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Horace Gower's Duplicate Bridge
Discussion Page
By Horace Gower
207 865-4850
hgower@suscom-maine.net
All
rights reserved
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North
8♠,5♠
A♥,J♥,8♥,2♥
8♦,2♦
A♣,7♣,4♣,3♣,2♣ |
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East
A♠,K♠
K♥,Q♥,10♥
A♦,Q♦,J♦,9♦
K♣,Q♣,8♣,5♣ |
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West
J♠,10♠,9♠,7♠,4♠,3♠
9♥,3♥
10♦,7♦,5♦,3♦
6♣ |
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South
Q♠,6♠,2♠
7♥,6♥,5♥,4♥
K♦,6♦,4♦
J♣,10♣,
9♣ |
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The purpose of bidding is to get to the best contract. In
standard bidding, we try to describe our hands until one of us
has enough information about points and shape to make a decision
for the pair. On this hand, west has a great hand with 24 points
and balanced distribution. If we show this hand partner will
place the contract. One of the great things about notrump
bidding is that partner will have an accurate picture of our
strength and distribution. With standard bidding all our notrump
openings and rebids show balanced hands and a narrow range of
points. The most common is:
12 – 14 open in a suit and then bid notrump at the lowest level
15 – 17 open 1NT
18 – 19 open 1 of a suit and then jump in notrump
20 – 21 open 2NT
22 – 24 open 2C and then bid 2NT
25 – 27 open 3NT
In all cases, we know opener’s strength within 1 point (1NT =
16 +/- 1 for example) and that they have balanced distribution.
With the west hand then we would open 2C and then rebid 2NT to
show a balanced hand of about 23 points. The east player should
realize that his hand is probably of no value in notrump but
worth at least 2 or 3 tricks if the hand is played in spades.
After responding 2D (either waiting or negative depending on
your methods) when partner next rebids 2NT, east should place
the contract at 4S. Assuming transfers the auction would be 2C,
2D; 2NT, 3H; 3S, 4S. Yes west has a great hand but they have
already described that hand to partner so they should accept
partner’s decision. When this hand was actually played in
Portland on Wednesday afternoon, only 2 pairs got to 4S (for a
top and these pairs finished 1st and 2nd for the day). Other
contracts were 3NT making once and going down once; 4NT down 3;
6NT!; and 6S. DESCRIBE YOUR HAND AND TRUST YOUR PARTNER!
Bridge Classes
This class will be based on a book by Barbara Seagram
(teacher extraordinaire) and David Bird (a well know bridge
author) and is called 25 Ways To Take More Tricks As Declarer.
The 25 chapters each deals with a separate theme like 11)
Playing a Crossruff; 20) Combining 2 Chances; 4) Discarding
Losers; or 5) Safety Plays Within 1 Suit. Lots of good
techniques to add to your repertoire. The classes will each
cover 2 or 3 topics and a copy of the book ($17) will be
included in the price. I especially like the way the book
focuses on planning the play as opposed to showing all 52 cards.
This class is perfect for newcomer and intermediate players.
More advanced players will also profit from these basic
techniques.
Classes will be held at the American Legion Hall in Falmouth
from 1 - 3 on Monday afternoons beginning March 10th, 2008 and
continuing for 8 weeks. The price of $75 will include a copy of
the book. I look forward to presenting this material and hope
you can join us. (This class was given back in 2005. If you
already have a copy of the book the cost without the book is
$65.)
Horace Gower 865 4850
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These
bridge results brought
to you by John Snowe.
Corrections and suggestions welcome.
E-mail
john@harpswell.com
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