By Val Rhead
No-Trump bidding when you have an 18 or 19-point hand
We have discussed No-Trump bidding, it seems like forever, but there is still more to come.
No-Trump bidding is very exact. So far, we have covered No-Trump hands in the 15 to 17-point range with at least 15 high-card points. There is a different point-range for bidding No-Trump shaped hands that are a bit stronger. That range applies to hands that have 18 or 19 points. And by the way, even though we are talking No-Trump, we count both high-card points and length points. Our esteemed Canadian Bridge Teacher, Barbara Seagram heartily recommends this.
I continually am surprised by the number of players who will bid a One-No-Trump opening with 18 points. The rationale of these bidders is that they are showing their partner that they have a stronger hand than if they simply bid one of a suit. This doesn’t work well.
You may remember that when you, the responder, answer a One-No-Trump opening bid with Stayman, you need eight or more points. When you are answering a suit bid of one of a suit, you just need six points. So, when opener bids One-No-Trump and you have just seven points, which is not enough to answer a No-Trump bid, you Pass. No-Trump bidding is very exacting. The opener, in this case, has 18 points. Eighteen plus seven points equal 25 points. Your partnership makes Three No-Trump, but you didn’t bid it. Your partnership gets only 150 points, not the 600 score you would have made bidding a vulnerable game. And so what does the opener bid when he has 19 points? Surely, he is not going to have a separate bid for the few times he has exactly a 19-point hand.
So when your partner opens One-No-Trump with an 18 or 19 point hand, if you, the responder, have less than eight points, you may be able to make a Transfer bid if you have at least a five-card major or a six-card minor with any number of points including zero. If you have six or seven points you must pass. If your partner had 18 or 19 points and opened One-Heart, however, you could respond with One Spade or One No-Trump. If the opener had carelessly bid One-No-Trump with his 18 or 19-point hand, you would pass. Sadly, you probably would have missed a game.
If the opener has 18 or 19 points, he should open a bid of a suit at the one-level. After responder’s answer, he jumps to Two-No-Trump to show his point count. The bidding usually continues to game level in either a suit or No-Trump. As Opener’s jump to Two-No-Trump bid is considered part of the No-Trump convention, Stayman or Transfers or No-Trump raises now may be used. But, please remember when Opener has that 18 or 19-point opening No-Trump style hand, he should open a suit first and then jump to Two-No-Trump on the rebid.
Next week: Other No-Trump Opening Options
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 on 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, July 29, 2019 1. Els Vandenberg & Peter Rhead 5,200 points; 2. Dorothy Beckman & Irene Bond 4,110 points; 3. Dave & Liz Pelletier; 3,560 points
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games are Tuesdays, 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, July 30, 2019 with 18 pairs playing a Mitchell Movement North-South 1. Gerry VanLierop and Ron Groulx; 2. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 3. Josee Hammill and Joan Stock; 4. Joanne Garvey and Barb Green; 5. Jacqueline Britz and Joel Britz; East-West 1. Art Insley and Don Evans; 2. Liz Barnes and Bev Howard; 3. Sheila Jenset and Karen Harder; 4. Linda Planeta and Jay Hamann; 5. Jill Boschulte and Yutta Savoia
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, Jul 29, 2019 with 20 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 2. Pat Paterson and Tony Liming; 3. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 4. Joanne Garvey and Jim Smith; 5. Jennifer Thompson and Sheila Robinson; East-West 1. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks; 2. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 3. Art Insley and Don Evans; 4. Gerry Flaherty and Ralph Hair; 5. Mary Kent and Mary Ann Lee
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