Better Bridge in Barry County
By
Gerald Stein
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North
♠ K 9 7 6 4
♥ A Q J 10 2
♦ 7 6
♣ 5
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West
♠ J 10 2
♥ 5 4 3
♦ A K 10 9
♣ J 9 2
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East
♠ 5
♥ 9 8
♦ J 8 5 4 2
♣ K Q 8 7 3
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South
♠ A Q 8 3
♥ K 7 6
♦ Q 3
♣ A 10 6 4
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Dealer:
Vulnerable:
Lead:
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South
Both
A♦
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North
2♥ (1)
3♥(3)
Pass
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East
Pass
Pass
Pass
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South
1NT
2♠ (2)
4♠
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West
Pass
Pass
Pass
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(1)
Jacoby Transfer Convention
(2)
Completing the Transfer
(3)
Bidding the Second suit
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In last week’s column, we took a look at one of the
favorite bridge conventions: the Stayman Convention. Using the Stayman
Convention works well with finding a fit with the majors with four cards in
either hearts or spades. But what if you have five hearts or five spades, or
like today’s hand, what if you have five hearts AND five spades? How do you
respond to your partner who has the big hand? Let’s take a look at the Jacoby
Transfer Convention today.
In a recent mini-bridge class, this hand was
introduced to the class as an example of how to use the Jacoby Transfer
Convention with five cards in each major. The Jacoby Transfer Convention is a
useful way to reach a trump fit with the big hand protected and closed so that
the opponents are not privy to the high cards held there. The Jacoby Transfer
works like this: After a 1NT opening bid, the Responder who has at least a
five-card major and holding even zero points may bid by using a transfer bid,
an artificial bid that names a suit one under the desired suit. In this case,
North bid 2♥ intending to show partner South
that she held five spades. She bid the higher of the two-five cards suits first
just as is always done when the holding is five in one suit and five in
another. Bid the higher of the two five-card suits so that you can come back to
the first suit bid without going unnecessarily high.
In today’s hand, North wanted to bid the good hearts
because they were so strong, but because of their partnership agreement of
playing transfer bids, North bid her hand according to their agreement. She bid
the 2♥ first, telling her partner South that she
had five spades and an undetermined amount of points. South accepted the
transfer per their agreement, and this allowed North to bid the heart suit the
second time, informing the South partner that she also had five hearts. South
was offered a choice of five hearts or five spades. Because the South hand had
four spades and only three hearts, South easily accepted the spade suit with
the nine trumps together as opposed to the eight-trump fit in hearts. A bridge player
can always use an extra trump.
The play of the hand was straightforward. West with
the two diamond winners is sure to lead the A♦
informing partner East that she has the K♦ as
well. Once the dummy is shown, it is easy for West to play the K♦. East/West will take those two tricks, but the rest
of the tricks belong to the North/South team. The interesting thing is, on
today’s hand, that both hearts and spades will make five for a fine score of
150 for each game. The important thing to remember, however, is that the
five-five combination does not come up too often in a situation like today’s
hand. When it does, and you have a choice of majors to transfer, use the higher
of the two majors first, and then on your second bid, show the second major.
Your partner with the strong hand will have a good idea of your hand by that
line of bidding.
What about playing three no trump on this hand? With
the diamond lead, it is possible for East/West to take the first five tricks in
diamonds. Down one even before North/South can get in would be a disastrous
contract on this hand.
The takeaways for today’s hand: When using the
Jacoby Transfer Convention, remember these few things: you will need at least
one five-card major. You do not have to have any points at all to bid this
convention. When you have two five-card majors, bid the higher of the two suits
first, and then on your second bid, bid the second suit to show five in the
other suit. A good mnemonic to remember this last point is the “High Five”
slogan that athletes sometimes use. If it works for them, it will certainly work
for bridge players. “High Five!” on that one!
Gerald Stein
Number of words: 884
March 29, 2014
Bridge Notes: Interested in other mini-bridge
lessons? A class will start on the four Wednesday evenings in May in Battle
Creek at the Kellogg Community College Hill Brady Road campus from 6 PM-8 PM. “Eight
Bridge Conventions You Should Know and Use” will be a practice and play
program, covering the Stayman Convention, the Jacoby Convention and six other
modern bridge conventions. If interested, call the KCC office at 269-965-4134.