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Daily Bridge in New Zealand
How High?
It is never easy when your constructive bidding starts at the 5 level. Not much room to exchange information. At least, on today’s deal, we were able to say to our partner that we had a very good hand as we started with a game-forcing 2..but how good is it in relation to our partner’s bidding. How high?
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West | North | East | South |
2 ♣ | |||
4 ♥ | 4 NT | Pass | 5 ♦ |
Pass | 5 ♥ | Pass | ? |
2 was game-forcing while 4NT was for the minors. 4
was just a nuisance! What now?
Many hands fit in a band which are too good to open at the 1-level but are not strictly game-forcing opposite partner’s misfitting pointless hand. For me, the above hand falls into that category. There is much talk now about “the rule of 29” for deciding on whether a hand warrants a 2 opener. (one’s high card points and length of two longest suits must be more than 29). The above hand does. I would have no qualms in opening this hand 2
. Only Kris Wooles commented that he would not have opened 2
.
However, our second bid (5) did attract criticism:
Matt Brown “7: I don’t see any other option. I seriously disagree with bidding 5
the first time. Surely we have enough to try for grand slam and bid 5H ourself… We have 4 key-cards, extra shape for partner with 5 diamonds and they’re trying for grand? It seems so clear to me.”
And going even higher in diamonds!:
Michael Cornell “8: and expect 3 overtricks! 5
was pathetic when I could have had two diamonds less and not necessarily all the aces.
Unless partner is cueing the K (unlikely), he has to have the
K for grand to be good but how can he not have it when he is inviting a grand?”
Slightly more diplomatic is:
Peter Newell “5: we need partner to have both minor kings for 7
. 5
suggests shortage or possibly the king. If partner bids 6
, I’ll bid 7
and take a chance that we have no trump loser. I considered 5NT which I think focuses on trumps but I’m most worried about the
K. 5
seems pretty feeble over 4NT with a 5- card diamond suit and all these controls and shape.”
Our partner has shown both minors and is now looking for grand-slam. What can we expect from their hand? Some expect diamond honours and K. Others stop to check. If you check, it comes down to a 5
cue or 5NT grand slam force, checking on trump honours:
Bruce Anderson “5NT: an old-style grand slam force, asking partner to bid the grand in the agreed suit if he/she holds two of the top three honours. Partner has cue bid hearts which forces us into a small slam, so surely he/she has diamonds headed by the KQ (but I am checking that out) and their club suit is very likely to headed by the king. Possibly partner has a heart void and clubs headed by QJ10; then the king will have to be onside, which is likely.”
Grand slam force here is only worthwhile if you can differentiate the K and
Q if partner only holds one. With diamonds as trumps, the 6
response should show none or the queen while 6
shows
A or
K.
However, 5 attracted more support as an on-going bid:
Nigel Kearney “5: We have a strong hand with lots of controls but have already expressed that by opening 2
. Partner can have
xx
x
KQxxx
Qxxxx. If he is able to cue bid 6
, I can then bid 7
.”
Stephen Blackstock “5: If North can find 6
, then I will bid the grand. I don’t see how North can be trying for seven without both minor kings, and I would expect more than that in an ace-less hand, but it can’t hurt to see what happens next. 3055 is a small worry but with that, North may have chosen double rather than 4NT, and the opponents would likely have bid more with 12 hearts.”
Indeed: they only had 11!
Kris Wooles “5: hoping to hear 6
with the
K and I will then bid 7
. If my partner bids this way, I’d expect he/she has the missing key cards in the minors. I would not open 2
with the South hand so if partner expects more from me, then he/she may not have
K.
But in the Matt Brown/ Michael Cornell camp is:
Pam Livingston “7: Partner is interested in grand slam missing 4 aces knowing nothing about my shape. What must they have? I'm expecting the two minor kings from partner which is ample. With my extra length in diamonds, I don't need the
Q.
However, partner is not bidding 4NT with absolutely nothing because if they pass, I have another bid. This is why, with this control rich hand, I would have bid 5 myself rather than 5
. I think this shows first round control in hearts and a fit for one of the minors.
That’s fine as long as 5NT asks which..or is 6 pass or correct? The easier constructive auction does seem to come after South’s much criticised 5
bid and the 5
cue.
Worth checking?
On the actual deal, the ace-less North will bid 6 and if you do not bid 7
then, surely you should be buying more than one round of drinks!
South Deals None Vul |
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West | North | East | South |
2 ♣ | |||
4 ♥ | 4 NT | Pass | 5 ♦ |
Pass | 5 ♥ | Pass | 5 ♠ |
Pass | 6 ♣ | Pass | 7 ♦ |
All pass |
Only 14 tricks (sorry Michael!) because there was no heart ruff! Should North have presumed their partner held all the aces for their 2 opening? A dangerous presumption. At some point, South had to show that they really liked diamonds and after their partner had bid 4NT and 5
, now seemed the hour either directly or certainly after a 6
cue bid…
..and if the opponents bid 7 (5 down..+1100), would you be game enough to bid 7NT, risky but successful this time?
Making game on Jan’s Day?
Can you?
West Deals N-S Vul |
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West | North | East | South |
2 ♦ | Pass | Pass | 2 ♠ |
Pass | 4 ♠ | All pass |
2 is a Weak Two in diamonds, 8-11 hcp. West led
4 to East’s
7and your king. East started with
J92 and four clubs. What’s your plan?
Richard Solomon
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