By Val Rhead
Your partner has just opened with One Spade. Wonderful! You have opening points of 12-14 and three or more Spades. You know that you have enough for a good chance of making a Four-Spade Game. The Opener doesn’t play any such “fancy” conventions as Bergan Raises or Jacoby Two-No Trump. However, you can’t respond with a mere Two-Spade bid. It would tell Opener that you have only 6-9 points. You can’t respond with a Three-Spade bid. This would show only 10-12 points and would be just invitational, not forcing. You would be very unhappy if Opener passed and you missed a game score.
You could bid Four Spades guarantying a good chance of making a game. But perhaps your Four-Spade bid is pre-emptive, with lots of Spades and not too many points. It is designed simply to interfere with your Opponents finding their optimal contract. Perhaps, you are using it as a sacrifice. You don’t expect to make it at all. You just think that your Opponents will get fewer points putting you down two tricks than if they bid and make a game. You wouldn’t want Opener erroneously thinking that you have a slam-going hand and he bids accordingly. At this point, you don’t know what Opener has. Does he have a minimum 12-point opening hand, or does he have 19 points and you really should be investigating slam. Now is the time to give Opener an opportunity to limit his hand.
So, what do you bid? Well, looking at your hand, you have a somewhat miserable four-card Diamond suit. Bid Two-Diamonds. You don’t want to play in Diamonds. You know your best contract will be Spades. But, this will give Opener a chance to describe his hand further. As you are Responder, your Two-Diamond bid is forcing for one round. If Opener rebids Two Spades, Two Diamonds or Two No Trump, you will know that his hand is in the minimum range of 12-14 points. You now know that you have the points for game but do not have the points to contemplate slam. You calmly bid Four Spades and make your modest contract without the worry of missing a slam. However, if Opener responds aggressively, by showing a hand such as a maximum hand of 18-21 points, you can then investigate the possibility of slam.
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 include it in this column.
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. The Winter Season Jan-Feb-Mar afternoon schedule of 1pm starts Tuesday, Jan 3. Contact Jan Roberts 705-635-2522 or [email protected] for information and partnerships.
PLEASE NOTE: Every Tuesday for the rest of the winter, the game is held downstairs in the warm basement. To avoid the long stairs, you also may enter from the door on Main Street.
REMINDER: Dec 13 Christmas Party at Tall Trees 4:30pm for 5pm Dinner
After dinner, we will return to our regular venue at Trinity United Church for our bridge game at usual time 7:15pm. ALSO, the game is cancelled Dec 27 and starts the Winter Season afternoon schedule of 1pm on Tuesday, Jan 3. Please arrive 15 minutes early.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Nov 29 with 7 tables playing a Howell movement. 1/2. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 1/2. Susan Marshall and Jan Roberts; 3. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 4. Bev Parlett and Barb Forth; 5. Liz Barnes and Rod Dixon; 6. Beryl Clayson and Paul Clayson
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].
REMINDER:
Dec 5 Christmas Party at the Golf and Curling Club 5pm for 5:30 Dinner
After dinner, we will return to Knox Presbyterian Church for our bridge game at usual time 7pm. ALSO, the game is cancelled Dec 19 and Dec 26 and resumes Jan 2.
The following winners are from Monday, Nov 28 with 9 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 2. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 3. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 4. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 5. Bev Parlett and Vern Foell; East-West 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Hazel Bowes and Barb Forth; 3. Joyce Payne and Malcolm Payne; 4. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks; 5. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie
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