Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, January 15th, 2023


6 Comments

Iain ClimieJanuary 29th, 2023 at 4:43 pm

Hi Bobby,

I think “High Level” ‘s fate argues for being able to distinguish between raises to 4H (how weak exactly?) although obviously starting with a 3C cue-bid is an easy way with a good raise. Regular partnerships will have their own agreement no doubt but what about something practical for the rest of us here? Any advice?

Regards,

Iain Climie

jim2January 29th, 2023 at 7:36 pm

If I were “Unstuck,” I would regret not having bid 3C over 2D, even if it would not have been the “best” bid then.

Iain ClimieJanuary 29th, 2023 at 8:10 pm

Hi Jim2,

Back in the stone age, hands with 5-5 in the black suits were encouraged to open 1C although the strength of the spades in that example argues against it. Worked sometimes, but obviously the modern tendency is to get the major in first.

If you’re playing precision where 1S is 11-15 5+ spades, maybe you could get away with 3C by agreeing it isn’t that strong but I suspect partner is likely to get carried away over 3C even if playing 2 over 1. My bidding is pretty rustic after the 25 year lay-off though, so I’m happy to be corrected.

Regards,

Iain

Bobby WolffJanuary 29th, 2023 at 11:41 pm

Hi Iain,

As bridge lovers, we all love to talk about various situations which emerge, especially in the bidding, but considering that phase as sometimes blind flying, we need to be
flexible enough with partner to sometimes stray into our own judgments when facing weird (another synonym for unusual) situations.

However, I think 2 spades (instead of 3 clubs) is clearly correct, since the bidding has started out as a misfit, at least to me, until later notice, I so not want to overbid. Sure, when partner rebids 3 diamonds (GF), I’m stuck and will probably bid 3NT (awful), but if partner would have made another rebid, I would have been glad I have hinted at a minimum in fit.

“Don’t Cry for Me, You Bridge player”, could be your mantra so if you, up to now, have been thinking that good bridge bidding is always graceful, heading toward perfection, please strike those thoughts. They should have gone out like the delivery of the morning milk. I’ll be back later to offer more solace.

Bobby WolffJanuary 30th, 2023 at 3:35 am

Hi Jim2,

Seems to me that rebidding three clubs over partner’s GF of two diamonds can hurt in more significant ways than merely rebidding two spades. Thus, at least to me, since with partner’s initial two diamond response reducing the worth of your opening bid to a weak two spade bid, with even that effort to check signals still leaving overbid feelings, the choice of a two spade rebid might, probably more than half the time, be dealt, with little to no, apparent damage, resulting.

However, I may be deciding to whistle as I pass the bridge graveyard, an action never thought to be recommended.

jim2January 30th, 2023 at 1:33 pm

In my post, I did not disagree that 2S was the “correct” bid, and I agree also that 2D diminished the value of my hand some.

However, in “bidding hindsight,” I dislike “my” bidding choices after 1S-2D-2S-3D so much that I kinda’ wish I had bid 3C.

Maybe pard would have bid something else instead of 3D. If our bidding understanding was that 3H now by me in that sequence be would be stopper asking, I definitely wish I had bid 3C.

I have the feeling that 3D is our last chance at a plus and wish I could Pass. Maybe I should have opened 1C. One of the old school arguments for opening 1C was a red suit response and rebid, IIRC.