By Valerie Rhead
SYSTEMS ON – SYSTEMS OFF
This is not an April Fools’ Day joke. Your opponent can steal your bid! But you can do something about it!
“Do you play ‘Systems On’ or ‘Systems Off’?” a new partner may ask you. What he is asking is whether or not you play Stayman or Transfers if there has been interference in your bidding of No-Trump contracts. Some novice players may feel that these conventions are a bit too complicated. If the opponents have interjected a bid into the middle of their auction they prefer to play “Systems Off” and all bidding is natural. The downside of this is that often they will be prevented from using these two very useful conventions. After all, aren’t those wicked opponents always trying to mess up your bidding?
It’s really quite simple to circumvent this interference. If you bid one No-Trump and your left-hand opponent bids two Clubs. Your partner must simply “double” to indicate a stolen bid. He wanted to bid two Clubs as a Stayman bid saying he has a four-card major and asking whether or not you have one. With the “double” partner can still give you this information. This is known as “Systems On”.
You open one No-Trump and the interfering opponent bids two Diamonds. Your partner can “double” that bid to indicate a stolen bid and a transfer to Hearts. If it was the Spade suit your partner wanted to show, he can simply bid two Hearts over the two Diamonds for a normal transfer.
Now, what do you do if that annoying opponent bids two Spades and you want to transfer to Hearts? With “Systems On” you can still do the transfer by bidding three Diamonds. As you are being forced to bid at the higher level, you will, of course, have to be stronger. This can be a problem if you have a good five-card Heart suit but a low point count. In that case, you will have to bow to the opponents and pass. Maybe they will get into trouble!
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group, send the information to [email protected] and I will include it in this column.
CFUW MUSKOKA BRIDGE FOR BURSARIES FUNDRAISER
SPRING LUNCH AND BRIDGE PARTY, ALL WELCOME
12 NOON FOR LUNCH Friday, April 15, 2016 $20 per person
Gravenhurst Senior’s Centre 480 First Street North
Please arrange your foursome and bring cards for your table.
For Tickets Call Cathy Genereux 687-2157 [email protected] or Carol Wilson 646-2567 [email protected]
FERN RESORT, ORILLIA, Bridge Weekend
By ACBL Bridge Teacher GREG COLES
Seminars and Games for both Duplicate and Progressive Bridge
Tips in Bidding, Play and Defense
Workshop: Avoiding Simple Mistakes
Friday – Sunday Apr 22-24, 2016 $395 per person double Plus Tax and Service
This is another fun opportunity to continue the learning process that never ends.
For more information and registration, go to www.fernresort.com OR (705) 325-2256 1-800-567-3376
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Huntsville Club have changed now to EVENING PLAY for the Summer and Fall, Tuesday 7:15pm, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. Call Betty 705-789-2560 [email protected] or Susan at 705-789-7156 [email protected] for information and partnerships. The evening game continues downstairs in the warm basement until the crowd becomes too large. To avoid the long stairs, enter from the door on Main Street.
The following results are for Tuesday, Mar 29 with 4 tables playing a Howell movement. 1/2. Chris Karn and Vern Foell; 1/2. Liz Barnes and Rod Dixon; 3. Susan Marshall and Betty Bennett; 4. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen
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.
The following results are for Monday, Mar 28 with 7 tables playing a Howell movement. 1. Lorna Wagner and Pat Feaver; 2. Joanne Garvey and Kelly Andresen; 3. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 4. Bev Parlett and Vern Foel; 5. Ruth Thompson and Don Evans; 6. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 7. Betty Rintoul and Barb Forth
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