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Daily Bridge in New Zealand

Longest First?

The basic concept of opening bids is to open your longest suit first. Two recent deals challenged that theory..or at least one of them did. Your choice as opening the bidding then with:

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East Deals
N/S Vul

 

N

W

 

E

S

   
 

K Q 10 8 6

A J 10 8 7 2

8 7

 

West

North

East

South

 

 

Pass

?

Only 10 hcp but with both majors and great shape worthy of a 1-level opening. It even complies with the Rule of 20 for opening bids. So, which major?

The bidding would seem to develop potentially more easily if you open 1Spade-small, the shorter suit. Who knows what West will produce in a minor suit as their first bid..and even more important to keep the bidding at a lowish level if it is your partner who has the minors… a misfit!

So, something strange happened after the 1Spade-small opening. Not from West who emerged with a weak jump, 3Club-small, but partner made a negative double. Have they really 4 hearts? East bids 4Club-small.. and you?

Surely 5Club-small and hope your partner spots the heart suit agreement and the fact you are very very short in clubs. They might be concerned about their trump suit but otherwise they would have all you needed for a small slam:

East Deals
N-S Vul

A 2

6 5 4 3

A K 10 3 2

10 8

4

K

Q 6 5 4

Q J 9 7 6 5 3

 

N

W

 

E

S

 

J 9 7 5 3

Q 9

J 9

A K 4 2

 

K Q 10 8 6

A J 10 8 7 2

8 7

 

West

North

East

South

 

 

Pass

1 ♠

3 ♣

Dbl

4 ♣

5 ♣

Pass

6 

All pass

 

If only! 4Heart-small from South just did not accelerate the auction. You may notice that East could have opened the bidding. They did not. What would have happened had you opened your longest?

West              North             East                South

                                                Pass                1Heart-small

3Club-small                   4Heart-small                  5Club-small                5Heart-small

Pass                ?

Well, North might raise and they might not! Even to get that far, N/S would rely on the opponents bidding to 5Club-small. If East passed 4Heart-small, South would need to take a move (5Club-small) and then surely North should re-evaluate.

Of course, the opponents could spoil your score by sacrifising in 7Club-small which is 4 down or - 800. 

Nevertheless, opening the shorter major could work out better.

Then we had:

     

North Deals
N-S Vul

 

N

W

 

E

S

   
 

Q J 10 6 2

J 5

A K 9 8 4 3

 

West

North

East

South

 

Pass

Pass

?

The same arguments apply. Opening the shorter suit seemed to work out much better.

West              North              East                South

                        Pass                Pass               1Spade-small

2Club-small                   2Spade-small                   3Club-small                4Spade-small

All Pass

Quick and not even any mention of our long red secret-weapon. Compare that to this auction:

West              North             East                South

                        Pass                Pass                1Diamond-small

2Club-small                   Pass                3Club-small                   ?

How high do you want to go with a jack above average even though you have good shape? Fortune this time would favour the brave but you would not always be so lucky:

North Deals
N-S Vul

A K 9

8 6 3

J 7

J 5 4 3 2

8 3

A K 7 2

10 5

A Q 10 8 6

 

N

W

 

E

S

 

7 5 4

Q 10 9 4

Q 6 2

K 9 7

 

Q J 10 6 2

J 5

A K 9 8 4 3

 

West

North

East

South

 

Pass

Pass

1 

2 ♣

Pass

3 ♣

?

Yes, you might bid 3Spade-small and assuming your partner recognises that you have five spades, you will reach by far the better game. 5Diamond-small does make too thanks to the fortunate lie of the trump suit.

So, North might not have passed 2Club-small? They have hardly a classic negative double while nothing else appeals.

I much prefer opening my longest but these two boards show that it is not always right to do so.

And next?

     

North Deals
None Vul

 

N

W

 

E

S

 

K Q 4 3

A 3

A K 10

K 7 5 4

 

West

North

East

South

 

Pass

1 ♣

Pass

2 ♣

Pass

?

 

1Club-small promises 4+ clubs and 2Club-small is what it seems, 6-9. What now?

Richard Solomon

 

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