October 2003

FIVE-CARD MAJORS

13 AND 14 POINT SUPPORTING HANDS

Our continuing theme is when partner opens a five-card major and you have at least three-card support, with average hands show the support immediately. With 6 to 9 points, raise to two. With 11 or 12 points, raise to three.

With 13 or 14 points, guess what?

Partner opens 1 heart and you hold:

S) 8 6
H) Q 9 5
D) A J 5 2
C) K Q J 6

You have 13 high-card points and a doubleton spade. Opening strength opposite opening strength = game. So bid it - raise 1 heart to 4 hearts. This is a very descriptive call. Partner knows you have 13 or 14 points, and she knows how to add up to 33 points.

With 19 points, slam will look good to her. With less, game is the place to be.

What to do with more than 14 points? Hint: do not jump directly to game.

THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

WEST     NORTH     EAST     SOUTH
1 H          P                1 NT       P
2 C          P                2 S         P

What in the world is East's 2 S bid? If East has four spades, he should have bid 1 S instead of 1 NT. So he has less than four spades. Huh? This is called the "impossible spade". Actually I like this bid -- when East is my opponent.

GIVING UP BRIDGE

VERSE 1

I'm giving up bridge - tonight's my last night
It's amen to Stayman, I give up the fight
 

The insults and muddles are giving me troubles
And I can't sleep at night for thinking of doubles.

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