Bridge Tip No.12

This time

I would like to demonstrate how “length is more important than strength”.

                                          ♠    K Q 5 2                           Dealer West

                 ♡   10 6                                 No-one vulnerable

                 ♢   A 8 5

♠  J 10 8                           ♣   Q 8 7 2             ♠    A 9

♡  J 8 3                                                           ♡   Q 7 4 2

♢  J 7 6 2                                                        ♢   10 4 3

♣  A J 3                             ♠    7 6 4 3             ♣   10 9 6 5

                 ♡   A K 9 5

                 ♢   K Q 9

                 ♣   K 4

West, North and East all passed.  I was South and I opened 1H, showing 12-19 points and four or more hearts, intending to rebid in no trumps if my partner responded in a minor.  My partner, John, however, responded 1S, showing 6 or more points and four or more spades.  My spades are very weak but I do have four of them, so working on the principle of “length is more important than strength” I supported him by bidding 2S.  This shows a relatively weak hand for my original opening bid, but I could have up to about 15 points.  Because John has 11 points there is a 50/50 chance that I have sufficient points for game because we usually need 25 or more points to play in 4S.  It is therefore right for John to respond 3S to invite me to go to 4S with about 14 or 15 points and to No Bid with fewer.  Of course with this hand I can now bid 4S which will make comfortably and most people at our club did bid 4S with this hand.  People often try and play in 3NT when their suit is weak but that contract will be one down on this hand, proving that an eight card major fit is worth its weight in gold, even if the quality is not too great.

Contact June Booty on 07846 397875 or junetaplin@live.co.uk for information about Bridge classes.