By Valerie Rhead
To almost every convention, there may be an exception! Twenty-five percent of the bridge challenge is “Staying Awake” so that you recognize the exceptions when they occur. I can’t claim to have a source for that statistic. I asked my favourite partner and husband where he found this information and he confessed that he had made it up. But, the statistic must be fairly accurate because I know that I play much better bridge when I’m not tired. Consider the following.
We have talked about this before but there still appears to be some confusion so we will take another shot at it. One of the most useful conventions in bridge is the “STAYMAN Convention”. The name reflects that of the person who recognized two elements of the opening One No-Trump or Two No-Trump convention that needed fixing. The first fix was to keep the strong hand hidden rather than have it displayed as the dummy hand for your opponents to see in all its glory. The second fix was to find the eight-card major suit fit if there was one. The eight-card major fit is called the magic fit because it gives you the best opportunity to achieve a high score.
So, when partner opens One No-Trump, responder normally bids two-Clubs with a four-card major and at least eight points. This is the standard STAYMAN response to show at least one four-card major. Opener then bids a four or five card major (hearts if both majors) or bids two-Diamonds (an artificial bid) to show no four-card major. Responder now sets the LEVEL of the contract. With 8-9 POINTS, responder invites game bidding THREE of the major fit or TWO No-Trump with no major fit. With 10 OR MORE POINTS, responder bids game – FOUR of the major fit or THREE No-Trump if no major fit. So, although we often may open the bidding with a No-Trump bid, a lot of these hands end up being played in Hearts or Spades thanks to the use of STAYMAN and TRANSFERS. Occasionally these hands are played in a minor suit.
However, this is where “STAYING AWAKE” comes in! If responder to the One No-Trump opener has a balanced hand of exactly one four-card major 4-3-3-3 or 3-4-3-3 the bid should NEVER be STAYMAN. Think about it! Declarer cannot use the dummy for trumping with this kind of balanced hand! So responder, depending on the strength of rhe hand, will bid one of three options: PASS or invite by bidding TWO No-Trump or game by bidding THREE No-Trump with ten or more points but will NOT use STAYMAN.
Also remember, to “STAY AWAKE” if your partner opens with a Two No-Trump bid. You can respond with a pretty crummy hand. As you know the opener has 20 or 21 points, you only require four or five points to reach the 25-point partnership threshold of a bid for game. Three Clubs is now STAYMAN after Two No-Trump opening. Therefore if you usually bid Three Clubs as a transfer to Diamonds, it would be necessary to bid Four-Clubs if you want to transfer to a super Diamond suit,.
But whatever you do, “STAY AWAKE”. I know, I know, it is hard to do at 10:00 pm. Have a rest in the afternoon.
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to vrhead23@gmail.com and I will include it in this column.
TOURNAMENT TRAIL: Gold and Red Masterpoints, North Bay Regional
August 16-21, 2016 North Bay Elks Club, 325 Elks Lane
YOU HAVE ONLY FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY LEFT!
All pair games include stratification 0-300 and novice 0-50 if numbers warrant
Friday, Saturday Games 9:30 2:30 7:30 pairs and team AND SIDE GAMES
Sunday Swiss Team Only – Play through 9:30
Please confirm the details. Read the tournament info at acbl.org
Your opportunity for fun and to earn gold and red masterpoints.
Stratification based on average:
Open A = 1500+, B = 500-1500, C = 0-500, also 299 game and 50 newcomer game
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.
NOTE: The final game of the season is Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016
The following winners are from Wednesday, Aug 17 with 7 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Catherine Patterson and Heather Hamilton with a great 73%; 2. Valerie Rhead and Peter Rhead; 3. Gaye Kastning and Anne Stevens; 4/5. Nora Robinson and Billie Anne Robinson; 4/5. Susan Pennal and Peter Pennal; East-West 1. Flo Morson and Alan Morson with a great 72%; 2. Bev Howard and Liz Barnes; 3. Jennifer Thompson and Sheila Robinson; 4. Rosalyn Stevens and Russ Roberts
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Huntsville Club are Tuesdays, 7:15pm, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. Contact Jan Roberts 705-635-2522 or [email protected] for information and partnerships.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Aug 16 with 12 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 2. Chris Karn and Vern Foell; 3. Eileen Matheson and Ann O’Loughlin; 4. Val Rhead and Peter Rhead; 5. Bruce Elliott and Rod Dixon; 6. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen; East-West 1. Jacqueline Britz and Joel Britz; 2. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 3. Sue Cuff and Bill Cuff; 4. Yvonne Cox and Helen Pearson; 5. Betty Rintoul and Bev Parlett; 6. Catherine McMillan and Julianne Guselle
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games at the Bracebridge Club are at the Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road 7pm Monday evenings. 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 15 with 11 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 2. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 3. Gaye Kastning and Bill Kastning; 4. Marilyn Aarons and David Guttman; 5. Gail Lederer and Hazel Bowes; 6. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; East-West 1. Art Insley and Don Evans; 2. Betty Rintoul and Bev Howard; 3. Liz Barnes and Lyn Walisser; 4. Joan Joel and Pete Joel; 5. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks; 6. Laura Hawthorn and David Bryce
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