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