Vil Gravis's blog

Tricky Answers (09)

You are South each time.
1. Match Points Dealer S NS Vul
Your hand:

A
JT9
AJT642
KQ3

SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass1Pass
?

What would you bid?

The ‘book’ bid is 3D: 15-17 and a ‘good’ six card suit. The problem with that is that partner will pass with about 6 HCP and five hearts, or bid 3NT with nothing in diamonds and a bare spade stop. I must agree with Bob: “3H. Partner will bid 3NT if that’s right.” Three card raises are sometimes necessary, though 2H may work out better at match points. A new slant from Dean: “2C Forcing”. When I questioned this he told me it was 100% forcing and I should tell my panelists so, and ‘bring them into the 20th century’. A hundred years too late, Deano, it’s already the 21st century!

Wednesday Play at The Hutt (07)

In the next few issues I want to address OPENING LEADS. Did you know just how important the opening lead is? It is important because it begins the DEFENCE. When you are defending a contract, it is not very productive to simply play some random cards or take any aces you have. You must have a plan for the total defence.

Here are some things you need to think about if you are a defender:

There are THIRTEEN cards to be played. There are thirteen tricks, and you will take some of them but you do not always need to take them from the beginning. The important thing is how and when you take your tricks, and how your cards will combine with your partner’s to take your tricks.

Tricky Questions (09)

You are South each time.
1. Match Points Dealer S NS Vul
Your hand:

A
JT9
AJT642
KQ3

SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass1Pass
?

What would you bid?

Tricky Answers (08)

You are South each time.

1. Match Points
Dealer E NS Vul

AKJ4
J762
AJT6
3

a) The bidding has been:

SouthWestNorthEast
---2
XPass3Pass
?

East’s 2H is a standard weak two, 6-10 HCP and six card suit.
What would you bid?

The consensus of respondents was that IF you are playing Lebensohl, you should raise to 4D but if not, pass is best. What is Lebensohl, you may ask? For the uninitiated, after your takeout double of a weak two, 2NT is WEAK and any bid at the three level has some values, say 8+ HCP. Makes a big difference doesn’t it?

Wednesday Play at The Hutt (06)

This week there were a number of interesting deals but I want to revisit last week’s deal because there were a number of responses to my request for bidding suggestions. Let’s take a look at the East-West hands again.

Board 17 Dealer N Nil Vul

A5
T32
AKT6
AJ86
KQT872
A4
4
K432

The bidding should start the same way every time. But after that, the possibilities are numerous.

Some Tricky Questions (08)

You are South each time.

1. Match Points
Dealer E NS Vul

AKJ4
J762
AJT6
3

a) The bidding has been:

SouthWestNorthEast
---2
XPass3Pass
?

East’s 2H is a standard weak two, 6-10 HCP and six card suit.
What would you bid?

Wednesday Play at The Hutt (05)

Another very good reason for having a TRUMP suit is that there are invariably more options in the declarer play, giving you ways of improving your score without taking risks that you would not be able to take if you were playing in No Trumps.

Board 17 from Wednesday 17/02/2021
Dealer N Nil Vul

63
QJ96
QJ987
T9
A5
T32
AKT6
AJ86
KQT872
A4
4
K432
J94
K875
532
Q75

Wednesday Play at The Hutt (04)

This deal provides a perfect sequel to the one I reviewed last time. Clearly, none of the Wests read it, or if they did, they ignored it.

Board 24 from Wednesday 10/02/2021
Dealer W Nil Vul

QJ62
8
Q73
KQT85
A874
AKQT32
A4
2
J96
JT9865
AJ74
KT953
754
K2
963

Some Tricky Answers (06)

You are South each time.
Dealer S NS Vul

AKJ43
AJ72
AJT6

a) The bidding has been:

SouthWestNorthEast
12PassPass
?

What would you bid?

Wednesday Play at The Hutt

Board 21 from Wednesday 3/02/2021
Dealer N NS Vul

T965
Q5
KT9
A864
AQJ4
AJ76
Q
KQJ3
K832
K82
A7543
7
7
T943
J862
T952

Despite the fact that I intend to focus on play in this series, the bidding on this board is worth addressing because it should be easy if you follow basic ‘rules’: West opens 1C, the lowest four card suit. East bids 1D. No other option. West bids 1H, next four card suit ‘up the line’. East bids 1S. West now has heard enough to bid 4S. A trump fit has been found and even opposite East’s minimum six points, West has the POINTS and TRUMP SUPPORT for GAME. Simple. Yet only four out of 12 EW pairs were in 4S.

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