By Val Rhead
BIG HANDS PART FIVE: HOW TO BID A THIRTY-ONE POINT HAND
As in many small communities, some of our social life revolves around fundraising events to raise money to support local charities. Several times a year, CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women) runs Bridge Fundraisers to support our bursary program that financially assists Muskoka’s young women pursuing post-secondary education. It’s a fun afternoon where women, and a few brave men, meet friends from other parts of their lives, eat a delicious lunch, and generally “let loose” in a casual game of Bridge.
As I was leaving the most recent of these events, a friend called out to me. Matilda told me that she’d just played the best hand that she’s ever had. “I had 31 points,” she said. “I didn’t know how to bid it. I was so afraid my partner would pass.”
“That’s a stronger hand than I’ve ever had,” I replied. “I think my best ever was 29 points. Well what did you open?”
“Six No Trump!” Matilda answered.
“What did you make?” I asked.
“Well, Seven No-Trump,” she answered. “I just didn’t know how to bid it. I was so afraid that my partner was going to pass.” This is a common fear among all players who do not have a regular partner with whom to share bidding conventions. So Matilda did her best with a safe bid.
There are many different conventions to handle Big Hands. You have to work it out with your partner. With a regular partner, the following is how I would bid this hand. Generally, it’s better with strong hands, to go slowly. With 22 points or more, always open Two Clubs. It’s a forcing bid. Your partner can’t pass. If he has absolutely nothing, that is no Ace or no King or not even two Queens, he bids Two Hearts to show he has a “Bust Hand.” The Two-Heart bid is an artificial bid that says nothing about Hearts. It just tells partner that the responder has nothing. If instead he does pass, you can kill him! If a Director is running the game, he will look the other way.
If the responder has at least an Ace, a King or two Queens, he bids “Two Diamonds,” and this is forcing to game. The “Two-Diamond” bid is artificial and says nothing about the Diamonds he may have. You and your partner then bid slowly to the game or even the slam level. If you bid slowly on your 31-point hand, you may discover that your partner has enough assets to bid the Grand Slam.
If the responder has at least eight points and a five-card suit, he can bid the suit (Two Spades, Three Clubs, Three Diamonds). If he has eight points or more but no five-card or better suit, he still will bid Two Diamonds which says nothing about Diamonds but guarantees a probable game at least.
Every Convention, including the “Two-Heart Bust” Convention, has a downside. In this case, what does the responder do if he has at least a five-card Heart suit and at least eight points? He bids Two No-Trump instead of Two Hearts. Tres simple. Also, remember to remind your partner that you are playing the “Two-Heart Bust” Convention when you first start to play together. It could be catastrophic if you don’t.
You will find this a very useful Convention. If you open with a “Strong Two-Club” bid, you may have a bare 22 points. This isn’t enough for your partnership to make a game if your partner has next to nothing so a Two-Club bid that is forcing all the way to game doesn’t make much sense. If your partner doesn’t have many points, he will be nervous that your partnership won’t make a game. He will be tempted to pass, but he is not allowed to pass! If partner bids a “Two-Hearts Bust,” in this situation, you can set the contract for a part score that you have a good chance of making with your bare 22 points.
On the other hand, you might be bidding with a 31-point hand and you don’t need any help from your partner to reach a game. You definitely don’t want him to pass your Two-Club opening bid. If he bids ”Two-Hearts Bust,” you may carefully study your hand and decide whether it’s a good 31 points (four Aces, and a long running suit, or a two-suited hand ) and you’ll go for a slam, or more likely a poor 31 points (three Aces and losers) where you’ll decide to settle for a game.
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will try to include it in this column.
NEW SOCIAL BRIDGE GAME IN HUNTSVILLE
Games are at the Active Living Centre on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room on the 2nd floor (elevator) at the back entrance of the Canada Summit Centre. Just come – with or without a partner.
For information, please contact Donna or Peter Tikuisis at 647 471 1774 or [email protected].
For now, this game will be played following Chicago Rules (allowing both fast and slow games). You will keep your same partner for the entire evening. Cost is $1.50 per person. Parking is outside the North Entrance opposite Heritage Village Railway Station.
PORT CARLING SOCIAL BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Port Carling Social Bridge Club are Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Port Carling Community Centre, 3 Bailey Street. Please arrive with your partner at least 10 minutes before game time.
For information, contact Andree or Scott 705-764-3827 [email protected]
Winners for Monday, April 15th were 1. Joan & Len Frost with 3,710 points 2. Kathy & Jim Haller 3,430; 3. Susan & Ted Daglish 3,290 points
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games are now EVENING PLAY on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Trinity United Church, 33 Main Street. Please arrive with your partner at least 10 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Liz Graham (705) 789-7187 or email at [email protected]
HUNTSVILLE CLUB, PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE: The game has moved to the gym – no steps!
The following winners are for Tuesday, Apr 16, 2019 with 11 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Helen Pearson and Jim Smith; 2. Liz Barnes and Bev Howard; 3. Vern Foell and Rod Dixon; 4. Susan Marshall and Jan Roberts; 5. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen; 6. Betty Fagin and Liz Graham
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays at 7 p.m., Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive with your partner 10 minutes before game time.
The following winners are from Monday, Apr 15, 2019 with 12 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 3. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 4. Art Insley and Don Evans; 5. Carol Anne Robinson and Nancy Barber; 6. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks
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