By Peter Rhead
THE RULE OF 15
Last week we covered the “Rule of 20” for opening a marginal hand in first or second seat. This week it is the “Rule of 15” for opening a marginal hand in fourth seat.
Let me explain that first seat is the dealer. Second seat is dealer’s left-hand opponent. Third seat is dealer’s partner and fourth seat is the dealer’s partner’s left-hand opponent or dealer’s right-hand opponent.
But first a short note about third seat where you can go a little wild. You know your fourth-seat opponent may have a good hand. Consider the advantage of bidding a Weak-Two bid in third seat with a good five-card suit when you do not hold a good six-card suit.
As we mentioned last week, Bridge is a bidder’s game. Get your bid in when you have the opportunity. The “Rule of 15” will help you decide whether or not to open the bidding with a marginal hand in fourth seat. You use it only when you have a marginal hand in fourth seat after three passes.
If there have been three passes, and you in fourth seat want to open the bidding with a marginal hand, you must be careful because probably all the hands are fairly evenly distributed or fourth seat has a good hand. If you open the bidding, the opponents are likely to interfere and you want to make sure that the opponents do not steal a successful contract out from under you. That is the reason for the “Rule of 15”.
To use the “Rule of 15”, count your high-card points (HCP) plus the number of cards you hold in the Spade suit. If the total is 15, you could consider opening in fourth seat. Think of a hand with 11 HCP. Normally you would PASS. However, if also you have four Spades, then your total is 15 and in fourth seat you could consider making an opening bid. The length of Spades, and only Spades, is important for the following reason. If you open the bidding weak in fourth seat, you do not want the opposition to compete with a successful Spade bid, the boss suit. If you hold some Spades and some points, the probability of the opponents competing over your opening bid with a successful Spade contract of their own is decreased.
The “Rule of 15” bid has three purposes. Offensively, it provides a guideline to opening the bidding. Defensively it interferes with the opposition getting to a successful contract. Also defensively, if the opponents do get the contract, your partner now knows what to lead.
A good offense, in all four of these situations, first and second seat, third seat and fourth seat, may be an effective defense.
Read more about “The Rule of 15” in Audrey Grant’s Better Bridge – Opening The Bidding, page 21.
Next week’s column is titled “Whoa Partner – You Cannot PASS”.
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.
TOURNAMENT TRAIL: Gold and Red Masterpoints, Orillia Regional
Sept 17-22, 2019 Barnfield Point Recreation Centre
500 Atherley Road, Orillia
For details follow this link: https://tournaments.acbl.org/schedule.php?sanction=1909088
SOCIAL BRIDGE GAME IN HUNTSVILLE
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. Please arrive 10 minutes before game time. For information, contact Donna or Peter Tikuisis at 647 471 1774 or [email protected].
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 in September 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.
NOTE: For the Winter the game switches to 1pm starting Oct 7. We are still working on whether there are enough players who want a game Oct 14, Thanksgiving at 1pm.
Our annual Pizza Party Mixing Game is Monday, Oct 7 NOON
For information, contact Andree or Scott 705-764-3827 [email protected]
Results for Monday, September 16, 2019; 1. Kathy Haller and Enid Powell 3,370 points; 2. Irene Bond & Dorothy Beckman 2,690 points
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 partnerships and information call Jan Roberts 705 635-2522 or email [email protected]
The following winners are for Tuesday, Sep 17, 2019 with 14 pairs playing a Mitchell Movement North-South 1. Gerry VanLierop and Ron Groulx; 2. Vern Foell and Rod Dixon; 3. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 4. Joanne Garvey and Barb Green; East-West 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Marjorie Clark and John Clark; 3. Pat Kearns and Briar Foster; 4. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell
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. For information contact Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Sep 16, 2019 with 13 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 2. Gerry VanLierop and Ron Groulx; 3. Kathy Kent and David Kent; 4. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 5. Lynda Mochrie and Wayne Mochrie; 6. Gail Lederer and Donna McIntosh; 7. Lyn Walisser and Bev Howard
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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