I like the BWTA analysis. This is a basic concept in bidding. Clubs might be the only making slam. Properly describing your longer clubs and short spades is so obvious.

But then you know where we need lessons far better than I. I will be playing again in the Pajama Nationals with my robot partner and opponents.

BBO refuses to provide a robotimprinted with Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics. It would be great to have a partner who is programmed to help me. 😉

Hi Bill,

While all even sort of experienced, informed players know that 2 clubs as an initial response is definitely a slam dunk, still duplicate hungry matchpoint hunters like the possibility of first bidding 1 spade in order to:

1, Avoid a spade lead, if indeed it turns out best for the opponents especially against NT and, of course, responder’s partner is short.

2. Sometimes makes the overall defense more difficult (after the 1 spade distortion), for the defense.

3. To become declarer if partner turns out to have 4 card support with, of course, still the advantage of the bidding making it tougher, even for excellent opponents, to defend, starting with the opening lead.

4, A very common practice for bridge pros to avoid partner playing too many hands.

5. Of course, the overall psychology is to do as much as possible to put that partnership into winning mode, rather than being both a good teacher and example for what proper bridge is all about.

6. Finally since 6 clubs starts out being an unlikely final contract, the disadvantage of not bidding it, becomes minimal.

Reminds me of a hand I held 100 years ago:

s. AJ9x, h. KQxxxx, d. x, c. Ax and while playing professional bridge with a non-talented bridge partner: I, as dealer, opened 1 spade (in case partner had four+ of them) and heard my partner respond 2 hearts!

No one took pity on me then, nor probably would they now. Besides, I wound up making as many NT as we could at hearts and no slam in either denomination.

Re BWTA, with same South hand, suppose Partner opens 1S.
Would a Jacoby 2NT call (with flaw of unbalanced hand) be clearly inferior to 2C (playing either 2/1 or not) ?
Thanks

Hi Clarksburg,

An excellent and very contentious question, and worth a proper analysis.

Advantages of 2 clubs:
1. Later, after spades are supported partner will expect a source of tricks (length, not particularly strength)

2. Keeps the level lower to make room for more description (the real value of a 2 over 1 system).

3. Just in case of opposition, may allow better judgment from the opening bidder whether to eventually declare or defend (even sometimes at the slam level. Of course it also helps the opening lead plus the later defense, but this overall advantage is unlikely to be a factor.

4. More likely to get written up as perhaps the bidding sequence of the month, year, or lifetime. (Just a bad humor break).

Advantage of an immediate GF trump raise:

1. Helps both players settle half the battle, knowing what suit is going to be trump, with in almost all cases at least a nine card fit. (much stronger than only 8),

2. Sets off a conventional response where shortness and controls are both emphasized and at as low a level as is practical.

3. Just in case (and according to the vulnerability) will deny the opponents (particularly the defender who has not yet spoken) to be as effective by entering, particularly a preemptive high level bid.

4. Sets off a sequence where the responder in most cases becomes basically a puppet, except the times the opener asks (by making a bidding choice) for him to judge.

I prefer the immediate raise, both for practical reasons and to not alllow a usually NV opponent to direct a lead at the 2 level.

Of course the source of tricks, especially when the opener has a major honor (A, K or Q and even, sort of, the J) is definitely an advantage and quite often later becomes the determining factor in bidding a good grand slam, expecting that suit to provide the 13th trick) However many players would still bid 2 clubs while holding AKJx, so that long suit fifth trick may turn out to be a mirage.

But change the hand to: s. Kxxx, h. A, d. xx, c. AKJxxx and then a strong jump shift (if the partnership is playing them) is, at least to me, a slam dunk (please excuse the pun) of course when partner admits to at least 2nd round control of diamonds.

One of the major “magic” keys to very high level bidding is to make sure “captaincy” lies with the player whose hand is less known than his partner. That theory, while extremely important, is not always available, particularly when the opponents take away needed bidding space.

That is about all, but I will be happy to answer any specific questions about any of the above.

Perhaps if only the reader gets only one positive “truth” out of this whole discussion it might be the advantages to being a tough opponent, somehow getting into the bidding and make those worthy opponents have to guess what to do at the high levels.

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