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Robins Lesson 28-10-21
Lesson 28th October, first 10 boards of Session played Wednesday 13th October

Lesson Thursday 28th October 2021 using first 9 hands played on Wednesday 13th October, click here to see the notes in a printable form.   Answer buttons will bring up Robin's comments on the hands rather than answers.
Hand 1 - To lead 4th highest or not is the question
  1. 3NT -  South has a good hand but, with partner being 14 points maximum & balanced, not enough for a slam try.

Opening lead - 5♠. Don’t lead 4th highest from a poor suit as partner will think you have an honour, instead lead 2nd highest. Now partner knows any missing honours are with the opposition and can play accordingly.
Hand 2 - NT rebid planned
  1. 1♥  - Good hand, planning NT rebid so show the major so that it doesn’t get lost if partner responds 1♠.
  2. 2NT - Shows 17-18 HCP, with 16 generally right to pass.
  3. 3NT - West has 8, enough for 3NT
Hand 3 Responder shows exactly 9 HCP

KEY POINT
NEVER LEAD AWAY FROM AN UNSUPPORTED KING, EITHER IN SUIT OR NO TRUMP CONTRACTS

  1. 1NT - Shows 15-16 HCP
  2. 2NT - invitational, shows specifically 9 points
  3. 3NT - Accepts with 16.

Opening Lead: J♠  (top of a sequence) If holding was J T 7 2 the Jack would still be a good lead, it doesn’t have to be a three-card sequence.
Hand 4 - Weak 1NT opener generally has 8 losers

4 hearts makes, and it looks as though you want to be in but East has 8 losers, and opposite a weak No Trump, 8 losers does not normally go to game. There are generally 8 losers in an
opening NT bid.

1NT - West has two weak suits in the minors but should still open 1NT. He does have a good 12 points (T 9 is very useful with the King of Hearts), & also a VG chance that partner has something in the minors.
Hand 5 - Rule of 18 (used to be 20!) and a CRO option

Two possible options for East's first bid.

Bidding sequence A
Bidding sequence B (CRO)
 
   W   
   N   
   E   
   S   
  
    1♥1 2♣ Pass2  
  Pass Pass3      
           
 
   W   
   N   
   E   
   S   
  
    1♥ 2NT4 Dble5  
  3♦ Dble6 Pass Pass  
  Pass        
  1. Meets the EBU Rule of 18 & is too good a hand to open a Weak 2.
  2. Hoping North makes a Take-Out Double, which you’ll leave in for penalties.
  3. With 6 Hearts & 4 Diamonds North should rebid the Hearts, but having opened light a pass is more disciplined.
  4. CRO (At least 5-5 in the minor suits)
  5. This double shows a willingness to penalise at least one of the suits.
  6. North should double since South obviously has Clubs.

South should always lead a trump against this bidding, to cut down ruffs. The 7 is best.
Hand 6 - Strong response after a double
  1. 1♥  (N) - 1♥  would be a weak response.
  2. 4♥ - Holding 3 cards to the Queen in your partners bid suit makes your hand so much stronger
Hand 7 - Talk about fast arrival!
  1. 1♠  -  A 5-card Spade suit, & hand meets EBU rules for opening.
  2. 4♠  -  Seven & a half losers, but with 13 HCP’s go for it.
Hand 8 - An adventurous double?
  1. Dble by S - This double even with only 6HCP is OK – non-vulnerable, with only 6 losers.

Opening Lead: ♥5
Hand 9 - Overcall not possible
  1. Pass by West -  2♣  would be a conventional bid & hand isn’t good enough to bid 3♣ 
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