By Val Rhead
Some Bridge hands are more-straight forward to open than others. Many players in North America prefer to open a five-card or longer major suit if they have one. If they don’t have a five-card major and they don’t have the suitable point count and distribution for a No-Trump opening, they look for an alternative.
If their hand distribution is something like 4 Spades, 4 Hearts, 3 Diamonds, and 2 Clubs, they often have to settle for an opening bid in their best minor suit (also known as the “Better Minor” or “Convenient Minor”) asking their partner to bid a four-card or better major if the partner has one. That is the opener’s only option, unless they want to pack up and move to Britain or some other country in the world that promotes opening with only four cards in a major suit (Encyclopedia of Bridge, 7th Edition – p349).
How do partnerships pick which of the minor suits to bid? Usually it is the longest suit. It could, however, be the suit that contains the most high cards. Just make sure that you have an agreement.
Alternatively, some players choose to use the Short-Club Convention to open hands with a minor suit. An advantage is that the partner knows that they can count on the Diamond suit opening being at least four cards long. The disadvantage is that EVERY TIME, you open with a One-Club bid, no matter how long the Club suit, partner has to ANNOUNCE the bid as “may be short as two”.
In general then, the Better Minor opening shows your partner that you have a hand with opening values between 12 and 21 points, a hand with no five-card major and a hand, that if it contains 15-17 points, is not balanced enough to open One No-Trump. Also, although the player opening the Better Minor convention “One Diamond” sometimes may have only three Diamonds, some players think that this situation happens only occasionally and is not a significant limitation.
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 second 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 1pm 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, May 6th, 2019, 1 PM; 1. Irene Bond & Dorothy Beckman 4,440 points; 2. Andree Baillargeon & Scott Staples 4,300; 3. Susan & Ted Daglish 3,960 points
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games are now EVENING PLAY, Tuesday 7pm 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]
The following winners are for Tuesday, May 7, 2019 with 12 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 2. Liz Barnes and Bev Howard; 3. Barb Green and Diane Weaver; 4/5. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie; 4/5. Vern Foell and Rod Dixon; 6. Art Insley and Don Evans
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays 7pm, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive with your partner 10 minutes before game time.
The following winners are from Monday, May 6, 2019 with 12 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Gail Lederer and Donna McIntosh; 3. Jinty Stewart and Heidi Bates; 4. Lyn Walisser and Bev Howard; 5. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 6. Betty Rintoul and Hazel Bowes
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