TIPSFOR IMPROVERS

Points ofinterest from the August 2012 duplicates

1       Do not lead MUD in partner’s suit especially in No Trumps

Board 12 Wednesday 15 August

Playing in NT this was the Diamondsuit

                        9x

86x                                          KJ10x

                        AQ7x

The opening lead was the 6 of Diamondsto the 9, King and low.  The Jack ofDiamonds was returned winning with the Ace and LHO now played the up part ofmiddle up down ie the 8.  This left:-

                        None

x                                              10x

                        A7

Declarer was now left with a finesseposition of A7 over 10x and when RHOsubsequently decided to continue with Diamonds Declarer made three tricks.  So the moral is

Always leadlow from small cards in partners suit. The recommended expert lead is to lead third highest in partner’s suitfrom either three or four small cards.

2       Always be alert to the possibility ofdoubling a transfer bid for the lead

Board 20 Wednesday 15 August

                                    K8

                                    xxx

                                    K109

                                    AQ10xx

A10xx                                                 xx

Q109xx                                              AJ

xxx                                                      Axx

x                                                          J98xxx

                                    QJ9xx

                                    Kxx

                                    QJxx

                                    K

After a weak No trump from North,South made a transfer bid of 2 Hearts. If West doubles to demand a Heart lead then if opposition end up in NoTrumps they will lose a minimum of four Heart tricks and the pointed Aces.  When West failed to double then declarer hadno difficulty in making at least eight tricks in NT when he won the Club leadand started on Spades taking out West’s entry immediately.

3       Raising responder or bidding a new suit

Suppose that you are dealt a 4-3-5-1or 4-3-1-5 hand.  You open 1 of a minorand partner bids 1 Heart.  Do you rebid 1Spade or raise partner’s Hearts?

The answer depends on how strong youare.  If you have say:-

Board 20 Wednesday 22 August

AKxx

10xx

J

KQxxx

You open 1 Club and partner bids 1Heart.  As you have a minimum hand youmust raise Hearts immediately to 2 Hearts. This is because if you instead bid 1 Spade and partner now bids either1NT or 2 Clubs then you would like to then bid 2 Hearts at your third bid.  However you cannot follow such a course ofaction because TO BID TWO SUITS AND THENSHOW DELAYED SUPPORT FOR RESPONDER’S FIRST SUIT SHOWS A GOOD HAND.

In the Wednesday Duplicate on 22August 5 of the 9 North’s failed to bid 2 Hearts because from the travellersfive North Souths ended up in 3NT opposite:

10x

A9xxx

A10x

Axx

3NT made only 9 tricks compared to the11 available in Hearts:

Clearly the majority of the Wednesdaynight players could improve their bidding by taking note of this tip ! ! !

Likewise:-

Board 22 Thursday 30 August

J9xx

QJ10

AQxxx

Q

You open 1 Diamond and partner bids 1Heart.  You must again raise Heartsimmediately because you are not strong enough to bid 1 Spade and subsequentlyshow delayed support for Hearts.

This may be put down in the form of arule:-

When holdinga 4-3-5-1 or 4-3-1-5 hand as opener you must raise a response of 1 Heart if youare minimum in the range 11 to 14 points. If you are 16+ you can bid 1 Spade and then subsequently raiseHearts.  You will note that if you have 15points you will have to use your judgement as to whether to follow theconservative or more aggressive action.