Wednesday Play at The Hutt (20)
Here is a tricky little puzzle for all readers who play on Wednesdays. It is a problem that I can not solve without input from readers and players.
Board 13 from Wednesday 21/04/21
Dealer N All Vul
| ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||
|
T65
QT762
J54
T3What have we been taught about ACOL? With 12-19 HCP, you open your LOWER four card suit, so South should open 1H. A 1NT OVERCALL should have 15-18 HCP and at least one stopper in opponent’s suit. Correct on one count but one out of two isn’t good enough, so West should PASS. North has only three HCP so also should PASS, as should East.
Every text book on basic ACOL that I know of would say that the final contract on this board should be ONE HEART by South. Of course, you are allowed to play different systems but even with other systems like a strong (15-17) 1NT opening or “Precision”, the final contract should be 2H. However there was not one South playing in 1H and only one in 2H, out of the thirteen times that NS played the hand!
One South played in 1NT and I wonder what system they were playing because even with a strong 1NT, there is an easy way to choose to play in 2H rather than 1NT. Try 1NT on a low club lead (‘fourth highest of longest and strongest’)!
I will be finishing this Wednesday series next week, it just does not seem to be getting through to the Wednesday players, but PLEASE tell me how the bidding went when YOU played this board. I can’t solve that particular problem! As a finale I will review your responses (if any) to this poser.
