Better Bridge in Barry County July 3 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West North/South Pick it!

 

North   1♣ 4♣ 5♠	East   Pass Pass Pass	South   2♥ 4NT ?	West Pass Pass Pass

Getting to a slam in a bridge game is always exciting. Getting to the right slam in a bridge game is even better. Let’s take a look at today’s hand, and let’s look for the best slam contract.

Played online in a recent duplicate bridge tournament, North opened the bidding with 1♣ with all of those beautiful clubs. With 16 high card points, and lots of playing cards in the club suit, this looks to be a club contract all the way. How high will the contract go depends on South’s response after East passed.

South with an even stronger hand than North opted to use the Solaway jump shift, a jump in another suit, showing seventeen or more points and a good biddable suit. In this case, South had two choices: the diamond suit was especially strong with four of the five honors, and the heart suit, not as strong perhaps, but most bridge players want to show the major suit first and then if necessary the second suit. South bid two hearts showing a strong response, and it was forcing to North.

North did not need much encouragement to also jump in clubs, showing a strong club suit and forcing to game at least and slam if possible. Accordingly, South bid 4NT, Roman Key Card Blackwood, where the king of trump is the fifth key card along with the four aces in ordinary Blackwood. North responded that she had two key cards of the five as well as the Q♣, the response that would suggest that the clubs were indeed a solid suit for a slam try.

Upon hearing about the two key cards and the location of the queen of trump, South paused to reflect on the information given: with two aces in his hand, South knew that the North/South team was missing one key card. Which key card was it? A bid of seven seemed impossible with that missing key card, but where should the contact be placed?

While many North/South teams played the contract in 6♣, making the six clubs and on occasion making an overtrick if the East/West team does not lead a spade, still the best contract for this hand is the one that South chose after evaluating the information from his partner North. South bid 6NT, and all passed.

With little to go on, and reluctant to lead out the A♠, a confused West chose the passive lead of the 3♦. Diamonds had not been bid, a wise move by South, and this lead was a perfect lead for the declarer, and not the defenders. One look at the beautiful dummy put down by partner North, including a thank you for her, and South saw no losers at all and claimed the small slam, taking all thirteen tricks in quick order and a score of 1470.

A more confident West on other hands led out with the A♠, making sure that the East/West team would get at least one trick and hold the North/South team to twelve tricks instead of the thirteen as taken above. That strategy paid off for that defending team as they held the North/South team to a 64% game and a 1440 score. What about the team that scored all thirteen tricks on the diamond lead? They scored exceptionally well by bidding no trump and taking all of the tricks. They scored an impressive 87% over the rest of the players.

And what about those teams who thought that they had just the ticket with a slam in the six club area? Those who made 6♣ plus one earned a score of 1390 and a 54% score. Those who bid and made 6♣ exactly earned a score of 1370 and a 46% score. The takeaways? While the club suit looked to be the best place to play this contract, in reality, those bridge players who thought about those extra points that the no trump contract will provide did exceptionally well on today’s hand. They scored almost double in percentage points compared to the players who played in a 6♣ contract. As a bridge player looking for the maximum score on a hand, consider carefully the final options. Safe is good sometimes, but competitive bidding can often pay great rewards. Think no trump when you can!

 

Gerald Stein

June 27, 2014

Number of words: 829

 

 

Better Bridge in Barry County June 26 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

North None 5♦

 

North Pass Pass Pass	East 1♦ Pass Pass	South 1♥ 4♥!	West 3♦ Pass

Today’s column takes another look at a recent hand from the 28^th World Wide Bridge Contest held at local clubs in Michigan, throughout the United States, and in many international countries as well. The purpose of the World Wide Bridge Contest is to support and encourage young people to take up bridge as a lifetime activity. Today’s hand is another example of the challenges that bridge players find when there is intense competition whether it is in a local club or in an international club in England or elsewhere. Let’s take a look.

South with a strong hand was pretty pleased with the high-card points and strong suits that he picked up when Board 24 showed up at his table. He was not so pleased when East on his right hand opened 1♦. That threw out the strong opening bid of 2♣ that South had wanted to bid, informing his partner that he had a strong hand and that North should bid. Plan B was South’s next best alternative. South with 21 high card points and length in the heart suit bid 1♥, showing a solid five-card heart suit.

West with a weak hand bid the diamond suit to the three level, a weak response, but certainly effectively shutting down North with a long club suit and an equally weak hand. A pass by North and a pass by East returned the bidding to South. At this point, South had stoppers in the bid diamond suit, stoppers in the club suit, and a doubleton in the spade suit, and a powerful hand. In fierce competition, South did the only thing a bridge player in this situation should do. South bid 4♥, and all passed.

The lead of the 5♦ was won in the dummy with the Q♦. A small club from the dummy was won in the South hand with the A♣. The A♦ and the K♦ were led next eliminating two of the spade losers on the board. The last losing diamond from the South hand was trumped high with the J♥ winning the trick when East could not overtrump the final diamond loser. The lead of a small heart from the dummy was won in the South hand with the A♥.

South next played the K♥ dropping East’s Q♥ and setting up the 10♥. With control of the trump suit, two diamond winners, one club winner, South could claim ten tricks in all. South would lose one trump trick and two spade tricks for a strong score of 420 on this hand. Bidding and making the 4♥ contract gave the North/South team a top score on this hand, both locally and internationally. Reaching the right contract against worldwide bridge players is a great accomplishment. Well done, North and South.

Other contracts that were attempted and reached were a 5♣ contract that should have been defeated with a lead of three rounds of spades. Using up the K♣ to trump the third spade winner sets up the Q♣ for the setting trick. Those North/South teams who managed to escape a spade lead were rewarded with a near top board for their efforts. How did they get to 5♣ instead of the 4♥ contract? North opened the bidding with a pre-emptive 3♣ bid effectively shutting out all bidders in this auction. South raised to a 5♣ game, and North played the hand. One local team tried to make a 6♣ slam contract, but they were easily set for a plus score for the defenders.

Playing with international bridge players seems to bring out the best competition in bidding and trying for the extra tricks. What fun to have that international experience with others from faraway places. Try out the 29^th World Wide Bridge Contest when it comes out next year in 2015. You will be competing with thousands of bridge players from around the world.

Gerald Stein

June 17, 2014

Number of words: 818

 

Bridge Notes: If you missed last week’s link to the 28^th World Wide Bridge Contest and the commentary by Eric Kokish, you can still click on this link to see the 36 hands that were played on June 7^th, 2014 around the world. Go to www.ecatsbridge.com for an excellent and entertaining commentary on this year’s hands. Enjoy the hands as well as the commentary.

Better Bridge in Barry County June 19 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West Both 6♠

 

North   2♦ (1) 3♦(3) Pass     (1.) Weak Two Bid (2.) Forcing 2NT Asking for a Feature (An ace or a king) (3.) No extras	East   Pass Pass Pass	South   2NT (2) 3NT	West Pass Pass Pass

The 28^th Annual World Wide Bridge Contest was held recently with duplicate bridge clubs from all around the world competing in a one-day event. As part of the mission of the World Bridge Federation, a commitment to Youth Bridge is their foremost goal. The future of bridge lies in the hands of young people, and the World Wide Bridge Contest provides bridge tournaments for the express purpose of raising funds to further Youth Bridge programs. Local clubs from around Michigan and the United States competed with clubs in the United Kingdom, including England, and many other worldwide bridge-playing countries. Today’s hand was taken from this 28^th Annual World Wide Contest.

After a pass from West, North chose a Weak Two Diamond bid, promising at least six diamonds with most of her points in the diamond suit. North had six diamonds and seven high-card points in the diamond suit and nothing else. A pass from East provided South with a choice of bids: a pass here and play the contract in diamonds or be brave and bid on. South chose to bid on, and used a partnership agreement of 2NT, a forcing bid, to ask North if she had a Feature, a king or an ace in a side suit. North responded by rebidding her diamonds that she had no such luxury, and South placed the contract at 3NT in the South. Good luck, South!

The lead was the 6♠, fourth card down from her longest and strongest suit for West. South played low from the board, and he won the trick in his hand with the A♠ when East put up the K♠. The plan for South was to lead from his hand with the 8♦. If it won, he would do it again. With five diamonds out, South’s hope was that the diamonds would split 3-2, and that the K♦ would win, setting up all of the rest of the diamonds. Accordingly, South let the 8♦ ride all the way to the East hand, and East with only two diamonds, including the K♦, decided to take the trick.

Back came a spade to West’s J♠ and Q♠, leaving South with a spade winner with the 9♠. Seeing not much of a future in spades, West led a small club, and South won that trick with the K♣. After that, it was easy to lead to the good diamonds, winning five diamond tricks, the A♥ and the K♥ as well as the 9♠ for ten tricks in no trump. This was by far the best score of the tournament for the North/South team on this hand. With a top score of 630, North and South were happy that they had the Weak Two Bid as part of their partnership agreement. Without the bid from North of the diamond suit, and South’s asking for a feature, it would have been easy to play this hand in diamonds for a rather poor score.

Congratulations to the North/South team for playing in the 28^th Annual World Wide Bridge contest. It is not often that bridge players can say that they competed in bridge with international players. With the funds going to the Youth Bridge programs, it is certainly a commendable way to spend an afternoon playing bridge as well as helping provide encouragement to youthful bridge players for many years to come.

Gerald Stein

June 13, 2014

Number of words: 765

 

Bridge Notes: If you are interested in finding out more about the World Wide Bridge Contests, go to www.ecatsbridge.com for excellent and entertaining commentary on each of the hands played in this year’s contest. Eric Kokish of Canada fame has long provided this commentary for each of the hands played in each year’s contest. Take a look to see what kind of bridge is being played not just in Barry County but around the world.

Better Bridge in Barry County June 12 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

East North/South A♦

 

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

After looking at the “Eight Conventions You Should Know and Use” for  the last few weeks, it is time to turn to an unusual convention just in case you are looking for something …well… unusual. This convention is called the Unusual No Trump Convention, and while you may not want to add it to your repertoire of conventions, still you might find today’s hand intriguing and informative. Let’s take a look.

Today’s East opened the bidding with 1♦, a convenient minor, promising at least three diamonds and at least opening count of 12 or 13 points. South with only six points chose to pass, and West with nine high-card points bid one no trump, with no four-card majors to bid. North with thirteen high card points and two five-card suits, one in clubs and one in hearts, had just the perfect bid for his partner South. North bid 2NT. This is truly an unusual and artificial bid. What was North saying to his partner South?

The 2NT bid is an Unusual No Trump bid. This bid promises either a weak hand or a very strong hand. The bid by North promised two five-card suits, and both were the two lowest unbid suits. In this case, since diamonds had already been bid, North was safe to use the Unusual No Trump bid to inform South that he had five clubs and five hearts, the two lowest unbid suits. South’s job? Take your pick. Where does the partnership have the best trump fit? Knowing that North had five clubs and five hearts, it was an easy decision for South to choose the clubs with three of them. Eight trumps constitute a Golden Fit in the club suit. Everyone passed, and South was the declarer in 3♣.

West led the A♦, the suit that partner East had bid first. When that trick won, West continued with the Q♦ which also won. A shift by West to the 8♠ was won by South with the A♠. A lead of the 2♣ to the K♣ was won by East with the A♣. Back came East’s last club, and it was won in the North hand with the Q♣. The A♥ was led and won the next trick with all following. The K♥ followed next, and again all played a heart.

The 7♥ was led from the North hand, and it was trumped in the South hand with the 10♣. A small spade from the South hand was trumped in the North hand for the North/South team. The set-up 9♣ was led next from the North hand and won the trick. The 9♥ had also been promoted and won the next trick for North/South. The 8♥ won the twelfth trick, and a small trump at the end won the tenth trick on this hand. North/South won ten tricks, and East/West won three tricks altogether.

How did those who used the Unusual No Trump fare in this online tournament? Of the over fifty tables that played this exact same hand, one table skipped the Unusual No Trump and bid and made 3♥ for a 100% score. The next fifteen players chose to use the Unusual No Trump bid and arrived at 3♣, scoring very well against the entire playing field. Those who let East/West bid and make a variety of bids did not score very well. Of the 50 who played in this tournament, over 30 players either did not know about the Unusual No Trump bid or allowed the East/West team to outbid them. To those who knew and saw that they had two five-card suits and they were the two lowest unbid suits were able to outscore their opponents handily by using a most unusual convention, the Unusual No Trump. It was a most unusual day for bridge.

The take-aways for today? Even if you choose not to use the Unusual No Trump bid with your partner, at least you are now aware that such a bid is being used by your opponents. Because it is a partnership agreement and because it is an uncommon bid, your opponents must alert and provide you with information on what the 2NT bid means. The bid is forcing to bidder’s partner for one round, and that should be noted as well. Good luck with the No Trump Unusual Convention.

 

Gerald Stein

June 5, 2014

 Number of words: 829