By Val Rhead
Accurate bidding in Bridge is essential to do well in the game. Why, you think, should it matter a great deal, if at all, if you PASS your poor 6 point hand after partner opens with a One Heart bid. Well, it matters a great deal if opener is holding a 19 point hand that she opened One Heart planning to jump to Two No Trump. Instead, with your 6 point PASS, opening partner makes 4 Hearts for a part score of 170, not the available game score of 620. Sure it’s just a game that we play for fun. However, isn’t it a lot more fun to bid accurately and make the higher score.
What does it really matter if your partner opens One No Trump with her 15 point hand and you bid Two No trump with your 6 pointer when you should have 8 points? It’s just a game isn’t it. But is it fun when you go down 2 tricks, vulnerable, for their score of 200. Wouldn’t the game be more fun if you made a score of 120 to write on your side of the score sheet?
Now, what about the Weak Two bid that you opened Two Spades? Your partner ups the bid to Three Spades, a good defensive move, intended to extend the pre-empt to make it harder for the opponents to bid and make a contract. You look at your hand. Game is so close. You bid Four Spades when you should have passed. Your opponents double. Down two doubled and vulnerable (Oh, do watch whether or not you’re vulnerable.) for their score of 500. Is the game still fun?
Occasionally, your partner has a rock-crusher of a hand with 25 or more points – a game in hand! (Believe it or not, it does happen!) After the Two Club opening bid, you must often make a Two Diamond “waiting” bid. But what if you have zip (no Ace nor King nor two Queens needed for game) but you don’t have an agreement about how to show a bust hand. Opener now bids Two Spades to show his five card major. He’s looking for the best place to play the sure game or a possible slam and awaits your bid. You PASS! You think that is best because, after all, you have only 2 points. You may notice partner’s hands clenching in a strangling motion eyeing your neck.
Why don’t you and your partner adopt a bid to show a bust hand after the strong Two Club opening. The best convention I know uses Two Hearts immediately after the Two Clubs to show the bust hand. Then the opener has an opportunity, while still at a low level, to place the contract where she sees the best chance of making a game or part score, knowing you will not bid again.
Now a review, Two Clubs opening, Two Diamond response “waiting” – going to game (an Ace or King or two Queens), or Two Hearts response “BUST HAND”. Any other responding bid is positive showing 8 points and a five card suit – we have game and we may have slam.
Oh, Bridge is such fun, isn’t it. But only if you bid accurately, and especially when you have a bid that will inform partner when you have a bust hand after an opening strong Two Club bid. For more information about responses, go to ACBL.org
CONTINUE YOUR PLANS FOR THE LONGEST DAY JUNE 21
REMINDER: Now is the time to book your partner for THE LONGEST DAY Bridge Event in Orillia Wednesday, June 21, 2017 AT 1PM. This special game raises money to fight Alzheimer’s.
Guardian Angels Church
115 West Street North
Orillia, Ontario L3V 5C4
More information will follow here and on Orillia’s website www.orilliabridge.com
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games at the Huntsville Club are Tuesday 7:15 start, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Susan Marshall 705 787-5454 or email [email protected]
The following winners are for Tuesday, May 23 with 19 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Bev Parlett and Barb Forth; 2. Val Rhead and Gail Lederer; 3. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 4. Marjorie Clark and John Clark; 5. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen; East-West 1. Liz Barnes and Bev Howard; 2. Susan Marshall and Mary Whitehead; 3. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell; 4. Carol Sullivan and Dorothy Russell; 5. Andrea Killackey and Terry Killackey
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays 7pm, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, May 22 with 21 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 2. Bev Parlett and Vern Foell; 3. Mary Hogarth and Albert Eatock; 4. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 5. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; East-West 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Lyn Walisser and Bev Howard; 3. Lynda Mochrie and Wayne Mochrie; 4. Kathy Kent and David Kent; 5. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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