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Daily Bridge in New Zealand

One of “Those” Deals.

Is that how we describe today’s problem? We cannot get them all right but at the table, North ended a long way from optimum. Let’s take a look:

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Q 5

J 10 8 3 2

K 10 9 8 7 6

 

West

North

East

South

 

 

 

1 ♠

4 

?

 

 

For me, there are two issues here. Firstly, do we want to bid? Then, if we do, what options do we have?

Our Panel are mainly in the “ no action” camp.

Nigel Kearney “Pass. When they pre-empt, our bids should be constructive, otherwise it is too hard to bid slams. Even with a partner who could take a joke, I still wouldn't bid 5Club-small or double here. Unless partner is able to double for take-out, I expect we are probably better off defending.”

It looks like Nigel’s bidding options for the minors are limited to “double” or just bidding a suit.

Andy Braithwaite “Pass: With no spades and a doubleton hear, I am not well placed to play at the five level and have some defence if partner hold an ace for an entry ( hopefully Diamond-smallA as that is the suit I would lead. So, pass for me.”

Passing but suggesting 4NT would be for the minors is:

Bruce Anderson “Pass: It is possible to bid 4NT, saying to partner bid your better minor unless you still think it best to play  the hand in spades. Obviously, if partner fits one of my minor suits and 4Heart-small is a make, we could have a cheap save.

But the doubleton Heart-smallQ means we may well have two quick losers and a five-level contract is going down. And so is 4Heart-small, even though West should have a very good hand at this vulnerability.

 

So, I am passing and leading the Diamond-smallJ if partner also passes.”

 

One vote for action:

Stephen Blackstock “Double: Given the limited information from the auction, it seems likely that 4Heart-small will fail on one or two spade ruffs. 5minor (or even 4Spade-small) may make, but if we have a game then 4Heart-smallx may cost 500. If this guess is correct, we want to defend 4Heart-smallx: how best to reach that?

 I double in case partner has a nondescript hand (5233?), in which case he will pass a "values" double.  If he bids 5minor, that should be fine. If he bids 4Spade-small, I bid 5Club-small showing both minors with longer clubs, and hope to survive. Of course, that will be wrong if South has long solid spades, but I can't allow for everything.

 

Alternatively, I can pass now, planning to pass if partner reopens with a double The problem with that plan is that South may pass 4Heart-small with the hand shape that will do well on defence. I don't like 4NT for minors immediately, as that removes any chance to defend when that is too likely to be our best option.” 

 

Peter Newell “Pass: 4Heart-small may not make, and we could go down quite a lot in 5 of a minor if partner is 1 suited in spades. If partner has the right type of hand to make 5/6 of a minor with heart shortage and some minor length partner will often double and then I'll happily bid 4NT for minors.

Partner often tends to bid 4Spade-small....."

 

In a way, this is a problem of two parts as had you chosen to pass or indeed double, the bidding was not yet finished. However, Peter was quite right on the night about  4Spade-small from South, a bid which was by no means the end of the bidding:

 

South Deals
E-W Vul

Q 5

J 10 8 3 2

K 10 9 8 7 6

A J 10 6

A J 10 8 7 4 2

Q 5

 

N

W

 

E

S

 

8 4

K 9 6 3

9 7 6 4

J 5 3

 

K Q 9 7 5 3 2

A K

A Q 4 2

 

West

North

East

South

 

 

 

1 ♠

4 

Pass

Pass

4 ♠

Dbl

Pass

5 

Dbl

All pass

 

 

 

As long as North’s double was not a straight penalty double, South would surely move from 4Heart-smallx, to 4Spade-small. If North had passed, then 4NT by North after 4Spade-small would certainly be for the minors. Indeed, it looks like the failure to find the club fit comes from North’s inaction over 4Spade-smallx rather than over 4Heart-small.

Our Panel were correct in that at this vulnerability, West need not have a pre-emptive hand, as you can see above. In the event, it was East who bid on over West’s double. The defence took their three tricks but + 200 did not compensate for missing grand slam! Realistically, bidding to 6Club-small would be a great North-South result. Then, if the opposition did bid to 6Heart-small, bidding to grand in clubs would be great if you dare, though +500 would at least beat those in 5Club-small!

 

With a void in spades, it seems wrong for North to want to go to the 5-level straightaway. Here is a suggestion as to whether 4NT after the opposition’s 4Heart-small would be minors or key-card:

Nigel Kearney “ I think 4NT is Blackwood. A possible rule would be that 4NT is Blackwood when you are unlimited and partner has bid a suit, otherwise it is a two suiter.”

Here, South has bid a suit and North would be unlimited. So, 4NT would be Key Card. Double would be take-out…though just make sure your partner agrees!

Something for our JIN (Junior, Novice, Intermediate) Club members tomorrow. All, though, are invited!  yay 2.png

Richard Solomon

 

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