By Val Rhead
OPENING TWO-NO-TRUMP
As already stressed, No-Trump bidding is very exacting. All No-Trump opening bids require balanced or semi-balanced distribution. This definition now includes one worthless doubleton or a singleton Ace, King or Queen. The point-count requirement for One No-trump is 15 to 17 points. An 18 or 19 point hand with No-Trump distribution was talked about last week. It is opened by one of a suit, followed by a jump rebid to Two-No-trump. This week, we talk about a Two-No-Trump opening bid, made with 20 to 21 points.
Previously we have discussed responses to No-Trump bids. Of course, as the opening Two-No-Trump bidder has so many points, the responder needs fewer points to take the contract to the game level. A game in No-Trump or a major suit requires approximately 25 points. The responder, therefore, can answer with as few as four or five points either in No-Trump or in Stayman. He also has the option of using a Transfer bid with any number of points, even zero. When he doesn’t have a five-card suit or sufficient points, he can mutter Pass, or reluctantly slap down his green Pass card.
As is usually the case when bidding contracts, one player becomes the Captain. In No-trump bidding, usually the Captain is the responder to an opening 15 to 17 point One-No-Trump bid or a 20 to 21 point Two-No-Trump bid. In these cases, the responder adds his points to the approximate points held by the opener and decides what level they should play in. In cases where the responder has the adequate hand, he takes the contract up to the game level. With an 18 or 19 point No-Trump hand, either partner may end up being the captain.
There is another opening No-Trump sequence which is beyond the scope of this column. Many players in Europe and Australia use it. It is the Weak-No-Trump which opens with 11 to 14 points. The Weak-No-Trump involves a somewhat complicated system of Conventions. Regular and experienced partners should be the only ones who might play this. We found that it was widely used in New Zealand when we were there several years ago.
And is there such a thing as a Three-No-Trump opening bid? Most players do not open Three-No-Trump. One reason is that the bid would take away some of their bidding space for a possible slam. Once it is known that the opener has 20 or 21 points, the partnership needs that bidding space. The partnership will do such things as making cue bids to show first or second round controls by using ace-asking conventions such as Four-Clubs or Four-No-Trump to find out how many aces or other controls the partnership has. For these reasons, Two-Clubs is usually the strongest opening bid with 22 or more points.
And my goodness, if you used Three-No-Trump to show 25 plus hands, you couldn’t play Gambling-Three-No-Trump. It’s kind of a “fun” bid that is used only when you have a solid six-card or longer minor suit with no outside honours. For example, you have at least the six top Clubs, Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten Nine and no other Ace, King or Queen. You open Three-No-Trump. Your partner will gaze at his hand trying to recall what it means. If he has good stoppers in three suits (Ace, King or Queen), he will pass. The hand will play beautifully in Three-No-Trump. If responder doesn’t have the required honours, he will bid Four-Clubs. If he has a good hand, he will respond Five Clubs. If opener’s long suit is Diamonds, the opener will correct the bid to either Four or Five Diamonds.
Very Important: You must only play the Gambling-Three-No-Trump with a partner who knows you are playing that bid. Partner must alert and explain the bid to your opponents. The main problem with this Convention is that it comes up only about once every three years.
Next week: Ace Asking Conventions.
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 Canada Summit Centre, Thursdays, 7pm.
PLEASE NOTE that our NEW VENUE for Bridge DURING THE SUMMER is the Summit Centre “Don Lough Warming Area”. This room is located on the second level of the Summit Centre accessible by taking the right-hand stairs (elevator) after Passing through the main entrance. The room does not have a kitchen; hence, please bring your own beverage (we will still provide snacks). Just come – with or without a partner. Please arrive 10 minutes before game time.
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.
PORT CARLING SOCIAL BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Port Carling Social Bridge Club are Monday evening 7pm 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]
Results for Monday, Aug 5, 2019 1. Dorothy Beckman & Irene Bond 2. Jeanette and Hans Henneman
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games are 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 Jan Roberts 705 635-2522 or email [email protected]
The following winners are for Tuesday, Aug 6, 2019 with 16 pairs playing a Mitchell Movement North-South 1. Joanne Garvey and Barb Green; 2/3. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 2/3. Gerry VanLierop and Ron Groulx; 4. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; East-West 1. Jan Roberts and Jim Smith; 2. Liz Graham and Sandy Graham; 3. Marjorie Clark and John Clark; 4. Kelly Andresen and Kel Andresen
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, Aug 5, 2019 with 19 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Vince Sottosanti and Sue Scott; 2. Joan Joel and Peter Joel; 3. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 4. Joanne Garvey and Jim Smith; 5. Jennifer Thompson and Martha Stigler; East-West 1. Anne Hampton and Bill Hampton; 2. Stephanie Burnett and Ed Leies; 3. Art Insley and Don Evans; 4. Pat Davidson and Myrna Rosemeyer; 5. Lyn Walisser and Bev Howard
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