East Texas Unit 225
ACBL District 16
ACBL Unit 225
East Texas
United States
acblunit
Bridge Tips
Declarer Play: Safety Plays
1. Use Correct Technique
The way you play a combination of cards can make or break a contract.
Declarer ♥️AQ1053 Dummy ♥️K942
We are missing only four cards, the ♥️ J876. If the missing hearts divide 2-2 or 3-1, there will be no problem taking five tricks. But what if one defender has all four hearts? Holding the ♥️10 and ♥️9, we can guard against that. Start with the ♥️A or ♥️Q. Don’t play the high card from the short side first, (which doesn't always apply). Playing a high heart from declarer’s hand is a 100% safety play since it allows us to avoid a heart loser no matter how the missing hearts are divided.
2. Determine how many tricks you need from a suit
Know how many tricks you need from a suit and whether we can afford to give up the lead to the defenders. That can have an impact on how we choose to play the suit.
Declarer ♥️532 Dummy ♥️AKJ4
We have two sure tricks, the ♥️A and ♥️K. If we need four tricks from this suit, we will finesse dummy’s ♥️J and then play the ♥️A-K, hoping for the best. What if we need three tricks from this suit and can afford to give up the lead to the defenders? The safety play is to play the ♥️A and ♥️K first, and then lead a low heart toward dummy’s ♥️J.
3. Recognize a “dangerous” opponent
When you have a vulnerable holding such as ♣️Kxx in your hand and ♣️xxx in dummy, and you don’t know where the ♣️A is, try to stop your right hand opponent from gaining the lead, because if they were to play that suit it would be “curtains” if the ♣️A is sits over your ♣️K. Make a play (sometimes unusual) that prevents the "dangerous" opponent from gaining the lead.
A 1NT response to a takeout double shows 6-10 HCP. A 2NT response to a takeout double shows 10-12. Some 10 point hands are better than others because of strong intermediates. You cannot be a slave to point count. Intermediates count!
Notrump responses to a takeout double guarantee at least one stopper (hopefully two), in the opponent’s suit.
Posted 8/22
Misfits: To Bid or Not?
As Marty Bergen says in his famous book “Points Schmoints”,
”It would be nice if your side had a good fit on every hand, but life is not like that."
Here’s his suggested remedy:
”When you sense a misfit, stop bidding ASAP.”
Good advice! There’s no point in constantly telling partner that you have six or seven cards in your suit, if he is telling you the same thing about his: where are you going? For sure, the WORST place is no trumps.
The lack of entries is the problem, and holding only one stopper in an opponent’s suit doesn’t mean you’ll take nine tricks in 3NT. If you hold a singleton in partner’s first suit, you won’t be able to reach their hand unless you have external entries.
(Joan Butts bridge posted 7/22)(5/22)
Weak Jump Overcalls
- For an overcall to be “preemptive”, the hand must be weak (6-9 high card points)
- To show a weak hand, jump at least one level in the bidding
- the higher you jump, the more cards in your suit (same number of points)
- Your suit needs top honours (two of the top three A,K,Q ,or three of the top five A,K,Q,J,10)
- The vulnerability makes a big difference to your entering the bidding at all if weak
- When your side is vulnerable and the other side is not, you need a good suit to jump in the bidding
- Partner doesn’t need points to raise your suit; three or four trumps are more important
- Hands with big fits declare better than they defend
- You don’t always expect to make your contract, but you’re in a win-win situation because If you doesn’t make, the other side would have made theirs (so don’t worry!)
(Joan Butts bridge posted 2/22)
What happens after opener transfers to your suit?
Responder could:
- Pass = minimum (0-7), shows a minimum hand: 1NT P 2♦ P 2♥ P P P
- Rebid 2NT = invitational (8,9 pts), five cards in the major, balanced: 1NT P 2♦ P 2♥ P 2NT
- Raise to 3♥ or 3♠ = invitational (8,9 pts), six+ card suit: 1NT P 2♦ P 2♥ P 3♥
- Raise to 4♥ or 4♠ = enough points for game (10+pts): 1NT P 2♦ P 2♥ P 4♥
- Jump to 3NT = five cards in the major, maximum (10+ pts) asks opener to choose between 3NT and 4 of the major: 1NT P 2♦ P 2♥ P 3NT P ? Their decision is based on the number of cards in partner’s suit (no trumps if two cards, or the major if three+ cards)
- Bid a new suit = natural (four + cards) game forcing, maximum (10+ pts): 1NT P 2♦ P 2♥ P 3♣(at least five hearts and at least four clubs)
The rebid issue is why more and more players are opening 1NT with hands that have a 5 card major if they have 15-17 HCP. It is hard to show this range of high card points with a balanced hand if you do not open 1NT.
Opening Lead
Auction: You hold:
N E S W S – AJ98
1S P 1NT P H -- 862
2H P P P D – A93
C – J106
What do you lead? In his book on Modern Bridge Defense, Eddie Kantar writes, “Dummy is likely to have one spade and three hearts. Lead a heart to cut down on dummy’s ruffing power. Later, when in with the A of spades, lead another heart.
Every trump you lead translates into one less spade ruff in dummy and another eventual spade trick for you. When dummy prefers declarer’s second suit, and you have winning tricks or eventual winning tricks in declarer’s first bid suit, lead a trump to protect those winners.”
Posted 10/21
A single raise of an overcall is the same as a single raise of an opening bid: 7 – 10 points with 3 pieces. With more than 10 points, cuebid the openers suit. Here is an example:
N E S W
1D 1S p ? You hold:
S – A87, H – 54, D – 632, C – KJ973 Bid 2Spades
S – A87, H – 54, D – QJ9 – C – KQ973. Bid 2D showing a limit raise.
posted 8/21
Double or Not to Double
Many players use the Rule of 9 to determine whether or not to double a contract. It works like this:
Rule of 9
Add the numeric value of the opponent's contract to the number of trumps held in that suit and if the result equals 9 (or more), then that player should double for penalty. If the result is 8 or fewer, then the defender should pass or bid.
Defensive Leads
Some tips from Eddie Kantar:
- Don't lead a trump when the opponents are misfitted.
- Deceptive leads in the trump suit include the 9 from 109x and the jack from QJ doubleton.
- When leading partner's suit against suit or notrump with three or four small, lead high if you have supported the suit, low if you haven't.
www.kantarbridge.com
posted 2/2021
Too Strong to Open 1NT
When considering whether to open 1NT, treat a five card suit headed by three of the top five honors (or two of the top three honors with a 9 thrown in) as worth one extra point.
In other words, with 17 HCP and a strong five card suit, treat the hand as an 18 point hand. If you play a range of 15-17, do not open 1NT.
Open the bidding in the five card suit and then jump in notrump.
Example
S. A107
H. J92
D. K5
C. AKQ76
Open 1C and jump to 2NT if partner responds 1D, 1H or 1S. Too strong to open 1NT.
If the bidding goes 1NT- pass- 3NT (or 4NT) - all pass, you have an automatic spade lead.
However if the bidding goes 1NT-pass-6NT- all pass, a spade lead is horrible. Why? The opponents presumably have about 33 HCP to contract for 6NT which means your partner is busted. There is no point in leading away from an honor. Lead a club and hope to make two tricks if declarer finesses into you.
- Go for the big reward. Duplicate pairs tend to bid "close" games and slams, so don't settle for a safe partscore if you think there's a fair chance (60 percent or better) that you can make game.
- But when in doubt, settle for the sure thing. It's important to get plus scores at matchpoints. If you aren't sure of your fit or partner's strength, don't push too hard. If the opponents have outbid you, consider taking a sure penalty instead of bidding higher to a contract you might not make.
- Choose the highest-scoring game. For game contracts, you should be most eager to play 4H or 4S, willing to play 3NT and reluctant to play 5C or 5D. If you have game values and fit in clubs or diamonds, consider playing 3NT instead.
- Choose the safest partscore. When you have minimum high-card strength, choose the safety of a trump suit. A major-suit is still best, but if you're deciding between a notrump and a minor-suit partscore, play the suit contract if you have a fit.
Posted 10/2020
Eddie Kantar Bidding Tip
Responding to takeout doubles
In his book “The Complete Book on Takeout Doubles” Mike Lawrence talks about responding to takeout doubles. This is an important part of competitive bidding and requires partnership understanding. You can find lots of books and articles about this topic.
Mike Lawrence writes: “A bid of a suit at its lowest possible level shows from 0 to some fair 8 point hands. A jump in a new suit shows and invitational hand and may be made with only 4 pieces and generally 8 to 11 HCP. There is more to a jump response than points. You have to upgrade some high cards and downgrade others and make allowances for extra-long suits.” Here are some examples”
W N E S
1C Dbl P ?
You are South and hold:
S – AJ53 H- 83 D – A1093 C – 653
Bid 2 Spades. Good quality HCP in suits partner likes.
S – KQ74 H – 743 D – J32 C – QJ3
Bid 1 Spade. With 4-3-3-3 shape and 3 of your points in clubs 1 Spade is enough.
S – 3 H – J10763 D – AJ763 C- 43
Bid 2 Hearts. Your 5/5 shape and singleton spade will be very helpful in the play.
www.michaelslawrence.com
(Posted 8/2020)
Hand Evaluation
It is dangerous to count extra points for short suits or long suits before the bidding starts. If partner bids your short suit, that reduces, not increases, the value of your hand. If one of your opponents bids your long suit, that decreases, not increases, the value of your hand.
If you let the bidding develop, you will see whether your long or short suits are working for or against you. You hold:
♠ Axxx ♥ x ♦ Qxxxx ♣ xxx
What is this hand worth? If partner opens 1♥, it is a minus -- 6-point hand. If partner opens 1♠, it is a 9-point hand (3 points for the singleton with four-card support).
If LHO opens 1♦ and partner overcalls 1♥, the ♦Q has lost it's value not to mention the fifth diamond. You are now looking at a minus -- 4-point hand! Be patient with distributional evaluations until you hear the bidding.
(posted 7/2020)
Overtake the lead of the King with Ace doubleton
Eddie Kantar writes in his book “Modern Bridge Defense” about overtaking the lead of the King when you have Ace doubleton. “Against either a suit or notrump, partner leads the King and you have Ace doubleton. Overtake! At notrump, partner figures to have lead from KQJ or KQ10, so unblocking isn’t going to cost a trick, but may save 3 or 4! At a suit contract, overtake even though partner may only have KQ. Even if you set up a trick for declarer’s Jack, partner can lead a third round for you to trump.”
N – 643
W – KQ1082 E – A7 (you)
S- J95
At trick 1, West leads the K, you play the A and return the 7. Partner will win the Queen and continue with the Jack if they have it. If partner does not have the Jack and continues, you get to trump the continuation.
www.kantarbridge.com
posted 6/2020
After partner opens 1H or 1S and there is an intervening overcall, a jump cuebid by responder shows a singleton in the opponent's suit, at least four card support for partner's suit plus minimum of 14-15 support points. It is a mild slam try. Say partner opens 1H and the next hand bids 2C and you hold:
With 15 support points, jump to 4C making it easier for partner to evaluate her hand.
A jump cue bid after a minor suit opening bid also shows a singleton in the jump suit, but this jump promises five or six card support and denies a side four card major. Say partner opens 1C and the next hand overcalls 1D and you hold:
You have a perfect 3D response. Do it!
posted 3/20
You hold:
Your partner opens 1 Spade and your RHO overcalls 2D. Bid 2S.
However, if your RHO overcalls 2H, you must pass as your heart honors are worthless in a spade contract.
www.kantarbridge.com
posted 3/10
- Don't even think of leading a trump when the opponents are in the throes of a misfit.
- Holding a balanced hand with broken strength in each suit, a trump lead from two or three small when dummy has given a single raise is usually best
- With a strong sequence in trump (KQJ, QJ109), a trump lead is usually best
- If partner is marked with a singleton trump, there is no point in leading a trump from Kxx because neither of you will be able to continue the suit. Try another lead and hope that partner will find the trump switch, if necessary.
- Thinks that the combined defensive strength between the two defenisive hands is enough to defeat the contract.
- Has a strong trump holding.
- Can tell from the bidding that it is a touch and go contract and that YOU have trump length. This double is an effort to give declarer a false impression of who has the missing trumps. These are called "offside" doubles and require a special relationship with partner when they don't work.
- Is trying to direct your lead to a particular suit, a suit you might not otherwise have led. These 'lead directing doubles' particularly apply vs. slam contracts when partner has preempted or against notrump game or slam contracts that usually call for the lead of dummy's first bid suit.
Rebidding NTs
- 4 ♥, 4 ♠ with an eight-card fit.
- 3 NT.
- 5 ♣, 5 ♦
Every effort should be made to locate an eight-card major fit. Say the bidding has begun 1 ♥-2 ♣-2 NT (15-16). What next with:
| Hand (a) | Hand (b) | Hand (c) |
| ♠ K 7 3 ♥ 4 ♦ J 9 6 ♣ A Q 9 8 5 3 | ♠ A J 9 6 ♥ 7 3 ♦ 10 6 ♣ A K 8 6 3 | ♠ 8 7 3 ♥ Q J 7 ♦ Q 4 ♣ K Q 8 6 3 |
(a) 3 NT. No point in bidding more clubs. 5 ♣ is a long way away.
(b) 3 ♠. May still have a spade fit (partner would bid this way with 4 ♥s-4 ♠s and 15-16 balanced).
(c) 3 ♥. This delayed support shows three hearts (with four you would support immediately). Partner may have have five hearts in a 5332 shape, in which case he will raise to 4 ♥. With just four hearts, partner will prefer 3 NT.
www.andrewrobson.com.uk
posted 11/10
“As responder, when you have a game going hand respond to your partner’s opening bid in your longer suit first! Re-read this!” Partner opens the bidding 1C and you hold:
S - AK32
H – 42
D – AQ765
C – 32
Respond 1D intending to rebid 2S after partner’s next bid if it is not 1 Spade.
- With 2 remaining cards lead the higher
- With 3 cards return the lowest
- With more than 3 cards, return your original 4th best.
- With an honor sequence return the higher
Card Combinations -- As declarer, many times the ability to make a contract depends on playing one of the suits in a way that maximizes our chance to take tricks. The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge by ACBL has a section on playing card combinations. Here is a combination from the Encyclopedia that I hate to have as declarer:
K x x x
J x x x
Lead Low to the King hoping West has the A Q doubleton. If it is covered, return to dummy and lead to the Jack. Only a 3% chance of 3 tricks. To maximize chances for 2 tricks, Lead low to the King. If the Q fails to appear, duck, When you regain the lead, return to hand and lead low to the King. 50% chance of 2 tricks.
Posted 8/18/18
When partner leads a trump and you have an honor that might be used to overtrump dummy, save your honor. Spades are trump:
S – 985
H - K
S – K4 S – J32 (you)
H – Q10972 H – J3
S- AKQ107
H – A8654
Eddie Kantar writes: “Partner anticipating heart ruffs in dummy leads a trump. You can “see” that you can overtrump the third round of hearts with the Jack, if you keep it.”
A 1NT response to a takeout double shows 6-10 HCP. A 2NT response to a takeout double shows 10-12. Some 10 point hands are better than others because of strong intermediates. You cannot be a slave to point count. Intermediates count!
Notrump responses to a takeout double guarantee at least one stopper (hopefully two), in the opponent’s suit.
You hold: S - AJxx H - xx D - KJ10xx C - xx
South (you) West North East
Pass 1C Pass 1H
X (Your double shows diamonds and spades. A 2D bid might lose a spade fit.)
-Copyright 2014 ACBL Unit 225. All rights reserved.
ACBL Unit 225
East Texas
United States
acblunit