Story 5

 

This lesson pertains to defensive bidding — auctions in which the bidding is opened by an opponent. It presumes a basic understanding of overcalls and takeout doubles, and the methods of responding to these. The purpose is to explain the strategy and tactics necessary to be successful.

Four Card Suit Overcalls                                                                                                                                                                                                    A suit overcall shows a five-card or longer suit and partner should bid accordingly; but it does not always produce one. There are times when your best action is to overcall in a four-card suit at the one level. Look for these characteristics:

·         A good suit, such as A-K-J-x or K-Q-10-x

·         Opening-bid values but a hand that is unsuitable for a takeout double

 

West

2 

 

North

1 

 

East

1 

 

South

Pass

 9 7 2 A K 9 8 5

Pass

Pass

 9 7 2 8 3

 A Q J 8 4 3 A K 4 3 9 4 2

Notice that partner makes no allowance for the possibility of a four-card suit; he raises routinely with three trumps. This means you will sometimes play a 4-3 fit, for which a good suit is desirable.

West

1 

North

1 

East

1 

South

Pass

 A Q 9 7 5

Pass

1 NT

 4 3 9 7 6 3 K 5

 3 A K 10 2 A 8 2 Q 7 6 3 2

A 2  overcall on Q-7-6-3-2 is unattractive. Also, note that overcaller does not bid clubs the second time as it might cause partner to give a preference to 2 , resulting in a 4-2 fit. 

Shape Doubles                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A takeout double shows opening-bid values, but it is a good strategy to shade this when you have excellent support for each unbid suit. It may be your only opportunity to get into the bidding and compete.

A takeout double may be made with as few as 9 or 10 HCP with 4+ cards in each unbid suit.

 

West

4 

 

North

1 

 

East

Dbl

 

South

4 

 K J 7 4 3 4 3 Q 9 7 2 4 3

 Q 8 6 5 2 A K 4 3 10 9 8 2

None Vul    The light double leads to an excellent sacrifice that would otherwise be missed. The suggested bidding would be doubtful at unfavorable vulnerability.

 

West

Dbl

North

1 

East

Pass

3 

South

1 NT

Pass

 2 K 8 6 4 K 9 5 4 A 8 6 4

 A K 8 5 4 Q 9 7 5 3 2 3 2

The final contract is ambitious (probably down one), but without the takeout double the opponents would have played in 1 NT and probably made it easily.

If only two unbid suits exist, you should have at least 5-4 shape to warrant a “light” double.

West

Dbl

North

1 

East

Pass

3 

South

1 

2 

All Pass

 10 2 A 9 7 5 4 7 2 K Q 8 3

 A 8 6 4 3 2 K 9 3 J 10 7 2

The double allows partner to compete in clubs on an auction in which most pairs will sell out to 2 . The light double would not be recommended with only 4-4 shape in hearts and clubs.

Two-Suited Hands                                                                                                                                                                                                       Hands with 5-5 or greater shape are difficult to describe with a takeout double as partner is unlikely to bid one of your suits; thus, you will have to guess what to bid at your next turn. Here is the recommended way to show a two-suiter:

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Michaels cue-bid shows two suits with one bid.

If you use it, great! If not don’t worry about it for this lesson.

First decide if your hand qualifies for the “unusual notrump” or the Michaels cue-bid.

West

3 

North

1 

East

2 NT

Pass

South

Pass

Pass

Pass

 A Q 8 7 4 3 9 7 2 Q 8 7 2

 2 A K 10 7 6 K J 10 8 3 4 3

Note that the unusual notrump overcall always shows the two lowest of all the unbid suits; hence, with clubs bid by the enemy, it shows diamonds and hearts.

If you cannot describe your hand in one bid, it is best to overcall in one suit (usually the higher), even with as much as 20 points.

West

Pass

North

1 

East

1 

South

1 NT

Pass

2 

 3 Q 8 7 6 4 9 6 5 4 J 10 5

 A K 7 6 2 3 2 2 A K Q 7 3

3 

By overcalling 1 , East is well-placed at his next turn to show his two-suiter. Note that if East doubled first, it would take two more turns to show both his suits and that opportunity is unlikely to occur.

Trap Passing                                                                                                                                                                                                                          If an opponent bids your long suit, you should pass, even with a very strong hand. If the auction is passed out, you will usually get a good score as the opponents are in a lousy contract. Otherwise you will have a chance to act at your next turn.

 BBBB

 

If you pass an enemy suit bid and later bid that same suit, it is a natural bid — not a cue-bid.

 

 

West

Pass

North

1 

East

Pass

2 

South

1 

 10 7 2 K J 8 7 4 3 Q 7 4 3

 A 8 3 2 A K J 8 7 4 K 10 8

1 

East does not act over 1  since opener bid his best suit. Later he bids diamonds to show a real suit.

Be alert for penalty opportunities after you trap pass. The opponents may be in trouble.

B

West

Dbl

North

1 

East

Pass

Pass

South

Pass

Pass

 K J 9 7 3 J 10 8 5 A 7 6 3

 10 2 A J 9 8 6 A Q 4 K J 8

I often see misguided players overcall 1 NT after the 1  opening, but the winning strategy is to pass. When partner balances with a takeout double, you convert it to penalty by passing again.

 

West

Pass

North

1 

East

Pass

Dbl

South

1 NT

Pass

 10 4 K J 9 4 10 4 2 Q J 8 2

 A Q J 9 7 A 2 K 9 8 3 4 3

Any double of a notrump bid is penalty oriented once you pass an enemy bid. This suggests a “spade stack” so partner should lead the 

 10.

·         Balanced hands, especially with 4-3-3-3 and 5-3-3-2 shape.

·         Poor texture in your trump suit, especially when vulnerable.

·         Secondary honors (king, queen or jack) in the enemy suit.

 

To Bid or Not To Bid                                                                                                                                                                                    When considering whether or not to enter the bidding, experience has shown that distribution is more important than high cards. That is, you should be more concerned about the shape of your hand than the exact number of points you have.

Be conservative with:

 

West

Pass

2 

North

1 

East

Pass

Dbl

All Pass

South

2 

Pass

3 

Pass

 K J 8 7 A 10 2 3 2 9 7 6 2

 A 6 4 K 5 4 3 Q 9 4 K Q 3

Note the pass over 1  with the dubious  Q and flat shape. Later, the reopening double is a routine balancing tactic. You and partner should sell out to 3 .

Be aggressive with:

 

West

3 

North

1 

East

1 

South

3 

Pass

Pass

All Pass

 Q 8 4 A 9 7 4 K 8 6 4 9 3

 K 10 9 7 6 3 A 9 7 3 8 4 2bbb

The aggressive 1  bid is warranted by the singleton heart and spade texture. This allows partner to compete to 3 . If the opponents bid 4  they will likely be set.

Preempt the Maximum                                                                                                                                                                                                When making a weak jump overcall — just as when opening with a preemptive bid — it pays to bid as high as you intend to go in a single Bbid. Daring bids are often rewarded by stealing the contract or pushing the enemy into the wrong contract. Even experts cannot contend with preempts with any certainty.

To determine how high to bid you should estimate your playing tricks. It pays to think positive; e.g., with a suit holding of K-Q-10-x-x-x-x, I would figure six winners. Then

 

 

West

North

1 

East

3 

South

 K 3 A 8 6 4

 A 7 5 9 8 5 2

 Q J 10 9 8 4 2 10 8 6 2 4 3

None Vul      Your hand is worth five playing tricks — four in spades and one likely in diamonds — so at favorable vulnerability bid for nine (5 + 4) to make it as difficult as possible. Partner should pass 3 

 since his three tricks only add to eight.

b

West

North

1 

East

4 

South

4 

 A 8 Q 10 9 7 K 8 7 3 2 9 2

 4 3 2 8 3 4 A Q J 10 8 7 4

The daring 4  bid (equal vulnerability) causes the opponents to go wrong (they belong in spades, not hearts). Note how easier it would be if you bid only 3 .

 

BRIDGE ETIQUETTE         Much of the popularity of bridge is attributed to the high standard of etiquette which is observed by players.  The Laws of Contract Bridge (Law 74) deal Proprieties.  The rules of bridge etiquette are based on good common sense.  These are some of the table manners players are expected to observe:

·      Do not take Cards out of the board before all players are at the table.

·      Before you look at your cards count your cards

·      All players should have a completed convention card to disclose your conventions and systemic agreements to your opponents.  They are entitled to know your every agreement,

·      The board should be left on the table during the bidding and play of the hand so everyone can see the vulnerability.

·      At the end of a hand ensure that you do not mix up your cards until the result is agreed with the opponents.

·      During play you are not allowed, without permission, to touch or handle your opponent’s cards.

·      When you are making the initial lead, or playing to the first trick, play your card before entering or recording the contract. 

·      Do not ask for information unless it is your turn to call or play.  Do not ask what a bid means unless you are intending to bid. If you don‘t intend to bid, ask questions after the auction has ended

·      Dummy or either Defender may draw attention to a card pointed incorrectly; this right expires when a lead is made to the following trick.

As declarer, do not call for a card in dummy until LHO has played.