All News

Whose hand?

We have “the boss” suit and a decent playing hand, 8 tricks on a good day with just a little trump help required from partner. How high should we bid, with the vulnerability not in our favour? What can the opposition make? Should we let them compete at a low level in the auction or make them bid at an uncomfortably high level if they want to compete? Just another every day problem at the Bridge club. We are playing Match-Point Pairs.

 

We told our Panel that our system was Weak Jump overcalls which rather eliminated 2 from their list of options. Lamenting the loss of an Intermediate Jump is:

Bruce Anderson “1: If I was permitted to be in the “stone age” I would make an intermediate jump showing an opening hand and usually a strong 6 card suit. I am not bidding 3, which would be pre-emptive, or 4, which is a unilateral decision ignoring the fact I have a partner. if partner cannot bid over 1 (or 2, intermediate) game is unlikely to be a make.

All true except a simple overcall, even a simple jump overcall, allows the opponents, at favourable vulnerability to describe their hands more comfortably.

Peter Newell has a partner, a very good one, but he disagrees with Bruce:

Peter Newell “4: looks right in terms of playing strength.  Bidding 4 directly will make it harder for the opponents to judge whether to sacrifice.  It might make it more difficult to get to slam if we had one as partner will not expect 3 key cards, I think slam is pretty unlikely after an opening bid, so I prefer to show playing strength and make it hard for the opponents to judge.  Should the opponents choose to sacrifice, I’ll double to tell my partner I have some defensive strength as well as playing strength…. i.e., two aces rather than say KQ to 8 spades and some bits and pieces in a side suit.”

Otherwise, our Panel seem just prepared to step one toe in the water and see how hot it is though they are prepared to bid at the three- level next time round:

Nigel Kearney “1: There is no hurry. 1 followed by 3 expresses this hand type. We have quite a lot of defence against 4 or 5 of a minor and so don't have to risk a minus in 4when nobody can make anything. I usually play weak jump overcalls at all vulnerabilities now, but intermediate when vulnerable is fine too.”

Andy Braithwaite “1: intending to compete to 3. The bidding will not die at 1 and I should get another chance.”

Michael Cornell “1: the bidding is not going to finish here. I will bid 3 at my next turn unless partner does something in which case, I will bid 4.”

Julie Atkinson “1: With the boss suit and room for an intelligent conversation I prefer a simple 1 overcall.

Vulnerable against not, I would have thought a direct jump to 3 would be in the 8-12 hcp range and a decent suit. That seems to be what I have and I do not really see why I cannot bid 3 directly, semi-pre-emptively, semi-constructively. However, taking it even slower than our 1 bidders is:

Stephen Blackstock “Double: and spades later. An immediate 4 would be an over bid and potentially the wrong strain: if we have a game, it could be 3NT by North.

I don’t see any great value in jumping now to stop the opponents finding a save. At this vulnerability, they will be bidding anyway with shape. So, meantime let’s focus on trying to be accurate with our own auction.

 

(To those that say North doesn’t need much, I say that is only true for specific major cards. Any unsupported honours are questionable value, being under the opening bid).”

So, different styles at work even among our Panel. An overcall and then bidding again seems middle-of-the road. What would have worked?

 

After a 1 overcall, West would bid their suit with North producing an action, negative style double. That would send South reaching for the 4 card and what, I am sure, Stephen Blackstock would say is a very specific, lucky making game. North needs every one of those heart cards in sequence, let alone K for the spade game to make.

Meanwhile, it is doubtful whether North would raise the 3 jump to game. The direct jump to game may be the winner this time though does seem a mighty leap into the vulnerable unknown. Meanwhile, 5 is a successful sacrifice against the spade game, -500, more likely to be found after a 1 overcall but like the spade game rather low odds being the right action.

I suspect, on balance, the 1 bidders, even the little unusual doublers, are feeling quite comfortable about their initial action as long as it resulted in 620.

 

And the plan is?

 

 

You arrive in a rather tenuous 3NT contract with dummy’s SQ scoring the first trick after West led S10. You can count to 8 tricks. What is your plan for trick number 9? (n.b. West has only one club.)

Richard Solomon

Go Back View All News Items