Recurring headaches – part 8 By August Boehm

Source: September 2014 ACBL Bridge Bulletin      

When might you respond to partner’s takeout double with only a three-card suit? Seldom, but not never. For instance, LHO opens 1 partner doubles, and RHO passes, leaving you with a decision holding:

 J52  J75  982  J853.

Pass is clearly out; the opponents rate to make the contract with over-tricks. 1NT should show a balanced hand with about 7-10 high-card points, usually with a stopper in opener’s suit, particularly if it is a major. That leaves you with a response in a three-card suit, however unappealing. I would choose 1 to give both partner and the opponents room to introduce a major, taking you off the hook.

In addition, partner is less likely to get excited about a diamond response and jump to game. Another reason to avoid 1NT is that it is an easier contract for the opponents to double than a low-level suit bid. Just because your side has all the suits stopped doesn’t mean that notrump will play well – where are the tricks?

What if partner jumps to 3NT with a balanced 19 count opposite your three jacks? It is best to define your 1NT response as semi-constructive. This is especially true when the opening bid is 1 or l . If opener bids 1responding with a bust in a three-card suit forces you to the two level. In that case, most experts reduce the requirement for 1NT to perhaps 5-6 HCP.

Let’s say you pick up:  92  86  KJ752  QJ82, IMP scoring, your side vulnerable, LHO opens 1, partner doubles, and RHO passes. You elect to show values with a semi-constructive 1NT. The diamond intermediates are too poor for a leave-in, while 2 could be very weak and land you in a dicey 4-3 fit.

LHO passes and partner bids 2. You raise to 3, and partner concludes the auction with 3NT. LHO leads the K and dummy tables:

aaxx

Some good luck will be needed. You probably need two heart tricks, so assume the A to be with West. In any event, if the A is with East, the  A Q are apt to be offside, dooming the contract when East gets the lead and pushes a diamond through your K-J. You duck the opening lead and the Q continuation, East discouraging. West now shifts to a club. What is the likely spade layout?

It seems that West led from  K Q J x, consistent with East’s discouraging signal. A ray of hope flashes. If the West hand resembles:

 KQJx  Axx  AQ10xx  x (the actual hand), there’s a strip-squeeze in your near future. Win the club in hand and lead a heart. West ducks and dummy wins. Return to your hand with a club and lead a second heart. West does best to fly ace and exit with a heart, temporarily avoiding the endplay. You cash dummy’s club winners, reducing to:

aaxx

West still has to find a discard. If he throws a spade, North cashes two spade tricks. If West parts with the  Q, you exit with dummy’s diamond and endplay him to receive two spade tricks. Either way, you come to two hearts, five clubs and two spades.

MAS DEL MISMO AUTOR

The Dean of the Paradoxical Bridge Hands

Jan Wohlin of Stockholm, the dean of the paradoxical bridge hands, has come up with another gem.

Ask Jerry

Playing five-card majors, would you ever open with a four-card heart or spade suit?

Technique of Card Play by Victor Mollo

Counting the hand enables declarer to mute an opportunity where none would otherwise exist.

When is a prepared minor opening right?

Normally we open with one of our longest suit (or 1NT with the appropriate strength and distribution). The only time a problem occurs is when our longest suit is a 4-card major, and we have the wrong strength to open 1NT.

Bridge Puzzle II

Source: ACBL Bridge is primarily a game of language and...

Franck Riehm elected as WBF President

The World Bridge Federation is pleased to announce the...

1st South American Online Mixed Teams Championship

All players belonging to any NBO affiliated to the WBF are welcome!

I Brazilian Online Bridge Festival 2020

Some of the best players in the world are Brazilians, and some of the most enthusiastic players too! Our Brazilian Online Festival has appeal to players of all levels. Your team will play in a friendly but competitive atmosphere, with very well-organized scoring and experienced Directors to ensure a pleasant experience for all.

WBF Robot Tournaments

Come and join the competition through our Providers, BBO, Funbridge and Ourgame, all offering you this great opportunity – we look forward to some challenging tournaments!”

The Endplay

An endplay (also throw-in), in bridge, is a tactical play where a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment, and then has to make a play that loses one or more tricks.

The Scissors Coup by John Brown

Scissors coup (or, Scissor coup, ) is a type of coup in bridge, so named because it cuts communications between defenders.

World Bridge Federation – Youth

The Championship is open to all players born on or after 1st January 1992 (Juniors & Girls) or born on or after 1st January 1997 (Youngsters) or born on or after 1st January 2002 (Kids) in good standing with their own NBOs.

Prevent a Ruff by Jon Brown

West led his singleton club, which dummy's king won. South read the lead as a singleton.

RELACIONADOS

CATEGORIAS POPULARES