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A Question of Style?

Well, so it would seem with today’s bidding problem. You are playing Teams and have been dealt a pretty long suit. You have a mixture of a constructive and pre-emptive hand, the latter coming from having very little in the majors. Add into the mix the fact that you are vulnerable! So, what would you bid with the following?

 

 

Our Panel come up with three choices and I have to admit I do not agree with any of them! Let’s start high:

Nigel Kearney “5: It's not a perfect pre-empt and 2 could work better, but putting pressure on and forcing opponents to guess often works. A big advantage here is that either major could be their best suit and I don't want to give them space to investigate that.”

True but being very pessimistic the loser count on a bad day could end in a 4- figure minus score when because of our two aces, they do not make slam. Could this explain the majority vote for:

Bruce Anderson “2: the hand has too many losers to bid 5 at equal colours, and even 4 could go for a number when our opponents can’t make a game.

I agree with the first half of the above. Others have different reasons for staying low:

Pam Livingston “2: Keeps 3NT in the picture.  My partner is not a passed hand and knows my 2 level vulnerable overcalls are sound. I'd be very surprised if that was the end of the auction.”

Andy Braithwaite “2: the bidding won’t end there and I may get a chance to assess the worth of my hand by bidding slowly.”

Better for your opponents too to assess their partner’s worth. Up a level is:

Stephen Blackstock “3: For me, intermediate. I would prefer a one loser suit, but 12-15 with a good suit is close to what I have.”

12, yes, but Intermediate Jumps are not known to be 8-card suits. Touching on and dismissing my choice is:

Michael Cornell “2: I’m allowed to be good for my bid occasionally!

I don’t think this will finish the bidding so I will get at least 1 more go. I may bid as much as 4. The only alternative would have been an immediate 4 but too strong for me with the outside ace.”

Well, if you are allowed to have a “good 2 bid, then allow me to have a good vulnerable 4 bid, not the stratosphere when we are doubled but taking away some of the opponents’ space at the same time. 5 might appeal more if my major suit lengths were reversed.

I was not present at the table but that was the bid found by South with North finding enough to raise to the diamond game.

 

 

Four hands to satisfy all. 3NT is indeed a make though after 2, I suspect North would call 2 with South’s jump to 4 (surely you have to show your length now?) attracting a raise to game. Meanwhile, that singleton club in the North hand is just golden (oh East’s diamond holding helps too!) making 5 a reasonable shot after the immediate jump to 4. North, too, would move after their partner’s Intermediate Jump.

 

So, all routes lead to success today, though that does not mean all are the best action. Perhaps as important as deciding what you would bid, ensure your partner knows your style too.

Thanks to Pam Livingston for providing the problem.

 

Tomorrow, Fri Day for our newer players.

 

Richard Solomon

 

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