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How Alive is “The Law”?

That is “The Law of Total Tricks”. In its crudest form, you bid to the level of the number of trumps in your two hands. With 9 trumps, you get to the 3 level as quickly as possible, no matter how few high card points your side has. With 10 trumps, you bid to the 4-level.
“The Law” will protect you. Let’s see:

 

Q J 7 4 3

Q 8 6 5 3

10 6

7

 

West

North

East

South

 

 

1 

1 ♠

2 

?

 

 

 

Only N/S are vulnerable and it is Pairs. What should North bid?

10 trumps….so:

Kris Wooles “4Spade-small: As I remember (and use) “the LAW” as advocated by Larry Cohen one should (mostly) bid to reflect the size of the fit. So, with a 4/4 fit bid to the 2 level, 4/5 fit to the 3 level and 5/5 fit to the 4 level. I say mostly as there are factors which could on occasions affect this but as a general rule it is a good guide. Therefore, despite the vulnerability I would bid 4Spade-small.”

Peter Newell “4Spade-small: Some days we will be a few down, and if doubled ugh. However, it is hard for the opponents to double with very little in trumps and likely a good fit in at least 1 minor. So maximum pressure will make it hard for them to judge. I don't really have a second choice, but 3Spade-small if I was really worried about getting doubled in 4Spade-small.”

Presumably 3Spade-small would be pre-emptive not constructive.

Bruce Anderson “4Spade-small: notwithstanding the adverse vulnerability. On an unlucky day we will go for 500 but it is very likely our opponents can make a game and with a minimum 5/5 fit it is more likely we will get out for one down if doubled. The bid puts our opponents under a lot of pressure. Also, partner has bid when vulnerable, so possibly we can make 4Spade-small if he/she has key cards and the right shape.

So 4Spade-small it is, and I will be unapologetic if it is wrong.”

 

A little more conservatism from:

Andy Braithwaite “3Spade-small: The problem with 4Spade-small is that your opponents will be left with no choice but to double you and unless partner has a singleton heart and a minor suit ace, you will be -200 when most may only be playing a part score the other way. 

So, I feel 4Spade-small is right to put maximum pressure on, but wrong in that it is unlikely to be a good result. So, at Pairs I just prefer 3Spade-small with those hearts as nuisance value for any bid opponents make over 3Spade-small.”  or:

 

Michael Cornell “3Heart-small: would not bid 4Spade-small in a normal NZ pairs event. That would simply be giving opponents  ‘fielders’ choice’. Even if they double when slam for them is cold, -500 will not usually be a good score anyway. Furthermore, at this stage they do not necessarily have a great fit. I would opt for 3Heart-small, good raise to 3Spade-small normally with 4 trumps.”

and with just one toe in the water:

Pam Livingston “2Spade-small: I would just bid 2Spade-small and see what happens.”

but there is something extra about this hand:

Nigel Kearney “4Spade-small: The Law does not work and there are lots of people nowadays leaping to four of a major with any random 5332 hoping it will protect them. It won't. But here we have a lot of shape in addition to five card support so 4Spade-small as a two- way shot is justified.”

Good advice. One cannot ignore vulnerability and the shape of our hand. Occasionally, a “Law Raise” will suffer a large penalty though applied sensibly, you should get reasonable results. Our hand does have a bit of shape which is really needed at adverse vulnerability. Let’s see what happened.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

Q J 7 4 3

Q 8 6 5 3

10 6

7

K 10 8

K 10 7 4 2

7 3

Q J 3

 

N

W

 

E

S

 

A J

A Q 8 5 2

K 10 9 6 4 2

 

A 9 6 5 2

9

K J 9 4

A 8 5

 

West

North

East

South

 

 

1 

1 ♠

2 

?

 

 

 

There should not be a bad result from a jump to 4Spade-small. If East decided to sit it out, or West doubled it, they will record a poor score as 10 tricks can be made rather comfortably. Many Easts would head off to the 5-level having not mentioned their long club suit yet.
5Club-small should be too hard to make even on the helpful Spade-smallA lead. Heart-small9 would be a better choice from South with North withholding their Heart-smallQ. When in with the Diamond-smallK, South should be able to draw a couple of rounds of trumps, leaving East with at least one more losing diamond.

Note East’s opening bid. The actual auction demonstrates it is easier to open 1Diamond-small and rebid in clubs if the opposition pre-empt you. 5Club-small should show a 5-card+ club suit over 4Spade-small, enabling West to pass rather than convert back to a poor diamond contract. (4NT would show long diamonds with a 4-card club suit.)

Alive and Well

alive and well.jpg 

So, “The Law” still has its place though perhaps should be used just a little sparingly at adverse vulnerability….or is that just a sign of my age?

Something a little different for tomorrow. We want to offer something for newer players coming out of Beginners’ Classes into the wonderful world of Bridge. On Fridays, we want to include some basic deals covering points they have already covered, reinforcement of what they have learnt. They are unlikely to look at this column at present. So, it would be great if you can point newer players you may know or at your club in this direction. Naturally, you are allowed to read the articles too. Do you remember those days way back when finesses always worked and trumps broke 3-2? Not since you first learnt, perhaps?

Richard Solomon

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