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5-4-3-(2)-1

I knew of the song with this title but not very well and discovered a very pleasant song when I just listened to it on You Tube (if you are wanting to be cheered up, please do not listen to the words, though…trust me!). The paths bridge writers can go down are very varied! Without the “2”, it is a very pleasant shape to have in bridge terms, too. As we are not allowed 15 cards in our hand, we will just have to skip over “2”.

The advantage of this shape to a bridge player can become apparent when a dummy goes down and you can use your three- card trump suit to ruff some losers. So much better than 4333. Our two deals today feature one thing in common, that shape. One question which we asked you yesterday was how low would you go with that shaped hand to open the bidding. How few high card points?

Since our “Rule of 20” says the sum of our two longest suits (with a 5431 hand, it is 9) + our high card points must be at least 20, therefore we need at least 11 hcp to open the bidding. Do we?

 

Michael Cornell knows his Rule of 20 but…

Cornell “1: I open 1 at either form of the game, well nearly.” (Pairs or Teams). “I open most 11 counts and this is a good  10 at love- all. Partner is not going to push for game. Certainly, wouldn’t open 1 vul at Teams but still would at Pairs because partner will not push for game.”

Although we stipulated Pairs in the question, we asked our Panel whether they would open at Pairs and Teams.

It is interesting that Michael says he would not be worried opening because his side would not push (i.e. overstretch) because his side was not vulnerable. It is not an opening hand for Nick Jacob at this vulnerability:

Jacob “Pass “I don't have any strong opinions. You open if your system permits it, pass otherwise. GeO and I can open this at favourable but it's too light for us at nil vulnerable.”

Matt Brown is another bidder:

Brown “1: I have a clear 1 rebid if partner bids diamonds, and if partner bids hearts, I will raise them. I have enough playing strength to make up for a relative lack of points.”

We certainly should always think of our rebid. Another factor is where the singleton is. If we want to stretch for game, then it seems more likely to be a major suit game. Therefore, there seems less to gain when the singleton is in a major. Here, that is not the case which increases the attractiveness of opening the bidding.

However, it was not to 4 or 4 that we were heading on this particular deal. Was the “proof of the pudding” (opening 1) “in the eating” (+430) or was the final result fortuitous or would you have got to the game anyway? Let’s have a look:

 

The Q lead gave declarer an overtrick. Had the club finesse failed, and without the same lead, there will still chances of developing a 9^th trick though the bidding would have been the same with West’s third diamond being a lower pip than the 10. Nevertheless, it is a 24hcp game you would like to reach at any form of scoring, any vulnerability.

Let’s say East passed first up.

West              North            East                South

                                             Pass                Pass

1NT (12-14)     Pass              2                Pass

2                  Pass              3                Pass

3NT             All Pass

Or if you are playing a 15-17 1NT opener:

West              North            East                South

                                             Pass                Pass

1 (2/3+)      Pass                1                   Pass

1NT                Pass                3                   Pass

3NT                All Pass

It is possible to reach game if in each case 3 is natural constructive but not forcing. In the first sequence, this bid implied a 4- card heart suit because of the use of Stayman.

However, in reality, the game was generally missed. I feel that opening that East hand is going to prove a winner more often than not and could help at Pairs to steal a part-score contract away from the opposition. The Panel’s views on vulnerability were interesting. How would it work for you?

This was our second problem:

 

Your double is clearly enough for take-out but do you know what partner’s double is…and what action would you take now? If it helps, you are playing Pairs.

Heading for our spade part-score is:

Brown “3: I think X is also take-out and I would bid 3 to show my doubleton.”  Almost in agreement is:

Cornell “3:  Close between this and 4. I cannot have a hand that was too good for a 2 bid as this would be a 4 now. I think partner has a very good hand but we are close to a minimum for our bid.   and:

Jacob” 3: I'm not keen to pass. I would just bid 3. Slightly heavy but it's the right hand type. 4m should probably be at least a good five card suit but not a good hand. With a good hand, you can only bid 3NT/4 or higher.

I think the hand is too flexible to bid 4 and not strong enough for 4. If partner passes 3, I don't expect we've missed game.

Partner's double is cards+takeout. A variety of hand types are possible: 54, 64, 6133 would all be quite normal. A heart void would be extremely unusual, Partner should bid his minor/4/4 with a void. Partner can't go bidding 4m with 4 cards in the suit and a good hand. We haven't promised both minors by any means.”

Nick referred to the option of defending 3x albeit rejecting it. This was addressed by Michael as well:

Cornell”  If I wanted a top, pass for 200 vulnerable would be an option but at love all, I would not anticipate 2 down and so will try to make something-  10 9  is quite nice and so is JT especially if partner has a heart card. If he does have 3,I can ruff one and if he has just 2, they cannot tap. So, the 5-2 is very playable."

Take-out, good hand, a variety of shapes. These were some of the comments made about partner’s double. It may then surprise you to see how relatively weak they were in hcp but they did have a certain good shape:

 

I am sure there would be few dissenters regarding opening this South hand. I wonder how many would have done so at the 1-level without the J?

The cards lay very well for North-South with well-placed black-suit honours along with a “no need to guess” position of the K. 11 tricks were available in spades and diamonds though I am not advocating you attempt game with the North-South cards. 3, a contract which could fail on less sunny days, does seem to be about right.

However, don’t underestimate the value of shape. With a reasonable smattering of high cards but not a huge number of hcps, that shape can take you to some successful game contracts . Much more fun than you and dummy having to follow with three small cards in the same suit as you have something close to mirror shape. Keep your eyes open for the possibility of 5431 shape hands.

and tomorrow, it is back to defending:

 

A little explanation to the bidding. The opening 1 shows a spade opener. Your 1 shows heart support and is interested in game… but North shows a strong hand and partner does not! When South puts their feet in the water, they find themselves raised to game.

You lead A and partner follows with 9 and declarer 10. Where to from here? See you tomorrow.

Richard Solomon

 

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