COMPETITIVE DECISIONS with Ron Klinger Improve your bridge with For bridge holidays, contact

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Virgil Long
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1 COMPETITIVE DECISIONS with Ron Klinger Improve your bridge with For bridge holidays, contact 1. Dealer E : Both vulnerable 1S 2H 3D 4H Q10743 QJ7 Q Dealer S : E W vul. 1NT (1) 2S 3D (2) 4S 5D Pass Pass (1) (2) Forcing, natural What do you do as with: Q942 Q2 7 K53 3. Dealer N : N-S vulnerable Pass Pass 1H 1S 2S (1) 4S 5H (1) Good heart raise KQ76 2 Q Dealer E : Both vulnerable Pass 2S (1) (1) Weak two 4 KQJ1072 Q Dealer N : Nil vulnerable Pass 1C/1D 1S 2H 4S What would you do as E with: QJ6 6. Dealer E : E W vul. 1D 1S 2H 3S Pass 4S J AKJ Dealer N : N-S vulnerable 1NT Pass 2D (1) 4S Pass Pass Dble Pass (1) Transfer to hearts What do you do as N with: AJ4 Q7 AK. Dealer E : N-S vulnerable Pass 1H 4S Pass Pass AK952 AKJ Dealer E : N-S vulnerable Pass Pass 2S (1) 4H Dble Pass (1) Weak, 5+ Ss, 4+ minor What should do with: K9732 QJ Dealer W : E W vul. 1C Pass 1H 1S Dble (1) 2S 2NT (2) (1) 3-card heart support (2) Puppet to 3C, competing QJ Dealer S : Both vulnerable 1NT Pass 2H (1) Pass 2S Pass Pass 3C (1) Transfer to spades What would you do as S with: AQ3 K5 K1097 A9 12. Dealer N : E-W vulnerable 1C (1) 1S Pass 2C (2) Dble Pass 4H (1) Strong (2) Good spade raise J64 Q105 KQ10

2 Competitive Decisions with Ron Klinger The full deals 1. dealer : Both vulnerable 9542 J73 Q10743 K5 Q106 QJ7 AK953 Q965 A A62 AKJ73 2 K1042 At one table: 1S Pass 3D Pass 3S Pass 4S All pass Lead: H4 eight jack S3 made 11 tricks for At the other table: 1S 2H 3D 4H 5D Pass Pass Dble Lead: HA Some play pre-emptive jumpraises of overcalls and if so, would be worth 3H. One expects a bit more from the raise to 2H, at least 6-9 points, and that is why doubled 5D. Although 5D can be made, the play is very tricky and complex and the result was one down, giving N-S +200 and 13 Imps. In like competitive auctions, the player short in the opposition suit should leave the final decision to partner. On that basis, could pass 4H and leave it up to, who would have little trouble in doubling 4H. A useful agreement for some experts is that double by of 4H is for takeout unless keen to play for penalties. 2. dealer : E-W vulnerable A 543 KQ J1073 Q QJ42 A9 7 Q76 K53 K65 AK76 J1063 A 1D 1S 2S (1) 3D (2) 3NT 4S 4NT All pass (1) Good diamond raise (2) Good spade raise Had led a spade, 4NT would make with two spades, two hearts, five diamonds and a club. led the C7 and the defence collected four clubs and the DA, down two, Had chosen 5D, he would have had a happier outcome. 1NT 2S 3D 4S 5D Pass Pass Dble All pass Lead: D7 With a heart discard available on the SK, declarer had only a club and a diamond to lose for 11 tricks, +550 and +12 Imps. s double of 5D was unwarranted. has no sure trick and has not doubled 5D. No doubt was expecting more from s 2S overcall at this vulnerability. If 5D was one off at both tables, the gain would be 2 Imps. If both sides made 5D, the loss would be 4 Imps. If N-S redoubled and 5D made, the result could be 00 vs 400, a loss of 9 Imps. 3. There is a sensible principle for high-level competition: The five-level belongs to the opposition. It was apparently not uppermost in the minds on this deal in the Australia Open vs Poland match from Round 2 of the World Transnational Open Teams. dealer : N-S vulnerable A K4 954 KQ J Q102 AJ6 AKQ1076 J7 K73 At both tables the bidding went: Pass Pass 1H 1S 2S (1) 4S 5H 5S Dble All pass (1) Heart raise Both declarers lost a trick in each suit for 300. No swing. How much harm is there in doing the wrong thing if the opponents do exactly the same Well, 5H is slated for one down even though both minor suit aces are onside! Swap the location of the N-S minor suit honours and 5S is one off, 5H is three off. Happy in the knowledge that the opponents have been pushed higher than they want to be, should pass 5H. In our match: Pass Pass 4H 4S 5H 5S All pass Since had passed and had pre-empted, how likely was it that they could make eleven tricks

3 NOT semi-final: Bd. 5: dealer : Both vulnerable AQ73 4 J6 4 9 KQJ1072 A965 Q A10752 KJ KQ93 Pass 2S Pass 4S All pass Lead: C4 took the CA and switched to the H5. made 11 tricks for s pass with a powerful suit and only five losers was quite out of character. At the other table and had a macho contest, winning: Pass 2S 3H 3S 4H Dble Pass 4S 5H Pass Pass 5S 6H Pass Pass 6S Dble All pass Lead: C4 six ace three returned the C10 for to ruff and a heart trick gave and the second 15 Imp swing in this set. In the other semi, one N-S bid 2S : 4S, unusually silent, At the other table: Pass 2D (1) 2H Dble 4C (2) 4S Pass Pass Dble Pass 5H Dble All pass (1) Multi (2) Fit-showing With no defence, made the winning decision to run to 5H. The result was one off for 200 and +10 Imps. 5. Board 59, NOT semi-final: dealer : Nil vulnerable Q94 K K103 5 AQ A53 QJ6 Q AJ762 J K Pass 1D 1S 2H 4S Pass Pass Dble Lead: DA ten eight two continued with the D3. discarded a club from dummy and won with the king. played the HJ. took the ace and switched to the CQ. overtook, cashed the CA and played the C3: S6 S10. Declarer still had a spade to lose. Down three, 500. Pass 1C 1S 2H 4S 5H End Lead: D10 queen two three Declarer played the H3: jack queen king. switched to the S. took the SA and returned the D7, ace, ruffed. One down, 11 Imps out. You might wonder about s 5H bid. The player short in the opposition s suit should usually defer to the player who has length there. If passes and doubles, the loss is reduced. Ideal for would be a competitive double to show a desire to compete higher unless wants to defend. would find it easy to pass for penalties. Such doubles are ideal when the opponents make a preemptive jump to game. 6. NOT final 1063 Q 1052 Q543 7 J A43 AKJ KJ542 AK109 KQ7 Both s bid 5C, reverted to 5H. doubled and both s were 00, no swing NEC, Rd 6 Bd. 21 AJ4 Q7 AK AK K1043 J52 52 Q3 Q3 KQ952 A96 7 In our match, both s went to 5H, one off. On BBO: 1NT Pass 2D 3S 4H Pass Pass Dble Pass 4S 5H N-S 100 Other table: 1NT Pass 2D 4S Pass Pass Dble N-S +300

4 . Bd 2 from the final of the 2012 NWT and NST Dealer : N-S vulnerable Q43 Q 1065 AKJ AK J Q Q1065 AK952 AKJ7 743 Women s final: Pass 1H 3S Dble All pass N-S Most pairs play the double of 3S as takeout, not for penalties. Pass 1H 3S 3NT All pass Lead: C6 three nine - jack Declarer made 10 tricks, +630, but a loss of 10 Imps. Seniors final: Pass 1H 3S Pass Pass Dble Lead: CK. 4 tricks. N-S 1100 Pass 1H 4S Pass Pass 5D Lead: SA 11 tricks. N-S S is ample on the cards. Being the result merchant that I am, double of 4S by is preferable to 5S as 1400 is greater than 600 for +7 Imps vs The sacrifices on this deal from a National Teams were very expensive: Dealer : N-S vulnerable 5 AKQJ64 9 AK932 K9732 A QJ653 A 1075 QJ64 K10742 QJ64 Pass Pass 2S (1) 4H Dble Pass 5D Pass Pass Dble (1) 5 spades, 4+ minor Lead: HA With no significant defensive values, did not trust s penalty double, as was a passed hand. Wrong! If you open with a pre-empt or a weak two or a multi-two, partner s double is for penalties (unless you have agreed otherwise) and you should trust partner. The result was 00. At the other table: Pass 2D (1) Pass 4H Dble 4S Dble 5H Dble All pass (1) Weak, 5+ diamonds and 4- major Lead: DA intended 4H to play, but took it as pass-or-correct, a common partnership mishap. Declarer lost one trick more than necessary for another 00 and 17 Imps. 10. From the 2011 NEC Cup: Dealer : E-W vulnerable J64 QJ A Q105 A73 K6 A103 K543 J72 QJ C Pass 1H 1S Dble (1) 2S 2NT (2) 3S (1) 3-card heart support (2) Puppet to 3C, competitive values was planning to compete to 3C. Double might have been a better move if elected to pass for penalties. had no business bidding 3S. There was no reason to expect any 3-level contract by - to make. led the H5 to the ace and returned a heart, ducked to the queen. also lost a club, two diamonds and two spades, three down, 150. Datum: E-W 40. Yes, 3C figured to make, but was lucky 3S was not doubled. When a competitive auction has reached the three-level, it is usually best at teams to let the opponents have the contract. It is much easier to take five tricks in defence than nine tricks if you bid above them at the threelevel. Even if your side has nine trumps, bidding three-over-three is not necessarily a winning decision. When your side has only eight trumps, three-overthree is sheer folly.

5 11. NEC Cup, 2011 dealer : Both vulnerable K10975 J J2 64 Q A2 A43 QJ6 10 KQJ753 AQ3 K5 K1097 A9 After the auction in the quiz, bid 3S, for no good reason. As it happens, 3C should make, but the cost in 3S was much worse. led the C10. played the C7, suit-preference for hearts. won and returned the C9. discarded the H7, encouraging, and won. switched to the H2, ducked to the queen and returned the H10, suit-preference for diamonds. took the HA and switched to the DQ, king, ace, and the DJ won the diamond return. reverted to a top club. ruffed with the SQ and played the HK, discarding dummy s last club. ruffed and returned a club, forcing dummy to ruff and so scored the SJ. That was three down, +300 to -. Datum: At teams bidding 3-over-3 is best only if not vulnerable for one down or virtually as an invitation to game. 12. NEC Cup final, 2012 dealer : E-W vulnerable AQ K97 K7 32 AK AJ632 AJ32 Q5 J64 Q105 KQ10 At one table opened 1S because of the vulnerability. bid 2S and reached 4H. After the normal diamond lead, declarer cannot avoid losing two spades a diamond and a club for 100. At the other table, took a phantom save: 1C (1) 1S Pass 2C (2) Dble Pass 4H 4S (1) Strong (2) Good spade raise Even though the SK, DA and CA were onside, declarer was 300, while 4H would be one down on normal defence. had no business bidding 4S, despite the vulnerability. has too many losers (do not sacrifice with a balanced hand) and any save is bound to be expensive opposite a passed partner. In addition, has potential defence in both red suits. Having bid his values, should not bid again. should pass the decision to partner who will definitely defend with a balanced hand.

S. AKQ865 H. AK D. J82 C S S. 4 H. J86 H. Q D. 104 D. AK9 C. J7632 C. A94 South S. J93 H. 75 D. Q7653 C. KQ8

S. AKQ865 H. AK D. J82 C S S. 4 H. J86 H. Q D. 104 D. AK9 C. J7632 C. A94 South S. J93 H. 75 D. Q7653 C. KQ8 #1 Dlr: Vul: Neither S. AKQ865 H. AK D. J82 C. 105 S. 1072 S. 4 H. J86 H. Q109432 D. 104 D. AK9 C. J7632 C. A94 S. J93 H. 75 D. Q7653 C. KQ8 1S 2H 2S Pass 4S All Pass Opening lead: DA (A from AKx at trick