By Val Rhead
Opener bids One Heart showing 12 to 21 points and at least five cards in the suit. As previously pointed out, when she opens, opener already should be thinking about her second bid, even before her partner responds. In fact, her second bid may be even more important than her first bid because she will limit her hand for partner to become Captain.
Partner also has an opening hand. Back in the olden days of Bridge, bidders did a lot of jumping around. They’d jump to show strong bids with either a new suit or in support of opener’s suit. The problem was that they wasted a lot of bidding room. On many hands, you often need this bidding room to find the right contract. How else can you explore whether or not you have slam potential? Many modern players now realize that they don’t have to jump to show a good hand. They know that a new suit by an unpassed responder is forcing. Only a NEW suit by the OPENER has to be jumped to ensure that her partner must bid again.
An exception occurs when the responder does not have support for opener’s suit and wants to bid No Trump. He has more than the six to nine points that a One No Trump response would show. With ten to twelve points, he does jump, to Two No Trump. With thirteen to or more points, he jumps to Three No Trump. In either situation, he has limited his hand. The opener is now the Captain. If her opening bid is minimum and she can tolerate No Trump, she will pass. If she has a bit extra, she may take it to Three No Trump. If she has a monster hand, she may investigate slam. Of course, if her hand is definitely not No Trumpish, she can rebid her suit either at the three level or the four level. Responder should pass.
This is the final column in the series of seven “Opener’s Second Bid”. Next week I begin a series on “Unauthorized Information” – how not to communicate with your partner.
SUMMER PORT CARLING DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
August 30 was the LAST GAME for the Port Carling summer season.
The winners from Aug 30 will appear in this column next week.
The following winners are from Wednesday, Aug 23, 2017 with 13 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Liz Pelletier and Dave Pelletier; 2. Janet Evans and Tommie Ryan; 3. Judy McIntosh and John McIntosh; East-West 1. Bev Howard and Liz Barnes; 2. Beth Henderson and Tom Dyke; 3. Pat Davies and Nancy Barber
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 Jan Roberts 705 635-2522 or email [email protected]
The following winners are for Tuesday, Aug 29 with 20 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Bruce Elliott and Rod Dixon; 2. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 3. Chris Karn and Deanna Foell; 4. Fay MacDonald and Yvonne Cox; 5. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell; East-West 1. Liz Barnes and Bev Howard; 2. Joanne Garvey and David Bryce; 3. Linda Planeta and Terry Killackey; 4. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 5. Cathy Naphin and Wanda Zyla
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, Aug 28 with 22 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 2. Yvonne Cox and Helen Pearson; 3. Joanne Garvey and Betty Rintoul; 4. Bev Parlett and Vern Foell; 5. Gaye Kastning and Bill Kastning; 6. Gail Lederer and Hazel Bowes; East-West 1. Liz Barnes and Doug Barnes; 2. Fay MacDonald and Mary Whitehead; 3. Frank Vagnoni and Gerry Lawrence; 4. Art Insley and Don Evans; 5. Sandy Retter and David Scarlett; 6. Anne Hampton and Bill Hampton
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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