We have a set of Bernard Magee tutorial DVD's. If you have one, please return it. We currently have :-
Responding to 1NT, Endplay & Losing Trick Count available for Loan. Please see Dave or Lyndon if interested.
The lessons are based on notes I have compiled on the Benji system. I have posted the notes for the benefit of the class but I would welcome comments from any club member who would like to suggest improvements.
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
1 Assessing the strength of your hand
The strength of a hand is based on its high cards and its shape.
High card points relate to Aces =4, Kings = 3, Queens = 2, Jacks = 1.
Shape is based on the number of cards you hold in your 2 longest suits.
The Rule of 20 If your high card points + the number of cards in your 2 longest suits = 20 or more you are strong enough to open the bidding.
You may of course hold a much stronger hand. We divide unbalanced opening hands as follows:-
Weak opening hand 14 high card points or less
Intermediate Hands 15-18 high card points
Strong Hands 19 high card points or more.
A weak unbalanced hand should open your longest suit at the one level.
If you hold 2 suits of equal length
With 2 5 card suits open the higher ranking suit.
With a 4 card major and a 4 card minor open the major
With both majors or both minors open the lower ranking suit.
Then after a response by partner the opening bidder should rebid staying below 2 of the opened suit.
Example 1 1♥ p 1♠ p
2♦ .
2 1♠ p 1Nt p
2♠ .
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
2 With an intermediate unbalanced hand should open your longest suit at the 1 level
Then after a response by partner the opening bidder should rebid going above 2 of the opened suit.
Example 1 1♥ p 1♠ p
3♦ .
2 1♠ p 1Nt p
3♠ .
A strong unbalanced hand should open your longest suit at the 1 level
Then after a response by partner the opening bidder should rebid at the game level.
Example 1 1♥ p 1♠ p
3Nt or 4♥ or 4♠ .
2 1♠ p 1Nt p
4♠ .
There are 2 conventional bids to describe a very strong hand. (A conventional bid is one where the suit bid does not relate to the suit held.)
A hand containing 23 high card points or more is opened 2♦ Opener’s partner should ALERT this bid as it is not based on a diamond suit.
A hand that can win 8 tricks in a specific suit should be opened 2♣ . Opener’s partner should ALERT this as the hand may not be based on Clubs.
With a 4-4-4-1 shape.
Bridge players find this shape very difficult to bid. The recommended approach has changed many times. The first 2 bids by opener deceive partner.
If the singleton is Red open the suit below the singleton.
If the singleton is Black open the middle of the touching suits.
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Singleton
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open
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Partner responds
The Singleton
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Partner responds a suit held
Support using losing trick count
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Clubs
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1H
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Bid 2D
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Partner will think you have 5 hearts
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Diamonds
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1C
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Bid 1H
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Partner will “Know” you have 5 clubs
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Hearts
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1D
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Bid 1S
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Partner will “Know” you have 5 Diamonds
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Spades
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1D
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Bid 2C
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Danger of missing a Heart fit
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Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
3 No Trump bidding and responses.
Acol is based on the weak No Trump. The bid should be used whenever possible.
To open 1 No Trump you need 12-14 high card points and your hand must not contain
A a void
B a singleton
C 2 doubletons.
The acceptable suit patters are 4-3-3-3. 4-4-3-2 5-3-3-2
With the correct shape but a stronger hand use the following procedure:-
15-16 high card points Open 1 of a suit and rebid NT at the lowest level.
Example 1♦ p 1♥ P
1NT
1♥ p 2♣ p
2NT
17-18 high card points open one of a suit and rebid NT with a jump
Example 1♦ p 1♥ P
2NT
1♥ p 2♣ p
3NT
19-20 high card points open 2NT
21-22 HCP open 2♣ and over the response 2 ♦ rebid 2NT
23-24 HCP open 2♦ and over any response bid the lowest level of NT
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
4 Stayman and Transfers
The No Trump bids are limit bids. They describe the hand very accurately so it is the responder who is in a position to determine the final contract. The No Trump bidder’s points are known so the responder knows if the partnership is in the part score region 12-24 points. The game region 25-32 points or the slam region 33+
The responder has two conventions to determine the level and suit.
Stayman 2 ♣ is used when the responder has a 4 card major and wants to find a major suit fit.
Transfers are used when responder has a 5 card suit or longer which may be preferable to No Trumps.
The responder who uses Stayman must be able to stand any response from declarer.
Transfers can be used with a wide range of points, responder will set the final level or invite declarer with a maximum to choose.
Examples Stayman
1NT P 2♣ P
2 ♦ P 2♥ I am weak please pass 2♥
1NT P 2♣ P
2♥ P 3♥ P bid 4♥ if you are maximum
1Nt P 2♣ P
2♥ P 3Nt P I have 12+ points and was looking for a fit in ♠
Examples Transfers
1NT P 2♦ P
2♥ P 3Nt P We have enough points for game and I have 5 hearts
1NT P 2♥ P
2 ♠ P 2Nt P We have enough points only if you are maximum.
1NT P 2♠ P I have a 6 card minor suit and a very weak hand
2NT P P P 2NT is a relay, responder then nominates the minor suit
Stayman and Transfers are also used over a 1NT overcall and over 2NT bid either as an opening bid, or following a 2♣ or 2♦ opening.
If the opponents overcall the 1NT opening do not use stayman or transfers, bid naturally
If the opponents x 1NT treat all bids as transfers xx = . ♣, ♣ =♦ ,♦ =♥ , ♥ =♠
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
5 Overcalling.
If the opponents have opened the bidding at the one level , you have several options:-
A simple Overcall
A bid of a suit at the 1 level promises a good suit (5 cards with an honour) but very few points
A bid of a suit at the 2 level a good suit with 2 honours but very few points.
When responding to a simple overcall top priority is to support the overcalled suit.
With a weak hand, (0-9 points) add the number of cards in the suit to openers 5 and bid to that level.
With 3 cards raise to the 2 level with 5 cards raise to the 4 level.
With 10+ points and 3 card support bid the opener’s suit.
1 ♥ 1♠ p 2♥
Without 3 card support you can bid a new suit with a very good suit but expect the overcaller to pass.
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
6 The take out double
A Double Promises support for the unbid suits and a hand of opening bid values, or a very strong hand.
Holding 10 or more points, the opener’s partner will redouble. It is then very likely that the doubler’s partner is very weak. Nevertheless they must bid.
Responses to a take out double with or without a redouble
If there is no intervening bid then the doubler’s partner MUST bid.
1 ♥ x p 1♠
OR 1 ♥ X XX 1♠
Could be bid on xxx/xxx/xxx/xxxx with ♥ being the only 4 card suit. The 1♠ bid may be only a 3 card suit.
If there is an intervening bid other than a redouble, the doubler’s partner will only bid with 5-7 points
With or without an intervening bid, the take out doubler’s partner must make a jump
bid with 9-11 points. 1 ♥ x P 2♠
with 12+ the partner should bid the opener’s suit 1♥ X P 2♥
Following the redoubling sequence 1♥ x xx 1♠ /2♣ /2♦ the opening bidder should leave the next bid to the redouble with 2 exceptions:-
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The original opening bid was very weak.
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The doubler’s partner bids opener’s second suit. In which case the opening bidder should x
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
7 Overcalling Conventions
A 1NT overcall promises 15-17 points and a stop in the suit bid.
Partner uses stayman and transfers.
A jump in a suit promises 14-18 points and a 6 card suit.
Partner bids naturally
A 2NT overcall promises 10 cards in the minors(♣ ,♦ ) and 7-11 or 17+ points over a major suit (♥ ,♠ ) opening
If a minor suit has been opened the unusual 2Nt indicates the two lowest unbid suits.
e.g 1♦ 2NT = ♥ and ♣
With 12 to 16 points a take out double is preferred,
The Michaels Convention
If the opened suit is a minor, 2 of the minor promises both majors but few points
If the suit opened is a major 2 of the major promises the other major and a minor but few points
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
8 Responding with a major suit fit.
Two methods of assessing your combined strength are used
1 High card points
When partner opens a major suit for which you have 4 card support you should not look for an alternative . You must determine the right level.
If partner opens 1♥ or 1♠ and you have 4 of the suit.
With 0-8 points raise to 2 of the suit. Some recommend 5-8 but with a very weak hand it is worth taking away some of the opponents bidding space.
With 9-11 points raise to 3 of the suit
With 12-14 points bid another suit then on the next turn bid at the 4 level.
With 15 + points jump in another suit then agree the suit.
With 6 card support and a hand with 7 losers go straight to 4.
All the above systems can be used with support for a minor suit but it is normal to explore the possibility of a higher scoring contract.
2 The Losing Trick Count LTC See sheet 13
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
9 Responding without a fit
If partner has opened a suit at the 1 level ..
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Responder can show a new suit at the one level with only 5 high card points.
With two 4 card suits bid the suits in ascending order.
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If responder’s suit can only be bid at the 2 level the hand must meet the rule of 14.
The Number of high card points + the number of cards in the suit = 14 or more.
e.g 10 points and a 4 card suit, 9 points and a 5 card suit, 8 points and a 6 card suit
3 The rule of 14 often leaves responder with a suit but insufficient points to bid at the 2 level. Such hands are shown with a 1NT response. Showing 5-9 points but not guaranteeing the standard NT shape
The responses outlined in 1 & 2 above could be used with hands much stronger than the minimum outlined. The responding hand could have as many as 16 high card points.
For this reason opener cannot pass a response in a new suit.
The Opening bidder must have a response in mind prior tp opening the bidding.
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Responding 2NT or 3NT.
A response of 2NT to an opening bid of 1 of a suit shows 11-12 points and at the same time denies a 4 card major
A response of 3NT shows 13-15 points and denies a 4 card major.
5 A jump in a new suit e.g 1♥ p 2♠
1♦ P 2♥
1♠ P 3♦ indicates 17 points without a fit.
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
9 The Strong bids
The Benji 2♣ bid.
Denotes Either 8 tricks in an unnamed suit or a balanced hand of 21-22 high card points.
Partner must respond 2♦ and opener must announce that this is a relay.
If opener bids a suit over the relay, this is the suit in which they can make 8 tricks.
1 This is a forcing bid and if responder would have passed an opening bid of 1 of that suit they must bid 2NT.
If opener then bids 3 of the suit the responder can pass. All other sequences are forcing to the game level.
2 If responder has support (10 x x or better) for the suit bid they respond 4 of the suit with no aces and 3 of the suit with an Ace.
3 If responder does not have support but would have made a new suit response to an opening of 1 of the suit, they bid the suit that they hold.
If opener bids 2NT over the relay then responder takes charge using Stayman and Transfers.
The Benji 2♦ bid
Denotes 23 or more high card points.
Responder with a weak hand (less than 9 points and not having 7 in the form of an A and a K.)
Bids 2. ♥ Opener must announce this is weak.
If opener rebids 2Nt this is precisely 23-24 points and responder takes control using Stayman and Transfers.
Responder with an A and a K or any 9 points bids naturally, this sequence is forcing to game.
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
10 Roman Key Card Blackwood.
The strong opening bids of 2♣ or 2♦ and the situations where responder has a strong hand (15 points and support for the opening bid of 17 points without support often lead to the possibility of a slam.
There are several ways of checking how many of the Key Cards are missing.
The one I like best is RKCB. 1430
If the bidding sequence suggests that the partnership is interested in a slam then either partner can bid 4NT.
There is no need to announce that this is RKCB but you must answer if the opponents ask.
There are 5 Key cards, the 4 aces plus the K of trumps.
The Q of trumps is also of interest.
The responses to 4NT are :-
5♣ I have either 1 or 4 of the 5 Key cards.
5 ♦ 0 or 3
5♥ I have 2 of the 5 key cards but do not have the trump Q
5♠ I have the trump Q
The 1 or 4 /0 or 3 is not as confusing as you fear becasuse looking at your own hand will eliminate some of the options.
If responder does not know which suit is trumps they should base their response on the last suit bid.
DIPO
Occasionally the opposition will make an intervening bid to disrupt the above sequence.
If they do then x with 1 or 4, P with 0 or 3 and bid the next suit with 2 but no Q.
Exceptions
If responder is known not to hold an Ace then RKCB can be used to locate 4Ks and the trump Q.
e.g 2 ♣ p 2♦ p
2 ♥ p 4 ♥ p 4♥ = ♥ support but no Aces
4NT p 5♦ I have 0 or 3 of the 5 key cards 4K + the ♥ Q
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
11 The weak bids
Benji incorporates weak 2 bids in the majors
2/ ♥♠ are used to indicate a 6 card suit with 5-9 points, The hand should fail the rule of 20.
Excellent suits A-K-9-8-7-6, K-Q-J-7-6-5
Good Suits A-J-10-5-4-3, Q-J-10-5-4-3, K-J-7-6-5-4
Poor suits A-10-9-4-3-2, Q-J-8-7-6-5, J-10-9-7-6-5, A-10-7-6-5-4/ K-10-8-7-6-5
Too weak Q-7-6-5-4-3, J-10-7-4-3-2 and would not qualify
The most common response to a Weak Two is ‘pass’ Remember that Weak Twos are preemptive bids, so to respond to them you need a similar strength to that required to respond to a weak three:
With 3 card support or two to an honour you can respond with next to nothing as a preemptive measure
Without support you need at least 16 points to make a strong response.
The main strong option over a Weak Two is 2NT, which is a conventional response (the ‘Ogust’ convention) that will ask the opening bidder to describe their hand accurately using the scheme:-
3♣ A poor suit and 5-7 points
3♦ A good suit and 5-7 points
3♥ A poor suit and 8-9 points
3 ♠ A good suit and 8-9 points
3NT An excellent suit and 8-9 points
.A change-of-suit response is very unusual, and is usually made with a very strong hand that does not
want to play in the opened suit; a change of suit is forcing for one round showing at least a good five card suit
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes.
12 The negative double
We are very rarely in a position to double a low level overcall for penalties, so to make better use of this bid most partnerships play negative doubles of bids up to and including 2 ♠ .
The bid is used to inform partner that the bidder had intended to respond to the opening bid but the overcall has prevented this.
It is also informing partner that the doubler believes that their partnership holds the balance of the points.
Examples.
1♦ 2♣ x I would have bid at the 1 level but cannot bid at . the 2 level.
1 ♥ 2♣ x I would have bid 1 ♠ or 1NT
The opening bidder can also use the negative double.
1♣ p 1♦ 1♠
X I would have rebid 1♥ but cannot bid 2♥
The point count for the negative double for the responder is the same as it would have been without the overcall.
A negative double of a 1 level overcall shows 5-9 points. As with 10 points you were strong enough to bid at the 2 level.
A negative double of a t level overcall shows 8 + points
You can use the negative double with a strong hand because you expect partner to bid again.
The opening bidder responds as they would have done if partner had responded by bidding a major suit.
Negative Doubles by responder.
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1C
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1D
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X
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H + S
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Opener assumes responder
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1C
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1D
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1H
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H but not S
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Has the value for a 1 level response
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1C
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1D
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1S
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S but not H
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1D/C
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1H
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X
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4S
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1D/C
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1H
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1S
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5S
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1H
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1S
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X
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C + D
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1H
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1S
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2C
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C but not D
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1H
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1S
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2D
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D but not C
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1S
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2C/D
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X
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4H
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Responder has value for 2 level response
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1S
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2C/D
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2H
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5H
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1S
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2H
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X
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C+D
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Responder has value for a3 level response
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Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes.
13 The Losing Trick Count.
This is a method of assessing the combined strength of two hands with a fit in a suit.
By a fit we mean that the partnership have found a 4-4. 5-3 or 6-2 card fit.
The LTC is most often used in the major suits.
Once a fit has been found you must:-
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Count your losers
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Add your partner’s losers
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Subtract the total from 18.
The result is the level at which you can play.
Counting losers
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Only the first 3 cards in any suit can be losers.
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Only Aces Kings and Queens are winners.
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A Singleton K and doubleton Q are losers.
-
An unsupported Q is half a loser.
The following table can be applied to each suit in turn once you have established a fit
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Number of losers
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0
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AKQ
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AK
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A
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void
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1
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AKx
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AQx
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KQx
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Ax
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Kx
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K
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x
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2
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Axx
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Kxx
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QJx
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Qx
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xx
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2.5
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Qxx
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Qxxx
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Qxxxx
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Qxxxxx
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Qxxxxxx
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3
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xxx
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xxxx
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xxxxx
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xxxxxx
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xxxxxxx
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A minimum opening hand is assumed to contain 7 losers
A minimum responding hand is assumed to contain 9 losers.
If Partner opens a suit for which you have 4 card support, count your losers and add 7.
Take the sum from 18.
With 9 losers bid 2, 8 losers bid 3, 7 losers bid 4.with 5 losers use RKCB
If partner responds in a suit for which you have 4 card support, count your losers and add 9
With 7 losers bid 2,6 losers bid 3, with 5 losers bid 4 with 3 losers use RKCB.
Ringwood Bridge Club BridgeClasses.
13 The Losing Trick Count.continued
If your partner supports your suit count your losers.
If you have the number of losers that partner expect pass.
If you have 1 loser less raise one level
If you have 2 losers less jump one level.
Examples from recent Ringwood sessions
Ringwood Bridge Club Bridge Classes
14 Preemptive bidding
There are 2 reasons. To preempt, one is to describe your hand and the second is to disrupt the opponents
.
1. DISRUPTION. A 3 level preempt takes two levels of bidding space from the opponents
.
2. DESCRIPTION a pre-emptive bid gives an accurate description of your hand: a seven-card suit and a weak hand.
Pre-empting essentials
A pre-emptive 3 opening bid shows a good 7-card suit in a hand of below opening strength.
A pre-emptive 4 opening bid shows a good 8-card suit in a hand of below opening strength.
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High-card point strength5-9, the hand should fail the rule of 20
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Suit quality. Do not to take risks with the quality of your suit when you are vulnerable.
When opening a vulnerable pre-empt you should have at least three of the top five cards or the ace-king. The intermediate cards, 10s 9s and 8s are particulary useful when the suit breaks badly
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Defensive valuesYou must never have the potential for more than two defensive tricks.
Most of your high-card strength should be in your long suit, .Knowing that you will have very few defensive tricks enables partner to make the right judgement when deciding whether to sacrifice
4 Distribution Do not pre-empt with a good fou rcard major in your hand because you might miss a better contract in that suit.
7-2-2-2 hands (with three doubletons) are the weakes tshaped hands of all possible pre-empts; you should prefer hands with a singleton or void.
5. Vulnerability Against a game contract.
At equal vunerability, 2 off doubled is normally a profitable sacrifice.
At unfavourable vunerability 2 off doubled is normally a bad result.
At favourable vunerability 3 off doubled is profitable
The same approach applies to sacrifices against Slam contracts
6 . Position In the first seat you are preempting 2 opponents and partner. Bid as above
In the second seat you should promise two of the top three honours..
Third seat pre-empts can be much weaker
Third seat preempts at favouable vunerability are bid on tram tickets and cabbage leaves.
15 defence to 1NT
Ringwood Bridge Club Lesson 16 Defence to 1NT
There are dozens of systems you can use to defend against the Weak NT opening bid.
Landy/ Sharples/Astro/Aspro/Cappaletti/Pinpoint Astro/
Landy is the simplest ,2Clubs asks partner to bid their best major suit(It may be only 3 cards) with both major suits equal in length responder bids 2 Diamonds.
I favour the system outlined below.
With 15 points and a fairly balanced double
With 15 points and a one suited hand bid suit at 3 level
With 9-14 points bid as shown in the table
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Bid
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Meaning
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Response
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Rebid
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2 Clubs
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I have a good suit
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2 Diamonds
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Bid suit, Pass if suit is Diamonds
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2 D
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I have 9 cards in D & H
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Pass if D better than H
Bid H if H = or better than D
Raise H with 7 losers
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Pass
Pass
Raise with 7 losers
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2 H
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I have 9 cards in H & S
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Pass if H > S
Bid S if S > H
Raise with 7 losers
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Pass
Pass
Raise with 7 losers
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2S
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I have 5 S and a 4 card Minor
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P unless both minors better that S in which case bid C
Raise S with 7 losers
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If responder bids C chose the Minor .
Raise with 7 losers
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2C/D/H/S
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As above
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With 12 points in the other suits bid 2NT
With 13 bid 3NT
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16 Alerting and Announcing
Ringwood Bridge Club
Opening bids
Where 1C or 1D might be a short suit it should be announced. :- “may be 0 or 1 or 2”
Where 1C or 1D indicates at least 3 or more it does not need announcing
If 1C or 1D promises strength it needs to be alerted..
1NT. The strength needs to be announced, e.g.12 to 14.
2C. When used as a strong bid in Acol has to be alerted.
2D. The strength needs to be announced as “weak” or “strong”.
2D (Benji Acol,) it needs to be alerted
2H or 2S. These 2 bids need announcing as “weak” or “strong, forcing” or “strong, non-forcing”.
2NT. The strength needs to be announced, e.g. “20 to 22”
Responses to 1NT or to 2NT
Stayman continues to be announced (1NT – 2C) or (2NT – 3C) Transfers over 1NT or 2NT simply need to be announced , . 2D as “hearts” or 2H as “spades”
Bids above 3NT
Only artificial suit bids on the 1st round of bidding or lead directing bids need to be alerted
Doubles
When a natural suit is called by the opponents, “double” is usually for take out and should not be alerted or announced..
If the suit bid by the opponents does not show a natural suit (e.g. a very short suit is possible 0,1,2 cards) if the double is for take out it needs alerting.
Redoubling
If the opponents double for any reason, a “redouble” is assumed to be natural and show strength and “partner is expected to pass”. If the redouble tells partner to bid again it must be alerted.
Alerting and Announcing
Opening bids
Where 1C or 1D might be a short suit it should be announced. :- “may be 0 or 1 or 2”
Where 1C or 1D indicates at least 3 or more it does not need announcing
If 1C or 1D promises strength it needs to be alerted..
1NT. The strength needs to be announced, e.g.12 to 14.
2C. When used as a strong bid in Acol has to be alerted.
2D. The strength needs to be announced as “weak” or “strong”.
2D (Benji Acol,) it needs to be alerted
2H or 2S. These 2 bids need announcing as “weak” or “strong, forcing” or “strong, non-forcing”.
2NT. The strength needs to be announced, e.g. “20 to 22”
Responses to 1NT or to 2NT
Stayman continues to be announced (1NT – 2C) or (2NT – 3C) Transfers over 1NT or 2NT simply need to be announced , . 2D as “hearts” or 2H as “spades”
Bids above 3NT
Only artificial suit bids on the 1st round of bidding or lead directing bids need to be alerted
Doubles
When a natural suit is called by the opponents, “double” is usually for take out and should not be alerted or announced..
If the suit bid by the opponents does not show a natural suit (e.g. a very short suit is possible 0,1,2 cards) if the double is for take out it needs alerting.
Redoubling
If the opponents double for any reason, a “redouble” is assumed to be natural and show strength and “partner is expected to pass”. If the redouble tells partner to bid again it must be alerted.
Alerting and Announcing
Opening bids
Where 1C or 1D might be a short suit it should be announced. :- “may be 0 or 1 or 2”
Where 1C or 1D indicates at least 3 or more it does not need announcing
If 1C or 1D promises strength it needs to be alerted..
1NT. The strength needs to be announced, e.g.12 to 14.
2C. When used as a strong bid in Acol has to be alerted.
2D. The strength needs to be announced as “weak” or “strong”.
2D (Benji Acol,) it needs to be alerted
2H or 2S. These 2 bids need announcing as “weak” or “strong, forcing” or “strong, non-forcing”.
2NT. The strength needs to be announced, e.g. “20 to 22”
Responses to 1NT or to 2NT
Stayman continues to be announced (1NT – 2C) or (2NT – 3C) Transfers over 1NT or 2NT simply need to be announced , . 2D as “hearts” or 2H as “spades”
Bids above 3NT
Only artificial suit bids on the 1st round of bidding or lead directing bids need to be alerted
Doubles
When a natural suit is called by the opponents, “double” is usually for take out and should not be alerted or announced..
If the suit bid by the opponents does not show a natural suit (e.g. a very short suit is possible 0,1,2 cards) if the double is for take out it needs alerting.
Redoubling
If the opponents double for any reason, a “redouble” is assumed to be natural and show strength and “partner is expected to pass”. If the redouble tells partner to bid again it must be alerted.
Ringwood Bridge Club Safety Plays
Suit combinations
There are many suit combinations that constantly re-occur in bridge and over a period of time experts have worked out the best way to play them. Often they can be played in two ways:-
- To make the most tricks
- To lose the least tricks.
It is quite rare to play a hand with absolutely no clues as to the distribution of the defenders holdings. Clues occur in their bidding or lack of bidding and from the lead. You may have to play the cards in order to avoid a particular defender obtaining the lead or to create an entry into one of your hands. The play advised in this session applies ONLY when you have no clues or motives.
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Dummy N
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Declarer S
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To make the most tricks
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To lose the least tricks
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A J X X
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10 X X X
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Lead low and finesse the J.
Then play the A
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Play the A on the first round.
Then play a low card
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Q J X X
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A X X
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Play the A then lead towards the Q
Return to hand to play low to the J
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You cannot gain by finessing
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A Q X X
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XXXX
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Lead low to the A
Return to hand play low to the Q
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At least 1 trick must be lost
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K 9 X
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A 10 XX
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Cash the A and K
Wins 3 tricks if the suit is 3-3 or an honour has dropped
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If an honour drops on the first round play that hand for a singleton
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AKJ10xx
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xx
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Finesse the J then
Finesse the 10
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This gains when W holds Qxxx
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AKxxx
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J109
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Finesse the J then
Finesse the 10
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This gains when W holds Qxxx
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KJx
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A9xxx
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To make 5 tricks play W for Qxx
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To make 4 tricks play the K
Then lead low to the J
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K9x
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AJxxx
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To make 5 tricks play E for Qxx
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To make 4 tricks play the A
Then lead low to finesse the 9
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