By Val Rhead
An opening bid of One No-Trump is generally considered to describe a hand with balanced or semi-balanced distribution and with stoppers in at least three suits. It has a set number of points, most usually 15 to 17, or occasionally the more old-fashioned 16 to 18, or even among some expert players, a pre-emptive system with only 12 to 14 points. Because the point-count for this bid varies, ACBL (American Contract Bridge League) has a rule in place that says that the partner of the opening No-Trump bidder must state the number of points he has in his No-Trump hand. This rule to announce the range is optional in many Bridge clubs where almost everyone uses 15 to 17.
The advantage of this popular bid is that it fairly accurately describes the point-count of a No-Trump hand. With 15 to 17 points, the opener bids One No-Trump. If he has 18 or 19 points, he first bids a suit and on his rebid, he jumps to Two No-Trump. With 20 to 21 points, he opens Two No-Trump. With 22 or more, he first opens a strong Two Club bid. Then his rebid would be Two No-Trump so that the Stayman and Transfer conventions may be used by responder.
Some players may want to open Three No-Trump with a super hand, but this uses up precious bidding room if headed for a slam. It also usurps the wild Gambling Three No-Trump bid that shows a hand with a long, solid minor suit and no stoppers in the other suits. The only problem with the Gambling Three No-Trump convention is that although it is fun, it comes up only about once every three years. But that’s a discussion for another day when I am devoid of ideas for a useful Bridge column.
Another way in which players differ in making an opening No-Trump bid is in the distribution of the cards. Some players will not open No-Trump with a five-card major suit. They want their partner to know they have a strong major suit. The problem is that their partner does not know the strength of their hand. The rebid attempts to clarify this. However, if the rebid is One No-Trump, it falsely describes the hand as less valuable than it is (just 12 to 14 points). If the rebid was a jump to Two No-Trump, the opener is showing more points than he has. These alternative methods have been debated among players for years. I think presently, more players favour opening One No-Trump with a five-card major, but there are still stalwarts who insist on bidding their five-card suit first.
Of course, some players do not want to adhere to the new rule made by ACBL at the beginning of 2017 which allows players to bid One No-Trump holding a singleton. This was previously a “no-no.” It can now be done but only if the singleton is an Ace, a King, or a Queen and there is no doubleton. Some players will experiment with an Ace, but are reluctant to bid a hand with a singleton King or a Queen.
And then there are some very conservative players I run into that will not open One No-Trump if they do not have a stopper in each of their four suits. This can be a costly practice because often hands that are opened one No-Trump to show their strength end up being played in Hearts or Spades anyway. These fits are discovered after the opening No-Trump bid when the Stayman or Transfer conventions are used.
So as you can see, with the plethora of rules that ACBL includes in its rule book, some players, in certain situations, play a different game than others. There truly are, in the game of Bridge, different strokes for different folks.
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, THURSDAYS 7PM in the multi-purpose room 2nd floor (elevator) (back entrance of 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 Muskoka Heritage Place Train Station.
NOTE: PORT CARLING SOCIAL BRIDGE CLUB moves to 1pm Mondays
Games for the Port Carling Social Bridge Club move from 7pm to 1pm Monday afternoon starting Oct 15, 2018 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 our annual Pizza Party Mixing Game with 10 pairs on Monday, October 1st were 1. Mavis Hall; 2. Jim Haller; 3. Hans Henneman
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Huntsville Club are Tuesday evening 7:00, Trinity United Church, 33 Main Street. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. Contact Jan Roberts 705-635-2522 or [email protected] for information and partnerships.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Oct 2 with 13 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 2. Betty Fagin and David Bryce; 3. Liz Barnes and Bev Howard; 4. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen; 5. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell; 6. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie; 7. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell
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, Oct 1 with 18 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 2. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 3. Fay MacDonald and Mary Whitehead; 4. Lyn Walisser and Bev Howard; 5. Betty Fagin and Gail Lederer; East-West 1. Val Rhead and Joanne Garvey; 2. Kathy Kent and David Kent; 3. Mary Lou Myers and Sue Kidd; 4. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks; 5. Barb Forth and Vern Foell
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