Warming Up for the Flying Pig Regional – The Robert Todd Seminars

What better way to get in shape for great bridge than attend seminars on topics that will truly advance tour game. If anyone has ever heard Robert Todd speak about bridge, you know that he not only has the requisite knowledge but is able to communicate and educate in compelling ways. This year 60 bridge players attended one or both days offered by Robert at the Cincinnati Bridge Center.

Thanks to the hard work by Cecilia Kloecker, helped by Pam Campbell and supported by the Unit 124 Board of Directors, the event was a success. Of course, hospitality for this event was non pareil! Topics covered included:

· Doubles

· Trick Showing Bids

· Defensive Strategies and Tools.

If you are interested in contacting Mr. Todd for seminars in your regional, do so! Robert holds a wide range of bridge events, from 8-12 player workshops up to 150-200 player large seminars.

http://www.advinbridge.com

Here is a short basic level quiz – see what you think!

Adventures in Bridge

Leaders in Bridge Entertainment and Education

www.advinbridge.com

Doubles Bidding Quiz – Cincinnati Seminars 2018

Take a look at the bidding problems below. These are some of the types of hands and auctions that we will discuss in detail during the Doubles seminar. We will look at these issues and much more!

1. What call do you make with this hand?

1♦ 1♠ __?

ª K93

¨ QT832

§ 9

2. What call do you make with these cards after the opponents have found their fit?

1♠ X 2♠ __?

ª 73

¨ KJT73

§ T4

3. Low-Level Doubles are generally takeout, looking to find a fit, but what does a double show if we have already found a fit? What do you bid in this auction with the following hands?

1♠ P 2♠ 3♣

__?

A. ª AJT82 B. ª J9832

¨ A42 ¨ AQ

§ AJT7 § KQJ94

4. What does a double show in this auction?

1♠ P 1NT 2♦

X?

How would you describe the following hand in this auction?

ª AKJ53

¨ 85

§ KQT7

5. What about doubles after the opponents bid NT?

1♠ P 1NT X?

What do you do with the following hand in this auction?

ª A8

¨ KQT84

§ JT53

ANSWERS:

1. What call do you make with this hand?

1♦ 1♠ __?

ª K93

¨ QT832

§ 9

Answer: A negative double is valuable and flexible tool. The textbook hand for a negative double has length in both unbid suits, but that is not the only shape with which we can make use of it. With this hand we double, and if partner bids ♣ instead of ♥, we can correct back to our known ♦ fit at the same level.

2. What call do you make with these cards after the opponents have found their fit?

1♠ X 2♠ __?

ª 73

¨ KJT73

§ T4

Answer: When the opponents bid and raise a suit, with partner taking some action in the middle (overcall or double), then a double by us (the Advancer) is a Responsive Double. Here we double to show two places to play. Some partnerships play this double as showing ♥ and a minor, using 2NT as the 2-suited hand with both minors in this auction.

3. Low-Level Doubles are generally takeout, looking to find a fit, but what does a double show if we have already found a fit? What do you bid in this auction with the following hands?

1♠ P 2♠ 3♣

__?

A. ª AJT82 B. ª J9832

¨ A42 ¨ AQ

§ AJT7 § KQJ94

Answer: Both hands contain 14 HCP and a good amount of defense. With the first hand, we should double. This double is cooperative, showing a hand that has good defense, but is also willing to play 3♠ if partner feels their hand is offensively-oriented. With the second hand, we should pass. We expect partner has a singleton or void in ♣ and likely points in ♠. If we double with this hand, partner is likely to pull the double. Instead, we pass and take the opponents down two or three tricks. If partner has a maximum and only 3-card trump support, they may reopen with double and then we can leave that in and convert it to penalty.

4. What does a double show in this auction?

1♠ P 1NT 2♦

X?

How would you describe the following hand in this auction?

ª AKJ53

¨ 85

§ KQT7

Answers: Since we have not found a fit, this double is a takeout double, showing shortness in the opponent’s ♦ suit. The most common shapes are 5-3-1-4 or 5-3-0-5 with a weak ♣ suit; 5-4-1-3 is also possible, with good defense, though with this shape is it also possible to rebid 2♥. With this 17 HCP hand we do not bid 3♣ because partner will think we are shapelier and just competing in the auction. Instead, we start with a takeout double and then bid ♣ later in the auction. Doubling and bidding your second suit is stronger than bidding it directly!

5. What about doubles after the opponents bid NT?

1♠ P 1NT X?

What do you do with the following hand in this auction?

ª A8

¨ KQT84

§ JT53

Answer: Doubles of most notrump bids at low levels are more card-showing than takeout (often showing 10+ points), but in the case where LHO opens the bidding and RHO responds 1NT (whether it is 1NT Forcing or not), we treat this as a takeout double of the opponents’ known long suit. With this hand, we do not double, because partner will think we have all three of the unbid suits and will likely bid hearts. Instead we just overcall 2♦.