Better Bridge in Barry County August 30 2012

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

	North ♠  J64 ♥  --- ♦  AQ8 ♣  Q976542
West ♠  K82 ♥  8432 ♦  106543 ♣  3		East ♠  Q109753 ♥  QJ5 ♦  J92 ♣  J
	South ♠  A ♥  AK10976 ♦  K7 ♣  AK108

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

North Both 3♣

North Pass 2♦ 3♣ 5♦ Pass

East Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

South 2♣ 2♥ 4NT 7NT

West Pass Pass Pass Pass

The Barry County Bridge Barge was once again all set for its weekly excursion down the Thornapple River in beautiful Barry County. These weekly bridge and travel trips had been a delight for Captain M. North, skipper and bridge director for the weekly bridge tournaments. The fact was that the success of the trip had been so overwhelming that he had to take reservations for the weekly trip. Captain North was checking in the last of this week’s participants.

“Hmmmm…” Captain North murmured half-to-himself. “Just waiting for two more and off we go on this week’s trip.” As he finished saying this aloud, he looked up to see the final two bridge players scurrying up the gangplank.

“Wait for us, Captain North!” called Rosy and Vera, two of his more frequent travelers and bridge players. They always had a story to share, and no doubt there would be another one today. The Captain never minded. After all, Rosy and Vera took their bridge seriously, and yet they always managed to have a fun time. Captain North liked Vera and Rosy, and he shouted out to them. “Come aboard, Ladies. We would not leave Port Charlton Park without you. The Barry County Bridge Barge would just not be the same.”

Arriving all out of breath, Rosy and Vera came aboard. “Oh Captain North. We have the most wonderful story to tell you.” Just then, one of the other regular players came up and interrupted their conversation. “Captain North, would you mind waiting another minute? I need to run to my car for my bridge convention card. I will be right back.” Captain North nodded, and he turned to Rosy and Vera. “There you have it. You should tell your story right now since we will have a short delay.”

Vera and Rosy sat down as did the Captain. “Oh Captain North, we have been to a Regional Bridge Tournament in Lansing. Do you know where Lansing is?” Captain North smiled and nodded. Rosy continued, “On one of the seven days of the tournament, Vera and I played a match with these cards,” and here Rosy pulled out the hand of the day. “We were playing North-South, and my partner Vera passed the opening bid, although I wondered later why she did not open with a pre-emptive 3♣ bid. Oh well, no matter.”

Here Vera piped up, “Opening in first seat at a tournament with such ratty-looking clubs was not for me. I elected to pass.” The Captain only nodded. Rosy continued. “I opened my hand with a 2♣ bid, a strong bid in our partnership agreement, informing my partner Vera that I had 22 points and expected game and perhaps we might have a slam possibility.”

Vera responded, “I responded with a 2♦ bid, a waiting bid for us, to have Rosy further describe her hand.” “That is just what I did,” replied Rosy. “I mentioned my hearts, and back came a bid from Vera, bidding 3♣. What was the meaning of that bid? I actually had to take a moment to think about her bid. Did she have a long club suit and some points to bid freely at the three-level instead of keeping it low at the two-level with a two-no trump bid, for example?”

Vera responded again, “That is what I was hoping to show Rosy: long clubs, ratty though they were, and some helpful points.” Again the Captain nodded, looking to see if the missing passenger was anywhere in sight. No such luck.

Rosy continued again, “Well, Captain North, you know how important it is to play contracts in no trump when you are in a tournament, don’t you? You get those extra points for bidding and making the most that you can. When I heard Vera’s bid, I was starting to think slam, and I used the Blackwood convention to ask Vera if she had the missing A♦.

“Yes, I had it,” said Vera, “and I bid the 5♦ response showing one ace.” Back into the conversation came Rosy. “Now, for the final bids, Captain North. Hearing about the long clubs Vera might have, one ace that I was missing, and a powerful hand, I debated between two bids. By the way, Captain North, what is better than bidding and making a small slam?” The Captain opened his eyes wide, and said, “Well, bidding and making a grand slam, of course.” “Oh Captain North, you are so right,” said Rosy. “And that is what I planned to do. Should I bid seven clubs or seven no trump since I knew that we had all of the suits stopped and a long suit in clubs? I went for the gold, Captain North, to borrow a term from the Olympics. My, weren’t they great in London this year?” The Captain looked for his missing passenger, stretching his neck to see if she were coming.

“Well, Captain North, to make a long story short, I bid the seven no trump, and I was pleasantly surprised to see such a wonderful board from my partner Vera. As you can see, it was a lay-down, and I claimed all 13 tricks to gain a top board. We won the gold!” Here Vera and Rosy began a happy giggle. The Captain looked up just in time to see his missing passenger walking up the gangplank. “All aboard!” he called. “Nice bidding and playing, Vera and Rosy. Did you notice that the hand also makes 7♣?”

“Yes, Captain North, we realized that afterwards, but there are more points to be made in no trump than in clubs. We told you we wanted the gold!” Here they began to laugh again. Captain North walked slowly to his engine, and he just shook his head again.

Gerald Stein

August 24, 2012 Number of words: 1073

Bridge question for this week: What is the other slam that makes six on this hand other than clubs and no trump? How do you make it with a Moysian fit?
 

Syllabus for Bidding in the 21st Century Class

 

                    Institute for Learning in Retirement

         Presents Easy Bridge Lessons in 2012

                         Class #1

          “BIDDING IN THE 21^stCENTURY”

 

            Nine Weeks of Bridge Classes just for you!

Join your friends and neighbors for nine weeks of fun. Learn how to play the world’s best card game! A refresher for those who want to learn the newest changes in Contract Bridge.

 

Chapter One: Getting Started with Five Card Majors

Chapter Two: Objectives

Chapter Three: Responses to 1NT Opening Bids

Chapter Four: Responses to Opening Bids of One in a Suit

Chapter Five: Rebids by Opener

Chapter Six: Rebids by Responder

Chapter Seven: Overcalls and Bids by the Advancer

Chapter Eight: Takeout Doubles and Responses

Chapter Nine: The Stayman Convention: Bonus Chapter

 

Class #1 begins October 3, 2012 from 10 AM-12 PM at KCC Hastings Fehsenfeld Center for nine weeks.

Gerald Stein, American Contract Bridge League

 Accredited Bridge Teacher,

Will lead you through the basics of playing the hand of bridge!

For Beginners and Intermediate Bridge Players.

Contact the Institute for Learning in Retirement Office to reserve a spot @ 269-948-9500 Ext. 2804 for more information. This class includes the text.

Syllabus for Defense Class Fall 2012

 

 

Institute for Learning in Retirement

Presents

Intermediate and Advanced Beginner

Bridge Lessons Class #3

“Defense in the 21^st Century”

Nine Weeks of Bridge Classes just for you!

Join your friends and neighbors for nine weeks of fun.

Learn to improve your defense play in bridge!

 

Chapter One: Opening Leads Against No Trump Contracts

Chapter Two: Opening Leads Against Suit Contracts

Chapter Three: Third-Hand Play

Chapter Four: Second-Hand Play

Chapter Five: Defensive Signals

Chapter Six: Developing Defensive Tricks

Chapter Seven: Interfering with Declarer

Chapter Eight: Making a Plan

Chapter Nine: Negative Doubles: Bonus Chapter

 

Classes begin October 1, 2012

10AM-12 PM at RMTC, 405 Hill Brady Road,

Battle Creek for nine weeks.

Gerald Stein, American Contract Bridge League

 Accredited Bridge Teacher,

Will lead you through the Third Class for Advanced Beginners and Intermediate Players: Defense!

Contact the Institute for Learning in Retirement Office to reserve a spot @ 269-948-9500 Ext. 2804 for more information. This class includes text for nine weeks of fun.

Bridge Classes for Fall of 2012

Bridge Classes Fall of 2012

Barry County, Calhoun County, and Kalamazoo County

1.     Bidding in the 21^st Century Bridge class will be offered at the Fehsenfeld Center of Kellogg Community College, Hastings campus, beginning Wednesdays, October 3-November 28, 2012 through the Institute for Learning in Retirement program. Have you ever wanted to learn how to play Bridge, but didn't want to ask? Do you want to start playing again? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then this is the class for you. From getting started, how to rebid and takeout doubles, you will begin to understand the game of bridge. Gerald Stein, Certified Bridge Instructor, will help you understand the history and the basics of Bridge. NOTE: A Minimum of 8 individuals must register for this class. Space is limited, so register early! Wednesdays Member: $75.  Oct 3-Nov 28.  Non-Member: $85. 10 am-12 pm.

 

2.      Defense in the 21st Century (Intermediate & Advanced Bridge)—Learn to improve your defense play in bridge. Join Gerald Stein, Accredited Bridge Teacher, as he expands your knowledge of opening leads against both no trump contracts and suit contracts, developing defensive trick, making a plan and negative doubles and more! This class includes the text for the course. Mondays Member: $75. Oct 1—Nov 26.  Non-Member: $85. 10 am-12 pm. This class will be offered in Battle Creek at the Kellogg Community College Technology Center on Hill Brady Road. This class is also offered through the Institute for Learning in Retirement program through KCC.

3.     Bridge for Beginners: Bidding in the 21^st Century. NEW for Life Long Learning Program at KCC. Bridge is the ultimate card game. It is truly a mind sport, as taxing on the brain as a decathlon is to the body. Bridge for Beginners is the ultimate introduction to this fascinating card game. You’ll start with the basics, and with the basics established, you’ll take a step-by-step approach to understanding the bidding, or auction, and the play of the cards. So whether you want to play social bridge, club bridge, competitive bridge, or even trying out for the national team someday, this class can get you started. Your instructor is an accredited bridge teacher for the American Contract Bridge League, and he’s ready to simplify one of the most complex card games so you can enjoy the challenge! NOTE: Contact Lifelong Learning directly at 269-965-4134 for “couple” pricing. One person from couple will register at the $159 price and the second person’s information (name/address/birth date/phone) must be provided at that time. Wednesdays * 10/3/12-12/5/12 * 6-8 pm * $89 (single) $159 (couple) PDEV CA018-01 (single) PDEV CA018-02 (couple) * Gerald Stein, American Contract Bridge Instructor.

Better Bridge in Barry County August 23 2012

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  KJ2 ♥  A32 ♦  K1064 ♣  A73
West ♠  10986 ♥  974 ♦  32 ♣  K965		East ♠ 74 ♥ Q1085 ♦  J9875 ♣  Q4
	South ♠  AQ53 ♥  KJ6 ♦  AQ ♣  J1082

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

East None 5♣

 

North   4NT Pass	East Pass Pass Pass	South 1NT 6NT	West Pass Pass

Today’s column continues the playing and bidding of no trump hands, especially big hands where the ultimate goal is bidding and making slam in no trump. Today’s hand was played recently at a local club where this same hand was bid and played eight times. Only one North-South team managed to get it right. What went wrong with the other seven teams?

South opened the bidding with a strong 1NT bid, having 17 high card points, only one doubleton, and a balanced hand. North responded with her hand, jumping to 4NT! This was not a Blackwood Convention invitation. This was a bid called a Quantitative Raise. North, with this bid, promises a balanced hand and enough high card points, in this case 15, to invite South to try for a slam in no trump. South, with 17 high card points, readily accepted the invitation and promptly bid 6 no trump.

So far so good. In the eight times that this hand was played, only four of the eight teams made it to 6 NT. Three of the teams made it to 3NT and one made it to 5NT, stopping short of a small slam in no trump. So four made the right bid, but of the four, only one made the right plan to take the twelve tricks necessary to make the contract.

Let’s look at the plan for South once he saw the dummy following the lead of the 5♣, which by the way, was the lead three out of eight times. The other lead was the 10♠ as a top of a sequence lead for the other five leads. Both leads were good leads for the defenders.

South duly thanked his partner for such a welcoming dummy and a good bridge bid. As we have seen in the past few weeks, South stopped to count his winners: in spades, there were four winners; in hearts, there were two winners; in diamonds, there were three winners; in clubs, there was only the one winner, the A♣. With only ten winners, where would the other two winners come from?

With a club lead, South realized that he would get another club winner, but now he was still one trick short of making the 6 NT contract. It looked to be a toss-up between the diamonds and the hearts. As you look at the four hands, it is easy to see that taking the heart finesse is the key to taking the extra and final winning trick. It was not so easy when you were playing the hand. It is, however, the only way to make the contract, hoping that East has the Q♥. East, indeed, had the Q♥ and the one team that tried the heart finesse was the only one of eight teams to bid and make the 6NT slam hand. Well done, North-South, on that particular slam hand.

What is the take-away advice from this hand? In this case, was the North-South team who made the winning move just lucky, or were they the only team to make a total plan? It appears that this particular team took the time to realize that the only hope to make the slam was to take the heart finesse and hope for the best. After all, a finesse is only a 50% chance, but, as we have seen by their play, the finesse worked and the take-away for them was 990 points. Those who bid and missed the slam received a minus 50 and the lowest scores of the day.  Taking the time to make a total plan would have resulted in a plus score for at least three other teams who bid and should have made the small slam in no trump. It is not enough to just count the winners for your plan. You have to know how to pick up the extra needed tricks as well. Happy bidding and playing in no trump.                                      

Gerald Stein August 11, 2012 Number of words: 727

Better Bridge in Barry County August 9 2012

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

	North ♠  A10 ♥  Q85 ♦  AJ965 ♣  AQ8
West ♠  98543 ♥  74 ♦  K732 ♣  52		East ♠  J76 ♥  9632 ♦  104 ♣  KJ109
	South ♠  KQ2 ♥  AKJ10 ♦  Q8 ♣  7643

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

South None 2♦

North 6NT	East Pass	South 1NT Pass	West Pass Pass

Today’s column continues to look at demystifying some bridge players’ fears of playing no trump contacts. In today’s hand, South opened a standard 1 NT bid with 15 high card points, three suits stopped, and a balanced hand. Those players who bid 1 NT openings with 16-18 high card points might have missed the information-sharing that this one no trump bidder gave to his partner. In this case, North, South’s partner, knew exactly the shape and the number of points in South’s hand, and North bid directly to six no trump.

Playing one no trump contracts or playing six no trump contracts, the steps are still the same: take a moment to pause, thank your partner, and make your plan. Your objective is straightforward. Take all the tricks except one. Take your twelve tricks, and you will have bid and made a small slam. Can you do it?

First, as we did last week, count up the winners you have in both hands. In no trump contracts, that is always the procedure. In trump contracts, you count your losers, but that is another story. How many winners do you have without giving up the lead?  In spades, you have three winners, the Ace, the King, and the Queen. In hearts, you have four winners: the Ace, the King, the Queen, and the Jack. In diamonds, you have one winner: the Ace. In clubs, you have one winner the Ace. You have only nine sure winners. How will you win three more tricks to make your small slam?

Here is where the second part of your plan comes into action. The lead is the 2♦, most likely the fourth down from the longest and strongest suit by West. The lead of the two suggests that West has only four diamonds, and the King of Diamonds is probably in the West hand. Knowing that bit of information helps you decide that extra tricks can come from the diamond suit. Will it be enough, or do you need another trick in clubs? If so, a finesse might be necessary to win an extra trick in clubs. This should be a last resort, however, since finesses win only 50% of the time.

With your plan firmly in your mind, you prepare to take your tricks. The lead of the 2♦ is helpful to you, and you play low from the dummy (second hand low), and East plays the 10♦, and your Q♦ wins the first trick. The 8♦ is led from your hand in an effort to drive out the K♦, but West ducks the trick smoothly and in tempo, refusing to admit he has the K♦. This is an excellent defensive strategy to hold up at times to make it difficult for the declarer to set up a long suit, in this case diamonds.

South abandons the diamonds for now, and then leads the 10♥ to the Q♥ in the dummy. Leading the A♦ next and discarding a small club from his hand reduces the diamonds to only the K♦ in the West hand. Here is the next important strategy. Lead a diamond, any diamond, and give up the diamond to the K♦. You have kept your winners so that no matter what the lead is, you will have a stopper to use the remaining diamond winner.

Back came the 5♣ from West, and you dare not take the finesse. You need to put up the Ace to avoid losing a finesse to the K♣ in the East hand. You take your winning diamond winner, and you take three spades tricks and three more heart tricks to make your contract of six no trump. All in all, you have taken four diamond tricks, four heart tricks, three spade tricks, and one club trick. Your plan has been successful. You knew your objective; you counted your winners, and you found a way to set up a long suit, keeping stoppers to keep control of the hand. You did not need to take the club finesse which would have lost, and you would have been set one trick, instead of making a small slam and 990 points for your partnership. Well done.

By the way, did you notice that North/South can make twelve tricks in hearts and diamonds as well as in no trump? So you have extra choices if you really want to explore them.

Gerald Stein

August 2 2012

Number of words: 862

Answer to last week’s bridge question: Can you pick up an extra overtrick by trying the spade suit? Indeed you can and should. Count the spades: you have four and three for seven; each opponent has three. Give up one spade trick to the opponents, cash your two spade tricks, and keep an entry to take the 13^th spade for an additional overtrick.