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Tactics.

When one has a distributional hand, one can plan an approach in how to bid. Maybe we jump to a high level. Maybe we take it slowly. Today, we have a hand of some potential though it is unfortunate that the long suit is clubs, the suit everyone seems to be able to bid over.

So, let’s see how our Panel approach this particular hand.

 

 

2 is natural, a 1-round force. The game is Pairs.

We have those who take the “softly, softly” approach. As Stephen says:

Stephen Blackstock “2: This auction has a long way yet to run, and it's not clear whether either side can make game in any denomination.

 I will announce a strong hand and listen to what North, South and West have to say. In one sense I might even do better to pass for now, but I want to encourage West to contribute, in the unlikely event he has much to say. If he has spade and diamond cards, then 3NT may do well (something of a fantasy I acknowledge).

 I am reluctant to bounce directly to 5 (as I would at IMPs, and which will probably be the majority vote in this context) because more often than not it will be one down, -200 against very little with N/S games dubious. I don't want to bully North-South into doubling simply because they have values but no agreed fit.”

Bruce Anderson “3: partner has little strength. Therefore, I am not bidding 4 , which risks being hit and going down for a bad result. Admittedly, 3 has limited pre-emptive value, but it does tell partner that I have a strong hand in that I have bid up to the 3 level on my own, vulnerable. If partner was close to making a negative double, they may be able to take some action, including penalizing if the opponents get too high.”

Andy Braithwaite “3: as I could have bid 2 to show a good hand, choosing their higher suit must show a massive hand with clubs. If partner holds A and a diamond card, they must bid 3NT as there may also be an implication that I have a spade stop. If partner bids 4, I will reluctantly pass at Pairs but bid 5 over 3 from partner.”

With North and South doing the bidding and our partner very silent, I doubt our partner can supply the magic A and a diamond hold. The majority do bid what they hope they can make or at least make life as awkward as they can for their opponents. A,AK in the majors suggest we know what to do if they do bid again after our leap:

Pam Livingston “5: On a good day it will make.  If they bid at the five level, I will give it a crack.  Looks like I have 3 tricks on defence.”

Nigel Kearney “5: We need very little from partner to make 5 or it could be a save. Going slower is more likely to help them than us.”

Kris Wooles “5: I don’t know what’s right but if I can’t bid game with this hand, then when?  Partner might only need the Q to make.”

Peter Newell “5: expect to have a pretty good chance of making it, and makes it hard for the opponents to judge their fits by taking a lot of room away.”

Michael Cornell “ 4.5 which means of course that I am bidding 5.

If one of opponents hold AJx and doubles, it is not my lucky day!

Most of the time I will be cold if there is no heart loser and if I only bid 4, I could hardly expect partner to raise with the Q and a singleton club.

Even Jxxxx(x) or any 6-card heart suit from partner, will be favourite for me to make 11 tricks.  I do not consider anything else as I do not put down 8 card suits in my dummies.”

 

Presumably, neither you nor your partner will be putting their hand down as dummy if the opponents keep bidding, as South surely would do on the lay-out below:

 

+100 seems like a very small plus to get for such a potentially powerful hand as the East hand is. Give South one heart less and one club more and there would be no plus at all! Such are the problems and dangers of freakish hands.

On the face of it, we are going down in 5 but we do not need to have a heart loser as we have been given two entries to our dummy and can run the 10 at no cost and plenty to gain if North plays low on the first round of the suit.

 

Why did South not use a Michael’s bid? For many, 2 shows both majors while 2NT is the two lowest unbid. For spades and a minor, they have to bid as per above.

 

A slower approach might have allowed our opponents to bid enough though the vulnerability is very much in their favour. Hence, not for the first time, the club suit is successfully out-bid, this time by the other minor.

 

 

With partner needing as little as the Q to make our contract cold, we would like to get to the club game though next time, that club length will be with one opponent and we have bid too high. It would seem this time the direct approach made it too hard for South to pass out 5. Unluckily, this time they were correct to move to 5.

 

More from the JIN Club tomorrow.

Richard Solomon

 

 

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