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An Exception to a Rule.

That’s one of the things that makes Bridge so interesting. We establish lots of rules and then find situations when we break them! One primary aim in bidding is to find a fit in a major suit and then with the required strength, which, of course, can be roughly a combined 25 + hcp or often a lot less (exceptions to that guideline, or rule too!), we head off to game in that major.

Is that what we do here?

 

 

You make a take-out double in the “pass-out” seat because your range for an immediate 1NT overcall in that seat is 12-15. Partner calls 1 and you have found a fit. What now?

“What now” for just about all of our Panel means ignoring that fit, of keeping partner in the dark about it.

Nigel Kearney “1NT: Often a 4-4 fit will produce an extra trick but here I think there is a better chance of saving a trick by avoiding a club lead through my AQ10. A heart contract has to play two tricks better to be right and this doesn't look like the sort of hand where that will happen.”

Michael Cornell “1NT: Too good for 2 which we play as a simply a normal X with 4 hearts, not extra values. However, with this shape, this is not a great hand so I am going to bid 1NT which I assume shows 16-18. If we are going anywhere with all the opposition points on my left, No Trumps should play well.”

Or probably better than a heart contract.

Stephen Blackstock “1NT: Not a problem! Important to right-side the declarer, and also define the hand type and range. There’s plenty of room for North to explore alternative strains if he wishes, but note that even a 5-4 heart fit may be comfortable in 3NT with 4H awkward from partner’s side.”

Kris Wooles “1NT: descriptive of shape and points while concealing the heart fit. Can’t do everything in one bid.”

Or even more succinctly:

Michael Ware “1NT: Get strength across and good positionally.”

Hearts does have one supporter:

Julie Atkinson “3: Partner can have more value than normal for their 1 response as I could have stretched to balance with good shape. It seems very unlikely that partner is zero with the lack of opponents’ bidding.  Strongly inviting game.”

The problem is that our hand looks so much better in no-trumps, with honours in every suit except hearts and nothing to ruff in our hand.

Bruce Anderson “1NT: It is relatively rare to suppress 4 card support when partner has bid a major, but if ever there was a hand where it is right to do so this is it. In fact, I confidently predict a uniform response to this problem. The reasoning is obvious as I want the lead coming up to my tenace positions, my 4333 shape, and that the bid accurately reflects my high card strength.”

Peter Newell “1NT: shows my strength. I’m super balanced, keeps the bidding low as a lot of points do not look useful with West sitting over me and I want the lead coming up to my hand.  Sure, I have 4 hearts but I don’t like 2 as my hand is pretty weak playing strength wise even though I have a 17 count. If partner cannot bid over 1NT, I would say we will be in a better and safer part-score than 2. If partner can bid, I can support hearts later.”

Well, you can but why would you want to, if that bid was 3NT? They will surely only discover your suppressed support when they watch as dummy as you cash some heart tricks, or on the actual deal, just two!

 Partner was indeed rather good for their 1 and had no trouble raising 1NT to the no trump game. 4 on the 9 lead had no chance even without the 4-1 trump break. Two trumps, a club and A or even two down if West realises that South’s second club loser is going nowhere.

So, would 3NT play any better? It certainly would on an initial club lead from West with three spade tricks (East is allowed one honour!), and two tricks in every other suit. However, it was not quite so straightforward when West chose 10 as their initial lead.

Low heart followed, as did a second round of spades and a second heart confirmed the bad break. A diamond went to the king and West’s ace and was followed by a third round of spades. Declarer had 8 tricks for certain with these cards remaining:

 

 

Declarer had to cash their two diamond winners before playing a club from dummy. 10 lost to J and although West could cash their high spade (on which declarer and dummy threw their heart loser), West had to exit a club into the AQ to provide South with their ninth trick.

Had hearts broken 3-2, 3NT would have been even easier while 4 would still have no chance. Normally, we would love to play in a 4-4 major fit but this time, that contract just had to be avoided. Even if South had bid 3, North had the opportunity to offer 3NT as well but it was quite clear to South that no trumps might be an easier place, whether in game or part-score. So, tell a little lie and end up with a plus score in game.

Complicated but true

An auction which needs explanations and at the end of those explanations, you are still on lead:

 

 

1 was Precision style. The next few bids were all natural after which 4NT was straight Blackwood, with 5showing one ace. Your double asked for the lead of dummy’s first bid suit, albeit artificially bid and the rest is rather interesting….and it still is your lead?

Richard Solomon

 

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