Better Bridge in Barry County May 1 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West North/South K♦

 

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

 

Captain M. North had just returned from the Wonder Storage Company. He had been summoned to visit the boat storage company to see about the condition of the Barry County Bridge Barge. Stored there last winter, the Barry County Bridge Barge had taken local bridge players up and down the mighty Thornapple River on bridge-and-nature cruises. Now it sounded like the future of the Barry County Bridge Barge might be in jeopardy. The Wonder Storage Company had recently phoned to say that the roof had collapsed during the heavy winter snow storms and that Captain North should visit as soon as possible.

Captain North, having lived in Barry County long enough, knew the wise thing was to always have a back-up plan in case of the inevitable problems that life throws our way from time to time. This was one of those times. Captain North knew that it would be too late in the spring to order a new boat, so the Barry County Bridge Barge would have to undergo some major repairs and some cosmetic ones as well. With damage to the console and the punctured seats that surrounded the perimeter, Captain North knew he might have to be on dry land for part of the bridge touring season. If so, that is the way it would have to be. Captain North was quite philosophical about his decision. “What will be, will be,” he thought.

Turning his attention elsewhere for some momentary relief, Captain North scanned today’s hand and whistled softly. “Hmmmm…looks like I am not the only one to make alternate plans. It looks like North and South have some major decision-making to do with the cards they are holding.”

With West as the dealer and little there, North opened the bidding with 1♣ promising at least three clubs and at least 12 high card points. East with a shortage in clubs and 11 high card points and five spades threw in a 1♠ overcall. South was in a quandary with a very distributional hand. With excellent hearts and six of them, South jumped with a free bid promising rebiddable hearts and at least 15 or more total points.

After West passed, North suggested 3NT informing South that she had a stopper in spades. East passed, and South, not liking the no trump idea with a singleton spade and a void in diamonds, knew that no trump would be a certain disaster, almost as bad as having a roof fall in on your boat. South bid 4♣ informing North that she had five or more clubs plus the rebiddable hearts. North had not much more to say and moved to 5♣. South with the powerful hearts had to make a decision at this point. Would the contract be in clubs or in hearts and how high should the contract be?

This is what South knew: there was a definite fit in the club suit. North did not seem interested in the heart suit. Six clubs seemed like a reasonable bid, but what about a 7C bid with the void, the singleton A♠, and the long hearts? Decisions, decisions, decisions. What was a bridge player to do?

Like Captain North, South decided to take the best course of action of what she knew for sure. With the clubs, there was a good fit. The hearts were doubtful. Six is good and seven is risky. South opted for placing the contract at 6♣, and all passed.

On the play of the hand, the K♦ was the lead from East. It was immediately trumped by North in the South hand. With trumps drawn in one round, it was clear that the long hearts would take care of any losers in the North hand. North was able to claim all thirteen tricks.

The scoring on this hand for bidding and making six clubs and one overtrick was 1390, a respectable score and one that nine tables found for 61.5%. Those three South declarers who ventured onto a 6♥ contract were brave indeed, and they were justly rewarded making the same thirteen tricks but making a score of 1460 and an impressive 84.6%. The bravest of all were the three who went to 7♣ and took home all of the winnings with a score of 2140 and a 96.2%.

Captain North nodded approvingly. “Six clubs was a good decision for most of the players. It was reasonable, there was a good club fit, and the strong hearts helped the losers go away.” He glanced outside at the warming April weather. “Soon it will be May, and the bridge players will want to be near the outdoors, water, and the greenery of Barry County countryside. Perhaps there is a spot in Barry County that will help ease the pain until the Barry County Bridge Barge is back on the Thornapple River. Hmmm…” he mused. “Perhaps a club house at one of the beautiful Barry County golf courses might be a perfect site…”

 

Gerald Stein

April 24, 2014

Number of words: 983

 

Bridge Notes: A class called “Eight Bridge Conventions You Should Know and Use” will be offered through the Life Long Learning program at Kellogg Community College during the four Wednesday evenings in May. Give them a call for more details.

Better Bridge in Barry County April 24 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West North/South 4♠

 

North   1♦ 2NT Pass	East   Pass Pass Pass	South   2♣ 3NT	West Pass Pass Pass

Captain M. North stared gloomily out of his condo sunroom. There was no sun to enjoy on this 15^th day of April, Tax Day. There was a layer of snow on the hillside, and all Captain North could think of was what a cruel trick this was for the middle of April. “It is the ‘Winter of our discontent,’” he muttered to himself. “How could this happen on my vacation?” Even the bluebirds had disappeared waiting for a nicer day to choose a nesting box for this season. “This is just not fair,” he muttered again.

Just then the phone rang. Captain North, relieved to be taken out of his melancholic wanderings, answered on the second ring. “Yes, this is Captain North. This is the Wonder Storage Company? You have some good news and some bad news for me? Oh, dear.” Here, Captain North found a soft recliner to brave the news from the Wonder Storage Company.

“Yes, I have stored my boat with you again this year. Yes, it is called the Barry County Bridge Barge.” There was a long pause then as the Captain listened. The good news was that no one had been hurt when the snow had collapsed on the stored boats at the Wonder Storage Company. The bad news, of course, was that the Barry County Bridge Barge had not been so lucky. Captain North needed to plan on visiting the Wonder Storage Company in the morning.

Thoroughly discouraged now, Captain North sought solace in the bridge hand of the day. The North/South team had found themselves in a 3NT contract after a straightforward bidding sequence. North was the declarer, and South prepared to table his cards. With enough high card points for game, this could be a fun hand to follow along. Perhaps he would forget about his troubles for a bit. What could be worse? Snow? Taxes? A crushed boat? The Captain could not even decide. He turned his attention to the cards instead.

The Captain looked at the certain winners in the North hand and then in the South hand. It appeared that there were five certain winners: The A♠, the A♥, and the top three diamonds would provide five winners, but the other tricks would have to be promoted. North as declarer would have to be extra sharp to do well on this hand.

East led the 4♠ as her lead, and her partner West won the first trick with the K♠. West returned a spade and the trick was won in the South with the A♠. Here North’s plan of setting up the club suit was put into play immediately. North called for a small club toward his K♣. The K♣ won the trick, and North continued the club suit with his final club toward the clubs in the dummy. The A♣ in the West won the trick taking the Q♣ from the board.

West continued a spade lead, and it was won in the North with the Q♠. Next the diamond lead to the K♦ scored another trick for North/South. In the dummy, North called for the J♣, the 9♣, and the 6♣ all winning tricks for them. A small diamond to the A♦ in the North followed by the Q♦ gave them two more tricks. The J♦ from the East hand had fallen under the Q♦. That promoted the last good diamond, the 7♦ for their tenth trick. The final trick for the hand was the winning A♥ for a total of eleven tricks taken.

Captain North gave a contented sigh as he looked over the play of the hand. “Well done, North and South, to make two overtricks and a 660 point game.” Out of the 32 tables that had played these same cards, only 8 North/South teams had managed to not only make the contract but to take two overtricks for an astounding 89.9% success rate. Making one overtrick had been a good score as well with a 55.9% score, but those teams that just made the contract of 3NT only scored a 23.5% score, a very bad score indeed.

Captain North smiled and softly muttered aloud. “Things are not so bad after all. The snow will go away. Tax day is only one day a year. The sun will come out, and tomorrow I will go inspect the Barry County Bridge Barge. ‘Hope Springs Eternal in the Human Breast.’” Captain North wandered back to the sunroom and sat down. The bluebirds were back trying to decide which nesting box they wanted to use this year.

 

Gerald Stein

April 17, 2014

Number of words: 936

 

Bridge Notes: Another Learn Bridge in a Day? Seminar is planned for Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Hastings Community Education and Recreation Center. A five-hour seminar is planned for those who have always wanted to learn bridge, or for those who want to review and investigate the latest changes in the bridge world. If interested, sign up at the Community Education office by calling 269 948-4414.

Better Bridge in Barry County April 17 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West North/South Pick it!

 

North   3♦	East   Pass	South   ?	West Pass

 

Bridge players know the importance and the value of the pre-emptive bid. It is useful as an obstructive bid; that is, its primary purpose is to make life difficult for the opponents. But what happens when your partner uses a pre-emptive bid, and you are the one who has to make a decision regarding your partnership? What do you do on today’s hand if you are the South player?

If you said, “Pass,” you would have been in good company with the 26 other South players who played this hand recently during an online tournament. While 3♦ is completely makeable, you would have earned only a 38% for your efforts. Making an overtrick on 3♦ would have been a whole lot better with a 65% score for those few who were able to find the overtrick. So, is there another bid that would have given you the top score for your team?

If you considered bidding 3NT after your partner’s 3♦ pre-emptive bid, you are certainly a brave bridge player. Look at those ratty hearts. While you have four of them, you can hardly call a 10♥ a stopper in hearts. If you were courageous enough to bid 3NT, once West made her lead, however, and you saw your partner’s hand, you would have been mentally jumping up and down as you could easily count seven diamond tricks and two aces for your needed nine tricks. Unfortunately, in bridge, we are not allowed to see partner’s hand before we bid!

So this is the dilemma: with 13 high card points in the South hand, do you go out on a limb and bid the 3NT, or should you play it safe and pass? As it turned out, sixteen bridge players opted to bid 3NT following their partner’s 3♦ opening bid. With the seven diamonds in the North hand, and careful play by South with the diamonds, it is possible to take ten tricks in no trump with a 9♠ lead. That resulted in a top score of 86% for those 16 players who ventured into no trump land.

An alternative to the risky but as it turned out profitable 3NT contract, consider this possibility: what if you think about what others will do with the same cards that you hold? Will most of them play it safe and pass and be content to play in 3♦? If you think that way, you will be on the right track, but you must then take it a step further in order to do well with that contract. You must find a way to not just make the bid.  Most players will be able to do that. No, instead, you must find a way to make an overtrick with diamonds as trump. If you do that, you will score nearly twice what others have done by just making the contract of 3♦. Three diamonds making would have given you a 38% for that hand. 3♦ plus one overtrick would have given you a 65% for that one overtrick difference.

If three NT is too hot, and 3♦ is too cold, then you must take the third choice and play it in diamonds, but, as part of your plan, you know you will have to take an extra trick to do well. If you take the Goldilocks-and-the-Three-Bears approach, you should end up enjoying your porridge just as Goldilocks did. Happy Bridge playing when your partner opens with a pre-emptive bid. Now you have at least three choices to consider. Good luck.

 

Gerald Stein

April 10, 2014

Number of words: 759

Bridge Notes: Another Learn Bridge in a Day? Seminar is planned for Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Hastings Community Education and Recreation Center. A five-hour seminar is planned for those who have always wanted to learn bridge, or for those who want to review and investigate the latest changes in the bridge world. If interested, sign up at the Community Education office by calling 269 948-4414.

Better Bridge in Barry County April 10 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

North Both 4♦

 

North 1♠ Pass	East Pass Pass	South 1NT	West Pass

One no trump contracts show up with great regularity in the bridge bidding world. With North opening the 5-card major with 12 high card points and one length point, there is no point in going further when South responds 1NT with nine high card points and two length points in the diamond suit. With just over half of the points in the deck between their two hands, South is content to play in no trump for a part score after hearing about spades, the suit she is short in.

With not much to go on from the bidding, West selected the 4♦, hoping to set up the K♦ for a trick later on. Did you notice that West avoided leading a spade or a heart? Perhaps a club lead might have been a better lead with four of them.

South surveyed the dummy, thanking partner as always. Making her plan, South counted three sure tricks with the A♥, the A♦, and the A♣. All of the rest of the tricks would have to be promoted to make the 1NT contract. South called for the Q♦ and won the trick in the dummy for trick number one. Leading the J♦ next was a shrewd move for South as she knew that those diamonds could be set up with a 3-2 split in the diamond suit. The percentage for that split is 68 percent and would provide extra tricks if it worked. South used the A♦ to be in her hand to lead another diamond. When both East and West played a diamond, South knew that the split was as expected. Her 10♦ lost to the K♦, but the diamonds were all set up.

A small club from the West hand was won by the North hand with the A♣ for the third trick. Leading the Q♥, South planned to promote heart tricks as well and let the Q♥ ride all the way to the West hand. West won with the K♥. Taking the A♠ next was West’s next move, but she failed to continue the spade suit. Instead, she shifted to a heart, and South won the trick with the J♥ for their fourth trick.

Another heart from the board to the A♥ in the South hand was won for the fifth trick. The 10♥ had also been promoted and became the sixth winner for South. Once in her hand, South was able to play the three promoted diamonds for nine total tricks in no trump. A club to the East gave the East/West team the last trick with the Q♣. 

With nine tricks, did North/South miss a game in no trump? That is doubtful, since East/West missed out on taking the K♠ and several club tricks. The defense was a bit lax on this hand, allowing North/South to score 100 points and a top board on those playing the same hand with 100%. That suggests that no other team was able to match what this North/South team was able to accomplish.

What are the takeaways for this hand? A frequent bid in bridge is the opener bidding at the one-level, and the responder, not finding a fit together, places the contract at 1NT. Making a plan to take seven tricks through counting the sure winners first and then planning on how to promote a long suit was a success story on this hand. In this case, South took a good look at the eight diamonds and saw the potential of winning extra tricks, knowing that the typical split would be 3-2, a 68% likelihood. In this hand, that is exactly what happened, and South took her losing diamond as early as she could and saved an entry back into her hand.

Playing in no trump at the one level is a bid that will come up frequently in your bridge hands. Be ready to count the winners, look for ways to promote long suits, and hope that the defenders are a bit lax. You may end up with extra tricks and extra points if you do.

 

Gerald Stein

Number of words: 848

March 30, 2014

 

Bridge Notes: Another Learn Bridge in a Day? Seminar is planned for Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Hastings Community Education and Recreation Center. A five-hour seminar is planned for those who have always wanted to learn bridge, or for those who want to review and investigate the latest changes in the bridge world. If interested, sign up at the Community Education office by calling 269 948-4414.