By Val Rhead
THE MAGIC OF BIDDING – PART FIVE:
LIMIT YOUR HAND WHILE BIDDING PRE-EMPTIVE CONTRACTS
If your partner limits his hand early in the bidding, you know immediately the approximate assets of the partnership. You simply add your points to the approximate number of points his bid tells you he has, and you pretty much know whether you have enough for a part score contract, for a game, or possibly even for a slam.
For the past four weeks, we have investigated in different scenarios the advantages of limiting you hand as soon as possible. If the partnership appears to be heading towards a suit contract, usually one of the partnership’s hands is limited in the second or third bid. For example, One Spade by you holding 13 points, Two Spades by your partner. You know your partner has 6 to 9 points. You are now the captain and you know it’s going to be a part-score so you pass.
Another example: One Diamond by you, One Spade by partner, Two Spades by you shows minimum opening points of 12 to 14 points so have limited your hand. Your partner is now the captain. He may have 15 points and knows that you are heading to a game. But he also knows that a slam is not in the picture so he just bids the game.
If the partnership is heading towards a No-Trump contract, and your partner opens One No-Trump, he has limited his hand with his first bid showing 15 to 17 points with even or fairly-even distribution. You are now the captain. If you have 10 or more points, you may bid game at Three No-Trump or lead the partnership to a suit game by bidding Stayman or Transfers. Limiting the hand on the first bid is very convenient.
There is also another opening bid that limits a hand on the first bid—that is a pre-emptive bid such as the Weak-Two bid. It shows about 7 to 11 points, including two length points, and a good six-card suit. For example: If your partner opens Two Hearts, he should have at least seven points and six Hearts something like KingQueenxxxx and not much else. The usual guideline is that he has at least three of the top five honours, and if vulnerable, two of the top three honours. He definitely should not have a hand something like Hearts 10xxxxx as his six-card Heart suit although I have seen it done. Neither should he have a six-card Heart suit and more than 12 points. If he does, the opponents will be waving their hands in the air and calling “Director Please, Director” because it should be bid as One Heart, a full opening.
It’s important to remember that he is bidding a WEAK Two-Bid. He has less than opening points in his hand. If you have bare opening points in your hand, you do not have enough points to raise him. You need at least 16 points to consider going further towards a game. However, you can raise him with less than 16 points if you have at least Three Hearts. This is according to “The Law of Total Tricks,” that states that you can usually do better by competing with your opponent up to the level of the total number of trump owned by the partnership. If your partner has six Hearts and you have three Hearts, you can safely bid up to the Three-Heart level. This does not mean you are likely to make your contract. However, in the long run, even when you go down a couple of tricks, you will score better than if you let the opponents have the contract.
Also, with a seven-card suit, you may open with a Weak-Three Bid, or with an eight-card suit, a Weak-Four Bid. Among the reasons for making pre-emptive bids is the desire to disrupt your opponents’ bidding. It certainly does disrupt it when you open Three Spades for example. You also may intend it as a sacrifice if you don’t go down too expensively. Sometimes you make it, giving you a good score.
So, the next time you are dealt a hand that shows some promise, give some thought about how you will limit the hand so your partner will know what you have. If you are the opening bidder, you can open a No-Trump bid or a Weak-Two bid, which will limit your hand immediately. If you are the responder, you often can limit your hand the first time you bid. Sometimes, it will take the third bid and occasionally the fourth before the partnership takes advantage of the magic of limiting your hand. Add limiting your hand to your bidding arsenal.
Happy New Year and Happy Bridging in 2019.
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 SUMMIT CENTRE FOR ACTIVE LIVING, THURSDAYS 7PM
in the multi-purpose room 2nd floor (elevator) (back entrance of 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]
Please Note: There was no game Dec 24. The next games are at 1pm Dec 31, 2018; Jan 7, 2019; Jan 14, 2019 and continuing.
Winners for Dec 17, 2018; 1. Ted & Susan Daglish 4160; 2. Els Vandenberg & Peter Rhead 3860; 3. Andree Baillargeon & Scott Staples 3390
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games at the Huntsville Club are Tuesday afternoon 1pm, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street (side door, three steps up in the Hearth Room). Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. For information and partnerships call Liz Graham (705)789-7187 or email at [email protected]
HUNTSVILLE CLUB, PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE: The game was cancelled Dec 25 and Jan 1. Then the game starts the Winter Season Jan/Feb/Mar afternoon schedule of 1pm on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2019. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early. The game will be held three steps up in the Hearth Room.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Dec 18 with 6 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 2. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie; 3. Vern Foell and Rod Dixon
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]
Note: There are no games Dec 24 or Dec 31. The Club will play again Jan 7, 2019
The following winners are from Monday, Dec 17 with 15 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 3. Gerry Flaherty and Ralph Hair; 4. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 5. Art Insley and Don Evans; 6. Kathy Kent and David Kent; 7. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie; 8. Pat Paterson and Tony Liming
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