Juniors Imp Pairs Tournament
I played in a junior IMP pairs competition today. It was each junior playing with an expert. I played the expert. We played eight hands and my junior played a very un-junior conservative game. I had a few interesting decisions to make and for once I got them all right (at least as the cards lay). So here are a couple for you to try.
On this hand you are in fourth chair vulnerable against not and your hand is
| ♠ AKJ108 |
| ♥ AK |
| ◊ J873 |
| ♣ KQ |
You are playing 2/1 with puppet Stayman over 2NT, transfers and Smolen. There are three passes to you. What is your choice of opening bid?
I think the choices are 1♠, 2NT or 2♣ with a plan to rebid 2NT (upgrading) or 2♠. I decided this hand was suit oriented so I was left with 1♠ or 2♣ followed by 2♠. I think the former is more flexible. What do you think?
In the end I bid 1♠ and we ended in 4♠. Partner had
| ♠ 943 |
| ♥ Q1084 |
| ◊ KQ5 |
| ♣ 875 |
If you open 2NT you are going to end in 3NT. The opening leader has five good clubs and you are going down. Quite a number of pairs did not get to the right contract. My partner and I had quite a long discussion about this deal. He was surprised I hadn’t opened 2NT. He asked what I would have done over a 1NT (semi-forcing) bid by him. I would have bid 3◊. If I was just planning to raise to 3NT I might as well have opened 2NT. We both thought the discussion was interesting.
Was I lucky or did I do the right thing?
Here is a more wild and wooly hand. This time everyone is vulnerable and you are once again in fourth chair. You hold:
| ♠ A975 |
| ♥ 53 |
| ◊ — |
| ♣ AQ75432 |
The bidding starts
| West | North | East | South |
| pass | |||
| 1◊ | 1♠ | 2♣ | dbl |
| pass | 2♠ | ? |
Here was my first problem. Okay it has that misfit feel and I have a void in partner’s suit but I do have seven clubs. I bid 3♣ and it still seems right to me. Partner perked up with 3♠. This was clearly a request to bid 3NT. I hate bidding 3NT with a void but I do have a potential source of tricks and spades stopped maybe even twice. So I bid 3NT, a bit reluctantly. Now South doubled and it was passed back to me. Am I going to run like a rabbit or take it like a woman? What would you do? Here is my thought process. It does sound like South has a club trick (the king?). I didn’t really think he had a huge heart suit. Partner has to have good hearts on this auction. I am worried that partners diamonds which may look pretty good to him are not going to stand up as a stopper. I was almost positive I would get doubled in 4♣ which had an upside, I might make it. So I bid that. I suppose if I had the courage of my convictions I might have bid 5♣ and I did think of it. South duly doubled 4♣ which made that choice mute. The best part was that everyone had pretty much what I thought they would have and I made an uptrick! Some days the sun shines even in the winter. Here is the whole hand
| ♠ KJ842 | ||
| ♥ Q10 | ||
| ◊ Q987 | ||
| LoveMath (junior) | ♣ 98 | Linda |
| ♠ Q6 | ♠ A975 | |
| ♥ AKJ8 | ♥ 53 | |
| ◊ J5432 | ◊ — | |
| ♣ J6 | ♣ AQ75432 | |
| ♠ 103 | ||
| ♥ 97642 | ||
| ◊ AK106 | ||
| ♣ K10 |
Isn’t it great to have a partner who had his bid Thanks partner, I hope you had as much fun as I did.
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Linda, I think the first hand you earned your good score.
I have simple rules when I am undecided.
Rule 1. bid suits in imps and bid NT in match point.
Rule 2. with slow tricks bid NT and with quick tricks bid suit contract.
As for the 2nd hand. This time you were lucky to have been DBL! However I think 4C is enough with your hand. You would not be so happy if your partner’s red suit honor holdings are reversed!
Another point of interest, NT should be play by the Q side and not by the Ace side.
What about instead of 3S, West bid 3H that would give the partnership a better chance at the final contract.
I understand your point about wanting notrump from the Qx side. But if he bids 3H and I bid 3S what does that mean? Does it ask for half a stopper? It is a very delicate sequence for a pickup partnership.
What is the difference in meaning between a direct 3S (as here) and I bid of 3H. They both are looking for something in spades? Maybe 3S should tend to deny much in spades since you have no way to get to 3NT from that your side after you bid 3S and 3H leaves it open to partner to ask you to bid 3NT with a partial stopper in spades. If I bid 3S over 3H it shouldn’t be looking for a whole spade stopper because partner already denied that with the 3H bid.
An interesting sequence.
Linda..Thank you so much for all your help, encouragement and especially your patience. Hope this gives you a smile today. Kathy
BRIDGE STUDENT’S LAMENT
(OR AN ODE TO LINDA)
“PAY ATTENTION TO THE AUCTION”
IS WHAT MY TEACHER SAID
NOW I PLAY THAT ADMONITION
LIKE A MANTRA IN MY HEAD
I HAD 10 POINTS THAT LOOKED QUITE GOOD
AND BID WHAT I THOUGHT BEST
NOT SURE JUST HOW I GOT TO SLAM
SO THIS WILL BE A TEST
MAKE A PLAN AND COUNT YOUR LOSERS
I KNOW THAT’S WHAT SHE’D SAY
WELL, MAYBE I WILL MAKE IT
IF I CLOSE MY EYES AND PRAY
SO FAR SO GOOD IS WHAT I THOUGHT
AND TOOK THE FIRST TWO TRICKS
BUT SOMEHOW OPPS JUST TOOK THE REST
AND I THOUGHT I’D MAKE SIX
IT CAN BE SO CONFUSING
AND I’M SURE THAT YOU CAN SEE
WHEN THE CARDS ARE ON THE TABLE
THE BIGGEST DUMMY?.. ME 🙂
I love the poem but you are not a dummy at all. Trust me, you play very well, better than some and worse than others.
Let me compare it to my husband’s tennis lessons. The pro plays with Ray and makes sure that Ray gets a good workout and learns and improves. The pro will always be better than Ray but Ray has learned enough to be better than a lot of his usual opponents.
Not only that but every time we get together I learn a lot too.
It is a pleasure to work with you Kathie