Category Archives: Exercises: It’s Your Call
You are sitting North (not vul vs vul) and partner opens one notrump (15-17) in 1st seat. What do you say with this hand?
Most players have a mechanism for getting to three of a minor to play after partner has opened 1NT. The usual way is to respond two spades. It’s a relay to clubs (announced as “relay to clubs”) directing partner to bid three clubs. If responder has diamonds responder corrects. I recommend you discuss this with partner when filling out your convention card. This is a hand that should play better in three clubs than 1NT. Don’t you agree?
Looks like you will have to successfully locate the king of spades or the queen of hearts, although partner may have the queen of hearts. Even if king of spades is on side you may not be able to drop it. Other posssibilities are ruffing out the queen of hearts or setting up a trick in one of partner’s minor suits. Slam is no sure thing, but it’s probably a little better than 50 percent. I would bid six.
Hint: I hope you did not raise clubs or bid two hearts!
…subtract 1 point for a singleton king, queen or jack.
Marty Bergen, Bridge Bulletin, November 2019, p. 57
Also, in the September issue of the Bulletin Marty recommends subtracting 1 point for a hand containing three or four queens. Making Marty’s adjustment to the guideline of 20 should help you answer this question.
I recommend you follow Marty Bergen’s recent articles on hand evaluation in the Bulletin. What would Marty recommend on this one?
Be aware of implications uncovered during the auction. That awareness may suggest the need for an unusual action during the bidding. Here is an example.
Declarer made five clubs without breaking a sweat. The unusual use of unusual notrump resulted in a top board.
Your partner opens one club in 4th seat, right hand opponent passes, and you hold this crummy hand (vul vs not vul):
It’s a bad hand, but you do have a nice heart suit. Should you bid or pass?
The danger is that your side will get too high, even in the likely event that partner has a strong hand. You might consider a weak jump shift to two hearts, if that is your partnership agreement. Weak jump shifts, including when you are not yet in a competitive auction, are becoming pretty standard these days. But don’t forget that you are vulnerable.
Most pairs chose to bid their heart suit at the one level, and the bidding got too high for your side. The best result was when partner was allowed to play one club, which made two. This was your partner’s hand:
It’s often difficult to determine if your partner has opened a bit light in 3rd seat. Here is a useful way to find out.
Much more on Reverse Drury here.
You are vulnerable vs not vulnerable. Your right-hand opponent opens one club in second seat. Should you overcall one heart or make a takeout double with this nice hand?
I vote for the takeout double. You have a good 18 points and both majors. If partner happens to advance with two diamonds, you won’t be lying with these values to bid two hearts at your next turn.
If your spade holding was slightly weaker, for example K Q 9 3, I would prefer the one heart overcall. That K Q J 9 of spades you actually hold is worth more than its six points.
You are in 4th seat and the bidding goes pass, pass, one club to you. This hand looks too good to pass:
What’s your call?
Two clubs is not possible, since it would be Michaels promising 5-5 in the majors. Possibilities are a 1NT overcall, a 1 heart overcall, or a takeout double. Which choice do you think is best and why?
You are South in 1st seat with this hand:
Do you pass, open the bidding one club, or open with a preemptive three clubs? This hand looks too good to pass or preempt.
There is a good guideline known as the “rule of 20” to assist in your decision. First add the number of cards in your two longest suits (7 clubs plus 4 spades equals 11 for this hand). To that total add your high card points (three queens plus an ace equals 10 points for this hand). If the total (11 plus 10 for this hand) is equal to or greater than 20 (21 for this hand), open the bidding.
Question: Would you open the bidding if your queen of clubs was the jack? Application of the rule results in exactly 20. However, most experts recommend that you need to hold two quick tricks to open when your total is exactly 20. For this hand you have only one quick trick: the ace of clubs.
That being said, I still recommend you open this particular hand one club. Examine the hand, recollecting that the queen of clubs is instead the jack. The hand is loaded with helpful intermediates (10s and 9s). The hand is likely to win at least 5 tricks in clubs ane one in spades — six tricks! Don’t you think that’s worth an opening bid?