TALES OF AKARANA

Board 4 West Deals Both Vulnerable

                         AQ87

                         63

                         KJ3

                         K842

 KJ43                                          T965

 KQ                                             J875

 76                                              T985

 AT973                                        J

                         2

                          AT942

                          AQ42

                          Q65

The question is raised this week how should 3NT be bid by NS after a natural 1 opening by West? 

This question is answered somewhat satisfactorily, but in the process highlights the difficulties that sometimes arise judging the final contract level when the strength of an overcall is unclear, and the need to have precise agreements of the point ranges of subsequent invitation bids. If South had instead had 14 HCP and North 11 HCP North would seemingly have been stuck for a bid if 2NT showed a 13 HCP hand in the bidding sequence given, and then forced to pass 2 or convert to 2.

For this reason, I favour using losing trick count evaluation for overcalls rather than HCP strength. The advantage is that after the overcall partner often has an immediate appreciation of the possible final contract level.

Our bidding would be:

N       E       S       W

                             1

-         -         X        -

1N      -        2     -

2    -         2N      -

3    -          3    -

3N     -           -        -

 Where:

X    -  6 Loser hand or GF, any shape

1N  -  <= 8 Loser balanced may contain 5 M

2 - 5M Non-promissory relay Stayman

2 - 4 or 5 

2N - shape asking relay 

3 - 44

3 - shape asking relay

3N - 4432 7 losers

From the first overcall, North knows immediately using the rule of 18 that NS have game values, especially if a fit can be found, and similarly South knows after the first response NS have game values and also North is balanced with 7 - 8 losers >= 11 total losers (with 6 or fewer losers North would have doubled previously). The rest of the bidding is used by South to determine the best contract to be in. Without a fit being found, South devalues the sum of partnership's losers and stops in 3NT.

Whilst this immediate knowledge does not provide an advantage for this particular board if instead, North held 11 HCP and South 14 HCP or if EW were non-vulnerable and able to contest the auction it may have. 

Started by SEAN LYNCH on 05 Apr 2019 at 01:59PM