Category Archives: Exercises: It’s Your Call

Clues from the Auction

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You have this hand in 4th seat (favorable vulnerability). Left hand opponent opens with a weak two hearts, partner passes, and right hand opponent bids four hearts. 

It’s your turn. What do you decide to do?

First thing to think about is what kind of hands opponents have. The oppening bid is straightforward, usually promising six hearts, 5 to 10 high card points, and likely loss of no more than three tricks vulnerable..

Right hand opponent usually has two kinds of hands for continuing the preempt. It could be somewhat weakish hand with four card support for hearts. Or, it could be a good hand with only two or three card support for hearts. You are somewhat in the dark, and that’s why preempts are so annoying. Those rascals have forced you to make your first decision at the four-level!

What can you deduce from your partner’s decision to pass in second seat? If responder had the weakish hand with good trump support, then partner would be short in hearts with a good hand. But partner did not double or overcall! Therefore, right hand opponent must have a big hand. You may not want to risk jumping into the auction if that’s the case. Unless, of course, you think you can hold your loss to minus 500 (down 3 in four spades doubled). Do you think your spade textue is good enough to hold your loss to down 4? When I saw this played on BBO, 4th seat chose to bid four spades. He went down four for minus 800 and for a bad matchpoint result. The usual result was minus 620 or minus 650 when opponents were allowed to play four hearts — an above average match point score for the defenders.

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Bidding Critique

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Here is an auction I observed recently on BBO:

 

What do you think of the bidding by North? And how about South’s action? Give it some thought and see my critique below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North erred by “super” accepting the transfer (jump to 4S) with the known 9+ card fit. That may work out occasionally but not recommended for two reasons:

 

  1. South knows partnership assets within half a point. So, South will know to pass, drive to game, or check on prospects for slam. Super accept uses up too much bidding space, reducing ability to make cue bids at the four-level.
  2. If South has a bust hand, North may have trouble making four spades. Don’t risk an almost certain plus score by overbidding.

 

South was on the right track to visualize a slam opportunity if partner has a diamond fit and if partner has the ace of hearts. Those are two big IFs. Too big to commit to slam. South erred by not passing North’s bid of four spades.

 

Post mortem: Best way to reach slam is to cue bid your way there. North used up too much space with the “super accept”. Without it, South could have made a mild slam try by bidding four diamonds. North would then temporize with five spades, denying first round control of hearts. And, since South should be worried about two quick losers in hearts, that’s where the bidding would end.

 

 

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Awesome Responsibility

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Your partner opens 2NT (20-21) in 2nd seat, making you “captain of the hand”. Assuming that RHO passes, what is your plan to direct the remainder of the auction? Here is your hand:

Your worry about the diamond void makes this a difficult problem. It looks like you have enough to be in game, holding ace of hearts and a runnable club suit. It will be best if you discover an 8+ spade fit. So, you respond three hearts, transferring partner to three Spades. But what do you do after that?

 

Knowing that partner will bid game in spades with at least three of them, bid 3NT. Yes, diamonds are causing you discomfort. But should partner have only two spades, she is likely to have diamonds well stopped. Don’t chance leaving partner in a 7-card spade fit opposite 5 crummy spades.

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Support with Support

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You (South) have strength for an almost certain game in spades with good prospect for slam.

What is your call at 1st turn after bidding shown above?

Unfortunately, you cannot use the Jacoby 2NT game-forcing raise after East’s interference. I recommend you indicate a limit raise or better by cue bidding three clubs. Do not bid two hearts. It’s best to keep those nice hearts a secret from the opponents. Experts like Eddie Kantar always emphasize support with support.

That should be your highest priority with the known 9+ spade fit.

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Slam Bidding Tip

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Here is a hand I recently observed on BBO. It’s illustrative of good slam bidding, using cue bids to get to the best contract.

Here is the hand:

The bidding started as shown above. South can discern the excellent slam potential of the hand. North had opened one diamond and guaranteed four hearts by raising to two hearts at second turn. Moreover, South knows there is a diamond fit, including  prospect of parking that losing club on partner’s fourth diamond.

 

Most Souths blasted into Roman Key Card Blackwood at 2nd turn. That’s not my recommended strategy with two potential spade losers.  Better is to cue bid your way there.

Recommended approach:

At 2nd turn South should cue bid 3 clubs, showing first round control and interest in slam. South is hoping partner will now show first round control of spades. When partner does exactly that, South should cue bid 3 Diamonds (first round control). Now partner may bid 3 spades, showing second round control. If so, you will be in grand slam territory.

 

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Another on Hand Evaluation

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You hold this hand in 2nd seat:

The bidding has proceded as follows:

You and partner are playing 2/1. So, partner’s 2C response to your opening bid is forcing to game.

Before you decide on your call at 3rd turn:

  • How well do your hands mesh?
  • How many spades does partner hold?

 

Okay what is your call? See below for my recommendation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partner may well have the ace and king of clubs. That’s not helpful since you have the club suit under control. Moveover, partner may not have much help in the red suits. Also, you know from paartner’s initial response that she has three spades. Your hands don’t mesh well because of misfit in clubs. My recommendation is jump to four spades (fast arrival), indicating lack of interest in slam.

 

 

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Hand Evaluation

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Would you open this 10 HCP hand in 1st or 2nd seat?

Here’s how Bergen would value the hand: Club suit is worth 9 HCP plus additions of one point for the 5th club, one point for the 6th club, and two points for the seventh club. That’s 13 “starting points” in the club suit alone.

Why all those extra points for the small cards? Because the prospect for taking seven club tricks is well over 50 percent since you are only missing the jack. You have an easy opening bid of one club.

I recommend you discuss hand evaluation with partner to make sure you are on same wavelength. Maybe this hand has only 10 HCP, but it’s much better than its face value in HCP.

 

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Plan your rebid

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When opening the bidding make sure you plan your reibid. Here is an example:

You are in 1st seat (both sides vulnerable) holding this hand:

You have an easy minimum opening bid of one diamond with your 13 HCP. Now anticipate a response from partner might make your rebid difficult. A one heart response would make it easy for you to raise to two hearts. A response of two clubs would make it easy for you to raise to three clubs. And a one spade response would make it easy for you to rebid one no trump.

Difficulty arises if partner’s response is one no trump. You hate to pass 1NT knowing that opponents have many spades plus a troublesome number of HCP. You hate to rebid diamonds with that crummy 5-card suit. And you are way too weak to reverse to two hearts.

But you have a couple of inferences available to help you decide: First, what is the minimum number of spades held by opponents?. Second, what is the minimum number minor suit cards held by partner?  Decide on your rebid once you answer those questions.

See my decision below:

 

 

 

Inference number 1: opponents hold at least nine spades. Partner has at most three spades and I hold one.

Inference number 2: Partner did respond one heart so has at most three hearts. Ergo partner must hold at least seven cards in the minors.

 

My rebid is two clubs. That’s your best chance for a plus score.Partner did not raise diamonds, so you should have at least a seven card club fit. You will be able to hold off an attack in spades because of your shortness. Partner may take the suit preference for diamonds which would be even better.

BTW, you may have seen this hand before. Do you know where?

 

 

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Bridge Wisdom from Richard Pavlicek

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World class player and author Richard Pavlicek’s website is loaded with good bridge tips and stories for players of all abilities. Check out his excellent site if you have not already done so.

Here is a fun example I ran across a few days ago. South is dealer and opens the bidding one club. How do you think the bidding might go If West overcalls one spade?

North’s 4N is quantitative, inviting South to bid slam with extras. However, with a crummy 14 HCP (flat hand, three queens, four deuces) South declines the invitation.

Opening lead by West was the nine of hearts. You can see that, despite having a combined 31 HCP, declarer could not make 4N. Or so I thought. Maybe I was wrong. Could you make 4N?  It’s a good puzzle, and you can find the answer by exploring Richard’s site.

 

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Looking Ahead in the Auction

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You are in 2nd seat (vulnerable vs. NV). Right hand opponent opens preemptive three diamonds. You have this gorgeous hand, but bidding is already up to the three level.

It looks like you may have game or possibly slam in hearts. Most of the time that heart suit is going to bring in 8 tricks. How best for you and partner to find the right level in hearts?

You could double, planning to bid hearts later to show your big hand. Or you could bid four hearts immediately. Three hearts looks to be out of the question since you don’t want partner to pass. I chose to double. What would you do?

Decide on your call and I will tell you what happened below.

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It did not go well for me. I failed to consider that left hand opponent might further the preempt. When West bid four diamonds, I suddenly realized that partner was likely to advance with four spades. That’s exactly what happened, and I was stuck trying to figure out what to do at the five level.

I should have bid four hearts at first turn. Preempts put the pressure on us, and I managed to put my partner in a difficult situation.

 

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Overcall?

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It’s often a good idea to make an overcall at the one level. It usually helps partner get off to a good lead if you end up on defense. You may even find a safe partial contract, game, or sacrifice in a competitive auction. Overcalls interfere with opponents’ communication, particularly if the overcall is one spade. Overcalls don’t necessarily promise an opening hand. They are in the range of a good eight to seventeen points with most of the strength in the overcalled suit.

Here is a hand I do not recommend for an overcall:

overcall1D

Opening bid by right hand oppenent is one club. Do not overcall one diamond with this hand. Your stength is not in the diamond suit, so it would be misleading to partner. Moreover, it does not interfere with the opponents. They will have no problem finding a major suit fit if there is one.

Recommendation: When opponents open one club, do not overcall one diamond unless you have an opening hand. Make sure you discuss this with partner when going over your convention card.

 

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It’s Your Response?

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My partner opened one spade in first seat (favorable vulnerability). My right hand opponent passed. I wondered how to respond with this hand:

I thought splinter (response of 4 hearts showing shortness) is out because of my singleton king of hearts.

The hand is not good enough for a game forcing raise of spades by responding 2NT (Jacoby). I did not want to encouage partner to investigate slam.

And the hand looks to good for a limit raise of 3 spades. I don’t want partner to pass the invitation.

My solution: respond 4 spades. I want to make sure we get to game opposite partner’s opening. I think Bergen would agree with treating my singleton for its shortness feature rather than its high card points.

How would you respond?

 

 

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It’s Your Call

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You are in 1st seat, none vul., holding this hand:

What’s your call? Scroll down for my recommendation:

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You have two quick tricks – the ace of hearts and two outside kings. You have a total of 10 cards in your two longest suits (hearts and spades). You have an easy rebid in hearts. Open the hand one heart. Don’t even consider preempting with this hand.

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Preempts!

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In 2nd seat (none vul.) I opened one diamond with a huge hand. Then my LHO (an expert) preempted four spades! Here was preemptor’s hand:

Do you like the preempt? In answering that question, think about how many tricks you might go down if doubled. In other words, how many tricks do you have with no help from partner? Also, think about where the opponents are likely to go in the auction. Scroll down for a summary of my thouights:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this preempt! Preemptor likely 5 tricks in spades and 1 or 2 tricks in clubs. That’s 6 and one-half tricks on your own. Give partner one trick and you will go down no more than three if doubled. Moreover, you have only 7 HCP while partner is a passed hand. Preemptor’s opponents certainly have game or slam in hearts. Make them guess at the five level. Preempts are difficult to deal with. Here was the entire hand (I was East):

As the cards lie our side can easily make 12 tricks in hearts for plus 480. Preemptor went down two doubled, holding us to the poor score of plus 300.

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It’s Your Call

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You are South. Partner opens one club in 1st seat. RHO passes, and you respond one spade. Now West overcalls two hearts, and partner passes (minimum opening with fewer that three spades). RHO passes. What is your call with this hand?

Scroll down for my recommendation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With your good 10 points you know the hand belongs to your side. Double asking partner to bid or leave double in with a heart stack.

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Judgments in Bidding

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Here is an interesting hand observed recently on BBO. Would you open this hand in 1st seat (none vul.)?

It’s a close call. There is a lot to be said for striking the first blow. You have two quick tricks and it makes Bergen’s rule of 20 (11 HCP plus 9 cards in your two longest suits). However, Bergen would downgrade for the ugly doubleton quack in diamonds. Offsetting that, you can add a point or two for length in clubs (but downgrade a little for crummy texture in the long suit). Bottom line is that the majority of good players would likely open the hand one club.

What would you do?

 

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Competitive Auction

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South opened one diamond in 1st seat (vulnerable vs not) at matchpoints. West overcalled two clubs and South jumped to three diamonds with his rock crusher. West competed to four clubs. Refusing to give up, South bid four diamonds. East doubled for penalty, ending the auction. Here is South’s hand with a summary of the auction.

Do you agree with South’s action? Scroll down to see what happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South was too aggressive, falling in love with his huge hand. Partner understood South’s bids, but remained silent. Moreover, East is likely to have a diamond stack since West has at least seven clubs. When the dust settled South was down four for minus 1100. South should let West play four clubs for minus 130 for NS and an average plus for NS.

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What’s your call?

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You are South in third seat with both sides vulnerable. Partner passes and East opens the bidding one club. It’s not often you get dealt a nine card suit. Here is your hand:

What’s you call and your plan for the remainder of the auction?

It looks like the opponents may have a game, particularly in hearts. You have 9 and 1/2 tricks. My recommendation is for you to jump to five diamonds. Five diamond might even make. Yes, that call might turn into a disaster, but it’s best to put opponents to the guess at the five level.

 

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Inverted Minor Raises

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You are playing inverted minors and open this hand one club in first seat, none vul:

inverted minor rebid

 

Partner responds two clubs, an inverted minor raise promising 10+ points and 5+ clubs. What is your rebid?

Decide and then scroll down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You have a big hand, and slam may be possible. Plan to go slow on your way to finding either 6NT or 6Cs. Your 1st rebid should be 2 diamonds, showing the nice stopper in that suit. If partner’s next bid is 2 spades, then you will continue with 3 hearts. As the cards lie, partner will then bid 4 diamonds. You will then bid seven no trump. It looks clear that 13 tricks are likely. Here is the actual hand:

inverted minor rebid 1

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Learning from our Errors

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A particularly useful aspect of playing on BBO is the ability to assess errors quickly via post mortem discussion with partner. Here is a hand I thought I had misplayed, and I knew an expert had been in the field sitting in my seat (East). It would be easy for me to see how the expert had played this hand:

BBO misbid

Both vulnerable, my partner opened one club in 1st seat. North overcalled one heart. With eight points, three spades and a partial heart stopper I decided to respond one no trump. That’s where the bidding ended.

South led the nine of hearts and this is the dummy I saw:

BBO misbid1

I was happy to see the nine of hearts, knowing I now had a sure heart stopper. North took three rounds of hearts. But rather than giving me my sure stopper in hearts, he shifted to a low diamond. I correctly recognized that I had a sure stopper in diamonds since dummy had the nine and eight. So, I played low from hand. The rest of it went quickly. And when the dust settled, I was down three for a bottom board. Do you see where I went wrong? What did the expert do that was different? Give it some thought and then scroll down for my evaluation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What did North do that was different? Answer was easy: East passed at his first turn. It was a negative double situation, and he had a heart stack. There was no reason for him, with eight points, to come into the auction. We bridge players tend to be too aggressive at times, and that was my blunder. No reason not to be patient, partner still has another turn.  The huge error on my part was bidding.

 

BTW, I did misplay the hand, too. I could have salvaged a matchpoint by putting up the king of diamonds at trick four. ☹

 

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