Setup: 1C natural without 4D or 14-19 balanced.
1D/H transfers to major, accepting shows 3 card minimum or 14-16 bal.
1S rebid is unbalanced hand. 1NT rebid is 17-19 without 4 card support.
2C rebid is 6 cards unless 1435.
2M shows 4 card minimum.
2H is natural reverse.
2S is natural GF jumpshift.
2NT is some 15-17 6+ clubs without 3 card support.
3C 15-17 with 6+ clubs and 3 card support.
3M 15-17 with 4 card support and unbalanced but no 6+ clubs.
3D 15-17 splinter with 6+ clubs.
3oM 15-17 splinter with 6+ clubs
3NT is 7+ solid clubs and short major with sidesuit stoppers.
4C 12-15, (14)17 or (15)16
4D 12-15, (52)06
4M 12-15, (50)26
This leaves 2D as a multipurpose strong bid ala Gazzilli. It handles 17-19 balanced 4 card raise, (16)18+ unbalanced 4 card raises and 18+ club hands. I think it's well over 50% of the time the balanced hand and because often there is need to bid transfers for contract improvement, I'll make 2M rebid NF. So it's like 4-7 pts with just 4 cards that doesn't necessarily want to be in game opposite fit. With 17-18 balanced opener can pass. The first step (2H/2S) shows 8+ points and is GF. Opener's 2NT is the balanced raise, 3C is clubs without fit and others show strong hands in similar fashion as medium hands showed directly.
If responder holds a shapely hand, he can bid something else than the first step. 2NT is some 64, 3m is 55 and 3M is solid 6 cards or semisolid 7+ suit.
Other responses:
1S = 5-7 bal or diamonds (drop dead or inv+)
1NT = 8-10 bal
2C = GF relay that tends to show 5+ clubs (inverted minor) but could be just slammish balanced hand.
2D = Multi, WJS in either major or balanced invite (11-12)
2H = Reverse flannery, 5S, 4+H, 5-9
2S = Reverse flannery, 5S, 4H, 10-12
2NT = Minors, weak or GF
3C/D = Pre-emptive
3M = ? Club splinters are possible but maybe too rare and can be handled via 2C anyways. Maybe showing shortness and 4 cards in other major? Or 4M and 6+ clubs.
3NT = 13-14 bal
Over 1S (and 1NT):
1NT = 14-17 bal/semibal
2C = 5+
2D = Artificial strong, 18/15+
2M = 10-15, 56+
2NT = 18-19 bal
3C = 6+
3x = autosplinter
3NT = solid clubs, game try
1C - 1D - 1H:
1S = Natural 4 cards or GF "relay"
1NT = 5-8 bal
2C = 5+ clubs, NF
2D = 5+ diamonds, NF
2H = 5 hearts, NF but mildly invitational
2S = 5+ hearts, inv+
2NT = 9-11 bal
3C/D = 55+, inv
3H = Strong invitation, 6+H
3S+ = Autosplinter
3NT = 13-15 Bal
1C - 1D - 1H - 1S:
1NT = 14-16 bal without 4S
2C = 6+C, 3H
2D = 14-16 bal with 4S
2H = Good spade raise (4315/4306)
2S = Bad spade raise
Note: with 54+ majors and GF, you can start with canape transfer to hearts first. When the transfer is accepted, you get a cheap GF sequence after 1S and you can handle all other auctions well too except maybe for some problems after 2NT/3C rebid by opener.
1C - 1H - 1S:
1NT = 5-8 bal
2C = 5+ clubs, NF
2D = 5+ diamonds, NF
2H = Artificial GF, 5+S
2S = 5 spades, NF but mildly invitational
2NT = 9-11 bal
3C/D = 55+, inv
3H = Strong invitation, 55+
3S = Strong invitation, 6+
3NT = 13-15 Bal
maanantai 25. huhtikuuta 2011
sunnuntai 24. huhtikuuta 2011
Garbage stayman twist
This is something I have made long time ago and played for almost as long with occasional good results.
Idea is simple, just put together stayman and minor suit stayman in a garbage auction. So for auction 1NT - 2C - 2D, your 2H is weak, both majors. Now you might use 2S as either invitational with 5S and 4H or maybe some forcing re-stayman or perhaps as weak sign-off with longer spades. However my idea is for it to be nonforcing MSS.
If you haven't played MSS, it's rather simple: 1NT - 2S: 2NT = better diamonds and 3C = better clubs. Now responder can bid either minor to sign off or bid 3M to show shortness and usually some slam ambitions. In these garbage auctions you never have slam ambitions but it works for the sign-offs.
So after partner opens 1NT and you hold weak hand with spades and a long minor or both minors you start with stayman and if partner delights you with 2S you pass. Over 2D or 2H you bid 2S to say that you have weak hand with 4S and long or both minors. Partner passes with 4 and usually with 3 cards and answers MSS with just 2.
Hand types like 40(54), 41(26), 42(16), 43(06) and 40(36) just found a way to search for 4-4 or 4-3 spade fit before committing to 3 of a minor.
Note that you also lose 1NT - 2C - 2H -2S bid for this purpose. (Whatever it might have been before)
One additional thing to note is that you can bid some marginal invites through this auction if you'd accept an invite for one fit but not for the other. I have also used it with 5044 shape finding 4-4 minor but that is more questionable.
Idea is simple, just put together stayman and minor suit stayman in a garbage auction. So for auction 1NT - 2C - 2D, your 2H is weak, both majors. Now you might use 2S as either invitational with 5S and 4H or maybe some forcing re-stayman or perhaps as weak sign-off with longer spades. However my idea is for it to be nonforcing MSS.
If you haven't played MSS, it's rather simple: 1NT - 2S: 2NT = better diamonds and 3C = better clubs. Now responder can bid either minor to sign off or bid 3M to show shortness and usually some slam ambitions. In these garbage auctions you never have slam ambitions but it works for the sign-offs.
So after partner opens 1NT and you hold weak hand with spades and a long minor or both minors you start with stayman and if partner delights you with 2S you pass. Over 2D or 2H you bid 2S to say that you have weak hand with 4S and long or both minors. Partner passes with 4 and usually with 3 cards and answers MSS with just 2.
Hand types like 40(54), 41(26), 42(16), 43(06) and 40(36) just found a way to search for 4-4 or 4-3 spade fit before committing to 3 of a minor.
Note that you also lose 1NT - 2C - 2H -2S bid for this purpose. (Whatever it might have been before)
One additional thing to note is that you can bid some marginal invites through this auction if you'd accept an invite for one fit but not for the other. I have also used it with 5044 shape finding 4-4 minor but that is more questionable.
sunnuntai 10. huhtikuuta 2011
The 9-ball
No, I'm not talking about pool.
This is the wackiest system I have ever come up with and I've had some pretty weird ideas. Actually it was initially an idea of friend of mine but I put it in real use.
You see, there is one common thing in all unbalanced hands. There is minimum of nine cards in combined two suits. (Doesn't include 4441s) We have six different combinations of suits: minors, majors, reds, blacks, pointed and rounded suits. We can hardly spare six bids for them. (actually we might, but that seems boring) Instead combine two of them under one bid. Mix in a strong pass, fert and weak NT and here are our opening bids.
Pass = 15+ any, could be 13 or could be 16+, whichever way you want to go. 15 seems to keep my openings well enough defined.
1C = Minors or majors or any 3-suited hand. 10-14
1D = Reds or blacks. 10-14
1H = 0-9(11)
1S = Pointed or rounded. 10-14
1NT = 11-14
Your all shapes are handled, so use 2-lvl bids for whatever you wish. One reasonable alternative is to use constructive single-suiters to take of some burden from the openings. Something like 9-12, 6+
Alternative is to fit in as many pre-empts as possible to take strain from 1H. But 1H is already pre-emptive in itself and it turns easier for opps to penalize it when it's balanced like 90% of time, so I'd rather take the constructive route.
When your hand fits for multiple bids, open at the lowest lvl. This means that 1C is opened a lot and the main reason I wanted to make this a forcing pass. You could use similar openings in a strong club context but losing one step on each of your three commonest openings (excluding NT), it's not so good.
So 1C opening can have AKxxx AKxxx xx x, xx x AKxxx AKxxx or any 7222 for example. It seems the bid tells you nothing, but that is only an illusion. If allowed constructive auction, your relays become super accurate. You can at best get the shape resolved as low as 2H. And when it gets competitive, your opponents often tell you what suits your partner is holding. Only problems ever come from single-suiters and they are always max with those 2 bids, so they shouldn't be too problematic.
Responses are basically that first step is relay (usually inv+), others natural NF or pass/correct bids. I don't recall ever wanting to bid anything but the relay and 1NT so they are maybe bit underused.
This was just a preliminary introduction. I'll probably rework the relay responses I'm using so I'll be back with them. They are otherwise good right now but there is no way to remember them.
This is the wackiest system I have ever come up with and I've had some pretty weird ideas. Actually it was initially an idea of friend of mine but I put it in real use.
You see, there is one common thing in all unbalanced hands. There is minimum of nine cards in combined two suits. (Doesn't include 4441s) We have six different combinations of suits: minors, majors, reds, blacks, pointed and rounded suits. We can hardly spare six bids for them. (actually we might, but that seems boring) Instead combine two of them under one bid. Mix in a strong pass, fert and weak NT and here are our opening bids.
Pass = 15+ any, could be 13 or could be 16+, whichever way you want to go. 15 seems to keep my openings well enough defined.
1C = Minors or majors or any 3-suited hand. 10-14
1D = Reds or blacks. 10-14
1H = 0-9(11)
1S = Pointed or rounded. 10-14
1NT = 11-14
Your all shapes are handled, so use 2-lvl bids for whatever you wish. One reasonable alternative is to use constructive single-suiters to take of some burden from the openings. Something like 9-12, 6+
Alternative is to fit in as many pre-empts as possible to take strain from 1H. But 1H is already pre-emptive in itself and it turns easier for opps to penalize it when it's balanced like 90% of time, so I'd rather take the constructive route.
When your hand fits for multiple bids, open at the lowest lvl. This means that 1C is opened a lot and the main reason I wanted to make this a forcing pass. You could use similar openings in a strong club context but losing one step on each of your three commonest openings (excluding NT), it's not so good.
So 1C opening can have AKxxx AKxxx xx x, xx x AKxxx AKxxx or any 7222 for example. It seems the bid tells you nothing, but that is only an illusion. If allowed constructive auction, your relays become super accurate. You can at best get the shape resolved as low as 2H. And when it gets competitive, your opponents often tell you what suits your partner is holding. Only problems ever come from single-suiters and they are always max with those 2 bids, so they shouldn't be too problematic.
Responses are basically that first step is relay (usually inv+), others natural NF or pass/correct bids. I don't recall ever wanting to bid anything but the relay and 1NT so they are maybe bit underused.
This was just a preliminary introduction. I'll probably rework the relay responses I'm using so I'll be back with them. They are otherwise good right now but there is no way to remember them.
torstai 7. huhtikuuta 2011
Working towards 1NT GF relay
Inspired by the Viking Club precision book I recently bought, I've been trying to get towards 1NT GF relay over major openings. When you have the GF hand, it's simple. Trouble is what you are going to do with all the hands natural systems handle with 1NT. Now that I got my bright idea for 1S-2D (hearts), it's little work to finish the rest of the structure. Viking club went a simple way, 2C included about all the invites and other bids were NF. Not too hard to see how this is rather horrible, now-a-days everyone knows that fit is everything. So at least my heart hands are separated.
My 2C bid will look something like this:
Balanced invites without 3 card support. (also with 5H)
Both minors invites.
5+m, 4H invites
6+ diamond invites.
6+ diamonds GF that doesn't want to relay.
55+ minors GF that doesn't want to relay.
Essentially the bid works as a transfer to diamonds because opener should have some shapely hand to bid something else.
1S - 2C
->
2D = Nothing special (says nothing about strength)
2H = 5+4 majors (may have 55 if really bad)
2S = Good 6+S
2NT = Max 6S4m
3C/3D = 55+
3H = 55+ majors
3S = Max with semisolid spades
3NT = Solid 7+ spades
1S - 2C - 2D
->
2H = 5H, inv. Includes some semibal shapes. 2533, 25(42), 15(43), you can bid these also via 2D, this is the lighter way and more often has bad hearts.
2S = Exactly 2S, usually balanced but could be both minors.
2NT = Both minors, usually short spades.
3C = GF with both minors
3D = 6+D
3H+ natural bids with GF and 6+ diamonds.
Forward to 2H bid:
Weak spade raise.
Invitational 3 card spade raise.
Invitational with clubs.
GF with clubs that doesn't want to relay.
This seems straight forward so I won't bother to write the continuations here.
Leftovers:
Less than invite hands without support including some 6-9 balanced, both minors or 5Hs hands and weak hands with long minor. These hands just have to pass as you have no bid for them. I'm not too worried about that, 15+9 rarely makes games and often opps are there to balance. Those heart hands are a bit scary but they aren't too easy even in natural systems.
My 2C bid will look something like this:
Balanced invites without 3 card support. (also with 5H)
Both minors invites.
5+m, 4H invites
6+ diamond invites.
6+ diamonds GF that doesn't want to relay.
55+ minors GF that doesn't want to relay.
Essentially the bid works as a transfer to diamonds because opener should have some shapely hand to bid something else.
1S - 2C
->
2D = Nothing special (says nothing about strength)
2H = 5+4 majors (may have 55 if really bad)
2S = Good 6+S
2NT = Max 6S4m
3C/3D = 55+
3H = 55+ majors
3S = Max with semisolid spades
3NT = Solid 7+ spades
1S - 2C - 2D
->
2H = 5H, inv. Includes some semibal shapes. 2533, 25(42), 15(43), you can bid these also via 2D, this is the lighter way and more often has bad hearts.
2S = Exactly 2S, usually balanced but could be both minors.
2NT = Both minors, usually short spades.
3C = GF with both minors
3D = 6+D
3H+ natural bids with GF and 6+ diamonds.
Forward to 2H bid:
Weak spade raise.
Invitational 3 card spade raise.
Invitational with clubs.
GF with clubs that doesn't want to relay.
This seems straight forward so I won't bother to write the continuations here.
Leftovers:
Less than invite hands without support including some 6-9 balanced, both minors or 5Hs hands and weak hands with long minor. These hands just have to pass as you have no bid for them. I'm not too worried about that, 15+9 rarely makes games and often opps are there to balance. Those heart hands are a bit scary but they aren't too easy even in natural systems.
Transfers, 2/1
Finally I figured it out! It's a structure I had already made once for 1NT. Retransfers to give you all the possible room.
1S - 2D, transfer showing hearts. I wanted to fit in weak hands with long hearts that just want to play there, single suited and two suited invitational hands. Of course it has to be able to handle them all when GF. In addition I want to be able to show some 6+H, 3S hands that wouldn't want to relay. (For the fear of competition and to get the chance to show choice of games) I know some aim for being able to stop at 2H here with inv opposite minimum opener without much of a fit, but I think that's aiming for rather small target. I'd rather have a way to drop off in 2H with weak hands with hearts.
1S - 2D
->
2H = Nothing special, should happen some 80% of time I guess.
2S = Good long spades with short hearts, doesn't deny or promise extras
My 1S is limited, so everything else shows a fit. You need something to show strong hands in natural so you have less ways to show hearts but that's not much of a problem since I feel I have too much room.
2NT = Heart fit with bad spades and good minor suit cards, suggesting that spade shortness isn't a bad thing.
3C/3D = Shortness
3H = Other max hands with hearts
3S = Some wild shape like 64 or 73 majors with good spades. Not forcing but opposite some KQ of hearts, should definitely be in game.
3NT = This is the one hand that doesn't have fit, it's a gamble with solid 7+ spades and a minor card, usually heart shortness.
4C/D = Void with some freak
4H = 6511 or 7411 I guess...
Now, where the beauty starts.
1S - 2D - 2H
->
2S = Transfer to clubs, inv+ (54+)
2NT = Transfer to diamonds, inv+ (54+)
3C = Transfer to hearts, inv+ (6+, may have 3S)
3D = GF with 6+H, 4D
3H = GF with 6+H, 4C
3S = GF with 6+H, no shortness
3NT = Solid hearts (AKQJxx or AKQ 7th)
4x = 7+ hearts and a void (I use steps but could be natural as well)
Over those transfers, bid the next step with non fitting minimum, show the fit at the minimum lvl with min. Next free bid denies fit and is max, one after that shows heart fit and then you show diamond fit and shortness in steps.
So:
1S - 2D - 2H - 2S
->
2NT = Min, no fit
3C = Min, at least xxxx in support of clubs
3D = Max, no fit
3H = Min, heart fit
3S = Max, heart fit
3NT = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, no shortness
4C = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, heart shortness
4D = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, diamond shortness
Over 2NT 3C shows 55 and is NF, 3H shows 64 and is NF. Others are patterning out with GF hand.
Note that over 1S - 2D - 2H - 2NT - 3C, you are bit jammed (Can't get back to 2NT) My suggestion is actually to just show the 1543 as balanced invitation, whatever your way to show that hand. That's how I handle 2533 anyways. Of course you can also just let it die at 2H and hope you didn't miss anything. (No great heart fit opposite, but you may end up in 5-1 fit)
Over 1S - 2D - 2H - 3C
->
3D = Min, suggests spades instead of hearts
3H = Min, typically at least doubleton support
3S = GF with no real heart support
Others fit hearts and show shortness in steps.
That's about it. I think you can easily fill in the blanks. I guess I should go around testing this.
1S - 2D, transfer showing hearts. I wanted to fit in weak hands with long hearts that just want to play there, single suited and two suited invitational hands. Of course it has to be able to handle them all when GF. In addition I want to be able to show some 6+H, 3S hands that wouldn't want to relay. (For the fear of competition and to get the chance to show choice of games) I know some aim for being able to stop at 2H here with inv opposite minimum opener without much of a fit, but I think that's aiming for rather small target. I'd rather have a way to drop off in 2H with weak hands with hearts.
1S - 2D
->
2H = Nothing special, should happen some 80% of time I guess.
2S = Good long spades with short hearts, doesn't deny or promise extras
My 1S is limited, so everything else shows a fit. You need something to show strong hands in natural so you have less ways to show hearts but that's not much of a problem since I feel I have too much room.
2NT = Heart fit with bad spades and good minor suit cards, suggesting that spade shortness isn't a bad thing.
3C/3D = Shortness
3H = Other max hands with hearts
3S = Some wild shape like 64 or 73 majors with good spades. Not forcing but opposite some KQ of hearts, should definitely be in game.
3NT = This is the one hand that doesn't have fit, it's a gamble with solid 7+ spades and a minor card, usually heart shortness.
4C/D = Void with some freak
4H = 6511 or 7411 I guess...
Now, where the beauty starts.
1S - 2D - 2H
->
2S = Transfer to clubs, inv+ (54+)
2NT = Transfer to diamonds, inv+ (54+)
3C = Transfer to hearts, inv+ (6+, may have 3S)
3D = GF with 6+H, 4D
3H = GF with 6+H, 4C
3S = GF with 6+H, no shortness
3NT = Solid hearts (AKQJxx or AKQ 7th)
4x = 7+ hearts and a void (I use steps but could be natural as well)
Over those transfers, bid the next step with non fitting minimum, show the fit at the minimum lvl with min. Next free bid denies fit and is max, one after that shows heart fit and then you show diamond fit and shortness in steps.
So:
1S - 2D - 2H - 2S
->
2NT = Min, no fit
3C = Min, at least xxxx in support of clubs
3D = Max, no fit
3H = Min, heart fit
3S = Max, heart fit
3NT = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, no shortness
4C = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, heart shortness
4D = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, diamond shortness
Over 2NT 3C shows 55 and is NF, 3H shows 64 and is NF. Others are patterning out with GF hand.
Note that over 1S - 2D - 2H - 2NT - 3C, you are bit jammed (Can't get back to 2NT) My suggestion is actually to just show the 1543 as balanced invitation, whatever your way to show that hand. That's how I handle 2533 anyways. Of course you can also just let it die at 2H and hope you didn't miss anything. (No great heart fit opposite, but you may end up in 5-1 fit)
Over 1S - 2D - 2H - 3C
->
3D = Min, suggests spades instead of hearts
3H = Min, typically at least doubleton support
3S = GF with no real heart support
Others fit hearts and show shortness in steps.
That's about it. I think you can easily fill in the blanks. I guess I should go around testing this.
keskiviikko 6. huhtikuuta 2011
Finally home
Back to Oulu again. After White House juniors I went to my parents near Helsinki. I was supposed to take a little break from bridge cause I was steaming after week of about 400 deals but I just sort of couldn't and played more bridge and started writing this blog and everything.
Have to say that I really enjoyed playing at White House even though we didn't do too well. It was first time I played a long tournament but I didn't really feel tired at any time. I know that my game turned worse towards end of the week but I had no slightest desire to stop playing.
However after the week and now, I can't really remember any of the deals from there. I mean of course I remember some of them, but looking at the results and hands there are many where I have no idea what happened in bidding or the play. I think this shows how straining it can be.
Here are couple funny incidents I do remember rather well as they had extraneous factor.
First was in our match against Poland. There was little hassle with system cards, as they were missing them. Or actually they had card for different pair but it was pretty close to it. So they just said they are playing Polish Club and so. However my partner was getting our system cards he had lost somewhere and apparently missed this. There were many boards where this didn't matter at all but then there was sequence that went something like this.
(1C*) 1NT* (X) 2D*
(X) 2H (3D) P
(3H) P (3S) P
(4D) P (5D) X AP
Our defence against Polish Club is that 1NT shows long minor or both majors, pre-emptive. Against natural club it is natural 15-18 balanced. So what happens here is that my partner missed the alert on 1C or there were no alert, whatever, so he declared my bid as 15-18NT. Now my partner bids a transfer to hearts which I take showing that he wants to play clubs at least on lvl 3 if I have them but I just bid 2H to show majors.
None/N
AQ97
J6
A32
QT43
T2 K8654
A8732 KT95
Q65 9
K92 876
J3
Q4
KJT874
AJ5
Obviously not guessing the diamond queen, we write +500 and get the TD to our table. This is of course the first time we at our side of the screen even realize there is anything wrong. Result was let to stand.
Another funny incident happened against Israel Schools.
I held x Axxxx xx AJxxx all vul. Now I somehow saw my screen mate opening 1S so I bid 2S michaels and alerted it. She looks at me strangely and I start explaining the bid. She points at her bid and I realize it's 2S she opened. Well luckily with screens no harm done. But I though that since I have already told so much about my hand, I won't let it go cheap and bid 3H. Partner had easy time finding 5H over 4S with
xx KQJxx AQx Qxx while he would have had serious problem if I had passed.
I really hope we get an invitation to White House again next year. I liked the city a lot, getting high and I don't just mean the bridge contracts.
Have to say that I really enjoyed playing at White House even though we didn't do too well. It was first time I played a long tournament but I didn't really feel tired at any time. I know that my game turned worse towards end of the week but I had no slightest desire to stop playing.
However after the week and now, I can't really remember any of the deals from there. I mean of course I remember some of them, but looking at the results and hands there are many where I have no idea what happened in bidding or the play. I think this shows how straining it can be.
Here are couple funny incidents I do remember rather well as they had extraneous factor.
First was in our match against Poland. There was little hassle with system cards, as they were missing them. Or actually they had card for different pair but it was pretty close to it. So they just said they are playing Polish Club and so. However my partner was getting our system cards he had lost somewhere and apparently missed this. There were many boards where this didn't matter at all but then there was sequence that went something like this.
(1C*) 1NT* (X) 2D*
(X) 2H (3D) P
(3H) P (3S) P
(4D) P (5D) X AP
Our defence against Polish Club is that 1NT shows long minor or both majors, pre-emptive. Against natural club it is natural 15-18 balanced. So what happens here is that my partner missed the alert on 1C or there were no alert, whatever, so he declared my bid as 15-18NT. Now my partner bids a transfer to hearts which I take showing that he wants to play clubs at least on lvl 3 if I have them but I just bid 2H to show majors.
None/N
AQ97
J6
A32
QT43
T2 K8654
A8732 KT95
Q65 9
K92 876
J3
Q4
KJT874
AJ5
Obviously not guessing the diamond queen, we write +500 and get the TD to our table. This is of course the first time we at our side of the screen even realize there is anything wrong. Result was let to stand.
Another funny incident happened against Israel Schools.
I held x Axxxx xx AJxxx all vul. Now I somehow saw my screen mate opening 1S so I bid 2S michaels and alerted it. She looks at me strangely and I start explaining the bid. She points at her bid and I realize it's 2S she opened. Well luckily with screens no harm done. But I though that since I have already told so much about my hand, I won't let it go cheap and bid 3H. Partner had easy time finding 5H over 4S with
xx KQJxx AQx Qxx while he would have had serious problem if I had passed.
I really hope we get an invitation to White House again next year. I liked the city a lot, getting high and I don't just mean the bridge contracts.
maanantai 4. huhtikuuta 2011
Fresh blood
I had a chance of playing with 13 year old kid on Saturday, matchpoints. It didn't go quite as well as I had hoped cause I played terribly. My card play was aiming for some magazine plays instead of easy 60% plays. Of course this is due that I didn't expect to do well, but it's still quite unfair. My bidding was also pretty horrible. I had some passive aggressive mentality. At times I played the partner and let it go low when he was about to declare. At times I pushed to tight games without inviting that I might not even bid at IMPs. I had some serious issues with consistency.
This one deal was pretty interesting, it was declared against us by a great player and he certainly deserved the points he got from us.
All/W
1083
10
Q42
J109543
AQ9
AKQ84
AK
K87
You bid to 3NT after 2C and kokish showing 25-26 bal. You get D5 lead, how to play?
You start with CK, dropping the Q on the left. Unblock the diamond and club to 9, west discarding diamond. Now followed S10 running to west's J and what was the poor boy to lead? He played another diamond to Q and spade finesse followed ending with ten tricks. I bet you are interested in the heart situation?
West held J965, so he should play the HJ to give defence some hope. But I have no doubt that in our table it would have been followed with very fast four rounds of hearts, end-playing west again.
This didn't leave us totally empty handed as some had made six and some even had bid six and made it.
This one deal was pretty interesting, it was declared against us by a great player and he certainly deserved the points he got from us.
All/W
1083
10
Q42
J109543
AQ9
AKQ84
AK
K87
You bid to 3NT after 2C and kokish showing 25-26 bal. You get D5 lead, how to play?
You start with CK, dropping the Q on the left. Unblock the diamond and club to 9, west discarding diamond. Now followed S10 running to west's J and what was the poor boy to lead? He played another diamond to Q and spade finesse followed ending with ten tricks. I bet you are interested in the heart situation?
West held J965, so he should play the HJ to give defence some hope. But I have no doubt that in our table it would have been followed with very fast four rounds of hearts, end-playing west again.
This didn't leave us totally empty handed as some had made six and some even had bid six and made it.
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