Love Thy PARTNER!!
From 07WED on 15th Feb.
One of the most important things you should learn about bridge is that it is a PARTNERSHIP game when it comes to bidding. Doing your own thing is very well if you are declarer, when you are totally in charge, but when it comes to bidding, you will only get the best results if you respect your partner and listen to what he or she has to say during the auction. Let's take a look at Board 10 from the day's play:
Board 10 Dealer E All Vul
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987642
Q965
3
Q9This is how the bidding SHOULD go. Let's look at it like a discussion between East and West.
- East opens 1H: “I have an opening bid, with at least four hearts”. West isn't overly excited, having a void in partner's suit, but nevertheless dutifully bids 2D:
- “I have 10+ high card points and at least four diamonds” East now does get excited and bids 4D:
- “I have great support for your diamonds and a much better hand than just an opening bid. I also have at least FIVE hearts, and the ball is now in your court, partner”. West now does get excited. They must have a HUGE diamond fit, since East must have at least four diamonds and five or more hearts. West now should see that there should be more in the hand than just game, and 5D would be very much an understatement of the value of the combined hands. West therefore bids 4NT:
- “I have heard you, partner, and am delighted. Tell me how many aces you have”. East bids 5D:
- “I have one”. West is now looking further than a small slam and bids 5NT:
- “We have all the aces between us and I would like to investigate a GRAND slam. Please tell me how many KINGS you have.” East bids 6S: “I have THREE kings”. West can now see that the grand slam, in DIAMONDS, is almost 100% to make, whichever three kings East has, and confidently bids 7D.
That is what partnership bidding is about, discussing things in a proper manner. I could guess at how the bidding might have gone at the tables where there was little or no partnership rapport. I won't, but will say one thing: for East to just hare off into ace asking based on West's response of 2D, and then take matter into their own hands and bid 6H, is totally ignoring partner and very disrespectful. The Easts who do that may as well not bother having a partner at all.
Two Easts were in 6H down one. One East was in 3H making four, and one in 4H making five. One in 3D making seven and two actually made it to 5D. One West was in 3NT, no doubt encouraged by the saying that nine tricks are easier than eleven. Something to be said for that, but this is NOT a hand you play in less than a slam, when you should be able to work out, with a cooperative partner, that twelve or thirteen tricks can be made in DIAMONDS (yes, also in NT as it turns out).
It seems that most of those who played this particular deal have a lot to learn about bidding as a PARTNERSHIP. Talk to your partner, and when you THEN end up as declarer in the proper contract, that is when you can show how you can manage things ON YOUR OWN.
Defence is also a part of the game that you need an understanding with partner, so keep it very much in the forefront of your mind:
Bridge is a PARTNERSHIP game.
