The Intermediate Series

Lesson 2 – When Partner has Two Suits

Quiz

Last lesson I introduced responder rebids when partner bids two suits. There is an important matter that must be addressed before we continue.

When opener’s rebid is in a minor it can be on a three card suit. How else would opener rebid over 1NT when he has ♠Axxxx ♥Kx ♦xxx ♣AQx? The best bid is 2♣. What this means to you as a responder is not to raise the minor unless you have five card support. Ok, let’s see how good you are:

Partner          You

1♣                   1♥

1♠                   ?

What do we know?

Partner has at least three clubs and four spades. He may be balanced or unbalanced; he may have a minimum or a maximum. In another words, not much!

One question: Playing a strong notrump is whether opener should rebid 1♠or 1NT with ♠Axxx ♥Kx ♦xxx ♣AQxx? I would say 1♠.

Quiz 1

1.     ♠xx ♥Ax ♦xxx ♣AQxxxx

2.     ♠xx ♥AJ10xx ♦xxx ♣KQx

3.     ♠x ♥Q109xxx ♦Qx ♣KQxx

4.     ♠AK ♥xxxxx ♦xx ♣xxxx

5.     ♠- ♥Q10xxx ♦Qxxxxxx ♣x

6.     ♠x ♥xxxx ♦Axxxxx ♣Kx

7.     ♠xx ♥Axxx ♦J10xxxx ♣x

8.     ♠xxxx ♥Axxxx ♦xx ♣AK

9.     ♠x ♥K1098x ♦AJxxx ♣Kx

10.♠xxxx ♥KJxxxx ♦xx ♣x

Solution Quiz 1

1.     ♠xx ♥Ax ♦xxx ♣AQxxxx

Bid 3♣. Remember that jumps are invitational. When three suits are bid the only way to force to game, besides bidding it or asking for aces, is to bid the fourth suit.

2.     ♠xx ♥AJ10xx ♦xxx ♣KQx

Hard hand. Playing a weak notrump this hand is easy. Here not so much. You are on the borderline of inviting. 1NT is probably best, especially at matchpoints. The lack of a diamond stopper is offset by the high card maximum.

 2♣, a definite maximum, or 3♣with no guarantee of an eight or even a seven card fit is misguided. A close second is 2♥, especially at matchpoints.

3.     ♠x ♥Q109xxx ♦Qx ♣KQxx

2♥or 3♥close second. Some partnerships play 3♥as a strong club raise. If you don’t it shows a good suit, usually at least six cards, and invitational to game values.

4.     ♠AK ♥xxxxx ♦xx ♣xxxx

2♠, simple preference. Same reasoning as #2 above. Play in a sure 5-2 fit rather than a 4-4 or 3-4 club contract.

5.     ♠- ♥Q10xxx ♦Qxxxxxx ♣x

Can’t bid 2♦, as that is game forcing and artificial. Best of a very bad lot is 2♥. Incidentally, why respond in the first place with a 4 HCPs and a void in partner’s suit?

6.     ♠x ♥xxxx ♦Axxxxx ♣Kx

1NT. Over 1♣I would have bid 1♦, not 1♥, so I could have rebid 2♦over any rebid, or raised hearts. Now I am stuck with 1NT.

7.     ♠xx ♥Axxx ♦J10xxxx ♣x

Same as 6.

8.     ♠xxxx ♥Axxxx ♦xx ♣AK

Close between 3♠invitational and 4♠. I think the AK in partner’s suit and your pure points warrants the game bid. What is the difference between 4♠and 2♦on this auction? 2♦shows a better hand. 4♠says I want to be in game but I have no extra values.

This is the principle of fast arrival: In a game forcing auction the slower you go when a fit is found, the better the hand.

9.     ♠x ♥K1098x ♦AJxxx ♣Kx

Jump to 3♦. We know this not game forcing, as 2♦is how we force to game. So what is it? 5-5 in the suits bid and invitational values. Opener should value a hand with high cards in the red suits, and aces in the black suits. And obviously an eight card fit is desirable!

For example, ♠AQJx ♥Kxx ♦x ♣QJxxx is 13 HCPs, a fit and a ruffing value, but the correct bid is 3♥. However change the hand slightly to less high cards ♠Axxx ♥AJ ♦K10 ♣xxxxx, this hand is definitely worthwhile accepting on.

10.♠xxxx ♥KJxxxx ♦xx ♣x

Pass. Your goal responding with subminimum values was to improve the contract. You have done very well finding a 4-4 fit. Don’t encourage partner who will play you for more. Most hands where game is makeable, partner should have rebid 2♠, not 1♠.

Quiz 2

Partner          You

1♠                   1NT

2♣                   ?

1.     ♠xx ♥Ax ♦xxx ♣AQxxxx

2.     ♠xx ♥AJ10xx ♦xxx ♣KQx

3.     ♠x ♥Q109xxx ♦Qx ♣KQxx

4.     ♠AK ♥xxxxx ♦xx ♣xxxx

5.     ♠- ♥Q10xxx ♦Qxxxxxx ♣x

6.     ♠x ♥xxxx ♦Axxxxx ♣Kx

7.     ♠xx ♥Axxx ♦J10xxxx ♣x

8.     ♠x ♥Ax ♦Qxxx ♣AQxxxx

9.     ♠x ♥Ax ♦KQJxxx ♣xxxx

10.♠x ♥AQx ♦xxx ♣xxxxxx

SOLUTIONS to Quiz 2

1.     ♠xx ♥Ax ♦xxx ♣AQxxxx

Bid 3♣. You have 5+ clubs and 12 points (remember count distributional points when you have a fit and are likely going to play in a suit). This is a maximum invite in my view, as you have two aces and a sixth club. If partner accepts he will bid game or probe with three of a red suit, showing a stopper.

2NT is also possible, but not as descriptive. An important point to remember as opener on these auctions: When you DO NOT accept it is always better to play in the suit, EVEN at matchpoints.

However the opposite is true if accepting: If going on to game, 3NT is better at matchpoints as you only need 9 tricks and it scores higher than five of a minor.

2.     ♠xx ♥AJ10xx ♦xxx ♣KQx

2NT. Yes you have a 5^th heart, but 2♥can be bid on a six count. You might be concerned of bidding 3NT without a diamond stopper, or missing a 5-3 heart fit. The key here is if partner is accepting your game invitation, he should bid out his pattern on the way to game. So if he is 6-3-0-4 or 5-3-1-4 shape he would bid 3♥over 2NT.

3.     ♠x ♥Q109xxx ♦Qx ♣KQxx

Bid 2♥. You are close to inviting but the questionable ♦Q indicates caution.

4.     ♠AK ♥xxxxx ♦xx ♣xxxx

2♠.  Your heart suit is too weak to bid. It is almost always better to play in a 5-2 fit that a 4-3 one. Partner may surprise you by bidding 3♥on the next round of bidding, and you would bid game. You can’t do that if you pass 2♣.

5.     ♠- ♥Q10xxx ♦Qxxxxxx ♣x

2♦.  If partner bids 2♥ pass! If he bids anything else I would pass. “No double, no trouble.” Pass of 1♠was right.

6.      ♠x ♥xxxx ♦Axxxxx ♣Kx

2♦. Easy. Pass all other bids by partner.

7.     ♠xx ♥Axxx ♦J10xxxx ♣x

2♦or 2♠. Close. 2♦is less likely to get partner excited as would 2♠. Here is another important lesson: When there is a misfit it is usually better to play in the suit of the weaker hand.

8.     ♠x ♥Ax ♦Qxxx ♣AQxxxx

Here 2♣was possible over 1♠, but 1NT was better. Now you need to catch up! This hand is too good for 3♣. 4♣or 5♣are acceptable. Many more experienced players use a jump in the other major to describe this holding. Here that would be 3♥.

9.     ♠x ♥Ax ♦KQJxxx ♣xxxx

3♦, natural, usually 6+ diamonds and 11-12 points.

10.♠x ♥AQx ♦xxx ♣xxxxxx

Too strong to pass 2♣. Bid 3♣. As we learned in intermediate lesson 1, a potential big fit can make up for missing high cards. Give partner ♠Axxxx ♥Kxx ♦x ♣AKxx and you can see what I mean. A minimum opener opposite a 6 count and 12 tricks are cold if clubs 2-

NEXT COLUMN – LESSON 4:

Opener’s 3^rd bid.

The Intermediate Series

Lesson 1 – The Power of Distribution

Note: My focus for this column is going to change. From difficult high level challenging bidding problems, to day-to-day themes for aspiring players.

Distribution is a powerful weapon. It can nullify the opponent’s high cards, as easy as waving your hand in the air. And of course it is a double edged sword. If the opponents seemed to have bid too much based on their expected high card, they might have extra distribution. There is a famous hand where, despite only having 6 HCPS between them, a small slam is unbeatable.

Levels of Fit

An eight card fit, as we have learned, is the minimum desirable to suggest a contract in that suit. With that degree of fit you need the full amount of high cards between the partnership for the level to which you bid. As an example, 25 HCPs is the absolute minimum to have a reasonable play for a major suit game. A nine card fit is better – maybe only 23 HCPs is needed on an average. Ten is better than nine. An eleven card fit is on cloud nine!

What this means is you can often make higher level contracts than your point count would indicate. There are two basic techniques for scoring more than your aces and kings:

1.     Ruffing losers with the short trump hand (usually dummy).

2.     Setting up a long suit

Example 1

On a spade lead you should make 9 tricks with normal breaks:

4          Aces

1          King of spades

2          Club ruffs in dummy

2          Diamond ruffs in your hand.

9

Notice that if you give up a trick early in the play, such as taking a heart finesse that loses, the opponents will continue spades. This reduces your total by 1, leaving 8. So unless you are a gambler, a more prudent approach would be to take your ‘sure’ nine tricks.

However change the degree of fit:

You haven’t added one extra high card point, just three small spades in dummy, and now you can make a Grand Slam!! If you don’t believe me here is the trick by trick play:

(Underline indicates who is on lead)

    W        N         E          S

Trick 1:     ♥10     ♥A       ♥6       ♥2

Trick 2:     ♣8       ♣6       ♣7       ♣A

Trick 3:     ♣9       ♠4       ♣10    ♣2

Trick 4:     ♠J        ♠6       ♠Q       ♠A

Trick 5:     ♣J        ♠7       ♣Q      ♣3

Trick 6:     ♦7       ♦A       ♦6       ♦5

Trick 7:     ♦8       ♦2       ♦10     ♠2

Trick 8:     ♥7       ♠8       ♣K       ♣4

Trick 9:     ♦9       ♦3       ♦Q       ♠3

Trick 10:   ♦10     ♥Q       ♥4       ♣5

Trick 11:   ♥8       ♠9       ♥5       ♥3

Trick 12:   ♦K       ♦4       ♥J        ♠5

Trick 13:   ♥9       ♠10     ♥K       ♠K

Moral of the Story

·        Bid more with a better fit

·        Any bid that shows exact or extra length is one worth having. Some that show specific or extra lengths are:

1. Weak twos. That is why I discourage bidding a weak two with two with other than exactly six of the suit. Partner will misevaluate the trick taking potential otherwise. Same with three level preempts – have a seven card suit only.

2. Bergen Raises over a major. This shows 4+ card support.

3. Preemptive raises. If partner overcalls in a major a double raise shows 5+ card support with a weak hand (less than 7 HCPs or so).

NEXT COLUMN:

HOW TO BID WHEN PARTNER HAS SHOWN TWO SUITS

The Intermediate Series

Lesson 2 – When Partner has Two Suits

There are many times that partner will show two suits. The two most common situations:

1.     Opening the bidding in one suit and rebidding in another

2.     Showing two suits after the opponents have opened the bidding.

I will look at each context in detail.

Opening the bidding in one suit and rebidding in another

Here is a common auction:

Partner          You

1♥                   1♠

2♦                   ?

Partner has shown five spades and four diamonds, 12-18 HCPs.  If he had more points he would jump to 3♦.

Responder’s Rebids

Responder has a double obligation:

·        Pick a denomination

·        Show their point count

Point count can be split up into three different levels:

a.     Game forcing

With a game forcing hand 9 times out of 10 you should bid the fourth suit. This is artificial and means the partnership cannot stop below game.

Example:

1♥                   1♠

2♦              

     Two other possibilities are to jump to game in a suit or bid 4NT to ask for key cards.

b.     Game invitational

                                      i.            Rebid 2NT

                                    ii.            Raise one of partner’s suits to the three level

                                  iii.            Jump rebid in your suit

c.      Non-invitational

                                      i.            Pass

                                    ii.            Take a preference to partner’s first suit

                                  iii.            Make a minimum bid one of the other two suits (but it can’t be the fourth suit bid!)

Picking a denomination can be anywhere from simple to extremely tricky. Let’s look at examples in the context of the above rules:

Examples:

1♥                   1♠

2♦                   ?

Game forcing hands:

1.      ♠AKxx ♥xxx ♦Qx ♣KQxx – Easy - bid 3♣ and then raise hearts at your next turn.

2.      ♠Axxx ♥x ♦KQxxx ♣AKx – Bid 3♣, and then show diamond support. You have a lively chance for slam.

3.      ♠Axxx ♥xx ♦KJxx ♣KQx – You could bid 3NT directly. But I would bid 3♣ and see what partner rebid. Over any rebid at the three level I would hide my diamond support and bid 3NT because I have a minimum game forcing hand.

Game invitational hands:

4.      ♠Qxxx ♥xx ♦KQxxx ♣Kx – Bid 3♦.

5.      ♠Axxx ♥xx ♦KJxx ♣Kx – Bid 2NT. This shows about 11-12 HCPs, and denies a fit for hearts and diamonds.

6.      ♠AKJxxx ♥xx ♦Kxx ♣xx – Bid 3♠.

Important note:When inviting with no fit with partner be conservative. Remember, he may have as little as 10-11 HCPs, if he used distributional points to have an opening bid. An example might bid ♠x ♥KJxxxx ♦AQxxx ♣x. So even though you may have 13 HCPs, be cautious with a singleton or void in partner’s first suit.

Non-invitational hands. These are the hardest:

7.      ♠KJxxx ♥x ♦Qxx ♣xxxx – Pass. You have a minimum response and no fit. Remember, the chance that partner has a fit when he has at most 4 black cards is unlikely.

8.      ♠KJ109x ♥x ♦xxx ♣Qxxx – Here it is close, but I would bid 2♠.

9.      ♠KJxxx ♥x ♦KQx ♣xxxx – Bid 2♠. Why here and not #7? The difference is the point count. Here you may have game if partner has 16-18 HCPs. You want to keep the bidding open just in case.

Examples:

1♠             1NT

2♣            ?

Things change somewhat when your response to a major is a one-round force 1NT, the more frequent occurrence.

10.♠xx ♥xx ♦KQ10xxx ♣xxx – bid 2♦.

11. ♠xx ♥AQ ♦KQ10xxx ♣xxx – 3♦ is good, 2NT is better. 3NT is even acceptable, but only because of the ♦10.

12.                         ♠xx ♥KQxxx ♦Kxx ♣Axx – Even though you would open 1♥, this hand is not good enough to force to game. The reason is partner may have only 11HCPs if you used distributional points to get up enough to open. However change the hand slightly, ♠Axx ♥KQxxx ♦Kxx ♣xxx, I would have bid two hearts the first time.

13.                          ♠xx ♥Qxx ♦Qxxx ♣Qxxx – Bid 2♠. The reason is that partner might have 5-3-2-3 and be bidding a three card suit.

14.                          ♠xx ♥Kx ♦xxx ♣AJ10xxx - Bid 3♣.

NEXT COLUMN – LESSON 3:

Quiz time.

N-S vul, at Matchpoints, you hold as south: ♠A5 ♥A862 ♦A63 ♣K1042

W      N       E       S

-        1♣     3♠      Dbl

P       3NT  P       ?

What do you bid?

The opponents have taken away a lot of your bidding space. Your double shows at least a good 9 HCPs. Therefore partner could have a variety of hands for his 3NT rebid. He could have a minimum balanced hand, with a spade stopper, and hope to go down only one or two! He even could have 18-19 and be balanced. Of course he could be unbalanced, any strength.

The best bid is actually pretty easy, 4♣. This tells partner that you have a good opening bid with 4+ clubs. Partner can now:

·        Sign off in 4NT (see below),

·        Sign off in 5♣,

·        Ask for key cards (see below),

·        Bid 4♥, usually showing a three card holding, or

·        Bid 4♦, natural, with likely something like 3-1-4-5 shape.

On the actual deal the bidding continued as follows:

W      N       E       S

-        1♣     3♠      Dbl

P       3NT  P       4♣

P       4♥     P       4♠

P       5♣     P       ?

What do you do?

Partner’s hand: ♠K9 ♥KQ ♦105 ♣AJ98765. This hand was taken from a recent bidding challenge in the Bulletin. The two pairs failed miserably. One passed 3NT. The other pair had the auction as above, but the actual South passed 5♣. This is wrong as you are the one with 4 out of 5 key cards, not partner!!!

Lessons to Learn

1)    When the opponents preempt partner’s hand can be imperfect. As in this case, South may have four hearts, but there is no guarantee. This is even truer for South’s 3NT which can be based on 12 points, or as high as 19.

2)    The corollary is that BOTH partners know this, and should bid accordingly.

3)    The actual North’s 4♥ was a poor bid. Not because he had only ♥KQ, but because he had such a slam oriented hand for clubs. I might have just bid 6♣, and not 4♥ which is not forcing.

4)    Partnerships should have a way to ask for key cards when a minor suit is agreed, that is not 4NT, which is needed for hands like these.

5)    When investigating a slam, if one hand holds the majority of aces/key cards, they must be slightly more aggressive as their partner will be more pessimistic with a good hand lacking these key high cards. The same principle applies if a suit is agreed and you hold the top three honours.

NEXT PROBLEMS:Intermediate and newer player focused.

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