By Val Rhead
Your hand has five Hearts headed by the Ace King and a total of 12 points, including one length point for the fifth Heart. You open One Heart. Partner replies with a JUMP bid of Three Hearts. What has he told you? He has made a Limit Raise showing 10-12 points. In other words, he has limited his hand making you the Captain.
Your opening bid was dead minimum—just 12 points. Partner has 10-12 points. His bid is invitational to game, but it is not forcing. You do the math. Your twelve plus 10-12 is a maximum of 24, which is not enough. You have to PASS. But, now that you have a fit in Hearts, you can re-evaluate your hand. You could add in distribution points for shortness, such as a void, singleton or doubleton, to the equation to give you more than 12 points and the math changes again.
If you have 13-20 points after re-evaluating your opening hand you probably have only enough for game and you bid Four Hearts immediately. If, however, you have 21 points after re-evaluating your hand, you may have slam (21+12=33 points) so you investigate by asking for Aces. With luck, you may find out that the partnership has at least three Aces and you bid a slam. With fewer Aces, you stop at Five Hearts. At least you tried!
Now, will this method assure you of finding all the best contracts? Of course not. Nothing in the game of Bridge can make such assurances. But unless your opponents have five-zero splits in your trump suit, and the two finesses in your hands both fail, it will give you a good chance of success.
SUMMER PORT CARLING DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Port Carling Club are in the summer only, Wednesday evening 6:30, Port Carling Community Centre, 3 Bailey Street. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before game time. Call Bill & Gaye Kastning at 705-765-6354 for information and partnerships.
The following winners are from Wednesday, July 19 with 11 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 2. Betty Rintoul and Hazel Bowes; 3. Nora Robinson and Billie Anne Robinson; East-West 1. Annette Jameson and Scott Jameson; 2. Bev Howard and Liz Barnes; 3. Anne Stevens and Elayne Freeman
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, July 25 with 24 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Chris Karn and Vern Foell; 2. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell; 3. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 4. Gail Lederer and Don Evans; 5. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen; 6. Beryl Clayson and Paul Clayson; East-West 1. Joanne Garvey and Barb Green; 2. Frank Vagnoni and Gerry Lawrence; 3. Liz Barnes and Bev Howard; 4. Peggy Rankin and Doug Oka; 5. Susan Marshall and Jan Roberts; 6. Fay MacDonald and Yvonne Cox
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, July 24 with 25 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1/2. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 1/2. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks; 3. Marilyn Waltho and John Waltho; 4. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 5. Yvonne Cox and Helen Pearson; 6. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 7. Jennifer Thompson and Heather Hamilton; East-West 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Frank Vagnoni and Gerry Lawrence; 3/4. Fay MacDonald and Mary Whitehead; 3/4. Carol Anne Robinson and Nancy Barber; 5. Gail Lederer and Betty Franklin; 6. Sandy Retter and David Scarlett; 7. Anne Hampton and Bill Hampton
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