September 2003

FIVE-CARD MAJORS

10-POINT HANDS

There is a gap between the single raise (6 to 9 points) and the jump raise (11 to 12 points). How do you respond when partner opens 1 spade and you have three-card support (or more) and 10 points? Evaluate how good your values are.

1)  Suppose partner opens 1 spade and you hold:

        S)  K 10 8
        H)  8 4 3
        D)  K Q J 8
        C)  7 5

You have 9 high-card points and a doubleton club for 10 points. All of these honors are working: trump honors are always worth their full value; the diamond honors are self supporting thus worth more than their nominal value. Upgrade this hand to 11 points and raise to 3 spades.

2)  Partner opens 1 spade and you hold:

        S)  Q 7 2
        H)  J 9 8
        D)  K 5 2
        C)  A 10 5 4

You have 10 high-card points. Aside from the questionable value of the heart Jack and the vulnerability of the diamond King, this is a flat hand (3-3-3-4), always a detriment to any contract. Downgrade this hand to 8 points and raise to 2 spades.

FOR THE OFFENSE

North                South
A K 4 3 2          J 5

How do you play this suit to gain the most tricks? First lead toward the Jack. If East has the Queen, you will win three tricks and perhaps a fourth if the suit splits 4-2 or 3-3. If West over-takes your Jack, you may still win four tricks if the suit splits 3-3.

FOR THE HUMOR

"We had a partnership misunderstanding. My partner assumed I knew what I was doing!"

BridgeSnaps newsletter is produced by John S. Thomas, author of Standard American 21.