September 2004

TAKE THE SHORT LINE

A half century ago, noted bridge writer S. J. Simon encouraged bridge players to keep their bidding as simple as possible.  “Bid what you think you can make” he wrote.  “The moment you know the declaration you want to play at, you bid it without any further nonsense.”  

His point was that, as soon as you know where you want to play a contract, bid it immediately; resist the temptation to make another call in order to further define your hand - the only ones who will profit from this is your opponents.  Simon gives this example:

Partner opens one club and you hold:

S) x
H) A K J x x x x
D) x x
C) x x x

This hand looks good enough to make four hearts and you certainly do not want to play in 5 clubs.  Simon says: “Do not bother with a beautiful approach bid of one heart.  Bid four hearts directly.”  Slam is unlikely, besides there is nothing to prevent partner from continuing to a slam if he desires.

Here is a more common example.  Partner opens one heart and you hold:

S) x x
H) K x x x
D) A K x x
C) J x x

There is no point in showing diamonds.  Certainly you want to play for a heart game, so bid it immediately, telling partner you have heart support and some 13 or 14 points.

HOW DARE YOU

Husband playing bridge with his wife picks up a ton of spades while his wife picks up a ton of hearts.  Higher and higher they bid.  Finally, in spite of the looks he’s getting, he bids six spades over her six hearts and buys the contract.  When the dummy comes down he sees that he can’t make his spade slam but six hearts is cold.  

Knowing he is in big trouble, he says, “Sorry dear, I should have withdrawn”.  

She retorts, “YOU should have withdrawn?  YOUR FATHER SHOULD HAVE WITHDRAWN!”

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