Better Bridge in Barry County May 30 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  K 7  ♥  A 10 4 2  ♦  K 9 5   ♣  K Q 5 3
West ♠  J 9 6 5 2 ♥  J ♦  J 10 7 6 4 2   ♣  9		East ♠  4 3 ♥  Q 8 6 5 3 ♦  8   ♣  J 10 7 6 4
	South ♠  A Q 10 8 ♥  K 9 7 ♦  A Q 3 ♣  A 8 2

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

South North/South 9♣

 

North   4NT Pass	East   Pass Pass	South 2NT 6NT	West Pass Pass

Today’s column takes a two-way look at slam bidding. One table used the method of “Fast Arrival.” What is “Fast Arrival”? Rather than giving away all of the information about their hands and their holdings in bid suits, this North/South pair elected to open 2NT, promising 19-20 high-card points and a balanced hand.  With North holding 15 high-card points and a balanced hand, North used a 4NT bid, not for the Blackwood Convention asking for aces, but as a Quantitative Bid inviting South to bid slam with extras and passing without extras. Bidding one bid higher than game is considered an invitation to consider slam. In this case, South bid the six no trump knowing that North had a balanced hand and 15-17 high-card points. Should North have gone immediately to 6NT on this hand as an even faster arrival?

Another way is the “slow but sure” approach. Some South bidders would rather have 20-21 high-card points for a 2NT opening bid. Again, this is each player’s prerogative to bid the cards as she sees fit. This South player chose to open 1♦, a convenient minor, promising at least three diamonds and an opening hand of at least 12-13 high-card points. North would continue the bidding at a slower pace as well by bidding up the line, and she bid 1♥, promising at least four hearts and at least six points. Of course, while all of this bidding was going on, the East/West pair was taking in the information provided to plan their defense. Good defenders take in every bit of information they can gather by careful listening.

After North’s 1♥ bid, South bid the 2NT bid, informing North and the table that her hand was in the 18-19 high-card point range. North did not hesitate and immediately placed the contract at 6NT. Both methods arrived at the same contract of a 6NT small slam. Is there one advantage over the “Fast Arrival” approach or the “Slow But Sure” approach? While there may be some advantage over the “Fast Arrival” approach, in that little or no information is conveyed to the defenders, still it appears that your approach is the one that you feel comfortable with. A 6NT contract was reached at both tables, each one choosing the bidding system that worked for their partnership.

As far as the play of the hand, South began to make her plan as soon as she had seen the dummy hand and had thanked her partner. With nineteen points in the South hand and fifteen points in the North hand, there appeared to be enough points to make a small slam where the requisite number is usually thirty-three points. An experienced bridge player knows that it is important to make a plan for twelve tricks needed before the first card is called. South saw that she had eleven tricks without giving up the lead. Where would the twelfth trick come from? This is where the time spent at the beginning of the hand is so important. Take your time and make your plan.

South looked carefully at the two seven-card suits: Hearts and Clubs. Which suit showed the most promise for an extra and winning trick? Knowing the bridge adage of “Take your losers early,” South knew that to win a trick that you need, you need to lose a trick early while you are still in control of the hand. South, satisfied with her plan, saw the lead of the 9♣ and knew that the club suit was safe for a while.

After winning the club lead, South began with two spade leads with both East and West following. There was no new information for South. When South led the K♥ on the fourth trick, however, the J♥ fell from the West hand. Now South completed the rest of her plan. With the valuable 9♥ and the 10♥ in her sight, South knew that it would be hearts where she could pick up the extra trick.

Accordingly, South implemented her plan by leading the 9♥ from her hand. When West discarded a small diamond, South knew that she had made the right decision. East gathered in the Q♥, but no matter what East returned, South was in control and claimed the rest of the tricks, making a small slam in no trump.

All in all, South took three heart tricks, three spade tricks, three diamond tricks, and three club tricks for the twelve tricks needed. Taking the time to make her plan and being flexible and aware of what cards were being played provided South with enough information to make a sound judgment and a fine score of 1440 on a 6NT hand.

 

Gerald Stein

May 24, 2013

Number of words: 962

 

 

Bridge Notes: As the “Play of the Hand” class winds down in Battle Creek at the Kellogg Community College campus, be aware that plans for the fall bridge classes are now in progress. The next class in the American Contract Bridge League’s sequence is “Defense in the 21^st Century.” Look for an eight-week class in the fall on how to be a strong bridge defender. Contact KCC’s Life Long Learning program for more information.

Better Bridge in Barry County May 23 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  Q 6 5 4 3  ♥  4  ♦  K Q 6 5   ♣  A 6 3
West ♠  K J 7 ♥  A J 5 ♦  8 4   ♣  Q J 9 5 4		East ♠  A 10 9 8 2 ♥  Q 10 9 8 ♦  10 ♣  8 7 2
	South ♠  --- ♥  K 7 6 3 2 ♦  A J 9 7 3 2 ♣  K 10

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

East Both A♥

 

North   2♠ 5♦ Pass	East Pass 3♣ Pass Pass	South 1♥ 4♦ 6♦	West 2♣ Pass Pass

Today’s column looks at the same hand played at least twice recently in an online game. One North/South team bid and bid and bid and found a small slam in diamonds. The other North/South team bid as far as they thought they dared and let their East/West opponents have the bid for 3♣. Who was smiling after the second team finished? What happened to the second North/South team?

In the first match, with eleven high-card points and extra points for length, South opened the bidding with one heart promising at least five hearts and opening count. West overcalled with a questionable club suit, missing both the A♣ and the K♣ for a second bid on this auction. North with eleven high points but a singleton in hearts mentioned the spades at the two level. This free bid promised at least ten points and a five-card spade suit. Looking at the two hands, it is easy to see that there was certainly a mismatch in the major suits. Perhaps that is why the second North/South team was frightened off by the time the bidding reached the three level. Being vulnerable may have contributed to that decision as well.

At any rate, East joined the bidding party with a support of 3♣ with meager cards, but she had five spades to counter North’s bid in case North foolishly bid again. In the second match of team play, the contract was passed out at this point, and East/West had stolen a 3♣ bid and suffered a minus 200 point loss. Of course, when they heard what the other North/South team had done with exactly the same cards, they were thrilled beyond belief to lose only 200 points instead of 1370.

The first North/South team kept bidding with this same hand. After the 3♣ bid, South jumped to 4♦ to let North know that her hand was distributional and that she had length and quality in two suits: the hearts and the diamonds. North was delighted to hear the diamond bid with four strong diamonds and a singleton in hearts. North raised the diamonds to five diamonds, and South pushed on to six diamonds for an attempt at a small slam.

What a difference in bidding! One North/South team was defending at 3♣ setting East/West by two tricks for a paltry 200 points. In the other hand, the North/South team was playing in six diamonds. With the A♥ as the lead from West, it was clear that six diamonds was cold for a 1370 high score. Even with a club shift, South took the K♣, the K♥, trumped a heart, led the A♣, a small diamond to the A♦, trumped another heart, trumped a spade in hand, and trumped the last heart. A final spade was trumped in hand and the final three tricks were all diamonds for a small slam bid, made, and scored.

What was the biggest difference here? With a mismatch in the majors, one North/South team abandoned all attempts to find a workable contract despite the fact that they had the majority of points. In other words, they merely rolled over and were satisfied to defend. Surely taking two tricks at vulnerable status is noteworthy, but if there is more to be earned in a bridge hand, then surely you ought to seek it out.

The successful North/South team recognized the mismatch immediately and made good use of that bidding information. They knew that making a slam in a minor suit is no disgrace. With support from partner in diamonds, South knew that five diamonds was a strong possibility but that six would be frosting on the cake. South took the risk and the North/South partnership was rewarded with a top score for their efforts.

The message seems clear here: when there appears to be a mismatch in the major suits, prepare to investigate the minor suits. Playing in no trump here is very risky with the known club suit being bid and supported by the East/West pair. While 3NT can make with faulty defense, it is a contract that good bridge players will want to avoid most of the time, primarily because of the voids and singletons. With transportation problems in the mismatched suits, it could be a long difficult hand for the North/South team. Look at the minor suits as an alternative when there is no match in the majors.

 

Gerald Stein

May 10, 2013

Number of words: 915

Bridge Notes: While some of you may wish to see what happens when this hand is played in 3NT, one result came in at 3NT doubled and redoubled and made for a fantastic score of plus 1000. However, it appears that the defense was a little lax on this hand. The result should have been down at least two or three tricks for a great score for the East/West pair.  

Better Bridge in Barry County May 16 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  K J 10 9 6 4  ♥  Q J 5 4  ♦  J 7   ♣  8
West ♠  --- ♥  A ♦  Q 10 6 4   ♣  A J 9 7 6 4 3 2		East ♠  8 5 3 2 ♥  10 9 8 6 2   ♦  K 5 2 ♣  K
	South ♠  A Q 7  ♥  K 7 3 ♦  A 9 8 3 ♣  Q 10 5

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West North/South K♣

 

North   Pass ????	East   Pass Pass	South   ???? Pass	West 4♣ Pass Pass

In today’s column, let’s look at another example of your opponents preempting before you have any chance to bid.  West as dealer opened a preemptive bid of 4♣ with eight clubs, no spades, a singleton A♥ and four diamonds. West effectively shut out the North/South team by bidding so high on the first bid. Is there something South and North can do to salvage this hand?

Indeed there is. Last time we took a look at the bridge adage: “Get fixed. Stay fixed.” In this case, West has certainly put a fix on the North/South team. They have only a few seconds to decide what to do. It is South who needs to make the right bid to save this hand. Bid or pass? It seems easy to just pass and try and set the East/West team as, after all, they do not expect to make ten tricks in clubs. A preemptive bid is an obstructive bid. Its main purpose is to get in the way, and, oh, how effective such a bid is, especially on this hand.

While some bridge players will quietly roll over and pass, the more adventuresome will find the right bid and bid away, even though North/South are vulnerable and most of the bidding space has been taken up by West. With fifteen high card points, South is not content to play dead here. While typically, South should be short in West’s suit, yet by thinking about it, it is easy to do the math. West has just announced that she has eight clubs. South has three more for eleven. That only leaves two out, one for partner North, and one for East. South uses the double on this hand, requiring her partner to either name a good suit or to pass with the intention of setting the 4♣ bid.

North does not need much prompting on her hand and speedily bids four spades, and all pass. The contract is 4♠ in the North. East leads the K♣, and South tables her hand. North likes the possibilities, and she begins to make her plan. In a trump suit, North knows that counting losers is the method to use: in spades, there are no losers; in hearts, there is one loser, the A♥; in diamonds, there is one loser as the other diamonds can be trumped with the long spades. With only one club loser, it looks like 4♠ is a solid makeable contract. North is ready to call for a low club from the dummy.  

East’s K♣ holds the first trick as all have played to it. East shifts to the 6♥, the fourth down in the heart suit. Playing low from the South hand, North is pleased to see the A♥ emerge from the West hand. West returns the A♣, and here is where counting in bridge is so important. North knows that East is out of clubs as well as she is. Taking no chances, North trumps with the 9♠ effectively and efficiently winning the trick. All of East’s trumps are below the 9♠.

North with control of the hand now draws four rounds of spades removing all trumps from the East hand. With all trumps drawn, and the hearts set up, North leads to the short side by playing the 5♥ to the K♥. The 7♥  is led back to the Q♥, then the J♥  follows and North discards a diamond from the South hand. Using the 7♦, North leads to the A♦ in the dummy, and using the now-set-up Q♣, North leads it and discards the J♦. The last trick is the ten of trump, and North claims it, making not just ten tricks but eleven tricks for an excellent score of 650.

What is the message and the take-away for today’s hand? Again, as we saw last week, when your opponents preempt and “fix” you, you have to find a way to “fix” the situation. Here, North and South worked together to end up in a game contract in spades through the use of the takeout double and a strong suit in the North hand. North and South fixed the situation for themselves by bidding instead of relinquishing the preemptive bid to the opponents. Do the same the next time your opponents interfere with your plans by preempting. It will be your turn to “fix” them.

 

Gerald Stein

May 4, 2013

Number of words: 923

Bridge Notes: From time to time, some of our bridge friends move to a new table. As a new writer for this column in the winter of 2012, I received a phone call from Florida and a Barry County bridge player told me how much he appreciated getting the Banner and my bridge column. It was John Walsh, and while I only met him once after that, yet his call and his encouragement meant a great deal to me. Thank you, John Walsh. May you rest in peace.

 

Better Bridge in Barry County May 9 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  A K 5    ♥  K J 8 6  ♦  Q   ♣  A J 6 4 2
West ♠  --- ♥  Q 7 5 ♦  K J 10 7 5 4 3   ♣  9 5 3		East ♠  Q 10 9 7 6 2 ♥  4 3 ♦  9 6 2 ♣  Q 7
	South ♠  J 8 4 3 ♥  A 10 9 2 ♦  A 8   ♣  K 10 8

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

East Neither J ♦

 

North   4NT! 6♣!	East Pass Pass	South 1♣ 5♣	West 3♦ Pass

In past columns, we have looked at preemptive bids as a way to cause discomfort for the opposing teams. What happens when defenders turn the tables on you and use a preemptive bid to cause you discomfort? Let’s look at a hand today from a recent online tournament that might have caused troubles for the North/South team.

East as dealer has four-high-card points and passed at the first bid. South has 12 high-card-points and opened the bidding with 1♣, using a Convenient Minor and promising at least three clubs and an opening count of 12 or more points. West, with a void in spades, a long diamond suit with seven and a mere six high card points, and not vulnerable, uses the preemptive bid to disrupt the North/South team. West is using the strategy of good bridge players: “Preempt early; preempt often.”

North as the Responder and Captain on this hand knows a lot about all four hands. With partner having at least 12 high card points, a weak preemptive hand by West, and seeing 18 high card points in her hand, what is North’s next bid?

Would you consider a double in this situation? Would that double be for penalty or for takeout? If you meant it for takeout, but your partner passes, thinking it was for penalty, how would you feel? Your double bid has just been turned into a penalty double, and you will be lucky to set the East/West team for two tricks and a paltry 300 points on your side of the score sheet. Is there a better bid for you than a double?

As Responder, you know that South has at least three clubs and maybe four. You have five clubs in your hand. Adding the two hands together, you know that you have at least eight trump cards in clubs in both hands. That is known as a Golden Fit. With a singleton diamond in your hand as well, your hand has just improved dramatically since partner can make use of that singleton. Adding your points together, you find that you have 30 high card points with some extras, including the A♠ and the K♠, a solid heart suit, and good club support. Your bid?

Four no trump! Using our newly-discovered Roman Key Card Convention that we just learned, you ask your partner how many key cards she has. The 5♣ response informs you that she has three key cards, and you have the other two. You and your partner have all five key cards: the four aces and the king of trump. You do not hesitate and promptly bid 6♣. After all, your partner has to play the contract!

The lead from West is the J♦. You as North place your hand on the table. You are promptly thanked by your partner, and she begins to make a plan. She takes her time. After all, as a partnership, you are in a small slam, and your objective is to take twelve tricks with clubs as trump. Looking first at the trump suit, your partner sees that she is missing the Q♣. Knowing that the suit usually breaks 3-2 when there are five out, she can hope that the Q♣ is in the hand with the two clubs. Otherwise, a finesse might be needed, but she will hold off on that technique as a last resort.

Looking at the heart suit, your partner sees the same kind of situation: eight cards and missing the Q♥. She will have to try the Q♥ in the short hand or again use a finesse as a last resort. The one small spade looks to be a loser no matter how she looks at it. The A♦ will take care of the singleton diamond.

With her plan ready, and the J♦ as the lead card, she calls for the singleton Q♦ and to her delight and yours, she wins the first trick. Poor defense? Perhaps, as another lead might be safer for the defenders. With that lead, and careful play, your partner can find the Q♣ in the short hand and lose no clubs. Finessing the heart will bring home the hearts, and she can discard the losing spade on the good A♦, making a small slam with an overtrick. Your partner has just taken thirteen tricks and earned a far better score for your team than a sad 300 for defending.

The message to take away with for this week is this: When you have defenders trying to get in your way through preemptive bidding, consider this bridge adage: “Get fixed. Stay fixed.” What this means is that when you get fixed by a preemptive bid, meaning that they have put you into a pickle, consider carefully your options to get out of the situation. Sometimes you will pass or double for penalty or takeout or bid on, but at all times you will want to stay fixed on your ultimate goal. Listen carefully to the bidding. Count your points together. Make a bold move at times. Good luck with preemptive bids, both when you institute them or when they are foisted upon you. Remember: “Get fixed. Stay fixed.”

Gerald Stein

April 25, 2013

Number of words: 972