Better Bridge in Barry County January 1 2015

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

North East/West 10♥

 

North 1♣ 2♥ ?	East Pass Pass Pass	South 1♥ 3♣ Pass	West Pass Pass Pass

In today’s hand, let’s continue the idea of counting to reach the very best contract we can with the cards that we have been dealt. Today’s North opened the bidding with a 1♣, promising as usual at least three clubs and an opening count of at least 12 high card points. With no interference from East/West, South bid 1♥, promising at least four hearts and at least 6 high card points. That is a long way from a game, however, where the partnership needs 25-26 total points to make a game in the majors or in no trump. Today, let’s look at a way that partnerships can work together to give more information and arrive at that ideal contract.

North knew from South’s bid that she had at least 4 hearts and at least 6 high card points. With her 13 high card points, it did not appear to North that there were enough points to arrive at a game contract in the heart suit. North bid a conservative 2♥ and awaited South’s response.

With extras, however, South bid 3♣. She was not trying to find a different trump suit. That had already been established with the support by North that hearts would be the trump suit. Instead, through their partnership agreement, South used a strategy to inform North that she had help in the club suit. Called “Help Suit Game Try,” South informed North that while the trump suit would be hearts, would it be 3♥ or 4♥? Help Suit Game Try works like this: South bid 3♣ to inform North that she had support for clubs as well as the heart suit. Two suits are better than one.

South’s 3♣ bid was a forcing bid to 3♥ at least. With extras, North was to take the partnership to game in 4♥. With 13 high card points, and at least 2-3 points for the singleton diamond, North saw the light and bid the 4♥ contract. All passed, and South prepared to play the 4♥ contract.

West saw little hope in her lead and chose a trump lead, the 10♥. South drew the trumps in three rounds, and ended up in her hand. Playing the Q♣ produced the K♣, and three rounds of clubs were played in succession all winning for South. South next played the A♦, trumped a diamond in the dummy and then played the spade suit. East/West won the A♠ and K♠ for their two tricks while North/South made game with eleven tricks and a 450 point score.

The key to this hand was the Help Suit Game Try employed by the partnership. This kind of bidding is important to add to your bridge bag of conventions as it helps to remove the doubts of whether you go on to game in a major or stop at the 3♥ level. Many who played this hand were able to make use of the Help Suit Game Try, and the partners confidently moved to the 4♥ level. Those who did not have the Help Suit Game Try as part of their bidding agreement were left to guess whether to go on or to stop at a part score.

Bridge is a game of conversations. In this way, North and South were able to relay information that was important to reach the major game contract. For their efforts, they ended up in a solid game in the major suit even though their high card points only added up to 24. They were able to use the second suit as a support suit to take additional tricks and make the contract. Without the club support and the information relayed about the clubs, it is doubtful whether North/South would have been able to bid 4♥ confidently. True, they might have gotten there by guess-and-by-golly, but isn’t it reassuring to know that there is a way to convey important information to your partner? Give Help Suit Game Try a chance in the New Year. You will have fun letting your partner know that you have extras in partner’s bid suit. Reaching game is always a lot more fun than playing in a part score and then realizing at the end of the hand that a game was there all along. Best wishes in 2015. Happy New Year to all Barry County bridge players and their families.

 

Gerald Stein

December 19, 2014

Number of words: 834