The 3H bid today is a new one on me but can see the point, although 2N is an alternative when North will either pass or bail out to 3S I suspect although NS may still reach 3N if North is an optimist. In the case of a 2N rebid, though, East doesn’t get all the extra information about South’s hand that tips him off to the winning defence.
The steam age use of 3H here would be to show a solid suit and set it as trumps but that is rare and you can always bid hearts twice or more (or rebid 4H for that matter although par nigh pass. If you’ve got this sort of hand, though (x AKQJ10xxx AKQx x) then just opening 4N works, asking for specific aces (5C none, 5N two, 6C CA, 5any = that ace). Some older conventions still have merit.
The reason I quoted that hand was I held it in the late 70s at pairs, adverse, and heard 1D on my right, bid 4N, then 5S on my left, 6C on my right, 6H from me and West saved in 6S with a 10 card suit (East was 0-1-6-6) goin g 2 off. 4H is going off (!) if the defence get it right, though. S ruff at T1, diamond back ruffed, C to Ace and another D ruff.
Regards,
Iain
clarksburgMarch 23rd, 2023 at 4:07 pm
Good Morning Bobby
Question unrelated to today’s column:
Matchpoints, neither VUL
Partner opens 1 Heart, and RHO overcalls 1S
You hold 832 643 J954 J98
Is it acceptable / advisable to compete to 2H with nothing more than three trumps?
Thanks
Steven ConradMarch 23rd, 2023 at 4:42 pm
Iain, glad you brought up the jumps rebid in a major after a 2C opening. I was convinced that it was a better use of the jump rebid, but neither seems to have caused many problems. My personal anecdote is that I have had several hand where the former jump rebid style was the useful call, and I never had the major-diamond hand. I asked Gavin Wolpert and he said he played it the solid suit way. What is the experience of others?
Iain ClimieMarch 23rd, 2023 at 5:20 pm
Hi Steve,
Thanks for that. I’ve always played it the old way but how often does it come up relative to hands like the one today or a 1-4-6-2 hand? Makes sense to me I must say although memory may strike….
Regards,
Iain
Jeff SerandosMarch 23rd, 2023 at 6:09 pm
Hi Iain,
Thank you for sharing that hand. I am assuming an extra ‘x’ crept into the heart suit when you weren’t looking, but still – a monster like that only to find the opps with a 10-card suit? And in the master suit, as well. It’d take me a while to get over that one.
bobby wolffMarch 23rd, 2023 at 6:47 pm
Hi Iain,
Yes, those long ago major changes with bids, intended to put them to use about an average of once every lifetime, but always with the writer or player who first claims his (or hers). Then the good news is that it, on average, may have only one public failure, but needed to be reminded in a conscientious partnership many times, especially with ever changing partnerships.
However, excellent for showing off between the changing of partners and for just casual bridge discussions instead of the current world’s horrible daily events.
bobbywolffMarch 23rd, 2023 at 6:55 pm
Hi Clarksburg,
Absolutely not and deserves even a stronger denial. Whomever suggested making such a bid, should be somewhat ashamed of themselves. Like adding an il to begin the word logic when discussing bridge bidding. Why even consider such an aberration?
Iain ClimieMarch 24th, 2023 at 8:44 am
Hi Bobby,
Thanks for that and yes, sorry, it was 1-7-4-1 not as shown.
Regards,
Iain
Iain ClimieMarch 24th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Hi Clarksburg,
I remember playing Precision club many years ago and opened 1H (11-15 5+ hearts) getting 1S on my left, 2H from partner, 2S on my right, 4H from me (totally unjustified but knowing the player on my left) 4S Double. The first three tricks went HK, H to my Ace, H ruff, partner having raised on HKx and not a lot else with the opponents having 3H each and placing each other with shortage. Oppo went for a number and were not amused.
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Bridge-related
Hi Bobby,
The 3H bid today is a new one on me but can see the point, although 2N is an alternative when North will either pass or bail out to 3S I suspect although NS may still reach 3N if North is an optimist. In the case of a 2N rebid, though, East doesn’t get all the extra information about South’s hand that tips him off to the winning defence.
The steam age use of 3H here would be to show a solid suit and set it as trumps but that is rare and you can always bid hearts twice or more (or rebid 4H for that matter although par nigh pass. If you’ve got this sort of hand, though (x AKQJ10xxx AKQx x) then just opening 4N works, asking for specific aces (5C none, 5N two, 6C CA, 5any = that ace). Some older conventions still have merit.
The reason I quoted that hand was I held it in the late 70s at pairs, adverse, and heard 1D on my right, bid 4N, then 5S on my left, 6C on my right, 6H from me and West saved in 6S with a 10 card suit (East was 0-1-6-6) goin g 2 off. 4H is going off (!) if the defence get it right, though. S ruff at T1, diamond back ruffed, C to Ace and another D ruff.
Regards,
Iain
Good Morning Bobby
Question unrelated to today’s column:
Matchpoints, neither VUL
Partner opens 1 Heart, and RHO overcalls 1S
You hold 832 643 J954 J98
Is it acceptable / advisable to compete to 2H with nothing more than three trumps?
Thanks
Iain, glad you brought up the jumps rebid in a major after a 2C opening. I was convinced that it was a better use of the jump rebid, but neither seems to have caused many problems. My personal anecdote is that I have had several hand where the former jump rebid style was the useful call, and I never had the major-diamond hand. I asked Gavin Wolpert and he said he played it the solid suit way. What is the experience of others?
Hi Steve,
Thanks for that. I’ve always played it the old way but how often does it come up relative to hands like the one today or a 1-4-6-2 hand? Makes sense to me I must say although memory may strike….
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Thank you for sharing that hand. I am assuming an extra ‘x’ crept into the heart suit when you weren’t looking, but still – a monster like that only to find the opps with a 10-card suit? And in the master suit, as well. It’d take me a while to get over that one.
Hi Iain,
Yes, those long ago major changes with bids, intended to put them to use about an average of once every lifetime, but always with the writer or player who first claims his (or hers). Then the good news is that it, on average, may have only one public failure, but needed to be reminded in a conscientious partnership many times, especially with ever changing partnerships.
However, excellent for showing off between the changing of partners and for just casual bridge discussions instead of the current world’s horrible daily events.
Hi Clarksburg,
Absolutely not and deserves even a stronger denial. Whomever suggested making such a bid, should be somewhat ashamed of themselves. Like adding an il to begin the word logic when discussing bridge bidding. Why even consider such an aberration?
Hi Bobby,
Thanks for that and yes, sorry, it was 1-7-4-1 not as shown.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Clarksburg,
I remember playing Precision club many years ago and opened 1H (11-15 5+ hearts) getting 1S on my left, 2H from partner, 2S on my right, 4H from me (totally unjustified but knowing the player on my left) 4S Double. The first three tricks went HK, H to my Ace, H ruff, partner having raised on HKx and not a lot else with the opponents having 3H each and placing each other with shortage. Oppo went for a number and were not amused.
Regards,
Iain