Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, December 4th, 2022


6 Comments

clarksburgDecember 18th, 2022 at 1:41 pm

Good Morning Bobby
Follow up to No Fit’s question and your answer:
From previous Q and A’s here, you indicated that at Matchpoints specifically, this sequence could be agreed as showing a weakish hand, to play in the SIX card minor, having checked for the scoring-preferred 4-4 major along the way. Do you still endorse this?
Here you say that few use two-way Stayman anymore. Are you referring to non-expert players? (I have the impression many strong players do play TWS)
Thanks

Bobby WolffDecember 18th, 2022 at 2:44 pm

Hi Clarksburg,

Since 2way Stayman has always been a favorite of mine I hope it is still popular, but have not run into it as often as I prefer.

IOW, methinks that among good to excellent partnerships, they have remodeled bidding to suit their own needs for clarity a little, but actually to further their own desires (varying) to, at least in their judgment, make better and more strategic, final decisions. No doubt, at least to me, bridge is a game and likely always has been where even very talented players react slightly differently to twists and turns, particularly so when the auction is contested, some prefer to just bid their hands for partner to be better placed, while others emphasize outwitting their opponents. Perhaps, at least to some degree, professional bridge has caused this enigma.

Kind of like chocolate vs. vanilla, but, at least to me, quite evident with the bottom line
definitely making the tricksters more difficult to play against, but at the same time, not
having partner nearly as well informed.

BTW, I am delighted that 2way Stayman is still common.

Steve ConradDecember 19th, 2022 at 11:12 am

Monday, Monday — it’s that kind of day, said the Mamas and the Poppas

Iain ClimieDecember 19th, 2022 at 1:37 pm

Hi Steve,

See also Garfield’s view of the day!

Regards,

Iain

Steve ConradDecember 20th, 2022 at 12:22 pm

I heard there is a new song now, Tuesday, Tuesday. But wait — it could be one-upped by Wednesday, Wednesday.

Iain ClimieDecember 20th, 2022 at 12:42 pm

Bob Geldof and the Boomtown rats had a song about disliking Mondays some years back.