Bridge Brief Broadcast Archive

Back to Bridge Brief Archive Index

December 13, 1999
What Went Wrong?

This brief is an excerpt from an article that first appeared in Issue #14 (Sep/Oct 1996) of The Bridge Companion.

Instructions:

Look at each auction and identify which player(s) made the bidding error. Estimate the potential of each hand. Should the distribution adjustment be based on length or shortness methods? Determine the correct auction.

#1
West		East
KQ865		A1072
A84		9
1086		KQ54
K7		Q1063

West	North	East	South
1	Pass	3	Pass
Pass	Pass

HCP?
Distribution points?
Total points?

What level?
Partscore?
Game?
Proper auction?

#2
West		East
AQ64		K872
KQ6		85
A1086		532
A7		6543

West	North	East	South
1	Pass	1	Pass
4	Pass	Pass	Pass

HCP?
Distribution points?
Total points?

What level?
Partscore?
Game?
Proper auction?

#3
West		East
KQ94		AJ103
A62		75
K6		A9532
A754		J6

HCP?
Distribution points?
Total points?

What level?
Partscore?
Game?
Proper auction?

#4
West		East
AJ4		1083
KJ62		97543
KQ63		52
K7		864

West	North	East	South
1NT	Pass	2	Pass
3	Pass	Pass	Pass

HCP?
Distribution points?
Total points?

What level?
Partscore?
Game?
Proper auction?

#5
West		East
AK54		963
J8		765
K64		Q9532
AK75		96

HCP?
Distribution points?
Total points?

What level?
Partscore?
Game?
Proper auction?

#6
West		East
AKQ		1093
1062		AK95
AK63		QJ2
754		986

West	North	East	South
1	Pass	1	Pass
1NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

HCP?
Distribution points?
Total points?

What level?
Partscore?
Game?
Proper auction?

#7
West		East
KJ752		9
AJ2		KQ985
J853		AQ1092
4		J6

West	North	East	South
	1	Double	Pass
4	Pass	Pass	Pass

HCP?
Distribution points?
Total points?

What level?
Partscore?
Game?
Proper auction?

The answers:

#1
East must bear all of the responsibility. The correct denomination is spades, but 3 is only invitational (11-12 points). Unlucky that West only had 13 and a clear pass. With just a little more West would have bid 4 anyway. East must get the hand to game. East should bid 2 or 2 (forcing) and then 4 (such as this example) unless opener shows a maximum hand (19-21) in which case slam is possible.

#2
Once again East is at fault. The danger in bidding even once with the East hand is that you might get too high. Spades is a better strain than diamonds, but better plus in 1 than -50 or -100 in 4.

#3
East 100% to blame. 3NT has 8 tricks and will likely fail on a heart lead. The proper contract is 4. East should use Stayman (2) in an effort to locate the 4-4 major suit fit.

#4
This time West is at fault. The 2 response by East is signoff and instructs West to pass. The 3 rebid just moved the partnership into likely minus territory. 2 would be tough enough!

#5
East again at fault. The weak hand with a five card diamond suit will play much better in a 2 than in 1NT. 1NT will most likely take only five tricks going down two. Eight tricks are the most likely in a 2 contract. The East hand will contribute tricks to a diamond contract and contribute nothing to a no trump contract.

#6
West is at fault this time around. If you fail to open a balanced 16 to 18 point hand with 1NT it almost impossible to describe later. This hand has two weak suits, but the best action is still to open 1NT. Opening 1 and rebidding 1NT describes a balanced hand with 13 to 15 points. Opening 1 and rebidding 2NT describes a balanced hand with 19 to 21 points. In this case the penalty for not opening 1NT was to miss an almost sure 3NT game.

#7
East was right on one count. The East should get into the bidding after a 1 opening on his right. The error was in choosing HOW to enter the auction. A takeout double promises support for all unbid suits and asks partner to choose the suit. East should overcall 1 which West should raise directly to 4. 4 might well make 11 tricks. 4 might make book.

Thanks!
Gary King

�1999 The Bridge Companion. All rights reserved.