December 2003

****** SEASONS GREETINGS ******

FIVE-CARD MAJORS

Continued

Modern responses to partner's major suit opener when you have three-card support are: single raise = 6 to 9 points, jump raise = 11 to 12 points, a game raise (double jump) = 13 to 14 points.

The following West hand was Goren's example of a "weak" game raise of 50 years ago (same hand shown last month), along side a hypothetical East:

WEST                    EAST
S) x                        S) x x x
H) K J x x x           H) A Q x x x
D) Q J 10 x x         D) K x
C) x x                    C) K x x

East opens with a mere 12 high-card points and you, West, have an even merer 7 high-card points. East opens 1 heart and you jump to 4 hearts (I hope). South leads a spade.

You have three sure losers, all aces, and a second club is at risk. You can take 5 hearts, 4 diamonds after the ace is played, and 2 spade ruffs. Draw trump then drive out the diamond ace.

Making the contract depends on the location of the diamond and club aces. If South has the diamond ace, he cannot attack clubs without giving you the king, making the contract. If instead North has the diamond ace and also the club ace, you still make the contract as your club king is safely behind the ace.

Overall this contract has a 75% chance of making - with only 19 high-card points! The case for the point values of trump in excess of 8 cards rests.

GIVING UP BRIDGE

VERSE 3

I can't stand the hassle, I can't stand the pain

I'm getting those bad cards again and again.

I'm giving up bridge - tonight's a bad night.

Declarer is horrid and nothing's gone right.

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