MarkGanzersBridgeBlog: December 2010

Eunich Horns win Match 3: 34-20

by Mark Ganzer – 3 October, 2010

In a match featuring four significant swings boards the Eunuch's prevailed by a solid 14 imps margin. As per usual, the match could have been much closer, and the “You Knees” need not have won, but the fates were smiling on this, the opening day of bow and arrow deer hunting season.

Captain Pashi courageously threw the rusty Kintzle-Ganzer pair into the fray, in a sense throwing the stalwart Hope-Coco tandem under the bus. It's not easy being captain.

This is how these periodic newsletter will work. Each issue will present received wisdom on imps strategy and philosply first thing. Then will follow a summary and overview of the 12 hands, and finally a detailed analysis of at least the interesting hands. The received wisdom comes from two primary sources: Winning Swiss Team Tactics: New and Revised, by Harold Feldheim and Team Tactics At Bridge by Willie Jago.

The role of team captain

The captain makes the difficult decisions about who to leave in and who to leave out. Special thanks are owed Pashi for the agony she endured to get us all signed up for the team. First rule for the captain: Play only experienced partnerships, players who have played thousands of hands together (hundreds will do in a pinch). These pairs won't have bidding “accidents” to cost a match. Since it's a long ongoing process, and there are three partnerships eager to play, Pashi has the choice, of either trying to provide equal playing time to all three partnerships, or annointing an anchor pair expected to play most matches and then splitting time equally among the two remaining pairs. The captain can't make everybody happy, but that's not her job. She does have to ensure that there will be four players here on Sunday mornings.

Estimatingthe “State of the Match”

This is something that each player needs to do, because if things are going badly, aggressive action might be needed. The easiest way to estimate the state of the match is as follows:

[a] If you are going plus on part-score hands,, you are probably winning those boards.

[b] If you are bidding and making your obvious games and slams, you are at worst holding your own.

[c] If you are setting their games and slams, you are probably winning those boards.

Mark & Jeff estimate the state of the match at their table

{1} Def 3D +100 +2

{2} Def 4S +200 +3

{3} Dcl 2S +110 0

{4} Def 5C -620 0

{5} Def 3H -140 -2

{6} Dcl 3N +630 0

{7} Def 3N -630 0

{8} Dcl 3N +430 +4

{9} Dcl 4D +150 -10

{10} Dcl 3N +690 0

{11} Def 3D +100 +2

{12} Dcl 1S +140 +1

This looks uncomfortably close. We know missed a vulnerable game, but they let us make 3NT that could be set. Way too close.

Pashi & Marti estimate the state of the match at their table

{1} Def 3C -110 -2

{2} Dcl 3S -100 -2

{3} Def 3S -140 -2

{4} Dcl 6C +1370 +10

{5} Dcl 3H -100 -2

{6} Def 3N -630 0

{7} Dcl 3N + 660 0

{8} Dcl 5HX -100 + 4

{9} Def 3N -600 -5

{10} Dcl 3N -720 0

{11} Dcl 1N + 90 + 3

{12} PASS out + 3

Should feel good here about getting to slam, and a good sacrifice. Would rather not have “lost” four out of six part-score hands.

#1  Q 9 7 6 3 2

Dlr: N  9 7 3

Vul: none  K 9 2

 3

 A J 10 8 5 4  K

 A Q J  6 5 4 2

 3  Q 8 5

 9 6 5  K Q 8 4 2

 - -

 K 10 8

 A J 10 7 6 4

 A J 10 7

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
-	P	P	1	-	P	P	1
1	P	2	2	1	1N	P	2
3	P	P	P	2	X	P	3
				P	P	P

Results: -110 +50

Net: -60 Imps: -2

An exciting part-score deal to get things started. A momentous difference in bidding discipline / knowledge after the one spade the overcall, where our Un's know that a 1NT response shows a high-end minimum responding hand, 8-10 HCP with stopper(s). North has a clear-cut pass.

I don't care for the two club move by the advancer (East) at the Uni's home table. The club suit is not all that hot, the singleton spade makes the hand look like a misfit, and Q-x-x in a suit bid on your left is marginal; one of the worst of all possible holding. At their table, once responder calls one notrump, East can see that game prospects are very remote and that the hand appears to be a part-score misfit deal which makes pass the clear-cut action. While I don't care for East's two club call, West's raise to three clubs is exemplary despite the three small trump: wonderful high-card structure and a useful singleton. Support with support in action.

At the Uni's home, South's two diamond rebid doesn't promise any more than what it is: a good 6-card or longer suit and an offensive hand. At their home table, North's 1NT response changed everything, and allowed South to make a nice shape-showing two club rebid which confirms an unbalanced hand but is ambiguous regarding strength: it could be 12-15, or 16-18. The two club rebid eliminates any hope for E-W to play in clubs. Over three clubs, North might consider raising diamonds with the known 9-card fit, but it's still not much of a hand.

Back at their table, North's double of two spades is bad. His side might have less than half the deck, and you need at least half the points to risk a low level double, even with a trump stack as good as this one.

Finally, at their table, South's decision to pull the double of two spades is likely made because this is an experienced partnership, and South has seen North make bad calls (like 1NT and 2X) before. Although void of spades, South should honor North's double because South such good cards for defense (ace and kings) and North promises a huge trump stack.

A Uni's home table, South led the only suit that gives the defense any chance to set three clubs (double dummy), starting with the diamond ace. While not entirely obvious, the best defense is to continue diamonds, eventually forcing declarer to ruff with her own long clubs and lose control of the hand. With four exception trumps, the forcing defense is uusually correct.

Had South left North's double in at their table, North must lead either a spade (not in a million years) or a heart, the unbid suit. Most likely, North leads the singleton club, which allows a skillful declarer to score eight tricks and rack up a bone-crushing +470.

At their table, declaring three diamomnds, declarer could have done actually have made an overtrick with more skillful play. Lulcky to hold our losses to jump -2 Imps.

#2  K 7 2

Dlr: E  A 4 3

Vul: N-S  A 10 6 2

 J 6 4

 J 10 9 6  5

 9  K Q J 10 8 6 2

 K Q J 3  9 8

 K 8 5 2  10 9 7

 A Q 8 4 3

 7 5

 7 5 4

 A Q 3

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
-	-	2	2	-	-	3	3
P	3	X	3	P	4	P	P
P	P	P		P

Results: -100 +200

Net: +100 Imps: +3

What a differences in preempting styles with the unduly timid two heart opener at Uni's home versus a very consdervative (bymodern standards) three hearts at the other table. Two hearts lets North show limit raise+ high card values and still retaining the option to play three.

At their home table, South does not have enough to bid three spades over three hearts, since doing so end-plays N-S inito four spades whenever North has a decent 10 count and a spade fit. Other danger signs: South's suit is only five long, it is not at all strong, the hand is too balanced. South must muster the courage and pass over three hearts. Remember the “Rule of seven” which says: “when they preempt, assume your partner has an average seven high card point and and take the appropriate action; not a perfect seven, an average seven, such as an ace, a king, and two of your trump. If partner has “more” than a “Rule of 7” hand, he bids on; with less, he owes you an apology for not having his bid. So your need 16+ playing points (a 5-loser hand with a 5-card major, or 6-loser hand with a 6-card major) to risk a contract at the three level. This south hand is not enough. Sometimes, you just have to pay the devil his due and pass their preempt. If you don't, they will beat you.

Despite the bad trump split, with careful play, decalrer can come to nine tricks because North holds A-10-x-x over West's K-Q-J-x and East has no entry to cash a second heart trick. So declarer can promote a diamond winner upon which a heart loser can be discarded. This is not so easy to see, even looking at all four hands, and requires a very lucky lay of the cards.

Both declarers stumbled and took only eight tricks. But the Uni's had more effective methods both for opening a preempt, and for competing over their preemptive opening bids.

There defense against the spade contract started very differently at the two tables. At our home table, West, perhaps a bit reflexively led the singleton heart (partner's suit). Since West has a natural trump winner, and East is unlikely to be on lead more than once, a little deeper thought should be given the matter. I liked my partner's lead of the diamond king at trick one which immediately establshes two diamond tricks for us. “Oh, but it sets up two slow tricks for declarer too,” you say. Okay, but there are days when you will NEED to set up those diamond tricks early to hold down the overtricks.

This was really another part-score triumph for the good guys. Go team!

The big lesson from this hand is: “Don't cheap yourself on the preempts. Preempt as high as you dare to go immediately to put maximum pressure on them by stealing as much of their bidding space as possible.

#3  10 8 4 2

Dlr: S  7 6 2

Vul: E-W  8 7 2

 9 8 5

 A K 9 5 3  6

 K J 3  A Q 10 5

 6  K 10 9 5 4

 J 10 4 3  K 7 2

 Q J 7

 9 8 4

 A Q J 3

 A Q 6

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
-	-	-	1NT	-	-	-	1NT
2	P	P	P	2	P	P	P

Results: -140 +110

Net: -30 Imps: -1

I played bridge for almost 40 years without fully appreciating that when vulnerable against not vulnerable you never preempt with a weak hand, and when you do dare to overcall at the two-level, you simply must have a good hand. The potntial risks of overcalling with decent hands where a trump fit and a decent 10 HCP opposite will NOT be enough for game are enormous. You are mortgaging the house hoping to steal a part-score. Stop doing that!

On this deal both Wests ventured two spades – at the Uni's home table, this was alerted as “natural, should be 6 cards.” A very honest liar, or an honest undisciplined bidder. At their home table, we overcalled two spades, Cappelletti, showing spades and a minor – stipulating at least five spades. This stipulation is also quite critical at match points so that responder will know what to do with a random 6-count and two trump: PASS, confidently.

Partner's two spade call put me in a bind, because I have a full opener, partner has a full opener, and we know where all the points are. Ought we not, therefore, to be bidding game? Normally I'd say yes, but I decded to go abnormal, knowing my unilateral decision could be very expensive. Here's why:

{a} I know my partner is not shy.

{b} We don't have a spade fit.

{c} Partner will probably have a singleton in hearts or diamonds.

{d} The 1NT opener sits over me, my tenaces will only be useful if partner holds fitting honors.

{e} We don't have a readily apparent “source of tricks,” the holy grail 3NT bidders seek constantly to find. Twenty-five high- card points consisting of four aces and three kings only comes to seven tricks.

{f} We have a misfit. With misfits, extra high card values over and above the normal 25 are required (unless you hold a couple of very solid long suits.)

Pass worked. We were never in danger of making a game.

These considerations convinced me that West should pass 1NT, because to make game requires all of the following: (1) a spade fie, (2) a fitting heart honor or two, (3) no wasted diamond cards, (4) some help in clubs – either a couple of fitting honors, or shortness. To make game requires a super-perfect hand from partner.

With 5-5 shape and more concnetration of values in the black suits, West should take the plunge and bid two spades, something like:

 A K 10 x x  x x  x  K Q 10 x x

which could produce a good play for game opposite a couple of aces and four small spades.

If West passes 1NT, East will too, and declarer will probably be set two, vulnerable for -200, a better result than was obtained by bidding and catching a strong, but mis-fitting dummy opposite.

At unfavorable vulnerability, you need a very good hand to bounce into the bidding at the two level.

(FOR PURPOSES OF FORMATTING, HAND #4 WILL BE PRESENTED LATER)

#5  A 8 6 2

Dlr: N  A Q J 10

Vul: N-S  K 10 5

 6 3

 Q J 7  K 10 5 4

 7 6  5 4 3

 Q 8 4 2  J 3

 K Q 9 7  A J 10 4

 9 3

 K 9 8 2

 A 9 7 6

 8 5 2

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
-	1	P	1	-	1	P	1
P	2	P	P	P	2	X	P
X	P	2	P	2	P	P	3
P	3	P	P	P	3	P	P
P				P

Results: + 50 + 140

Net: + 190 Imps: +6

This contested part-score deal illustrates two different philosophies about balancing when they have found a fit. At the Uni's home table, the reopening double was made by West, in the pass-out seat. It's almost never good bridge to let them play two of a major when they have bid and raised the suit. Most of the time they will have at least a 4-4 fit since many players are reluctant to raise responder's major with only three-card support. In this example, West is modestly short in hearts and has support for the unbid suits. “Support” means at least three cards. Having only three spades is a flaw, but they are three decent spades, and with the favorable vulnerability, West took the most descriptive call. A useful principle to remember is that “The player who is short in their suit should be very keen to act.” This theme arises again and again in competitive contested auctions. It is very useful on marginal hands when you are deciding whether or not to take a call. The shorter you are in their suit (singleton, void) the more likely that aggressive action will be rewarded.

At their table, the Uni's demonstrated an even more aggressive competitive demeanor when East made the takeout double. East knows that they have a fit, so we have a fit too. East also have four card support for both of the unbid suits, and East can not only stand, but wants to encourage the lead of a black suit. East doubled, and South quite correctly passed. West then made a rather clever call, two spades, keeping the level of the bidding lower, and giving them plenty of room (and reason) to go to the three level.

They picked up six IMPs because of superior declarer techinique. At UHT, the opening lead was the queen of spades. It is so important for declarer to form a PLAN playing any cards from dummy. The objective in three hearts is to lose at most four tricks. With a 4-4 fit, declarer needs to focus on one hand or the other as the MASTER HAND. If decalrer decides to make North the Master hand, declarer counts three spade losers, one diamond loser, and two club losers, a total of six. Declarer must determine how to eliminate two losers from the North hand. The simplest way of doing this is to ruff two spade losers. Since spades are splitting 4-3, South can afford to duck the first spade trick. When South next gains the lead, play the ace of spades and ruff a spade high. Return to dummy with a trump, ruff another spade high. Return to dummy, pull trump, cash two diamonds, and claim 9 tricks – one spade, two spade ruffs, two diamonds, four hearts.

A simiilar sequence of plays can be used even on a trump lead. Win the trump, duck a spade, win the second trump, spade ace, spade ruff, diamond ace, diamnd king, spade ruff and conceed two club tricks.

#6  Q 9 7

Dlr: E  10 7

Vul: E-W  10 9 5

 Q 10 6 5 4

 10 3  A 8 6 4 2

 K J 6 5 4  A

 A Q J 8  K 3 2

 9 7  K J 8 3

 K J 5

 Q 9 8 3 2

 7 6 4

 A 2

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
-	-	1	2	-	-	1	P
2N	P	3N	P	2	P	2N	P
P	P			3N	P	P	P

Results: -630 +630

Net: 0 Imps: 0

At the UHT (Unicorns' Home Table) South's two heart overcall serves no good purpose; bad suit,, bad hand with almost as much defensive potential as offenvise, bad shape; everything that a two-level overcall is not supposed to be. Stop making these bids! To even make two hearts requires finding both a heart fit and about 10 points opposite. This type of pointless overcall frequently goes unpunished, as it did here, but when it does go bad, it goes very bad. Two level and higher overcalls should be about tricks, not points. This hand just doesn't have any tricks.

Meanwhile at THT (Their Home Table), E-W were using 2/1 game-forcing methods and West made an aggressive but very reasonable two heart response. It's aggressive because the hand has only 11 HCP, and East is not shy about opening 12-HCP hands. The action is very reasonable, however, because being vulnerable, the rewards for bidding and making a game a substantial, and because the West hand has several features that merit upgrading: concentration of values in the long suits, plus a doubleton honor for East's spade suit.

After West's two heart response, East has to deal with some uncomfortable issues. In a 2/1 system, the single most important issue is opener's rebid when stuck. We had not discussed this, so I was left to choose between:

[a] Two spades. Probably the most common treatment is that a simple rebid of opener's major serves only to “mark time” but promises nothing extra in either suit length or suit quality; this is my least favorite treatment. For pairs using the simple rebid of opener's major to signify that “opener is stuck,” a rebid of 2NT promises both a balanced hand and stopper in the unbid suits.

[b] Three clubs. Frequently ambiguous as suit length, 4+, suit quality, and high card values. Such ambiguity is not very helpful. Some pairs believe showing shape is very important. But since this bid preempts the two-level, other partnerships feel it should show something significant in clubs, either a 5-card suit, or a very strong four (K-Q-J-9 for example).

[c] Two notrump. Pairs using 2NT to signify opener might be stuck will rebid 2NT with either a singleton in responder's 2/1 suit, or without stopper in one of the unbid suits. They use this compromise in order that opener's other rebid are more descriptive. This is my preferred style. Very few 2/1 pairs have given the matter much though. Most of the time, 2NT will show a balanced hand with 12-14 HCP; exceptionally, 18-19 HCP.

[d] Three notrump. This cardinal rule of 2/1 rebidding: After a two-over-one response, all subsequent jumps by either bidding must be carefully defined “picture bids.” Defining a 3NT rebid by opener as showing 15-17 balanced HCP with stoppers in the unbids is even more descriptive than a 1NT opener that may contain a 5-card major.

A lot of interesting theoretical stuff to chew on.

#7  A 10 7

Dlr: S  J 10 6 4

Vul: Both  2

 K Q J 9 6

 9 8 6 3  J 5 2

 K 9 7  Q 8 5 3

 Q 10 4 3  K 9 6

 7 2  8 5 4

 K Q 4

 A 2

 A J 8 7 5

 A 10 3

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
-	-	-	1	-	-	-	1
P	1	P	2NT	P	1	P	2NT
P	3NT	P	P	P	3	P	3
P	P	P		P	3NT	P	P
				P

Results: + 660 -630

Net: + 30 Imps: + 1

At UHT, the auction to 3NT was short, sweet and simple.

At THT, North showed the four-card heart suit first, and then elected to rebid the club suit. For sophisticated partnerships, this would be New Minor Forcing, ostensibly looking for a 5-3 heart fit. Their South player raised hearts on A-x, and North, not wanting to play in a 4-3 fit, retreated to 3NT.

At THT, the defense was better, West leading a safe spade.

#4  6

Dlr: W  Q

Vul: Both  K 9 4 2

 A K Q 10 9 5 3

 8 5 3 2  A K J 10 9 7

 J 7 4  K 9 3 2

 Q 7 5 3  J 10

 8 2  7

 Q 4

 A 10 8 6 5

 A 8 6

 J 6 4

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
P	2	2	X	P	1	1	1
P	3	P	3	P	4	P	5
P	4	P	6	P	P	P
P	P	P

Results: +1370 - 620

Net: + 750 Imps: +13

This wild deal illustrates the issue of what constitutes a strong two club opener. At the Uni's home table, North alerted two clubs as “strong,” probably insufficient information, unless, two clubs shows a strong playing hand with clubs. If the bid was meant to be strong, aftificial, and forcing, ACBL would likely rule that this hand is not strong enough. Karen Walker has done some important work on this topic. Link: http://home.comcast.net/~kwbridge/bb/b_2c.htm

Our South player was familiar with the Sharples Brother's Rule for slam bidding. When partner opens two clubs and you have two aces, you belong in slam.

#8  9 8

Dlr: W  J 9 6

Vul: None  A 5 3

 J 10 8 4 2

 Q J 6  7 5

 A K  7 4 3

 10 6 2  K Q J 9 7 4

 A K Q 9 5  6 3

 A K 10 4 3 2

 Q 10 8 5 2

 8

 7

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
2NT	P	3NT	4	1	P	1	1
X	P	5	5	2	P	3	P
X	P	P	P	3NT	P	P	P

Results: - 100 + 430

Net: + 330 Imps: +8

A breath-taking deal. At UHT, West upgraded the 19 count and opened 2NT, a decision I like because of the nice club suit. After East's 3NT raise, intrepid South, looking at a “6-5, come alive” hand bids aggressive spades. I I admire the courage, and will admit that it might be a virtually mandatory bid in pairs, and, if we were vulnerable, and they not, a good idea at IMPs.

HOWEVER, on this particular deal, any of nine cards that North might lead can result in 3NT going set (leading a small club, 2,4 or 8, or the diamond ace permits declarer to make 3NT).

West has no difficulty doubling four spades, and East should leave the double in, taking the sure plus, rather than bidding five diamonds on a fairly flat hand.

Having achieved the most admirable goal of pushing two opponents who hold 25+ HCP out of 3NT and into five diamonds, South, forgets that the five level belongs to the opponents, and drinks again from that intoxicating cup of bidding with shapely delights, and tries five hearts, which will always be doubled. And now, East, having once been content to bid a nine-trick game, then discontent do defend a ten-trick game which can't make, and therefore bids eleven-trick game which can't make either. Take that, South, trying to steal fomr me! FINALLY, east decides to trust to partner, and is content to pass the penalty double.

Meanwhile at THT, the Uni's get the gift that kept on giving, as the defense not only let a contract they could set two tricks make, they let it make with an overtrick, under-defending by three tricks! And they had NO exccuse for doing so! NONE! Whatsoever! Because at THT, the E-W text-book bidding sequence allowed South the comforat of a lead-directing one spade overcall.

West made an expert two spade cue-bid rebid, which in this context, is game-forcing, and says, “Tell me more and most importantly, do you have a spade stopper?”

East can't pass a game-forcing bid but is lucky enough to have a natural three diamond rebid. The sequence that West now completes, signing off in three no trump, is a warning: I only have one spade stopper, but fortunately I am blessed with enough extra stuff that we belong in game. East hopes partner holds the ace of diamonds.

As happens so frequently, trick one was decisive. North obediently led the spade 9, and South plunged quickly from grace, by rising with the ace of spades and cashing second spade. Fool! Thinkest thou that my partner holds Q-J dub for his 3NT rebid. How dost thou plan to 'ere regain thy advantage and casheth out thy less imposing peasantry. Bah. You had an entry oh profligate one. Thou ought to have ducketh'd the spade ace.

Allowing partner to capture his diamond ace and lead a second spade, ultimately scoring five spades and the ace of diamonds.

#9  Q 9 5 4

Dlr: N  A 9 7 6

Vul: E-W  9 3

 A J 2

 A 8 6  K 10 7

 K J 10 6 3  Q 2

 A J 10 5  K Q 7 6 4 2

 5  8 7

 J 3 2

 8 4

 8

 K Q 10 9 6 4 3

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
-	P	2	P	-	P	P	3
2NT	P	3NT	P	X	P	4	P
P	P			P	P

Results: - 660 + 150

Net: - 510 Imps: -10

The remarkable difference in results on this board results arose because of the different conventions being used by the E-W pairs at the two tables. At UHT, East could open two diamonds, weak.. From the alerts (2NT was alerted as Bergen) and 3NT rebid which is supposed to show a solid suit: A-K-Q-x-x-x or stronger, their agreements were not well understood or forgotten. One very significant, and very correct call was South's PASS over two diamonds. This is in keeping with the principle that we do not preempt a preempt. That way, when we DO enter directly over a preempt, we have real values, tricks, and our partner can evaluate the combined potential on that basis.

Meanwhile, at THT, E-W used a two-diamond opener to show a mini-Roman hand, with 4=4=4=1 shape (any singleton) and 11-15 HCP. Therefoer, East's systemic call is pass which allowed South to elevate the bidding with a three club preempt. West, with shortness in clubs (singleton or void), support for all three unbid suits, and decent high-card structure has a difficult choice between overcalling three hearts (generally not a great idea at the three level with only five cards) or making a mildly off-shapde takeout double with 3-5 in the majors. Double is the most flexible call, and describes twelve cards in the West hand (4-4-4-1 or some 5-4-3-1 hand) rather than misdescribing a 6-card heart suit. Do note, that if West had overcalled three hearts, East's proper bid is a prompt raise to four hearts, because Q-x is sufficient support.

Opposite a double, West's hand is too good for three diamonds, and so, with some mild apprehensions about missing 3NT, West jumped to four diamonds, showing about a king more than his expected (rule of seven) random high card points and the very attractive diamond suit.

And once again, West has a problem, due to South's three club preempt. This is why they preempt. This is why we preempt. To give our opponents problems. West was very tempted, but decided that because he was minimal for the initial takeout double, and furthermore, that any finesses which East would have to take were likely to lose, pass was best, as it might well be at match points. But this is not quite the proper frame of mind, vulnerable versus not at IMPs. With a good 13 HCP opposite a good 10, there ought to be a play for ten tricks at a suit contract, and there is one other suit contract to consider: four hearts.

What would a four heart rebid after the double by West show? Extra values, perhaps? Well, it is certainly forcing. It is also now the way to get to a four heart contract when four hearts is correct. But what if East passes four hearts with a small doubleton? East should not, because with a good 16+ HCP and a good 6-card heart suit, West would have jumped to four hearts directly over three clubs. Thus, four hearts ought to be seen as a “choice of contracts” bid, between four hearts opposite three, or H-x, or five diamonds.

But what if East holds K-x of clubs? Then East should have bid 3NT over the double. A fascinating hand.

#10  8 5

Dlr: N  8 7 6 3

Vul: N-S  K J 7 5

 K J 2

 A K Q J  6 4 3 2

 A Q J 9  10 4 2

 A 2  Q 10 8

 10 5 4  A Q 7

 10 9 7

 K 5

 9 6 4 3

 9 8 6 3

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
-	-	P	P	-	-	P	P
2NT	P	3NT	P	2NT	P	3NT	P
P	P			P	P

Results: - 720 + 690

Net: - 30 Imps: -1

This is one of those boring bidding hands ignite declarers who understand squeezes and can visualize three-card endings early on.

At UHT, North lead the fourth best diamond, hoping for some help from South. That help did not materialize, and after winning the diamond 10 in dummy, declarer was able to squeeze North and take all 13 tricks. Players frequently learn the wrong lesson from hands like this. They learn that you can make slam in notrump with just 29 combined HCP and no real long suit. The learn to go a slammin' on 31 and 32, and do, and worse still, make such slams, when declarer against me! The ignominy of it all.

About that opening lead: at IMPs, leading a diamond is 100% correct, because it requires that the smallest prayer be answered; the prayer that South holds some length in diamonds plus a high honor, in particular, the ace of diamonds would be a wonderful card to find in south's hand. HOWEVER, at match--points, the diamond lead is probably 100% wrong and a heart lead 100% right.

What? Mark, you mean we are to lead differently at IMPs as opposed to match points? You betcha. At IMPs, our goal is to defeat their contract, so we remain optimistic. At match-points, our goal is to defeat as many other pairs as possible, and since this would seem to be a contract reached at every table in the room, a contract that is likely to make, our goal is further to limit the over-tricks, leading away from low length rather than from broken high-card strength.

Meanwhile, at THT, north led a spade, which is very safe. Some days such a lead will catch partner with a great spade holding (after all, the opponents did not waste any time searching for a major suit fit). I have had three or four such successes myself, leading a relatively short suit and catching partner with the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It feels so triumphal. It happens almost never. Far better to lead from your length and hope that partner has length there too.

The spade lead changed the dynamic of the hand. Declarer can count four spade winners and three aces, and needs to develop two more tricks to make the contract. Our declarer made the expert play of leading the queen of hearts from his hand. While it does give up on the heart finesse, it also guarantees the contract. Suppose declarer had tried to enter dummy with a club finesse and suppose further that the club finesse lost to the king. Now it is possible that a club return will set the contract. Remember, at IMPs, take the safest line of play and don't worry about over-tricks.

One final word on the bidding. Neither East bid Stayman, and neither East should have bid Stayman. Hands with 4-3-3-3 shape playing opposite a known balanced hand usually belong in notrump and not in a suit contract.

#11  J 3 2

Dlr: S  Q J 9 3 2

Vul: Both  6 3

 Q 7 6

 A 10 5  Q 8 7

 A 8 6 5  K 10 7

 K 8 4  Q J 9

 10 8 4  K 5 3 2

 K 9 6 4

 4

 A 10 7 5 2

 A J 9

Bidding: @ Unicorn's Home Table @ Their Home Table

W	N	E	S	W	N	E	S
-	-	-	1	-	-	-	1
P	1	P	1	P	1	P	1
P	1NT	P	P	P	2	P	3
P				P	P	P

Results: + 90 + 100

Net: +190 Imps: + 5

Here's a good misfit example deal that illustrates why we do not voluntarily rebid a 5-card suit. The Uni's conducted a text book auction all the way to 1NT (the proper place to play most misfits). It is not a thing of beauty, but neither are the North South hands in tandem. Kudos to South for sitting for 1NT (and why not, hearts is a suit your partner is known to have; some bridge players develop the misimpression that their duty is to save partner from himself - “Partner, I couldn't let you play 1NT with a singleton!” or “Partner, I couldn't let you play spades (which you bid three times), I only had one!” No, your duty to partner is to do your best to describe your hand, to visualize the hand that partner holds, and to seek the proper level, and most appropriate denomination.

The first limited bid at UHT is North's 1NT rebid, showing 6-10, and no interest in spades or diamonds.

Meanwhile, the first limited bid at THT was also made by North – but this North chose to rebid two hearts, to “tell” partner about the fifth heart. Bah, humbug! That fifth heart really does need to be a sixth heart in case South's shape is 4-1-5-3, or 4-0-6-3, or something equally noxious for heart support. After all, South did bid two suits which confirmst four spades and at least four diamonds.

This in fact, is why we open one club with 3-3 in the minors. So that when the bidding goes: 1D P 1H P

opener guarantees at least four diamonds.

At THT, South decided it was time to save North from the singleton heart and to rebid the 5-card diamond suit. Wonder what North would have done next with only a singleton diamond?

The evidence says that the Uni's are unlikely to lose imps on misfit boards, because we know how to limit our hands early, and don't try to save partner from our singletons.

Amen to that.

MarkGanzersBridgeBlog

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Friday, December 31, 2010

Index to Bridge Lessons

When competing, consider carefully the calls your partner did NOT make: http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=6876018586925275866

Support with support: http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6876018586925275866&postID=4919736446732607397

With good shape you don't need so many points to jump in over their strong 1NT opening: http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=6876018586925275866

Be aware of and VERY wary of "preference auctions" where responder may have only 2-cards for opener major: http://markganzersbridgeblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/be-aware-of-and-very-wary-of-preference.html

Try to defend and let them declare the misfit deals: http://markganzersbridgeblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/try-to-defend-and-let-them-declare.html

On the dangers of passing them out in their 8-card two-level fit: DON'T DO IT! : http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6876018586925275866&postID=3480780534929272327

Do not let them play in the comfort of a 2-level contract when they have an 8-+ card fit: http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6876018586925275866&postID=1416734717847090643

Lebensohl convention when responding to partner's double of their weak two opening bid: http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6876018586925275866&postID=8155071413879600348

On misfit hands where your opponents have the majority of points - you want to defend:

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Tom Sucher's MOST excellent bidding on some wild and thrilling hands

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Hand by hand analysis JEC match from 12-26-2010: Boards 1-14

Friday, December 24, 2010