Results for Set 10

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Board 1, East deals, nobody vulnerable

K A K J 6 5 3 K 8 2 Q 8 7

Q J 8 6 3 Q 9 2 A 9 3 10 2

Scores for Board 1:

4: 10
3: 5
2NT: 3
3NT: 2

After West's third seat 1, East has a dilemma. Should he show his spades, or raise hearts? If he does raise hearts, is he too strong for 2? There is no "right" answer. A third-seat opener is sometimes based on a four-card suit, so that might argue in favor of a 1 response. After that, West might scrape up a 3 rebid (a slight overbid), which East will surely raise to game. If West rebids only 2, East should still raise to 3. One reason is that a 3rd seat 1 followed by 2 should show a decent opener (otherwise West could open with a heavy 3rd seat weak two). If East raises hearts via Drury, West will jump to 4 (no reason to look for slam opposite a passed hand). If East raises to only 2, West is worth a try which East should accept. I think this is one of the easier problems in this feature.

Board 2, West deals, both vulnerable

A 8 7 5 2 A K 4 J 8 6 5 2

4 Q 8 7 5 3 A 7 5 A K Q 7

Scores for Board 2:

7: 10
6:8
3N: 8
4: 5
5: 3

Some players open 1 with 5-5 in the blacks, but 1 is the more common treatment. After 1-2 (assuming 2/1 GF) , West should rebid 3 (I don't believe in playing this as showing extra values). If East now bids 3NT, well,...I can't say anything kind. My buddy David Berkowitz would call that a "truck-driver" bid. Sorry, truck drivers. At the least, East could punt/temporize with 3, but I think he should bid 4. If I had one bid for my life over 3 with East's hand, it would be 6. After 1-2-3-4, the auction could enter never-never land. Is 4 now by West a control-bid or an offer to play? Only experienced partnerships will have an agreement. Note: In this feature I try to give guidance for the first few rounds of the auction. To discuss the high-level subtleties, I'd need to give up my day job and find more time.

Board 3, West deals, nobody vulnerable

8 K 3 A Q 10 9 6 3 A Q 8 4

A K Q J 10 9 2 8 7 2 K 2 7

Scores for Board 3:

6N (West) : 10
6 (West): 9
6 (West): 7
6 (East): 6
6NT (East) :
5:4
5: 3

After West opens 1, East could respond 2 if playing it as strong. If undiscussed, discuss it after this deal, but bid 1 at the table to avoid an accident. With 6-4, West should show his second suit--2. East is too strong to simply jump to 4. He should bid 2 (fourth suit game forcing). West could then bid notrump (hearts stopped), but I prefer the more-descriptive call of 3--to show 6-4. Some pairs play that going A-B-A with 6-4 shows extras (with less they go A-A-B). Anyway, East now bids 3 and West will admit to hearts stopped with 3NT. So, I expect this start: 1-1-2-2-3-3-3NT. I usually don't go "7-bids-deep" in my predictions. I'll quit while the quitting is good, but will say that it is not easy to reach the top spot.

Board 4, East deals, nobody vulnerable

A J 10 7 J 10 6 4 A 10 9 6 3

Q 4 2 K Q 9 8 7 A 5 2 K J

Scores for Board 4:

4:10
6:6
4:4
3NT:2

I feel strongly that East should open 1NT. To read my thoughts, click here. However, the downside of 1NT comes here if all West can do is use Stayman. After 1N-2-2 what will happen? If West can bid 3 forcing, East will rebid hearts and now the heart game is reached. If West rebids 3NT (see my "truck-driver" discussion on board 2), East will have no reason to bid again. Some pairs use Puppet Stayman whereby West can ask about a 4- or 5-card major--making it easy to reach 4, but making it tougher on the system memory. Responses to 1NT is probably the most complicated part of the convention card to fill out.

***Full Book by Larry Cohen with Bidding Practice and results/analysis.***