Better Bridge in Barry County April 3 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

South Both A♦

 

North   2♥ (1) 3♥(3) Pass	East   Pass Pass Pass	South 1NT 2♠ (2) 4♠	West Pass Pass Pass
(1)   Jacoby Transfer Convention (2)   Completing the Transfer (3)   Bidding the Second suit

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.