Vul:NS Dlr: E	AKQJ  Q5  A642  J83
98632  3  J875  764		1054  A98742  Q10  92
	7  KJ106  K93  AKQ105

For the first time ever in this column, we have a real real deal. In the past, a celebrity has dealt out 52 cards at random. This month, we have a celebrity (Peter Weichsel), but he has submitted a computer-dealt deal from the 2023 World Championships.

This deal was played at 96 tables, so there is a lot of data. Most East players started with 2. This is not your grandparent’s weak two-bid. Back in the day, we had rules such as “two of the top three honors.” In modern bridge, when we are at favorable vulnerability (white against red), with a weak hand and a six-card suit, we tend to preempt. Still, old-school teachers wouldn’t espouse such an action with the East hand. Perhaps AJ109xx (still not two of the top three, but at least three of the top five) would satisfy them.

At the few tables where East dealt and passed, South opened 1. North responded 1 (although a 1 response is possible) over which South had a big problem. A 2H rebid here would be a reverse, showing extras (the actual hand is a bit too weak). In fact, there is no good rebid with the South hand (it is too strong for a 2 rebid—not to mention a club short). It has the wrong shape and strength for a notrump rebid. Yuk. What would I rebid after 1-1? Please don’t ask. Despite a combined 33 HCP, some North-South pairs reached only game and made it easily.

Other pairs who started with 1 reached slam. Which slam? Six notrump is easy. Knock out the heart ace and there are tons of tricks. What about 6? A great contract, but it is doomed by the singleton heart lead and a heart ruff.

What about over East’s weak 2 opening which was made at most tables? With only one spade, South shouldn’t double for takeout. To make an off-shape double, South would need a little more strength. Doubling and bidding again shows about 18.

South has too much to pass, so it is either 3 (a bit heavy) or 2NT (very off-shape and missing a spade stopper). A 2NT overcall shows roughly a 1NT opening. It promises a stopper in the opponent’s suit and is assumed to be balanced (it sure isn’t here!). Over a 2NT overcall, North has an easy path to 6NT (maybe using Stayman).

After a 3 overcall (which was made at most tables), what should North do? North could start by cuebidding 3 (to show a good raise). Now South might trying to 3NT but has lots of extra values and a side-suit singleton. South does have hearts stopped. When bidding 3NT in a competitive auction, the key is to have the opponents’ suit stopped and not worry about stoppers in other suits. Many North-South pairs missed slam and others reached the doomed 6. That’s why people preempt!

There is another possibility. The results were littered with 1100’s. How’s that? Some South players passed after the weak two-bid. This came around to North who doubled for takeout. Now South left in the double for penalties and set it five tricks. East was able to take three heart tricks and nothing else.

Is plus 1100 a good result for North-South? Not if the other table reaches 6NT for 1440 (lose 8 IMPs). But, if the other table stops in game (690, say), it is gain 9 and even better, when the other table plays 6C down 100, it is win 15!

The moral of the story? There is no moral. There is no right or wrong. There is no “normal” result. I often get shown hands (or full deals) and am asked: “How should the bidding go?” The answer is often that there are many possible paths.

Lesson Points:

1) After 1-1, opener’s 2 is a reverse showing a strong hand.

2) In modern bridge, players preempt (especially white against red) without paying attention to “the book.”

3) To make a takeout double with a side-suit singleton, approximately 18 or more points are required.

4) While we wouldn’t open 1NT or 2NT with a singleton, it is okay (if stuck) to overcall a natural notrump with a singleton (but surely not in the opponent’s suit).

5) When the opponents have bid a suit, it is okay to bid notrump without stoppers in the other suits—as long as you have their suit stopped.

6) Many deals have no “normal.” The players have a choice of actions with no right or wrong.