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The hard-to-find fit.

Today’s deal caused problems for some North-South pairs in a recent Pairs tournament. It all started with the choice of opening bid. We posed two questions to the Panel:

 

Firstly, we asked whether they would open the South hand, giving them the option of opening 2, spades and a minor. Then, if they opened 1, what would be their second bid in the above auction.

First things first. Are you opening the South hand? Strong views on both sides!

Stephen Blackstock “No I wouldn't open your 2 bid as (a) it's a misdescription; and (b) it's a method with little merit. I wouldn't open 1 either, as I don't have an opening bid. 

Michael Cornell “1: 1 is fine.”

Andy Braithwaite “1: I concur with a 1 opening.”

Nigel would not but would open 2 if he was able. We said you could, Nigel.

Nigel Kearney “ I would not open 1. The high card strength is too little. I don't have long or strong suits, and the void is of doubtful value until I hear what partner has. Playing very light openings it would be OK, but not using standard strength openings. If I had an opening bid for a 5/4 two suiter, then I would choose that but I think there are better uses for two level openings so in my preferred methods I would pass.”

Then a passer who can live with 1:

Leon Meier “Pass: I definitely wouldn't open 2 showing spades and a minor, but I don't feel this hand is worth opening at unfavourable either. If we are playing in spades, my hand is good but for hearts or NT my hand is definitely not an opening hand. Hence I'd pass but I don't mind 1.

Offering one good reason why 1 would not be a great choice is:

Peter Newell “2: all bids have problems, but in one bid I get across strength and 2 suits.  I'll show clubs as my second suit so this will be helpful as all my high cards are in spades and clubs. Of course, opening 2 and showing clubs risks losing the diamond suit, but other openings run into bigger problems, and 2 also makes it harder for the opposition than if I open 1 or pass (I wouldn't dream of passing...).

Opening 1 risks overstating high card points and leading to distortions. For instance, if I open 1 and partner bids 2, then I have to rebid 2  losing both minor suits and overstating spades.”

We certainly have votes for the 2 options Peter does not like:

Bruce Anderson “Pass: I am aware that these days opening bids have been shaded out of all recognition compared when I first started playing this game over 50 years ago. Nonetheless, I am not opening this hand either 1 or 2 (the latter option I don’t like) first in  hand. The spade suit is poor; the diamond suit is garbage, and the club suit is not strong. (what about the heart suit, Bruce!) And opening a hand like this, even though it is Pairs, risks partner not being able to stop short of a hopeless game if he/she has an opening hand with a heart suit.”

Meanwhile, Kris Wooles was another supporter of opening 1. You have opinions in three directions as far as the opening bid is concerned. When it came to choosing a second bid, after partner’s 1NT, there was unity about 2 as the choice (there is a choice: did anyone see our diamond suit?). However, the reality of what is about to come was present:

Kris Wooles “1 followed by 2 with a sense that partner may (horrors!) now bid 2. C’est la vie but would now be regretting having  opened.”

So said Peter Newell! Andy Braithwaite hopes he will not hear 2 next. Nigel Kearney did at least mention diamonds:

Nigel Kearney “2: (in response to 1NT). It's very unlikely there will be an auction where I could gain by starting with 2 and bid clubs later.”

I probably asked the wrong question second time. Assuming you bid 2, what would you do when partner bids the inevitable 2:

Stephen Blackstock “ If you put a gun to my head and enforce a 1 opening, I rebid 2. With such poor values I'm not bidding the shape out, so it's better to show where the high cards lie. In this country, I might get lucky and hear a natural 2 opposite (of course the opponents would then insist on a heart contract), but elsewhere 2 would be artificial. 

 In reality you know you are about to hear 2 from partner, and I intend to pass that. Better to be dummy than declarer with this dross.”

 

It’s a guessing game then when the heart bid comes. The winning action over 2 would be a return to your spade suit not because you want to play there but because your partner had one more bid up their sleeve:

 

 

 

Well, could that sequence really have happened? There would be a happy ending, after all with 9 tricks seemingly available even if East got to ruff the third round of hearts with 8. Unfortunately, South followed Stephen Blackstock’s advice and passed 2, a non-making contract.

Any West who stepped into the bidding after a 1 opening from South would not enjoy the experience (the overcall has even less to recommend it than South’s opening!) while anything could happen if South passed though it is more likely then that the diamond fit would be found.

Were South to pass, and West opened, East-West would get into misfitting trouble of their own. 

And if South opened 2? A direct 3 from North would be to play, though not to South’s liking. With North presuming their partner held clubs, they might just leave their partner to struggle in their opening suit, with an equally poor result.

 

Could you find them?

 

Opening lightish is fine when you find a fit though is much less appealing when you get too high without one. Their was a variety of results from an amazing 3NT making for N/S to some unsuccessful heart contracts by North to overbidding to 5 and some North-Souths who did not enjoy the no-trump experience doubled at the two-level! Only one pair found a safe diamond part-score while another table had no fun at all. They passed the board in!

 

Richard Solomon

 

 

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