0006 – Best Hand at the Table

When to Pass #001 – Passing with the best hand at the table is really, really, really hard. But remember, bidding is about describing your hand to your partner or as Al Roth says bidding is "the art of painting a bridge hand."  After West opens 1♦, how can North best describe this hand?

After West open's 1 ♦, what call can North make that is NOT, at best, a misrepresentation ? The choices seem to be 1 NT, Double, 1 ♠, 2 ♣, PASS ... any others?

1 NT – While North has a perfect 1 NT opening bid, as an overcall, North does not have a diamond stopper. This is a really bad choice, the contract could end up in 3 NT not making (as E/W run off 7-diamond tricks) when game otherwise in a suit contract is assured.

Double – While some partnerships might make takeout doubles to show opening values regardless of shape, a Minimum Offshape Takeout Double (Savannah double), in modern bridge this is just WRONG! What would North do after a takeout double, if partner jumps to 4 ♥? So what about doubling with the plan on rebidding ... first, North only has 15 hcp and second, what would North rebid?

1S or 2C – North doesn't have a 5-card suit in either spades or clubs. Sure North would like partner to lead one of these suits if on opening lead, but partner will expect a different hand thinking if not saying out loud WWYT (what were you thinking).

PASS – Passing with the best hand at the table seems to be the best option. The bidding should come back around, and if partner does not have enough values to balance over 1 ♦, then PASS was the right option all along.

0005 - Cuebidding Stayman

Cuebidding #001 – This is a lesson on cuebidding ... so what's a cuebid? While technically the cue bid (or cuebid) can take other forms, the most common form of a cuebid below game level is the bid of an opponent's suit. A cuebid is a forcing bid, requiring partner to take some action based on the context (point in the auction) of the cuebid.

This deal was played by Adele Newman and Norman Bloch August 2, 2014 Okatie Creek DBC.

Adele (South) opens 1 NT (15-17 hcp) and West makes a natural 2 ♦ overcall.

In everybody's little book on bidding agreements, 3 ♦ by Norm (North) should be a cuebid for the Stayman convention. The use of the cuebid after interference was part of the original Stayman convention and still retains its usefulness. Some partnerships, who play the Stolen Bids agreement after interference of 1 NT, might play 3 ♣ as Stayman, but then how would responder make an invitational bid in clubs - 3 ♣ is needed for natural bidding sequences but 3 ♦ is not. Adele's rebid of 3 NT is perfect – denies a 4-card major and (on-the-way to wherever this auction is going) shows a stopper in diamonds.

 So far so good ... So what is 4 ♦? 

0004 - Listen to the Bidding

Playing Intermediates #004 – This deal initially looks a lot like the playing intermediates deal 0001 – Find the Jack where declarer needs to find the ♠ J and the ♠ A will take care of itself. But, listening to the bidding places the ♠ A and logic says don't finesse for the ♠ J.

This deal (rotated) was played by Dave McClintock with Marvin Shatz August 12, 2014 / Okatie Creek DBC.

There is nothing special about the auction, 2 ♠ is a reasonable contract. West's 2 ♦ overcall vulnerable (VUL) should show opening values (12-15 hcp) and a good suit - one West wants lead, if partner is on opening lead. 

West leads the ♥ A and when East encourages with the ♥ 8, continues with the ♥ K and then the ♥ 10. 

When dummy is faced holding the ♦ Q9, the first question should be what kind of diamond suit does West have to overcall 2 ♦? Missing the ♦ KQJ97 of diamonds the best suit West could hold would be ♦ A10865, not the best diamond holding, so West probably holds 6-diamonds. West also shows up with ♥ AK10. Without the ♥ Q, West must hold the ♠ A to have the values to make a 2-level overcall vulnerable. So, West should hold something like:

♠ A(x)
♥ AK10
♦ A108654
♣ x(x)

With so much information now available, how should Dave (South) play this hand?

0003 - The Miss Lucy

Intermediates 003 – The first two deals on intermediates focus on the texture and value intermediate cards of 10s, 9s, 8s and sometimes 7s contribute when playing a hand of bridge. But, what is the meaning of leading intermediates? What does opening lead of the ♣ 7 mean in this deal?

Playing with Emma Knight of Hilton Head Junior Bridge (HHJB) this deal was defended August 6, 2014 at the Hilton Head Bridge Club.

After North opens 1 ♠ and South responds 1NT as a Forcing Notrump, North/South must proceed carefully – anything that can go badly in bridge, often does. double dummy (DD) North/South should reach 3 NT or 4 ♠.

After opening 1 ♠, a jump rebid of 3 ♠ by North is invitational (not forcing), South can Pass 3 ♠. With a 3-loser hand, North should consider a jump-shift to 3 ♣ which makes the auction forcing and gives South a chance to bid the hearts at the 3-level. After 3 ♥ (6+ hearts, no fit in spades), North can decide on 3 NT or 4 ♠ (I like 4 ♠).

So what is the meaning of the lead of a 7 (Miss Lucy).

0002 - The Black Kings

Intermediates 002 – Having intermediate cards of 10s, 9s, 8s and sometimes 7s, especially when combined with honors, give texture (body) in suits where having a holding of ♠AQ1098 will play better than ♠AQ1082 which will play better than ♠ AQ1042 which will play better than ♠AQ542. Unfortunately, it is ♠AQ542 that are trumps in this deal.

Playing with Harrison Luba of Hilton Head Junior Bridge (HHJB) this deal (rotated) was played against Ron Perry and Marvin Shatz August 1, 2014 at the Hilton Head Bridge Club.

When you look at these two hands don't you wish you could trade South's club suit holding of ♣AJ1076 with 5 hcp (probably worth 4 tricks) for North's spade suit of ♠AQ542 with 6 hcp (lucky to win 3 tricks)?

There is nothing special about this auction, after three passes South opens 1NT, and regardless of systems, all pairs should reach the contract of 4 ♠ . 

How do you play spades without intermediates?

Are Game Tries Alertable

Previously posted in the 0001 - Find the Jack deal analysis East/West, after finding an agreement in spades, East bids 3 ♣ as some sort of a game try ... so the question is whether 3 ♣ is Alertable as a game try. Yes? No?

The answer depends on the partnership's agreement regarding game tries. As per Doug Grove, ACBL Tournament Director game tries come in three basic flavors: long suit, help suit and short suit. The first two long suit and help suit are defined as natural bids and are not Alertable.  The short suit is not natural and is therefore Alertable.  A short suit is defined as two or fewer cards because anything longer is deemed a suit.

If East/West are playing some generic version of help suit game tries or natural bid game tries (i.e., not short suit game tries) and holding ♣ AKJ2 in clubs, 3 ♣ is not Alertable.

0001 – Find the Jack

Intermediates 001 – This deal starts a series focusing on the value of intermediate cards (body cards) of  10s, 9s, 8s and sometimes 7s.  Intermediates give texture (or body) to a hand i.e., not just a hand with high honors and spot cards (6s, 5s, 4s, 3s and 2s).  Intermediates are of greatest value when combined with honor cards such as in this deal South's ♠ K107x and North's ♠ Q9xx when in combination form an impressive suit holding of ♠KQ1097xxx.

Playing with Diana Mullaly this deal was originally played East-West (but rotated for presentation) was played July 30, 2014 at the Hilton Head BC.

We find ourselves in a 4 ♠ contract with 21 hcp combined and respective shortness in hearts and clubs (24 shortage pts), not a really good contract (8.5 winners), but NTWC (not the worst contract) ever played. On the positive, lots of good intermediates in combination with honors.

When West leads the ♣ 4 (out of turn) Diana accepts the lead and makes me play the contract from South. (oh thanks!)

 How would you play this contract?