A Short Refresher

This is a digest of the talk given mid October to those who had played Stepping Stones in the spring of 2015 then took the summer off and got rusty or alternately, played at the main club and looked to build on their experience.

There were three principal topics:

• Get your no-trumps right – opening, responding and getting to no-trumps
• Look out for finesses
• Don't forget 'double'

Interlaced were a number of other themes, such as matchpoint scoring, not selling out (balancing/protecting), declarer ensuring ruffs, not automatically leading 4^th highest – many of the usual suspects.

We started with a sucker-punch, set up by flipchart showing the teaching notes from the previous Thursday: "How many suits are there?". The class plumped for four but of course the answer is two.

The Prime Directive: the purpose of bidding is to find 4 or 4.

(Apologies to Star Trek fans.)

Get your no-trumps right

Ranges

The good news is that from the pairs that come to my table at the club, the opening no-trump plans are now well ingrained. Nevertheless we had the grid for a warm feeling.

On balanced hands… (more on that later)

Range	Approach
0 – 10	Pass
12 – 14	Open 1NT.
15 – 16	Open longest suit, with just 4-carders, prefer /// in that order. Then rebid no-trumps at cheapest level.
17 – 18	As above but rebid no-trumps with a single jump.
19	As above but rebid 3NT.
20 – 22	Open 2NT.
23 – 24	Open 2. Over partner's non-positive 2, rebid 2NT (non-forcing).
25 – 27	As 23-24 but rebid 3NT.

Notice that all the no-trump ranges are safe except for one. If you open a suit and partner responds promising 6+ HCP, then the 1NT rebid is on a combined 21-22 HCP, enough (on average) for seven tricks. Likewise a jump to 2NT (17 + 6) and 3NT (19 + 6). This is even more true when partner replies at the 2-level, a two-over-one promises 9+ HCP.

This is a good way of remembering the ranges. Note also that 1NT and 2NT are not over-supplied and that allows them to be non-forcing. If responder has more than the minimum she can bid on, if all she has is just enough for her action so far, she should pass.

The only no-trump range that is not secure on HCPs is the 12-14 opener.

Balanced

What constitutes 'balanced' for the purposes of opening no-trumps?

That's 1NT, 2NT and 2…2NT, perhaps overcalls too. Even fusspots are more liberal with the shapes in strong hands (=2NT), mainly due to the lack of good alternatives with 20+ HCP. So the controversy is really only about 1NT openings.

When in range, open 1NT on any hand with a 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2 shape. And the last with any 5-card suit, even 5-major.

These are the arguments for:

1. Auctions that start with 1NT are simple and direct; they avoid giving information to opponents that may help with the opening lead and subsequent defence.
2. You'll find better part-scores especially when opener has hearts and responder spades. 1NT is very attractive with 3-5-3-2 because responder won't rush to rebid spades after 1 – 1; 2 as she'll believe opener has six hearts.
3. Opponents have no take-out double of 1NT and it's often difficult for them to enter the auction. 'Stealing' with the weak no-trump is one of its attractions and adding to its frequency by mixing it up a little can't hurt.

Let's consider some examples of 5-card majors and other off-shapes.

Q92 AQ872 95 AJ4

If you open 1 you will have a rebid problem after a 1 response. You have missed your 'slot' for no-trumps, 1NT now shows 15-16 and you have only 13. The choices are 2 or 2. The trouble with 2 is that responder will expect 4 trumps and more values – why is that? Because opener will often hold a hand like this, Q932 AQ87 Q5 AJ4 After 1 – 1 a raise to 2 is in order. It's easy to see that responder might misjudge with 10/11 HCPs and only four spades and be disappointed. But 2 is 'least worse' here, 2 is terrible. Consider a responder who has just seen 1 – 1; 2, K10843 5 A842 1096 Passing is the only sensible option. Fortunately 2 should deliver six hearts whereas bidding 2 risks a 5-1 fit when opener might hold, 9 KQJ976 KQ5 J42 2 has every chance and 2 is a disaster. Even if you're not convinced of the other arguments, a 3-5-3-2 shape is a mandatory 1NT opening.

KQ963 Q8 J54 KQ9

In a nutshell, the arguments above are that opening 1NT keeps open more strains than 1-major. This is marginally less true when the long suit is spades than when it is hearts. Here spades can be the right strain but it is easy to see that 1 – 1NT; closes off many alternatives when responder has less than 8 HCP. And just because responder can summon up a two-over-one doesn't mean you are out of the woods. 2 KJ762 A962 J84 I'm not crazy about 2 over 1 with this hand but it is the sort of call that gets made; it won't end well when opener rebids 2. After 1NT of course, responder transfers to 2 and passes.

K9 A872 QJ976 K2

This, like the first example, is a mandatory off-shape for 1NT. Again there are too many alternatives lost to the auction 1 – 1; 2. After 1NT both majors are in the picture via Stayman and transfers. (It should go without saying – but I said it anyway – that 1 – 1; 2 shows 16+ HCP because opener's rebid is 'high' being above 2-opened-suit.)

Responding to no-trumps

I gave you three deals to bid:

Board 1. None Vul. Dlr. North J97 Q53 Q4 QJ1074 K2 AK942 AJ10 983 N W E S AQ105 876 9532 K2 8643 J10 K876 A65

West North East South — Pass Pass Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass East shouldn't give up on 4. His jump to 3 offers a choice of games, either 4 or 3NT. Not-recommended auctions: at one table East responded 1NT thereby contravening the Prime Directive to find 4-major on every deal (which is the point of 3 above of course). Some Easts passed 1NT – that's very cautious – 2NT to invite should work as opener will try 3 'on the way to 3NT'. North leads the Q, declarer covers, South wins and plays a trump which West takes; what next? Declarer should concede a club to ensure his ruff in dummy. Even if the defence plays another trump he is can still ruff a club with dummy's last trump. Having lost two clubs and with a certain trump loser, West cannot play diamond. He must hope spades provides four tricks. Best play is to return to hand and concede a heart (why?) and today he is in luck, the J drops in three rounds allowing two diamond discards on Q-10.

Board 2. NS Vul. Dlr. North KJ75 32 AQ7 Q843 109 KQ J1093 AK952 N W E S AQ6 A1084 842 J76 8432 J9765 K65 10

West North East South — 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 All Pass South uses Stayman to get out of a hole. This is safe because South has an answer for each of North's rebids. Clearly he can pass 2 or 2, what about 2? On the South hand he can convert to 2 and play there. Not-recommended auctions: most tables transferred to hearts which is an OK second-choice. You can't make 2 but then, you can't make 2 either, why is this important? Club games are played for matchpoints where the rank of the scores matter, not their marginal difference. Here 2 may be two or three off for -200 (the 'kiss of death') or worse. 2 is down one for -100 better than EW making 3 for -110.

Board 3. EW Vul. Dlr. East J9 9532 A10932 104 102 Q74 65 Q98652 N W E S 8764 KJ106 QJ AJ7 AKQ53 A8 K874 K3

West North East South — — 1NT X1 22 … 16+ HCP, usually at least semi-balanced Natural, to play 2 When opponents double, Stayman and transfers are off. The conventions stop you declaring 2-minor after 1NT because they are not important contracts and the extra space is better used for accuracy finding games and slams. But when opponents double 2 and 2 are important and you cannot afford to relinquish them. Not-recommended auctions: first try at this most forgot to double and instead overcalled 2. Interveners exploit any NT-opening by retaining double for strong hands and bidding suits on obstructive hands. More not-recommended auctions: West North East South — — 1NT X Pass Pass Pass East could be five down for -1400. It is essential to get out of no-trumps with weak hands and a long suit. West North East South — — 1NT X 2 Pass 2 2 3 Pass Pass X All Pass 3 would be two down, not too bad? Well, bad enough; as EW are vulnerable that would be -500 and the best NS are likely to do left to their own devices is about +480. We know East shouldn't think 2 was Stayman but once South bids over 2 West should (inwardly) sigh with relief and pass. Lastly what if there were no double, how would West get out of no-trumps? West North East South — — 1NT Pass 21 Pass 2NT2 Pass 33 All Pass "I have a long weak minor" "I'm fascinated, tell me" "It's clubs"

Key points from the examples

• Open 1NT with 3-5-3-2 and 5-4-2-2 (and in range)
• Stayman and transfers always go together; that is if 2 is Stayman, 2♦/♥ show hearts/spades
• Stayman and transfers are off when opponents double or overcall.
• Get out of no-trumps when you have a weak hand and a long suit; that's any 5-card major or 6-card minor. If they double and you can bid naturally at the 2-level, then 2-minor with five cards is OK.
• Vulnerability is key in competitive auctions
• Use 1NT – 2; for tricky hands that are otherwise hard to show.

World Championship Semi-Final

This board features a number of the points mentioned above,

• It is hard to compete accurately over opponents' 1NT opening
• 5-4-2-2 is a no-trump shape
• Cheat a point when circumstances are favourable
• Responding to 1NT with weak hands

England were in the lead by a small margin when this, the 96^th and final board was placed on the tables. It highlights the difficulty of competing against a no-trump opening – especially, as here, when the overcalling side is vulnerable.

3 made 9 tricks, Poland +110

South was light for his takeout double showing 4-4 in the majors and sometimes might not have had four hearts. Even so, North might have bid again. I don't know what West's redouble showed, I guess it was some sort of value raise – possibly without a high card in clubs.

1. (14)15-17 HCP. They open lighter no-trumps at favourable vulnerabilities, such as this.
2. Transfer to spades

2 made 8 tricks, Poland +110

Why did the Polish North upgrade his 14 HCP to a predominantly 15-17 no-trump? Almost certainly because he was non-vulnerable and might pre-empt East-West out of a game or partscore and secondly, his hand with a 5-card suit was more powerful than the raw point-count suggested.

East didn't have a natural 2 overcall of 1NT – most pairs do not, even you! (Recall a 2 overcall of 1NT is Landy, showing 5-4 or longer in the majors when advancer's 2 is "choose".)

South opted to transfer rather than look for a 4-4 heart fit. According to their system card, the auction, 1NT – 2; 2 – 2; asks for more information about opener's hand. The auction you might have was impossible for them, South would have to bid 2 and though this would show spades as well, North would not know which suit was longer. The Poles compromise their rescue methods to improve their game and slam bidding. Given the disparity in the majors, South's decision to play his 5-card suit is clear. Note East might have competed against hearts, either with a takeout double or 3.

Poland went on to defeat Sweden in the final. Klukowski at 19 is the youngest ever world champion.

Look Out for Finesses

I gave you a quiz to keep you amused while you sipped your Earl Grey (or a cup of my famous Java) and nibbled the ginger biscuits.

Quiz

Question 1.

Lead Q

You win K, what EW cards make up the next trick (assuming South plays low)?

Answer: 4 to 10. This is the best play in the suit, if South has Jxx or AJx, West will make five heart tricks. Later in the play, having drawn trumps, West should lead to the 10, a finesse against the J in North.

Question 2.

Lead Q

You win K, what EW cards make up the next trick (assuming South plays low)

Answer: 3 to K. If this holds, re-enter dummy and lead another heart to the queen; this wins five tricks against South's Ax, AJ, AJx and Axx.

If the heart king loses to the ace, when next in dummy (♠A) lead low to the 10 (just as Q1). West can still win five tricks against South's Jx and Jxx. What if North has AJ? Then you lose two tricks – but AJ is one combination, A5, A8, A9 is three: finessing on the second round wins three and loses one.

What if North has ducked the king with Ax? Good play! If North defends that way and knows why, then ask them for a game

Question 3.

Lead 3

The first trick goes 3, 2, Jack, Ace

1. Were you right to take the first trick?
2. How do you play hearts?
3. If the hearts go well, what suit do play next and how?

Answer: preamble; North has a 4-card suit because he led the three and the two is in dummy, South has the J, possibly the Q but not the 10. The most likely holding for North's lead is Q1063 or Q1053. Declarer has eight quick tricks (4+1+2+1) and can establish a ninth in hearts from the QJ.

(i) Yes. If you duck you give up a trick. If you didn't have the 9 (so NS held QJ109 between them) then ducking is reasonable on that basis. But letting them win an early diamond risks them switching to clubs which would be unwelcome.

(ii) Run the J. If the heart finesse wins then it will be good to be in West to repeat it. You may as well do that before looking for more tricks (iii). There is some risk a sneaky South will hold off the first heart, win the second and play a heart back. It would be OK to move on to (iii) after only one finesse, remembering to lead to the queen later. However that requires the effort to check if your entries allow it and you might get tangled up. I recommend making all uncertain plays in one suit before starting with another.

(iii) Lead a low diamond from dummy to the 9. And you should play the nine even if South produces the Q. The idea is to create a finesse position against North's honour. If it goes (from East) 7, 5, 9, 10 then dummy holds K8 over North's Q6, West has 4 and South none.

It is possible to cash the spades before playing 9 but in general it is not a good idea to cash a solid suit in the middle of a hand: (a) decent defenders will count your HCPs, in effect you are "showing them your cards" and (b) these suits provide transportation from one hand to another.

Key points from the examples

• Always arrange to lead up to honours whenever you can.
• Look for finesses of lower cards, not just kings and queens.
• Don't play off your suits which are rich in tricks until the end when you've run out of ideas.
• I know it makes your head hurt but counting winning and losing cases is the only way to decide which line to take.

Don't Forget "Double"

You were taught doubles are takeout in many situations but most of you consider the takeout double in just one, of an opening bid, where you first met it:

Yes, North's double is for takeout but it is just the tip of the iceberg. All these doubles are takeout too:

And…

And…

In fact you were given clear rules about doubles; of a natural suit bid these doubles are takeout:

1. 2 or below
2. An opening bid at any level
3. When the opponents have found a fit and you have not

The guidance for doubles of no-trumps is even simpler: they show lots of HCPs.

The takeout doubles according the rules above, plus NTs and artificial bids, are not alertable. The treatment you play is common and the default.

You do have some penalty doubles of natural suits but they are rare, these are the rules for those (the complement of takeout doubles),

1. 3 or above that is not a fit or an opening bid
2. After your side doubles 1NT and they run to a suit
3. After they double and partner redoubles

You should alert penalty doubles of suit bids of 3 and below. Penalty doubles are the rarer treatment, that they require alerting is an indication of that.

What do these other takeout doubles look like?

The by word for a takeout double is flexible.

Double keeps other contracts open, both level and strain. They concentrate on the unbid major, usually as-good-as-promising 4-card support for any unbid major.

The majority also retain the option of defending, that is, if partner has the right hand, he can convert the double from takeout to penalty. At the one-level this is rare but as the level increases, the possibility and the rewards of 'passing for penalties' become more attractive.

Beware! There is an oft-heard mantra "takeout doubles are for taking out". In general only 'leave in' doubles when you are sure (a) the contract is going down and (b) you can't make something.

Let's look at the three situations above.

Double of an overcall

North's 1 shouldn't inconvenience East: if he was thinking of bidding hearts he can now bid no-trumps or pass. If he was about to bid spades he has two bids – not just the one had North passed. How to use double (showing spades) and 1 (showing spades)?

• Double shows exactly four spades
• 1 shows five or more

North's puny intervention has been turned on her. This is the only sequence where this happens but it's very common. If they have spades, there isn't the same luxury:

North's overcall is more effective in taking up space (aren't spades great?) and now East can have either of these hands:

• J4
• KQ104
• Q65
• 9865

East would have responded 1 and now a takeout double of spades (showing hearts) saves the day. But this hand is also possible,

• J4
• KQ10764
• 65
• 985

The choice is pass or double. 2? That is simply bidding on too few values. Partner will take you for more, when you have a misfit you need high cards. Who wants to bid 2 and hear 3? Note that 2, unlike a normal two-over-one, doesn't allow partner to repeat his suit at the 2-level. So, if anything, 2 require more than normal.

If you double you're hoping for this,

When partner will know (a) you have a lot of hearts and (b) not many high-cards because you didn't bid 2 immediately. It may not happen but it shows hearts and give you a chance – pass shows nothing and contravenes the Prime Directive.

Double of a response

Wait a moment, there's only one suit left! Why would you double just to offer clubs – couldn't you bid them?

The principle is that double offers more places to play, here the strains North-South are interested in are hearts and clubs, double is more flexible, it says "I have clubs but I also have a little something in hearts too". This would be an OK hand for South,

• 865
• K4
• 1065
• KQ1076

Or,

• K4
• 865
• 1065
• KQ1076

If you bid clubs you should be much more intent on the suit,

• 862
• 4
• A65
• KQJ1076

Opener doubles at second turn

These are very common. Here West no doubt has clubs but South's raise has made it inconvenient to show them – maybe North's heart overcall wasn't so puny after all. However West could have supported spades with three (because East's 1 showed five – remember?) and so will have something like,

• Q4
• 75
• AKJ76
• KQJ5

West needs a decent hand, once again, bidding on without a fit shows high cards. Partner may not have much more than five spades and 6 HCP (perhaps not even that!) and there's no security, East's spades are decent, we might belong in just 2, say opposite AJ1076 J103 84 873.

Key points from the examples

• Double keeps open more options than bidding a suit – it is more flexible.
• Learn the doubling rules! Then you'll know which are penalties and which are takeout.
• Be very wary of passing a takeout double. Never pass just because you have a poor hand.