What & Why (02)
First up - some answers to What & Why (01):
1. Match Points Dealer East all vul
 |
 AKQJT7 |
 8743 |
 A76 |
You are SOUTH. Playing at match points East opens 1NT. What do you bid?
What to do? You do have a penalty double, which normally requires 15+ HCP but this hand is even better than that because you are guaranteed to defeat 1NT. But in anticipation of what might happen, it may be best to ignore the possibility of 1NT doubled.
Taking a shot at 4H is not unreasonable. This may encourage East to try 4S which could run into serious trouble, and in most normal situations 4H would have good chances of making.
You might wonder where the spades are. The best way to find out is to PASS, which still leaves some options open. In the worst case scenario you will score +100 when you can make +110 or +140 but with seven certain tricks TWO down for +200 in not impossible. That would be better than +110 or +140.
The best solution at the time was to PASS and see what happens. That is what my partner did. What happened then was that East bid 2D (not a transfer) and after two passes, North bid 4H, having enough information to be much more confident of her chances.
Sitting South, with my seven spades and a Yarborough, I need not describe how I felt about this. But East now decided his TWELVE count was good enough to sacrifice against our game, and bid 5D. North doubled this, of course, and East’s play turned out to be as bad as his bidding, +1100 to NS. Those Norths who passed 1NT were rewarded with+800 when East bid 3NT and North’s double closed the auction. When bidding goes like that, should East smell a rat and bid 4D? Against a good North, I certainly would.
2. Teams Dealer N All Vul
You are South and your hand:
| J875 |
| A862 |
| AJ7 |
| AK |
The bidding has been:
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | 1 | Pass |
| 1 | Pass | 1NT | Pass |
| ? |
North’s 1NT rebid is 15-16. You have no other agreement with this partner. What do you call now?
It looks like 6NT is the right spot, but what if partner has bypassed a four card spade suit, as some partners are known to do? Not a good idea, but some do just that to show a balanced 15-16 or 15-17. If you and your partner have an understanding that this is possible, then you should have a way to check for it, with 2C being used as ‘checkback’. But with most partners you would just bid 6NT, having the values for that. As you will see in the coming series, 6S is an easy slam to make, 6NT very difficult.
If you and your partner want to be a bit more accurate in your bidding with such hands, there is a sensible way that you can bypass 1S and rebid 1NT, but I suggest you discuss this in detail. My suggestion is that if your spade suit is a poor one, it can be bypassed. For instance, with A9xx, or Kxxx or definitely Qxxx or Jxxx, you might bypass 1S and rebid 1NT. As well as that, you should play “Checkback”. I don’t play ‘checkback’ it in any particular way but have an agreement with partner that it asks for range AND shape where appropriate. Thus, after 2C, North would bid 2S with a four card spade suit and the poor quality version of the spade suit.
Personally, I would always bid 1S with any four card spade suit because that is no longer forcing and 1S on a 4-3 fit and a bare 6 or 7 count (or possibly even a 4 or 5 count and a singleton club, can 1C be a good contract?).
And finally, 1S in most cases, even on a 4-3 fit facing the opener often plays much better than 1NT. But make sure you discuss this with your partner and come to an agreement.
3. Now for a declarer problem. You are West this time and it is teams. You opened 1C, 1H from partner and you rebid 1NT (15-17). Partner calls 6NT.
|
|
How do you intend to play this if:
a) North leads the four of hearts?
b) North leads the two of diamonds?
Don’t forget that you should always have a PLAN. What do you intend to do and WHY?
Here is what you should be thinking, and why. You are in an excellent slam. The most important thing in a slam at teams is to take every possible step to ensure that things don’t go wrong and you give yourself every chance of making the slam, if that is at all possible. Clearly, the trump suit is what you need to concentrate on. Why? Because you can not afford to lose more than one trump. If there is a 5-0 spade break you are doomed, but if there is a 4-1 break, you will probably survive IF you take all possible precautions. I already have some answers but before we continue on this, have a think about the spade suit and answer the following questions, you may then change your mind about the answers you gave earlier.
The spade suit is integral to the whole hand, whether you are playing in spades or No Trumps. It may also make a difference whether you are in game only (4S) or in a small slam, or even overboard in a GRAND slam. It may also make a difference if you are playing TEAMS or MATCH POINTS, and if match points, if you are playing in a high level tournament or in a club session.
Here are your next questions, all relating to the spade suit:
Please be specific re your play: what do you lead from which hand and what then.
1. If you have landed up in 7S (or 7NT) how do you play the spade suit?
2. If you are in 6S in a teams match, how do you play the spade suit?
3. If you are in 4S, does it matter much if you are playing teams, and how would you play the suit?
4. In 4S in a club session, how would you play the suit?
5. In 3NT in a club session, how would you play the whole hand given the four of hearts lead?
You might be surprised with some of the answers, so let me have YOURS to villyn@xtra.co.nz before the follow up.
