EW have a good save in 5D (down 2). Do you think they should have gotten there and if so, how?

Also, please explain N’s bid of 3S. Seems like a fairly ordinary raise to 2S to me.

helĺo Mr Wolff

In BWTA if NT is forcing should 3 diamond stiĺl be bid ?

best regards

Shantanu Rastogi

Hi David,

Yes 5 diamonds is a very good save, and played from the long diamond hand, East, South will have to switch from his unsupported queen of hearts either immediately or when he gets in with his ace of diamonds or away goes one of dummy’s hearts on the 13th good club in East’s hand for down only 1.

No, I do not see a logical way for EW to get into the bidding, unless East becomes obsessed with his excellent distribution and intervenes with a TO double over either a 2 or 3 spade raise by North. Furthermore, to get the play from East, both East must double and then West would have to then bid 4NT over NS’s game bid allowing East to declare the 5 diamonds that he may or may not choose.

Yes, I agree with your assessment of North only raising to 2 spades, not 3, on his first effort. However, if so, +170 would be a significantly better part score than would +140, emphasizing declarer’s careful finesse in hearts, not wasting the queen. If North raised to only 2 spades, should East double with good distribution but short cards and if he doesn’t should West than reopen with 2NT to balance showing both minors?

Well, you tell me, but since it is right on (sort of) who knows whether or not either defender would do so?

However, one thing that a good declarer MUST do and from the beginning, exercising proper technique. When the defense cashes their clubs against a spade contract by, no doubt and on this hand West leading out the king, then queen and finally ten (let’s assume EW are using right side up signals, high=encouraging), declarer has then got to make a mental note in that bridge mind of his, that the 13th club is held by East, otherwise West would have led a small club at trick 2.

Why is that so important or even worth talking about? The answer is the absolutely KEY to the bridge universe (as I am sure that you already know, but I emphasize to counsel all the readers who have not been exposed). The first suit led is a beginning in counting both defensive hands and the knowledge of clubs being 3-4 instead of 4-3 can become critical later (as it is here) when arriving at the apex of the declarer position of how to play the hearts later (2-4 or 4-2 with 3-3 a slam dunk).

Without that bridge expertise (which so few wannabe excellent players learn) darkness prevails, judgment is impaired (not enough facts) and confusion reigns, causing luck, rather than bridge skill, to prevail.

Sometimes (usually early) the task appears too great to do such a thing, but like driving a car or riding a bike, if learned, it stays with for a lifetime (I can attest from age 12).

Is it worth it? Better ask does one like chocolate, since most do and without liking it, no one will know what they have missed.

Furthermore when I suggest that there are no child proteges in bridge, like there are in music and art, only a talent in numeracy which may lie dormant unless specifically encouraged. Therefore, when taught in primary and secondary schools that talent will always emerge, with others, who are only medium blessed with, to soon follow.

Is a steady dose of it necessary when young? Does one like chocolate? or, should bridge be taught in our schools?

Hi David,

Please forgive me for calling East the long diamond hand since it is West, but East playing the hand would make the defense of switching to a heart from South much tougher.

Hi Shantanu,

It is a close proposition and since the structure of the 2 over 1 GF system, which has taken the tournament bridge players by storm in the USA must then allow for the opener to rebid a 3 card minor with a minimum 5-3-3-2 hand immediately causing a distortion (my choice of word) in a partnership bidding machinery, allowing (possibly demanding among some) partner to always return to 2 of the major with only a doubleton and 4 of the bid minor.

Therefore I vote for your judgment and adhere, by passing rather than raise to the 9 trick level with perhaps only 7 combined trumps. However when the opener does have a minor suit (4 or even sometimes 5) the raise becomes very valuable for sometimes even bidding and making game, or, at the very least, preempting the worthy opponents so that they continue to stay out of the auction.

A very good question by you (showing a keen analytical bridge mind) and I hope, a relatively complete answer, covering the bases, although not lingering on the disadvantages, mainly because of not being able to suggest a better solution.

Hi Bobby, David,

A stray thought on sacrifices, especially at equal vulnerability. How good is 2 off doubled if declarer (as here) was going to go down? At IMPs, does it pay not to chase the 3 IMP gain if you might be about to go plus? Trickier at favourable vulnerability of course, but any thoughts on guidelines here?

regards,

Iain

Hi Iain,

How good is 2 off doubled if declarer was going to go down? As bad as it gets is likely the off the cuff answer. However one will never know whether that declarer was going down or not.

With your other query regarding varying vulnerabilities (an unusual double v combination) the quote which comes to mind comes from Al Davis, the late controversial former owner of the Oakland Raider NFL franchise, I don’t care how you do it, but “Just win, baby”.

However, if forced to at least attempt to give a thoughtful answer, how about, psychology is the largest factor and sizing one’s opponents up is perhaps the largest single factor in winning that battle within a battle.

heĺlo Mr Wolff

Thanks for your kind advice. You are correct that it is a judgemental call to raise to 3 level. I like to bid 2 club when I have 5233 irrespective of quality of suit. So I would have trouble only with 5332 pattern as in all other cases I would have 4 carder diamond. Vulnerability would also play crucial role as is the suit quality.

best regards

shantanu rastogi