Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, May 12th, 2021


7 Comments

Iain ClimieMay 26th, 2021 at 9:11 am

Hi Bobby,

There is another reason why East’s double of 2C is foolish. Once in a while, South will have CAK10x(x) or similar and will redouble finding North with enough for game but not slam, or maybe just an invitztional hand, when 2C XX is making perhaps with at least one overtrick. That isn’t the case today to be fair but East was making a pointless noise here; there will hardly be a sensible acrifice at the vulnerability either.

regards,

Iain

jim2May 26th, 2021 at 11:16 am

On BWTA, if only there were a specialized opening bid to show that hand shape ….

Iain ClimieMay 26th, 2021 at 12:05 pm

Hi Jim2,

But you’d use it and partner would have a 2245 hand or something even less well fitting e.g. 2155. I can only sympathise but what did you do in a past life to deserve TOCM? Mind you, my mistakes have been bad enough in this one!

Regards,

Iain

jim2May 26th, 2021 at 12:59 pm

Iain –

I do not know!

There are tools for responses and opponents rarely seem to let 2H play. One of the big advantages is that responder knows a 1H opener does NOT have 4S and can bid accordingly (such as 1S showing 5, etc).

bobbywolffMay 26th, 2021 at 4:20 pm

Hi Iain & Jim2,

Naturally and overwhelmingly do I agree with the extreme folly it is to double 2 clubs (artificial), in spite of probably the need for him or her to show how adventuresome but instead, off-the charts masochistic, nature of the one who doubled it, not to mention how horribly undisciplined such a bid, can be.

No doubt the doubler prides himself on intimidating opponents into conservatism and possibly, on occasion does, but he more than negatively compensates that advantage with all the negatives (well expressed by Iain) to not only beware of even thinking of being that aggressive, but rather instead being a beacon for discipline before entering auctions (in any way) when doing so is favorable and not with so much bad, in many different ways, to often happen.

On the subject of 4-5 in the major suits, I sincerely belief, and for the above inferential reasons exemplified by both the column and you two, that doing so is worth a specific opening bid, usually referred to as Flannery, named after its discoverer and promoter,.

That bid, showing a limited 4-5 (msjors, usually 13-16-) started out only being 2 diamonds, but now is often chosen as 2 hearts instead (giving up a natural 2 heart weak two bid).

At least to me, that choice should be dependent on the rest of a partnership system, with an original 2 hearts giving the other side less room to roam, but the loss of a key weak two bid, (as opposed with only losing the somewhat feeble 2 diamond WTB), needs to also be considered for the possible addition of what many would consider a positive exchange. (I, of course, included).

David SnookMay 26th, 2021 at 5:29 pm

Ha!

I haven’t read the solution yet and I think I figured out a way to play this one…

And even w/ being able to see all 4 hands, it took me 4 or 5 tries to see what I think is an answer…

I take the opening club, play my second club honor, and then trump a club in dummy, crossing my fingers and hoping W is out of clubs.

I next play all three of dummy’s remaining trumps, reducing W to one last trump and my hand to the higher remaining trump, the S10.

I cross back to my hand via the H ace, pull W’s final trump, and then lead a heart, letting W’s queen take it.

W is now on lead w/ nothing but diamonds and E has been reduced to one final heart. W must lead to my diamond ace and I in turn lead back to dummy’s heart king, pulling E’s jack and can safely dispose of my 2 low diamonds on dummy’s now good remaining hearts.

Does that work?

bobbywolffMay 26th, 2021 at 10:51 pm

Hi /david,

Close, but no cigar.

If you haven’t already, check the column for a small difference.

Just a tiny bit off and you can now consult the rhetoric for a small improvement.

Good luck to your individual learning experiences.