3♣ is unlimited. What does South’s 3NT show? Little if anything in the way of extras, that much we know. And also good holdings in the unbid Spade and Diamond suits. South’s void makes Roman Key Card a dubious proposition, so we would just boot out 6♣, surely that will have a play. Worried that there are two Spade losers? Don’t be, that’s highly unlikely, South purports to have a Spade stopper, surely that stopper is the Ace or the King and not JTxx.
Back on Board 20 East held a 3=4=1=5 hand with 22 HCP’s which included the singleton K♦. On that occasion we favored opening 2♣ and rebidding 2NT, showing a balanced 22-23 hand. Well, here we go again! Suppose that you open this 3=4=5=1 16-count with 1♦ and that Partner, as is his wont, finds the response that causes most anguish, namely 1♠. Yikes! What’s your rebid? Nothing seems right, does it? Not a Spade raise (3♠ would show 4-card support), not 1NT (12-14), not a 2♥ reverse (not good enough), not, not, not. So, consider, if you will, opening this hand with 1NT. That may not be entirely kosher with a singleton, but it is the King and 1NT does solve that awful rebid problem. The moral of this story is that sometimes a small lie on the first bid can avoid the need for an absolute whopper later on.
What’s the plan with this turbo-charged 17-count? Here are three possibilities, only two of which are awful: - Open 1NT: Definitely not! There’s nothing inherently wrong with opening 1NT with a 6-card minor, at least not in our opinion, but this hand is way too good for such an opening. It’s at the top end of the range point-wise, and additionally has the power of a strong 6-card suit. - Open 1♣ and rebid 3♣: This is a little better, perhaps, but not by much. Again it seems like an underbid to us, and it also fails to describe the true nature of the hand, which is No Trump, No Trump, No Trump. - Open 1♣ and rebid 2NT: Yes, that’s the ticket! We are a point shy of the 18-19 HCP range, but there’s plenty of compensation for that trivial defect in the shape of the good controls and the long Clubs. We’d even say that this is a good 2NT bid. © BES, Inc All Rights Reserved | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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