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Hand Analyses 2nd August, 2006
In the featured auction, East had a close decision over North's 3♣ ... should he bid 3♠ or 4♠? Of course, you can look at the East hand in two ways. One is the glass half-empty approach, as in “I have the wasted singleton K♥, better not bid too much with this seriously flawed 14-count”. But, well done, East, if he chose the glass half-full approach, as in “Wow, what a great 11-count, don’t need much from Partner to make game”. As it happens, 4♠ needs little more than the Diamond finesse, and that is very much odds on given the bidding. So boldness would be rewarded here ... not that we would fault those E-W pairs who languished in a Spade partial.
North's 3♦ was preemptive, of course, after which East must decide how many Hearts to bid. Please see the Bidding Quiz for more on this.
Suppose that West ends up in 4♥. How would you set about making that vital overtrick? See Play Problem.
Would you open the West hand? We certainly wouldn't, it's a crummy 11-count with few redeeming features and some negatives, not least of which is minimal values, some of them dubious, and blah distribution. No reason to get involved at this point in the proceedings.
After West’s sage Pass, South ends up declaring 1NT, and will be able to rustle up seven tricks one way or another. A typical line of play will be … Spade lead won by Declarer’s King, Diamond to the Jack, A♦, out a Diamond … now they can cash their Spade winners, but Declarer is up to 6 tricks, and has the timing to set up a 7th in Clubs.
Suppose that sagacity is not West’s strong suit and he goes ahead anyway with a 1♠ opening. He’ll end up in 2♠, mercifully undoubled, but it will be down one for -100 when -90 was but a mere Pass away.
That West hand is extremely difficult to bid using natural methods. Not many would object to a 2♣ opening bid by West (we certainly wouldn’t). But, we do prefer 1♠, it gives the partnership a better chance to get to a minor suit slam … conversely, it also offers a better chance to play it in 1♠ making 5! We hesitate to explain the featured auction in too much detail, lest you think that we actually recommend it. Let’s just say that 3♣ was game forcing, 3♦ and 4♦ and 5♣ were natural, and 5NT was pick-a-slam. Yes, a pretty obscure auction, but, as we said, this is a very difficult hand for E-W.
If you got to the 7♣ or 7♦ on this one you did amazingly well, it’s not cold, but it’s certainly a big favorite. As for 7♠, that also makes, but it’s not a good contract.
More frisky preempting by White vs Red protagonists. That 4♥ bid was going for 800, but it seemed most reasonable for South to push on to 5♣. Making 6 when the Club finesse works.
A fairly straightforward auction. West’s 1NT was the Forcing No Trump, and the rebid of 2NT was natural and invitational. East was quite borderline in terms of accepting.
The auction may have been reasonable enough, but the resulting contract is quite poor. They lead a Heart, of course, and it looks like you need a Club miracle to have a chance. No reason to delay … … you lead a Club right away, and the bridge gods smile on you … AQ doubleton in the South chair means 10 tricks.
Nothing to the auction. In the play, just as in the previous hand, a minor side-suit is AQ doubleton on-side in the South hand, and an unexpectedly large number of tricks materialize for E-W. Playing in his Heart part-score, the fortunate lie of the cards means that West need only lose 3 tricks in the side-suits. But what about the trump suit? With X-Ray vision there are no trump losers, of course, but try to forget about the actual hand and consider your line of play when you lead a trump towards Dummy’s Ace. Here are the 3 cases: Case A: North plays a low card Case B: North plays the Ten Case C: North plays the Queen.
Case A is straightforward enough, you’ll finesse against the Queen on the second round of trumps. Case B is not so tough, either. Does North have Ten singleton? Or QT doubleton? Well, if it’s Ten singleton, that means that South has Qxxx, and the Queen cannot be picked up. So, there’s something to be said for playing the King on the second round of the suit, hoping for the QT doubleton case. Case C seems like a no-brainer, does it not? Once the Queen has dropped, how could you not finesse against the Ten on the second round of the suit?
Now, if you can trust your opponents to play straight down the middle, the above analysis is irrefutable. But opponents have been known to be quite devious, sometimes they try to trick us. No, really, they do, we’ve seen it happen. For example, if, as North, you hold QT doubleton of trumps, knowing (almost for sure) that Declarer has a 6-2 fit, how can it be wrong to drop the Queen on the first round? Imagine your glee when your T♥ wins that second Heart trick! Yes, you'll need Declarer to have the Nine to get away with this one.
Even better, picture yourself as North, and you hold T3 in the trump suit. Declarer leads a trump and you play the Ten! This play presents a losing option to Declarer, he may decide to play you for QT doubleton, much to his chagrin!
Aah, yes … false-carding! … one of the game’s great pleasures! But, in the above situation, as Declarer, don’t give your opponent too much credit for false-carding unless you know him well … but, do, by all means, next time this situation comes up, remember as North to play the Ten from Tx, and the Queen from QT. Can’t hurt, may help. Well, let’s amend that to “won’t usually hurt” … it would provide much mirth at the table if you craftily played the Queen from QT (under Dummy’s Ace), only to find later that Partner held Kxx, and that Declarer had based his Weak Two on Jxxxxx! If this happens, then hopefully your Partner has a good sense of the ridiculous.
A typical misfit auction to a reasonable contract.
West leads a Diamond, won by East’s Ace, and he continues with the J♦, won by South’s Queen. Next, the losing Club finesse, after which East’s only safe exit is a Club. Now, Declarer cashes the Clubs, putting East through the wringer. He must come down to 5 cards, 2 of which must be Spades. How about the other 3 cards? There are two cases: (a) East keeps A♥ and ♦Tx … in this case, Declarer comes down to ♠3, ♥KQ, and ♦9x, and on the lead of a Heart from the board, East is done for. (b) East keeps ♥Ax and T♦ … in this case, Declarer comes down to ♠3, ♥KQx , and ♦9, and again, after a Heart lead, 9 tricks are made.
Those 6-5 reverse auctions can get awkward, and this one was no exception. If it comes to that, reverse sequences in general can be quite difficult! What did that 3♦ mean? Game-forcing, of course ... presumably a hand that was too good to bid 3NT, or a hand that was lacking direction. After 3♥ it is apparent that North is 5-6, so now South has two questions to ask herself: - Game or slam? - Hearts or No Trump? Please see the Bidding Quiz for more on this auction.
We confess that we rigged the featured auction to end up in 6♥, because it gives us such a delightful Declarer Play Problem! And we'll freely admit that any number of other rational auctions will alight in 3NT or 4♥.
That 6♥ contract is so-so at best, and at first blush it looks as if Declarer needs 3-2 in Clubs and in Hearts to bring this home, putting the overall odds at something less than 50%. However, Declarer has an extra chance. Try making this slam in Problem format (let’s say that you get a lead of the J♦). This one is quite the prettiest deal in a set full of interesting play problems.
Some spirited interference by N-S, despite being vulnerable, but, as it turns out, they could even have bid one more, because 6♥ turns out to be a profitable sacrifice against 5♠. But, along the way, North and East had some interesting bidding choices, please see the Bidding Quiz.
Against 5♠, North must decide which red suit to lead. She'll probably choose the Ace in the shorter suit, on the grounds that this is less likely to get ruffed, and on this occasion she'll be absolutely right ... a Diamond lead holds them to 12 tricks, whereas a Heart lead lets them make all 13.
Did any pairs bid this excellent slam? Of course, it could equally well be played from the other side, as many Easts would quite reasonably open that hand 1♠. Now, a Diamond lead beats the slam.
A simple auction to a normal spot, although some might consider the West hand a tad too strong for a 15-17 1NT opening bid.
As it happens, the 5-2 Spade fit will score +420. And 3NT? That is only good for +400 on a Heart or Club lead, but, on a Diamond lead, Declarer has the timing to set up his Spades and score 10 tricks and +430.
Yes, we are all in favor of that 1NT overcall, notwithstanding the singleton Spade. For more on this, please see the Bidding Quiz. After North's 1NT overcall, N-S have a smooth ride to 3NT, something which might not have been the case after a 2♣ overcall.
Against 3NT, East leads a Spade, won by West ... now a Diamond shift won on the board, Q♣ covered by the King and Ace, after which careful defense holds Declarer to 9 tricks ... Declarer can establish a 10th trick in Spades, but is never able to enjoy it.
Two bids of note in this cut-throat auction. Firstly, we have East's decision to balance with 2♠ ... we would like it more if we were not vulnerable, of course, but if we have to balance we'd do it with 2♠ rather than a Double (see Bidding Quiz). Secondly, there is South's sharp Double of 2♠ ... nice bid! ... South is showing a good hand here, not a fistful of trump tricks.
Poor East picked the wrong ladies to balance against, and 2♠ will be down one or two ... to beat it 2, North must get two Club ruffs, but even down one doubled will be worth most of the matchpoints.
Normally, when we make a take-out Double, and then introduce a new suit, we are showing a very good hand, typically around 18 HCPs or more. But, some partnerships allow for one exception, which goes under the name of “Equal Level Conversion” … if the opponents open one of a major, and you double, and Partner bids 2♣, then a bid of 2♦ does not show extras … typically, it shows 4 cards in the unbid major and 5 Diamonds. Anyway, such was North’s plan in the above auction, to convert 2♣ to 2♦. However, West got in the way with his pesky little 2♠ bid, and North had to pass (bidding 3♦ here would show a big hand). South balanced and the final contract of 3♦ was reached.
If you were one of the N-S pairs who languished in a Diamond part-score, when 11 tricks are there for the taking, be not dismayed. After all, making those 11 tricks does require a Heart finesse and well-behaved trumps to have a chance … oh, yes, and don’t forget the Club-Heart squeeze against West for the 11th trick. Anyway, just finding that squeeze and making +150 should be enough for a good board.
Nothing to the auction, but look at that West hand, what a horror to have to lead from! All four suits are fraught with danger, but a Club lead looks least likely to blow a trick (though it certainly could). As it turns out, a Spade or a Club is quite safe and holds Declarer to 10 tricks. A Diamond lead is quite disastrous, as Declarer now scores an extra Diamond and a total of 11 tricks. Most interesting is the improbable K♥ lead. Now, to make even 10 tricks, South must put her contract slightly at risk, and lead a Diamond towards Dummy early in the play … we think she should do this, it would be most unlucky if the opponents were to score 3 Diamonds and 2 Hearts.
In the featured auction, West opened 1♦ (in preference to 1♣) in order to facilitate his rebid over the expected 1♠ response. Then, after East’s raise to 3♣, West must have been sorely tempted to try 3NT, and was wise (or fortunate) not to, as this contract does not make.
Playing in Clubs, the method of tackling this particular trump holding would normally be to cash the AK♣, hoping that the Queen is doubleton (about a 30% chance). But, are there reasons not to make the percentage Club play on this particular hand? Yes, indeed, please see the Play Problem, where good timing and lots of luck will net no fewer than 11 tricks … but this is not a game that you want to bid, just going +150 is worth most of the matchpoints.
Partnership Note: Notwithstanding that singleton Spade, would you (or your Partner) consider rebidding 1NT instead of 2♣? We know that we would, in which case our choice of opening bid would be 1♣ ... not much point in opening our inferior minor unless it facilitates the subsequent auction.
South’s 2♦ was Michaels, for the majors. 3♠ was invitational, wisely declined by North. Well, perhaps not so wisely, as this is a Wednesday where all contracts seem to make an unexpectedly large number of tricks, and so it is with this one. Both majors are 3-3, and it’s an easy 10 tricks.
System Note: If you play Michaels as showing either a weak or a good hand (but not an in-between hand), then it's normal, as in the above auction, that taking a second bid would confirm the good variety. However, if there is a cue-bid available, as there is in the featured auction, then there is something to be said for using the direct raise as preemptive (weak, but with extra distribution, perhaps 6-5 and/or a void), and the cue-bid as the game try. Something to discuss with your Partner.
Congratulations to North and South for both finding the winning No Trump calls. North's 3NT bid was something of a stretch and with a far from perfect Heart holding, but is sure beats passing or making a Negative Double. As for South, she could see loads of tricks, and she hoped that Partner would be on the same wavelength and take 4NT as natural.
In the play, North has an easy 11 tricks if the defense gets off to a Heart lead. But, suppose that the opening lead is the Q♦ … can you make 11 tricks now? Please see Play Problem.
That was a Support Redouble by West, showing precisely 3 of Partner’s Spades. You may think that North could have done more in this auction, with her 12 HCPs opposite a doubling Partner. But what? With a square hand, no fit, opposite a Partner who passed originally, North was effectively shut out by the 2♠ bid ... not such a bad thing on the actual hand, as N-S have no fit and no making contract ... anything at the three level is down two.
In the play to 2♠, East will usually make 8 tricks. He must lose a trick in each suit, and must avoid losing both a second Spade and a second Club. South will lead a Club or a Heart, and Declarer gets an easy 8 tricks if he goes after a Club ruff ... if North tries to stop this by switching to trumps, he might surrender 9 tricks, allowing Declarer to score 5 trumps, 2 Hearts and 2 Clubs.
The auction needs no comment, and the play is pretty straightforward, too. West has 9 top tricks, and gets his 10th from the Diamonds. However, if North is brilliant enough to find an opening lead of a Spade, the defense sets up its 4th trick first … this won’t happen very often in real life, and 620 will surely be an almost universal result.
West has a good hand, but not that good, and not worth more than 2♥ on his rebid.
North does well to lead a trump on this auction, especially given her good holding in Declarer’s first suit, and 8 tricks should result with normal play. On the opening lead, South does best to withhold her Ace, and now Declarer loses a Club, preparing for a cross-ruff, but with the Diamond suit in reserve if the defense draws two more rounds trumps when they win their Club trick.
East's 2♠ was a Reverse, forcing for one round … it was not so much an attempt to play in Spades (West’s 1NT had denied as many as 4 in either major), as it was to get reassurance from Partner that the Hearts really were stopped. The jump to 3NT gave that reassurance.
Against 3NT, North will lead a Heart, and with the enemy Hearts apparently in the West hand, it’s probably best to lead the Queen … it would be a shame to blow a trick by leading low into Declarer’s AKT. As it happens, it makes no difference, South will play the A♥, and lead one back, and now Declarer must stake all on the Diamond finesse. When that works, and when Spades split, it’s 11 easy tricks and +660.
West 3♣ was preemptive, of course, showing at least 5 Clubs. East’s 3NT was a bit of a gamble, but not unreasonable, surely Dummy would have the decency to possess at least one entry somewhere.
An opening lead from South of a Diamond (not the Ace) would be astonishingly effective, as it would deprive Dummy of its entry before the Clubs can be unblocked. But, this seems improbable, and a Heart lead is more likely. North’s Queen is taken by the Ace, now Declarer unblocks those Clubs, and leads a Diamond which South must duck. Dummy’s Jack wins the trick and now the Clubs are cashed. At this point Declarer is up to 8 tricks, and can wangle a ninth in the end-game. After the last Club is cashed, Declarer will be down to 4 Spades and the J8 of Hearts. No matter what South comes down to, she will be end-played one way or another, provided that Declarer reads the situation accurately.
West’s 2♥ bid could be made with quite a strong hand (as we already saw on Board 21), therefore it behooves East to keep the auction open when he has 7 or 8 working points and 4-card Heart support. It follows that, if you must stretch to 3♥ on that type of hand, you must also stretch to 4♥ on the actual 11-count.
4♥ turns out to be a fine contract, and makes 10 tricks in comfort, no more, no less.
East’s vulnerable 3♦ preempt was not one for the purists, but it did make it easy for his side to get to 3NT. North will lead the J♠, and it’ll be 10 fast tricks for Declarer.
If West declines to bid 3♦ then West will open 1NT (at least, we would) and now East bids 3NT for the same result.
A straightforward Roman Key Card auction, with 5♥ showing 2 Key Cards without the Queen of Trumps. North made a good decision to play this one in 6NT.
In the play, we are always taught “eight ever, nine never”, and, following this advice leads to 12 tricks. Few Declarers are likely to find the Q♥, so just playing it in No Trump should be a decent result.
Some Norths might have responded 1♥ instead of passing ... with shortage in Diamonds it would be more clear-cut ... but with a 3-card fit, North need not worry too much about playing in 1♦ so we would pass here. As for East, he was too strong to balance with 1NT, in this situation the requirements are somewhat reduced, and with a bona fide strong No Trump in the balancing seat, East will normally double and then bid 1NT.
Regardless of what North does here, it is likely that E-W will get into trouble on this deal. If they manage to play this in a Club partial, they’ll get a good result … more likely they will get overboard in 2NT or 3NT. It’s just a difficult hand for them to stay low on.
N-S were playing Lebensohl, so, after East’s natural 2♥, South was able to bid 3♥ here … this was “Stayman without a Heart stopper” ... if South had wanted to use Stayman and show a stopper he would have gone via the 2NT relay.
Against 4♠, East does not have a particularly attractive opening lead. Certainly not a major … and no point in going after a Diamond ruff, it’ll be with a natural trump trick … so East will probably lead a Club for want of a better alternative. With trumps breaking 3-2, it’s easy enough to make 10 tricks. Can you see a way to make 11 tricks? Please see the Play Problem.
Nice 4♠ bid by East! Only 8 HCPs, but good distribution and no wasted values.
Declarer can make 11 tricks in 4♠ … assuming a Heart lead, it’s not quite possible to handle the 4-0 Diamond break, and get 6 trump tricks, at least not with normal play. In fact, just making 11 tricks should be worth an above average score.
Did any Norths push on to 5♥? Yes, it's quite tempting, but, alas, it's too expensive and goes for -800. Somewhat unlucky, in our view.
A well-judged competitive auction … 3♥ makes 9 tricks, and 4♦ escapes for down one.
A good stop by E-W in this auction, in particular by East, who realized that, as 13-counts go, his was rather poor.
There are some obscure lines of play where Declarer can make 9 tricks in Hearts, but normal play brings in 8 tricks.
We finish with a simple Texas auction, on a deal which is a good commercial for Transfers, and the benefits of “right-siding” the contract.
To start with, suppose that N-S are not playing transfers, and that they end up declaring 4♥ from the South side. West leads the J♠ through the strong hand, and Declarer is held to 10 tricks.
Next, let’s assume that we have the featured transfer auction. Now, the defense cannot score more than two tricks. If East cashes his AK♠, then the Q♠ sets up Declarer’s 11th trick … and if East fails to cash his high Spades, then one of his Spade winners will evaporate as Declarer uses the 3rd round of Diamonds for a pitch.
Yes, getting the strong hand to be Declarer is usually a good thing! End of commercial. And, the end of an unusually interesting set of boards!
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