How much is a Queen worth?
You might immediately say, "Two points!" Well, that's not so easy.
Here's a simple case in point. Partner opens One Spade, and your hand is Q32-A1092-872-872. Six points, right? Two for the Queen, four for the Ace, and no distribution.
What about the next hand? Partner again opens One Spade, and your hand is A32-10982-Q72-872. Looks similar? All the same pips, no shape, plus exactly six points again?
Which do you like better?
If the side value is an Ace, this surely takes a trick. Plus, a Queen in partner's suit is surely welcome. But, a side Queen might well be facing a stiff, or Ax, or three small.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tom Kaple
The Lima Duplicate Bridge Club is today mourning the loss of a dear friend and excellent bridge partner. Tom passed away this morning after a long struggle with cancer. Quite a while back, we all were warned that Tom was likely to leave us soon, but he ended up recovering for a wonderful extra time with us and his family and friends. He tore up the bridge table during that period. We all hoped that perhaps this latest battle might also be won by our amazing fighter. Unfortunately, that was not to be. But, we all cherish the extra time we had with Tom, even if he did continue to embarrass us at the table up until the very end.
Checvk back later for more information.
Checvk back later for more information.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Bridge Without a Partner
Check out Ken Eichenbaum's new bridge comedy:
http://ebooksbridge.com/www/ebb/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=136&products_id=420
http://ebooksbridge.com/www/ebb/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=136&products_id=420
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Bidding Problem
You are dealt AQx-void-xxx-AKQxxxx. After opening 1C, LHO intervenes with 1H, partner bids 2D, and RHO preempts to 3H. Your call?
On the one hand, you have 15 HCP, with a four-loser hand (three diamond losers, plus a spade loser). Additionally, the spade finesse might fair (probably does), for five losers. How do you explore, then, this slam?
You could get scientific and bid 4H, but what will partner think that means? I mean, she certainly won't be excited by her clubs, because she is probably short and definitely has no honors. She might think you are supporting diamonds, which is not really your intention, and diamonds out-rank clubs (you cannot correct any diamond bid to the same level in clubs).
On hands like these, you sometimes have to go with general principles. What was this 2D call? You expect that partner probably has some heart length, probably not four spades, and probably not hearts double-stopped, because of the auctio so far. If she has a good hand, therefore, 6C probably has play. But, what if she has a minimum, or even sub-minimum?
In that event, you must hope that partner knows bidding and only bids with a weak hand if her diamonds are good. So, blast 6C! You know where you want to be, you cannot really find out what you want to find out FOR SURE by any auction that is not prone to possible confusion and disaster, and you expect that partner will have something resembling what you need anyway.
Sure enough, partner tables xxx-Qx-AQJxx-Jxx. That's a fairly ugly hand. Only 10 HCP, and two of them are the doubleton Queen in the opponents' suit. But, the suit quality is really good.
If you think that the 6C call was the key action on this deal, I personally think you are wrong. That 2D call, with a quality suit, was the key call. Way to go Responder!
On the one hand, you have 15 HCP, with a four-loser hand (three diamond losers, plus a spade loser). Additionally, the spade finesse might fair (probably does), for five losers. How do you explore, then, this slam?
You could get scientific and bid 4H, but what will partner think that means? I mean, she certainly won't be excited by her clubs, because she is probably short and definitely has no honors. She might think you are supporting diamonds, which is not really your intention, and diamonds out-rank clubs (you cannot correct any diamond bid to the same level in clubs).
On hands like these, you sometimes have to go with general principles. What was this 2D call? You expect that partner probably has some heart length, probably not four spades, and probably not hearts double-stopped, because of the auctio so far. If she has a good hand, therefore, 6C probably has play. But, what if she has a minimum, or even sub-minimum?
In that event, you must hope that partner knows bidding and only bids with a weak hand if her diamonds are good. So, blast 6C! You know where you want to be, you cannot really find out what you want to find out FOR SURE by any auction that is not prone to possible confusion and disaster, and you expect that partner will have something resembling what you need anyway.
Sure enough, partner tables xxx-Qx-AQJxx-Jxx. That's a fairly ugly hand. Only 10 HCP, and two of them are the doubleton Queen in the opponents' suit. But, the suit quality is really good.
If you think that the 6C call was the key action on this deal, I personally think you are wrong. That 2D call, with a quality suit, was the key call. Way to go Responder!
Friday, March 4, 2011
An Interesting Slam Auction Last Night
Opener: AKx-x-AQxxxx-K10x
Responder: x-Axxx-J-QJ9xxxx
Opener starts with 1D. The opponent overcalls 1S. Responder bids 2C.
Assuming that start, can the 6C slam be reliably bid? This was the question asked last night.
Well, even if it could be bid, is this a good contract? Any sequence approaching slam should send a red flag up that a trump lead is called for. If the person on lead has Ax or Axx in clubs, or a stiff club (to lead to partner's Ax), the opponents can play club-club ad the opening lead and trick two. Now, Declarer can win six clubs, three Aces, one King, and ONE heart ruff, for 11 tricks. Trick 12 seems to be on a diamond hook (which failed in practice), such that 6C should be set quite frequently.
My assessment, then, is this. Some hands cannot be reliably bid. Minor slam sequences are particularly tough, and they often call for some sort of "just guess" end point. This gets especially troubling when the opponents intervene.
Also, the practicality of not bypassing 3NT to explore a sickly minor suit slam often means the critical information is kept secret for too long and if often too difficult to have re-emerge.
So, even if this slam actually should make (because the person on lead does not have the club Ace and another club, or one small), not getting there is reasonable. If Responder does bypass 3NT, however, Opener should force this slam.
Responder: x-Axxx-J-QJ9xxxx
Opener starts with 1D. The opponent overcalls 1S. Responder bids 2C.
Assuming that start, can the 6C slam be reliably bid? This was the question asked last night.
Well, even if it could be bid, is this a good contract? Any sequence approaching slam should send a red flag up that a trump lead is called for. If the person on lead has Ax or Axx in clubs, or a stiff club (to lead to partner's Ax), the opponents can play club-club ad the opening lead and trick two. Now, Declarer can win six clubs, three Aces, one King, and ONE heart ruff, for 11 tricks. Trick 12 seems to be on a diamond hook (which failed in practice), such that 6C should be set quite frequently.
My assessment, then, is this. Some hands cannot be reliably bid. Minor slam sequences are particularly tough, and they often call for some sort of "just guess" end point. This gets especially troubling when the opponents intervene.
Also, the practicality of not bypassing 3NT to explore a sickly minor suit slam often means the critical information is kept secret for too long and if often too difficult to have re-emerge.
So, even if this slam actually should make (because the person on lead does not have the club Ace and another club, or one small), not getting there is reasonable. If Responder does bypass 3NT, however, Opener should force this slam.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)