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Fireside Chat
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FIRESIDE CHAT APRIL 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome and Announcements
Believer's FireSide Kindling
Bidding with Bridgboy
Winning With Wishtrik
Hand of the Month
Brush Up Your Bridge
Bridge for the Club Player
Moogal's FireSide Log
BridgeHands eMag Newsletter
Treble's Table Talk
And Finally Kaltica
=======================================
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to the April, 2006 issue of FireSide Chat, our
monthly newsletter written for and about our FireSide friends
and events.
We hope you enjoy all of this month's articles and features.
Please feel free to write to us with any comments, questions,
ideas, or whatever, that you may wish to share. This newsletter
is for and about you, and we want you to feel welcome to
participate. Just email Believer at sarastobbe@aol.com or Moogal
at moocake@bellsouth.net.
A special thanks to all of you who have been sending us
contributions for our "giggle breaks". We appreciate everything
you send, and use as many as we can. Keep 'em coming, please!
You can find current and past issues of this "FireSide Chat"
newsletter posted at our FireSide web site:
http://www.firesides.net/thechat.htm
If, for any reason, you do not wish to receive these mailings,
please write to Believer at sarastobbe@aol.com to be removed from
our mailing list.
===========================================
CURRENT FIRESIDE SCHEDULE
Day Pacific Time Commentator
MON 11:00 A.M. POOKA
MON 5:00 P.M.* BRIDGBOY
TUE 11:00 A.M. BRIDGBOY
TUE 5:30 P.M. KALTICA
WED 11:00 A.M. FREDW3
WED 5:30 P.M. DIANEW
THU 11:00 A.M. POOKA
THU 5:30 P.M. WISHTRIK
FRI 11:00 A.M. BLUEBEE
FRI 5:30 P.M. WINTAKA
Commentators may change without notice,
according to their availability.
(*starts 1/2 hour earlier on Monday night)
*******************
Although there is no set fee for participating in these "open to
all" sessions, please note that FireSide Bidding Practice
Sessions operate with the support of those who attend. For
information about how to become a supporting member, please
contact Kaltica at kaltica@mts.net, Moogal at
moocake@bellsouth.net, or Believer at sarastobbe@aol.com.
Thanks to all of you for supporting the FireSide sessions in all
the many different ways you have of doing so.
We want to thank our commentators for their dedication and
caring. Please, think of them when you are thinking of taking
private lessons, paying a professional to play tourneys with you,
getting involved in a group session mentoring program... most,
if not all, of our commentators and contributors to this
newsletter are available for those services. Just think how much
easier it is to learn from someone who's already a friend!
*******************
All articles herein (c) 2006 by FireSide Chat.
All rights reserved.
===============================================
BELIEVER'S FIRESIDE KINDLING
============================
Hi :)
Wow, it's time for the Spring Nationals again already!
Please be aware that several of our commentators will
be gone next week, and watch to see if someone is
filling in for their sessions.
So far, it looks like we'll try to have the normal sessions.
Monday night FredW3 will fill in for Bridgboy at 8:00pm,
but he will be a few minutes late so please be patient
waiting for him.
We don't have a sub yet for Tuesday morning, but we'll
keep trying to find someone so please look for us.
Wednesday night, LBrown will fill in for DianeW.
Thursday night Kaltica will fill in for Wishtrik.
Hope to see you at FireSide :)
********************
I want to mention that this newsletter marks the 6 year
anniversary of the FireSide Chat. Yeah, 6 YEARS!
We sent out our first attempt in April, 2000.... and I
have an archive with every single one! I used to print
each one out and put it in a folder, but Frank finally
convinced me that I was going to bury the family in
printouts if I didn't knock it off. :)
Sadly, our archives at the FireSides website only go
back to October of 2001, but if anyone would like to
see that original newsletter, let me know. I'd be happy
to send it to you :)
I'm pretty proud of that 6 years worth of newsletters.
I've had a chance to work with some wonderful people, and
read some great articles in that time. I'm often afraid
that it's gotten stale, that you are getting tired of the
same old thing month after month. I hope not! But we've
tried to keep it consistent and true to our visions.
I have some health issues that are going to keep me pretty
busy for the next year, and I hope I can keep doing this, but
there's a very good chance that I may not be able to. I was
thinking that this may be a good time to see if there's anyone
out there reading these newsletters who might like a chance
to pick up where we left off, so to speak, to take over and
make this publication their own. So, any budding editors out
there who think they would like to try their hand at this
newsletter business, drop me an email... at the very least
I'll probably need some help. But if someone would like to
take on this responsibility for a year (or more!) ... well,
let's talk :)
I want to thank everyone I've worked with over these last
six years, and especially all of our faithful contributors
who have come through for us month after month after month.
They are truly the newsletter... and I've learned so much
from them. Special hugs to my co-editor, Janice! She's
been THE BEST partner anyone could ask for. After 6 years
of doing this, I feel like everyone involved with this
newsletter is part of my family.
OK, enuff of that. And really, if you think you'd enjoy
editing this newsletter, give me a holler.
Love to you all
Sara
********************
I need your help! My 'stash' of giggles for our "Giggle
Breaks" is getting awfully low... please remember to send
me any good, clean, non-offensive jokes that you run across.
********************
You can write to Believer (Sara Stobbe) at:
sarastobbe@aol.com or bb@wowway.com
===============================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Benson for these:
ONE LINERS!!!
My wife tends to leave well enough alone. Unfortunately, things
are rarely well enough.
To err is human, to moo, bovine.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they are sticking to
their diets.
Childhood: That period when nightmares occur only during sleep.
How come stealing from one book is plagiarism, but stealing from
many is research?
It takes one to know one -- and vice versa!
Nowadays, a balanced diet is when every McNugget weighs the
same!
Teenagers are people who act like babies if they're not treated
like adults!
How come we choose from just two people for President and fifty
for Miss America?
A lawyer is someone who writes an eighty-page document and calls
it a brief!
It's astonishing how politicians never say anything, yet always
insist they're being misquoted!
My wife will buy anything marked down. Yesterday she came home
with an escalator. --Henny Youngman
Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
My friend has a job installing pipe. When Friday comes, he tells
his boss it's time to pay the piper.
============================================================
BIDDING WITH BRIDGBOY
=====================
Points are not the only thing you need to make a contract. The
crucial factors are controls and fit.
S AKJ
H AQ32
D QJ3
C J102
is your hand and partner opens 1D. A game is easy but slam is
possible with the right fit and controls. So you start with 1H
and happily you hear partner raise to 2H. Now, how can you
proceed to get across the message you have slam potential without
risking the game contract? You start with 2S which is only a one
round force. Partner will react as if it is a game try, thinking
you have 10+ points not 18+ points. We already know he is minimum
by his rebid. Partner jumps to 4H showing the top end of his
13-15 point range. This is nice, but it still does not help us
decide whether to be in slam or not.
In fact what to do now is a problem. If we Blackwood and partner
shows 2 key cards we could lose the first two club tricks . We
need partner to have some club control and Blackwood does not
address that issue at all. If there is an answer that could leave
us in a quandary as to what to do next then we must be wrong to
be asking for aces.
Our next bid should be 4S, which is a clear cut slam try in
hearts. We would have passed if we were only interested in game,
so partner will be able to look at his minor controls and will
know what to do. We are not passing the buck to partner but
rather trying to lead him to an easy conclusion if he has the
right cards for slam purposes. That is all we can do -- make the
slam try without bidding the slam and leave the rest up to
partner.
For your information, partner had:
S Q54
H K987
D AK1072
C 2
and willingly drove to slam looking at that stiff club and AK of
diamonds. Change his hand to
S Q54
H K987
D AK109
C Q2
and we stay at the five level. Good partnership bidding relies on
this free exchange of information between partners.
********************
You can find Bridgboy (Bob Lavin) doing his FireSide sessions on
Monday evenings at 5:00 p.m., and Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. OKbridge
time.
Anyone interested in one-on-one lessons on any topic of the game
may contact Bob at bridgboy@charter.net
============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Kaltica for this giggle:
For all you budding teachers and others who work with or have
kids!!!!
Cowboy Boots
Anyone who has ever dressed a child will love this one!
Did you hear about the Texas teacher who was helping one of her
kindergarten students put on his cowboy boots? He asked for help
and she could see why.
Even with her pulling and him pushing, the little boots still
didn't want to go on. Finally, when the 2nd boot was on, she had
worked up a sweat.
She almost cried when the little boy said, "Teacher, they're on
the wrong feet." She looked and sure enough, they were.
It wasn't any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting
them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to
get the boots back on, this time on the right feet.
He then announced, "These aren't my boots."
She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream,
" Why didn't you say so?" like she wanted to. And, once again
she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off his
little feet.
No sooner they got the boots off and he said, "They're my
brother's boots. My Mom made me wear 'em."
Now she didn't know if she should laugh or cry. But, she
mustered up the grace and courage she had left to wrestle the
boots on his feet again.
Helping him into his coat, she asked, "Now, where are your
mittens?"
He said, "I stuffed 'em in the toes of my boots."
Her trial starts next month.
============================================================
WINNING WITH WISHTRIK
=====================
QUANTITATIVE 4NT
What is the exact meaning of quantitative?
A quantitative bid is an invitational bid asking if partner is at
the top or the bottom of the expected range for his previous
bidding. This kind of bid is not just a 4NT bid but can be used
in many other auctions. Anytime you make a bid that invites
partner to accept if he is at the top of his range (bid a game or
a slam) you are making a quantitative bid.
Examples:
1. 1NT 2NT
2. 1S 2S
3C
3. 1H 3H
4. 1C 1S
1NT 2D (NMF)
2x 2NT
None of these bids are looking for slam but they are all asking
partner if he is on the top or the bottom of his range, which
means that they are "quantitative bids". The only difference in
these bids and a quantitative 4NT bid is the adjective used in
defining the bid.
WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ACCEPTANCE?
A quantitative 4NT bid is used in sequences where your high cards
have been defined to a very narrow range (usually 3 points).
Since the meaning of quantitative is just asking if you are at
the top or the bottom of a specific range you just accept with
the top of your range and pass if you have the bottom of the
range.
WHAT ARE THE RESPONSES TO A QUANTITATIVE 4NT?
With all minimums you simply pass, but if you are accepting your
choices are to bid a 5 card suit at the 6 level or with no 5 card
suit you can jump right to 6NT. There may be times when a suit
slam might be superior and this lets you explore all the
possibilities.
WHEN IS IT A 4NT QUANTITATIVE AND WHEN IS IT BLACKWOOD?
There is a simple rule which I abide by with my regular partners
which is anytime the last bid by pard is any natural NT then 4NT
is quantitative.
IF YOU DETERMINE THAT 4NT IS QUANTITATIVE CAN YOU STILL ASK FOR
ACES?
Yes, anytime 4NT would be quantitative then you can use 4C as an
ace asking bid. The responses are just step 1 = 0, step 2 = 1,
step 3 = 2, step 4 = 3, step 5 = 4. You are just showing aces,
not
keycards, since there is no trump suit in these auctions.
EXAMPLES OF QUANTITATIVE 4NT BIDS
How many points does the 4NT bidder show in each of these
auctions?
1. 1NT 4NT
2. 2NT 4NT
3. 1C 1S
1NT 4NT
4. 1H 2D
2NT 4NT
5. 1C 1S
1NT 2D*
2NT 4NT
*NMF
6. 1C 1D
2NT 4NT
7. 1S 2H
2NT 3NT
4NT
8. 1D 2D*
2NT 4NT
*inverted
9. 2C 2D
2NT 4NT
10. 1D 2NT
4NT
********************
Wishtrik (Lynn Deas) presides at our Thursday evening
Fireside sessions, starting at 5:30 pm OKbridge time.
For lesson information contact Lynn at: lynn@lynndeas.com
=================================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to SteveS for these:
Lines to make you smile:
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.
Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
Being "over the hill" is much better than being under it!
Procrastinate Now!
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
The trouble with life is there's no background music.
=================================================================
HAND OF THE MONTH
=================
This month we are pleased to present our 'Hand of the Month'
feature, with a big "thank you" to Gail Wix for formatting it
for us.
Taken from The 2005 Daily Bridge Calendar. For more information
call 1-888-453-1976, or email: calendar@interlog.com.
********************
Vul: None North
Dlr: S S KQ653
H J86
D 874
C K9
S 98
H KT7
D AKT952
C AQ
West North East South
1D
P 1S P 3D
P 3H P 3NT
P P P
Opening Lead: C5
North has an awkward choice over 3D. North has enough to bid
3NT, but South might have three spades. The 3H rebid might
ward off a dangerous heart lead and could locate delayed spade
support. No one would criticize North for bidding 3NT, but the
sequence is as it took place.
West leads the C5, East playing the CJ over North's C9. You win
and play the DA: CJ, D4, D3. How do you continue?
*****************************************
S KQ653
H J86
D 874
C K9
S J742 S AT
H AQ9 H 5432
D J D Q63
C T8653 C J742
S 98
H KT7
D AKT952
C AQ
Contract: 3NT Lead: C5
********************
Scoring six diamond tricks gives you eight and you still need one
more. The obvious source is the spade suit.
The important elements are to win trick one with the CA so that
the CK is an entry to dummy in case you need it. When the DJ
falls under the DA, the percentage play is to cross to dummy and
finesse in diamonds rather than play the DK. A singleton DJ with
West is more likely than DQJ doubleton.
Before you go for the diamond finesse, you must set up a spade
trick. At trick three lead a spade. East wins and plays a club.
Dummy wins and then you play a low diamond, covering East's card.
When that wins, you have nine tricks. If not, there is always
tomorrow.
Tip: Missing four cards including the queen and jack, if one of
these honors falls under you ace or king, chances are that this
honor is a singleton rather than from QJ doubleton.
********************
Hand and analysis by Ron Klinger, courtesy of the Daily Bridge
Calendar, published by Ashlar House Inc., Brampton, ON, Canada.
Reprinted with permission. (Special thanks to Lee Daugherty
and Dann Kramer.)
============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Tarsh for this giggle:
A very elderly gentleman, (mid nineties) very well dressed, hair
well groomed, great looking suit, flower in his lapel, smelling
slightly of a good after shave, presenting a well looked-after
image, walks into an upscale cocktail lounge. Seated at the bar
is an elderly looking lady, (mid eighties). The gentleman walks
over, sits alongside of her, orders a drink, takes a sip, turns
to her and says, "So tell me, do I come here often?"
===========================================================
BRUSH UP YOUR BRIDGE
====================
By Marcia West @ Fifth Chair Foundation
Responses to One NoTrump Openings:
A. With a BALANCED hand, and NO four-card major:
0-8 points: Pass
9 points: Bid 2NT Partner then bids 3NT with a good 16 or 17
points
10-15 points: Balanced, no 4 card major, but maybe a 5 card
minor: Bid 3NT
16-17 points: Bid 4NT, Partner then bids 6NT with a good 16
or 17 points
18-19 points: Bid 6NT
20-21 points: Bid 5NT, forcing to 6NT - Partner bids 6NT with
16 points; or 7NT with a good 17 points
22+ points: Bid 7 NT
B. With an UNBALANCED hand, or if the hand contains a 4 or more
card major suit:
0-bad 8 points: With a 5 card major, use Jacoby Transfer.
8 good - 9 points: Explore for game, using the Stayman
Convention, see page 2 if you have a 4
card major.
9 points: NO 4 card major, bid 2NT
10-15 points: Bid any 5 or 6 card minor suit at the 3 level, or
use Jacoby Transfer if with a 5 card major.
Opening bidder should bid 3NT over the minor,
unless he has a 5 or 6 card fit, then the
game should be bid in the minor suit. After the
major suit transfer, the responder should bid 3NT.
If NT opener has 2 cards in the major transfer
suit, he passes, or bids 4 in major with a
3 card fit.
16 points and up: Explore for slam
Partner opens with 1 NT. What is your response with each of the
following hands.
1. Axxx 2. xx 3. Qxx
xxx Jxxx KQx
xxx xxxx Qxxxx
xxx _____ xxx _____ xx _____
4. KJx 5. xxx 6. AKx
Ax QJx xxx
Jxxxx AQJxxx Jxxx
xxx _____ x _____ Kxx _____
7. xxxx 8. AQx 9. KQx
Jxx AKJ Ax
KJxx xx KQJx
xx _____ Kxxxx _____ AQx _____
C. Use the Stayman Convention with a balanced hand, AND a 4 card
major, by bidding 2c, which is a completely artificial bid.
The bidding proceeds: 1NT pass 2C = This bid promises at least
one four card major, and at least 8-9 HCP.
D. No Trump Bidder Responses to the 2C Stayman bid by partner:
2D = I have NO four card major
2H = I have four hearts + may have 4 spades
2S = I have four spades and do NOT have 4 hearts
You open with 1NT, partner bids 2c, what is your bid?
10. Kx 11. AKQJ 12. xx
AQx xxx KQxx
QJxx KJxx AKJx
Axxx _____ Qx _____ KJx _____
Partner opened 1nt, you bid 2c, partner bid 2s, what is your bid?
13. Kx 14. xxxx 15. Axxx
QJxx AKxx AQJx
Jxxx Qx KJXX
Qxx _____ Kxx _____ A _____
Partner opens 1 NO Trump. What is your bid with each of these
hands?
16. Axxx 17. xx 18. Kxxx
xx Qxxx xx
KJxxx Kxx KJxx
Qx _____ Axxx _____ Qxx _____
19. AQxxx 20. AQxxx 21. Qxxx
Kxxx QJx Kxxx
Jx xxx xx
xx _____ xx _____ xxx _____
22. Axxx 23. AQx 24. AKx
Kx Qx KQxx
Qxx Kxxxxx Qx
xxx _____ xx _____ Axxx _____
25. KJx 26. xxx 27. xxxx
A xxx x
xxx AKxxx AKxxxx
Qxxxxx _____ Ax _____ Kx _____
Partner opens with 2NT. What is your response holding:
28. KJxx 29. xxxx 30. xxx
AQxx x Axx
xx AKx Qx
xxx _____ xxxxx _____ xxxxx _____
Answers
1 Pass
2 Pass
3 2NT
4 2NT
5 3D
6 3NT
7 Pass
8 4NT
9 5NT, asking partner to bid either 6 or 7.
10 2D
11 2S
12 2H
13 2NT
14 4S
15 4C Roman Key Card Gerber Convention, checking to be sure
partner has all kings, then bid 7 Spades.
16 2C
17 2C
18 2C
19 2C, then 3S, this bid shows 4 hearts and 5 spades, and is
forcing to game
20 2C intending to bid 2 Spades after partner's bid. If partner
bids 2D or 2H, you now bid 2S, invitational. If partner bids
2S, then bid 3 Spades which is invitational
21 Pass
22 2C - intending to bid 2 NoTrump after partner's bid of 2D or
2H. If partner bids 2S, you bid 3S which is invitational.
23 3D
24 6NT
25 3NT
26 3NT
27 2C If partner bids 2S, you bid 4S. If partner bids anything
else, you bid 3NT
********************
Written by Marcia West, of Fifth Chair Foundation -
www.fifthchair.org
The Fifth Chair Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation,
run by volunteers. They do not charge for their information,
however it does cost to produce their work, so donations are
very welcome. Please send your check or money order to:
Fifth Chair Foundation
3055 80th Ave SE Su 102
Mercer Island, WA 98040-2954
USA
============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Moogal for this giggle:
HOW TO CLEAN THE HOUSE
1. Open a new file in your PC.
2. Name it "Housework."
3. Send it to the RECYCLE BIN
4. Empty the RECYCLE BIN
5. Your PC will ask you, "Are you sure you want to delete
Housework permanently?"
6. Calmly answer, "Yes," and press the mouse button
firmly......
7. Feel better?
Works for me!
===========================================================
BRIDGE FOR THE CLUB PLAYER
==========================
TIPS
REVERSES: In order to reverse the bidding, the opener needs to
have 17+ HCP, an unbalanced hand, and the first suit must be
longer than the second. The responder can make a natural
"reverse" with a game forcing hand, but the same
shape-restrictions apply.
If YOU have the stopper, than YOU must be the one who bids
notrump. Frequently, bids of the "fourth suit" or bids of the
opponent's suit are attempts to solicit a notrump bid from
partner. "HE WHO HAS THE STOPPER MUST BE THE ONE TO BID NOTRUMP."
If the opponents bid to the three-level in a competitive auction,
here is a useful guide: a) With an extra trump (or wild
distribution), bid one more. b) If you are on the top of your
bid, double. c) Otherwise, and usually -- PASS!! Partner will
then make an intelligent bid using this information. If he/she
doubles, you do not have to leave it in.
If the opponents bid to the four- or five-level in a competitive
auction, AND THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY SACRIFICING, then the guide
changes: a) With a minimum, DOUBLE. b) With a hand that is vastly
offensive ONLY, bid to the next level. c) With a (rare!!) hand
that is so strong that either defending OR playing is feasible,
convey this message by passing it around to your partner -- the
forcing pass. (It is useful at the slam-or-defend level to use
the forcing pass to show a control in the opponents suit, and to
double with two losers.)
29 points is my "magic" number for the point when I will consider
playing 3NT rather than in my 8-card major suit fit.
With 6-10 points, rebid a five-card major after your
opening-bidder partner's 1NT rebid.
When you are the dummy, rest your brain. When the hand is over,
forget about it. Play each hand ONCE.
Happy Bridging!
Jack Brawner
(Trojanowl@aol.com)
********************
Jack welcomes students of all levels for lessons.
Contact him for information at trojanowl@aol.com
=============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Neophyte for these:
Short Sayings
BUS
Vehicle that goes twice as fast when one runs after it as when
one rides inside.
BABYSITTERS
Adolescents supposed to conduct themselves as adults so that
adults can go out and conduct themselves as adolescents.
SCARF
Article of clothing worn by a child when his mother is cold.
CONSULTANT
Someone who looks at his watch, informs you of the time and
charges you for it.
ECONOMIST
Expert who will know tomorrow why what he predicted yesterday
didn't happen today.
HARDWARE
That part of a computer one swats when the software is buggy.
MARRIAGE
Sacred union permitting two people to put up with problems they
wouldn't have had if they'd stayed single.
DENTIST
Magician who puts in your mouth part of what he removes from your
pockets.
PESSIMIST
Experienced optimist.
PROGRAMMER
Person who resolves, in an incomprehensible manner, a problem you
didn't know you had.
PROGRESS
Doctrine consisting of complicating that which is simple.
PSYCHOLOGIST
Someone who watches other people when a pretty girl comes into
the room.
ALARM CLOCK
Instrument invented to awaken people who don't have small
children.
SARDINE
Small, headless fish who lives in oil.
SECRET
Information one communicates to one person at a time.
SNOBBERY
Action consisting of buying fashionable items one can't afford in
order to impress people one doesn't like.
SYNONYM
Word used to replace another that one isn't sure how to spell.
TEAMWORK
The possibility to put blame on others.
STAR
Person who works his whole life to become known and then wears
dark glasses to not be recognized.
================================================================
MOOGAL'S FIRESIDE LOG
=====================
OKB Tourneys
============
Well done to all our Fireside friends who excelled in
the tourneys this past month!!
Mini Winners
============
Wed Mar 1 04:00 PM Combo
Rank Team Score
1 bdugood/judydee 62.24
Wed Mar 1 05:30 PM
Rank Team Score
1 bdugood/judydee 74.68
Sat Mar 4 09:00 AM
Rank Team Score
1 cho/tuna 70.56
Sat Mar 11 04:00 PM Combo
Rank Team Score
1 kaltica/moogal 1.39
Mon Mar 13 11:00 AM
Rank Team Score
1 jhbdel/Kaltica 63.89
Sun Mar 19 07:00 PM Combo
Rank Team Score
1 leaper/tuna 2.39
Sun Mar 26 05:30 PM
Rank Team Score
1 albertb/kitkat 57.20
Mon Mar 27 04:00 PM
Rank Team Score
1 Kaltica/moogal 4.19
Mon Mar 27 07:00 PM Combo
Rank Team Score
1 leaper/tuna 62.09
Tue Mar 28 04:00 PM
Rank Team Score
1 albertb/kitkat 64.35
Thu Mar 30 09:00 AM
Rank Team Score
1 captain/Fireball 3.54
********************
Some of our Flight B and C tourney stars:
albertb, arrow, ask1, benson, birdie, desiree, dslt, frank-1,
gmeier, hawes, janwa, judydee, julie, kitkat, lee-1, macavity,
marlyse, neophyte, one236, potts, riggin, todd.
********************
And we wanted to include these games, which we think
deserve "honorable mention"!
Tue Mar 7 11:00 AM
2 jhbdel/Kaltica 65.00
Wed Mar 8 11:00 AM
3 BENSON/Tomedwin 58.10
Sat Mar 11 04:00 PM
2 Kaltica/moogal 2.19
********************
"Well Done" to all of you! :)
************************************************************
FIRESIDE'S TEAM GAME
Our March winners are:
03-26-2006 Team BIRDIE Birdie, De, Johnb, PollyE
and Lwilmot
03-12-06 Team BILLZ Billz, Dentkase, Sumi, Celia
and Ebsoh
Visit our website at www.firesides.net/mtc.htm for info and lists
of all our top placing stars. To get on the email reminder list
for these games, contact us at firesider@aol.com - all welcome!
**********************************************************
I am saddened to tell you that Colin (KALTICA) has let me know
that his student Irmgard Wagner (ULRIKA--was ULLI3 previously)
has passed away after a battle with cancer. Colin was extremely
fond of Irmgard and we all liked her quiet charm (she was
extremely shy using English) and her eagerness to improve at this
game. We feel her loss at Fireside and at OKBridge.
She was an avid tourney player with Colin, and Tuna adds that she
will be missed in tourneys, never a cross word or an ounce of
trouble.
There will be a memorial tourney for Irmgard on Sunday April 2 at
11:00.
Our sympathies to all her family and friends.
**********************************************************
I am also sorry to inform you that Jenna's (PRINGLE) husband
Donald, passed away peacefully at 3:45 Friday March 31. He
was in the Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte. Jenna
was by his side. She wants us to remember him as a good man,
a good husband , and a good father. He will always be remembered
by her and by his friends and family. She knows how much she
will miss him but says she has nothing but good memories which
she can recall when blue or depressed. She asks us all to pray
for her in her deep sadness.
All your friends here at Fireside are thinking of you Jenna --
you are in our hearts tonight. Our deepest sympathies go out
to you and your family.
**********************************************************
Congrats to Jack Brawner, our contributor, who recently became
a Gold Life Master after winning two team events.
Jack's articles are always a hit with our readers (make sure
to check out "Bridge for the Club Player") and we thank him
for being a part of this newsletter, and we hope to see him
back online at OKB as TrojanOwl one of these days!
*************************************************************
Six Against The Rock by Richard Pavlicek
Alcatraz! Was it really inescapable? Find out, as you
test your card play on these six problems at "The Rock"
-- but please, no Alcatraz coups! Just select from the
six options listed. Try it! It's fun.
http://www.rpbridge.net/8x73.htm
Results of the March 2006 poll "United State Wins Swiss"
will be posted April 4 at 21:00 GMT. For these, and
everything related to the monthly events, go to:
http://www.rpbridge.net/rppc.htm
**********************************************************
Send me your news...I can't write a column without it!
Hugs, Janice
**********************************************************
While we list the lessons offered by the commentators who write
for The Chat, we want to note that some of our other commentators
and newsletter contributors also give lessons in most shapes and
sizes....mentoring games, tourney play, partnership coaching,
just about whatever type of lesson you could envision.
Please feel free to contact any of them for lessons:
Colin/Kaltica kaltica@mts.net
Bill/Wintaka btreble@shaw.ca
Lynn/Wishtrik lynn@lynndeas.com
Dann/Pooka pspeard@telusplanet.net
Bob/Bridgboy bridgboy@charter.net
Diane/DianeW diane@walkersweb.org
Bernard/Bluebee Bernardh@btinternet.com
Fred/FredW3 Please msg on OKB
Nightowl/Jack trojanowl@aol.com
The lessons can be more affordable than you might think,
especially mentoring games. We think our commentators give you
your money's worth when you choose private lessons, and they
really value your business. Maybe you can hint to a loved one
what you would like for your next birthday!
***********************************************************
Rainbow and Spectrum Series Online!
The popular Rainbow (SAYC and play) and Spectrum (2/1-GF) series
have been automated for your convenience. You can take any of
the lessons at your leisure simply by clicking on either of these
links:
http://www.firesides.net/rainbows.htm
http://www.firesides.net/spectrums.htm
Enjoy!
***********************************************************
Have a comment you'd like to make about the FireSide program? An
event or announcement you'd like to share with the rest of us? A
question you'd like answered? Here's a great place for us to
visit every day and keep up with each other:
http://www.firesides.net/chatline.htm
********************
Can't remember if this is a Mentor Cup week or when the next
Fireside session is? Get the complete schedule of events at:
www.firesides.net/whatsup.htm
Bookmark this page, and check back often. You don't want to miss
anything!
For those of you who use a credit card to support Fireside, it's
easy now with PAYPAL! Go to:
www.firesides.net/support.htm
*********************
FIRESIDE UTILITY SITES
http://www.firesides.net/checker.htm
http://www.firesides.net/dealhand.htm
********************
And if you haven't had a chance to check them out yet, here are
some links to some of the quizzes that Colin has developed to
enlighten us:
www.firesides.net/staymantest.htm
www.firesides.net/sayctest.htm
www.firesides.net/sarctest.htm
www.firesides.net/spectrumtest.htm
www.firesides.net/bidstest.htm
www.firesides/net/IGITSAP.htm (Note that IGITSAP must be in
CAPS.)
Give them a try! They are fun and instructive.
*****************************************************
April Events: (All times Pacific)
=================================
FIRESIDE MENTOR CUP TEAM GAME:
==============================
Sunday, 5:00 P.M. April 9 and 23.
See www.firesides.net/mtc.htm for info and lists of past
winners.
To get on the mailing list for this game, email me at
firesider@aol.com.
DISCUSS LIST
============
OKbridge offers us an email discussion opportunity, the Discuss
List. You can join that list by emailing them at
Discuss-Request@okbridge.com and put the word 'subscribe' in the
subject line. You can also participate in the discussions via
the OKbridge web site now, just go to the members area at
www.okbridge.com and you'll find the Discuss List there at the
bottom of your opening page.
OKSCRIPT SEMINAR:
=================
OKScript seminars are held as demand warrants. Email Kaltica to
schedule a session, usually available on the same Sunday as the
Mentor Cup Game, at 2:30 p.m.
OKScript is an add-on program that saves you many keystrokes
while playing on OKB by sending prepared text to the table, opps,
or lobby at the push of a button. Try to download the program
BEFORE the seminar by going to www.firesides.net/okscript.htm.
For more information, email Colin at kaltica@mts.net.
FIFTH CHAIR INSTRUCTIONAL EVENTS:
=================================
Interested in getting a mentor to play with you periodically in
your learning of this wonderful game? Please contact
tarsh1@mindspring.com and ask for a mentor.
SAYC Novice Team Game: Saturdays, at 8:00 a.m. PACIFIC. Newcomers
very welcome! In addition to the team game, there will be an
open table for those waiting to join the team game. This table
will also have a commentator.
2/1 Team Game for intermediate players: Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.
Pacific. Novices are welcome in spectator mode.
Look for the words FIFTH CHAIR beside the server's name, in the
table notes, to attend either of these sessions
You can also go to the Fifth Chair Foundation webpage:
www.fifthchair.org if you have any bidding questions. After
clicking on the webpage, find the Ask Anything section. Write an
email to Lucy, and she will be most happy to answer your
questions.
********************
Moogal (Janice Kofman) stays busy collecting all sorts
of news about our FireSide family members to share with us.
Please help her out by emailing her any news or stories you
are willing to share with the group.
Janice's email address is moocake@bellsouth.net
=====================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Luc for this giggle:
Two Tourists
Two tourists were driving through New Hampshire. As they were
approaching Lake Winnipesauke, they started arguing about the
pronunciation of the lake's name.
They argued back and forth until they stopped for lunch. As they
stood at the counter, one tourist asked the nearest employee,
"Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us?
Would you please pronounce where we are...very slowly?"
The employee leaned over the counter and said, "Burrrrrr,
gerrrrr, King.
============================================================
BridgeHands eMag Newsletter
Reprinted with permission from Michael Nistler, editor
and owner of BridgeHands eMag Newsletter. Visit his site,
and subscribe to this excellent publication, by going to
http://www.bridgehands.com.
********************
Taken from the January issue, this article is long but we
feel it's very important :) Hope you enjoy it
------------------
Everyone Loves a Promotion
This month we will take a look at how promotion of a long suit
can help us pickup extra tricks.
But first, let's review the odds of how cards tend to divide
between the opponents in our long suit. The general rule is: an
even number of combined cards held by the opponents will usually
break unevenly, while an odd number of cards usually tend to
break evenly for the opponents.
Number of Missing Cards Likely Distribution
3 (odd number) 2-1
4 (even number) 3-1
5 (odd number) 3-2
6 (even number) 4-2
7 (odd number) 4-3
Secondly, let's give entry management a quick review. Assuming
you cannot get to the dummy hand (North) in another suit, how do
you play these suits?
A K 8 7 2
9 4 3
We expect a 3-2 split and have a third entry to dummy that will
allow us to win 4 tricks most of the time. However, we must be
sure to unblock our entry to the dummy by playing the 9 on trick
one or two. Otherwise if you first win the Ace and King, the 9
must win the third trick, leaving no entry to the dummy.
A K 9 8 7 6
3 2
We also anticipate a 3-2 break with our 8 card suit. To win 5
tricks, we duck the first trick playing a low dummy card from the
dummy, then winning the second and third trick to capture the
opponents' remaining cards.
K 8 7 2
A 5 4
Here we expect a 4-2 split so most of time we will only win two
tricks. But if we have no better strategy, we can hope for a 3-3
split (36 percent chance) of opponents' cards. If we get the
lucky suit break, we can take 3 tricks. We employ a play similar
to the prior hand, ducking the first trick, then playing the Ace
and King, hoping to be rewarded winning 3 tricks with the 13th
card in the dummy when opponents each hold 3 cards in the suit.
As declarer with five or more trump, a common strategy is to
first draw trump and develop extra tricks by cashing our small
trump winners. Depending on the lay of the cards, this tactic is
often appropriate in long side suits. Promoting a long suit is
also a primary tactic when playing a Notrump contract. In fact,
promotions are not the exclusive property of the declarer.
Particularly in Notrump contracts when an opponent leads their
fourth best card or the top of an honor sequence, the defenders
are attempting to "win the race" by promoting their suit before
declarer gets a chance to establish a suit of their own. As a
defender, your partner will also appreciate your thoughtful lead
of a card from partner's bid suit.
Earlier we discussed the benefit of first playing the high card
from the side of the short suit to avoid blocking it. Otherwise
we may find the long suit is stranded without precious entries.
Here's a hand fragment with Spades and Hearts. West led the Spade
Jack, apparently an attempt to promote a long suit.
S A 2
H K J 10 9 7 2
+---+
S J 10 9 8 7 6 | | S Q 5
H K 6 5 | | H A 4 3
+---+
S K 4 3
H Q 8
Declarer should win the trick with the Spade King (keeping Spade
Ace for an entry) in hand and switch to the Heart Queen - the
high card from the short side, allowing opponents to win their
Heart Ace. The opponents cannot profit by continuing Spades;
North's Hearts have been promoted. But what happens if South
instead played a low Heart to North's King? The opponents could
now force dummy to win the Spade Ace, but look what happens by
playing a Heart to South's winning Queen.
S 2
H J 10 9 7 2
+----+
| |
| |
+----+
S 3
H Q
Oops, those lovely Hearts are stranded - South's Queen blocks the
suit! If the opponents initially ducked their Heart winner, the
suit has the same problem. Looking at the big picture, it's clear
to see that South needs two entries to promote the Heart suit,
the Spade Ace and the Heart King. Mistakenly cashing the Heart
King strands our potential winners - beware of this trap.
As a warm-up, let's try two similar hands, both playing a 3
Notrump contract by South:
S K 4
H A 10 4
D A K 10 8 7 4
C 10 5
+---+
SQ | |
| |
+---+
S A 5
H Q 9 5
D 6 2
C A 9 7 6 4 2
West leads the Spade Queen, South playing 3 Notrump. Looking at
our quick tricks, we have 2 Spades, 1 Heart, 2 Diamonds, and 1
Club - 6 tricks from 9 so we need to find 3 more. Promoting the
Diamond suit is our best bet. We win the Spade Ace, just in case
we might need an extra entry to the dummy since we're promoting
the Diamond suit. Opponents will usually hold 3-2 with five
outstanding cards, so we play up to our Diamond Ace followed by
our Diamond King happy to see opponents both follow with four of
their five cards. So we're home free after conceding the last
Diamond to make our contract. Here's a hand that looks similar,
but the lack of dummy entries requires careful planning.
S 6 4
H Q 10 4
D A K 10 8 7 4
C 10 5
+---+
SQ | |
| |
+---+
S A K
H A 9 5
D 6 2
C A 9 7 6 4 2
West leads the Spade Queen, South playing 3 Notrump. We've moved
the Spade King to South, with our same 6 quick tricks. Again the
Diamond suit promotion is our plan, but this time we don't have
the precious Spade entry. Do you recall our earlier review where
we "ducked" (played low) to a six card suit headed by the Ace and
King to setup a long suit? Good - so let's do the same thing
here. We win the Spade King. Again, we hope opponents are 3-2 in
Diamonds, but this time playing a low Diamond - ducking with a
low card in the dummy. The opponents win the trick and will
certainly continue the Spade suit, looking to promote their own
suit - the race is on! We win the trick with our remaining Spade
King stopper, and now play our Diamond Ace. We are delighted to
see opponents both playing two more Diamonds, leaving one. We can
now play the dummy Diamond King, and again have won four Diamond
tricks to make our contract using a long suit promotion - one
step ahead of the opponents Spade effort. If we initially played
our two top Diamonds in the dummy, the opponents would win the
third trick, leaving us no dummy entries - ducking the first
round was the only winning play - well done.
Now let's try a 3 Notrump contract for South, looking at all four
hands:
S K Q
H 8 6 5 4
D 7 6
C K 10 9 8 3
S J 10 9 8 7 6 +----+ S 5 4
H K 9 7 | | H 10 3 2
D A K | | D 5 4 3 2
C Q J +----+ C 7 6 5 4
S A 3 2
H A Q J
D Q J 10 9 8
C A 2
West opens with 1 Spade and South ends up playing a 3 Notrump
contract. West leads the Spade Jack, optimistic about promoting
the long Spade suit with two Diamond entries. North wins the
Spade Queen. Should South take the Heart finesse or promote
Diamonds? We can see the finesse fails, West persisting with a
second Spade to North's Spade King. Unfortunately for South, it's
one trick too late to promote Diamonds - West wins one Heart, two
Diamonds and three Spades, so South goes down two. A better
tactic for South on the second trick is to win the promotion race
by immediately tackling Diamonds. The slugfest goes like this,
win a Spade, lose a Diamond, win a Spade, lose the last Diamond,
and win the last Spade. Congratulations, you've won the race
losing two Diamonds and one Heart making 3 Notrump with an
overtrick.
Be aware the promotion play is only one of many tactics. Always
consider your contract objective and alternatives as well as
Environmental Factors. Let's take a seemingly unimportant Spade 2
away from South to illustrate how it can influence the declarer's
tactics.
S K Q
H 8 6 5 4
D 7 6
C K 10 9 8 3
S J 10 9 8 7 6 +----+ S 5 4 2
H K 9 7 | | H 3 2
D A K | | D 5 4 3 2
C Q J +----+ C 7 6 5 4
S A 3
H A Q J 10
D Q J 10 9 8
C A 2
Giving up the Spade 2 and receiving the Heart 10 seems like a
great exchange. But now when West leads the Spade Jack, we can
see there's no way to win the race! Win a Spade, lose a Diamond,
win the last Spade lose a Diamond, but now West is home free
winning two Diamonds and four Spades. What went wrong? South only
has two stoppers and West is one trick ahead of the promotion
race. How about the repeated Heart finesse? Sorry, even if it
worked, we only have eight tricks. Also, considering we have 28
points and West opened, it's hard to imagine East holding a King;
40 points in the deck minus our 28, and West probably opened with
12 points so East must be bust. Instead, how about a Club finesse
combined with a suit promotion? Based on our math calculation
(40-28=12), West likely has at least one Club honor. So South
begins with the Club Ace, the high card from the short side and
feels some relief when an honor appears from West. Continuing
with a second Club, declarer is overjoyed to see the last honor
appear, making five Clubs (pitching two Diamonds is fine), three
Hearts and two Spades.
Did you notice how giving up the tiny Spade led us to changing
our promotion strategy from Diamonds to Clubs? Bridge is
interesting that way, illustrating how such a little card can
make a big difference. Incidentally, if West didn't open and we
thought East might hold the Heart King, a repeated Heart finesse
might be in order. For our final rendition, let's give poor East
the Heart King, a second small Heart and a Club honor. So this
time West will not open the bidding. Note: while the play is
tricky on this hand, hopefully you will have an appreciation of
the repeated finesse coupled with creating an entry by
unblocking.
S K Q
H 8 6 5 4
D 7 6
C K 10 9 8 3
S J 10 9 8 7 6 +----+ S 5 4 2
H 9 7 | | H K 3 2
D A K | | D 5 4 3 2
C Q 7 +----+ C J 6 5 4
S A 3
H A Q J 10
D Q J 10 9 8
C A 2
As usual, West begins with the Spade Jack starting the promotion
race. As we saw above, we are one trick too late on the Diamond
suit. While we will probably win four Club and two Spade tricks,
the opponents will win three or more Spade tricks and two
Diamonds to set the 3 Notrump contract. Perhaps South can try a
repeated finesse in Hearts this time.
So after the Spade Jack lead, let's play the dummy King - not the
Ace. We want to begin our Heart finesse tactic right away. In a
moment, you'll see a sneaky way to use the Spade Queen as a
second entry. After winning the first trick, dummy plays a Heart
to South's 10 and the trick holds (East chose not to play the
King). Next we win the Club Ace - this time West plays an
unhelpful low Club 7. Still, we play a second Club to dummy's
King. We continue the Club promotion, knocking out East's
remaining Jack - their last possible winning card in the suit.
What shall we pitch from South?
S K
H 8 6 5
D 7 6
C 10 9 8
S J 10 9 8 7 6 +----+ S 5 4
H 9 | | H K 3
D A K | | D 5 4 3 2
C -- +----+ C J
S A
H A Q J
D Q J 10 9 8
C --
Before throwing a Diamond from the South hand, recall that we
desperately need dummy entries to win the promoted Club suit and
repeat the Heart finesse. Unfortunately, there are no more
entries when South holds the Spade Ace, so it appears we cannot
get the King. Yet when we stop to think about it for a moment, we
know the dummy's King is just as good as our Ace, so let's pitch
the Ace and we have found that precious dummy entry! While this
seems like a strange unblocking measure, we should live by the
credo, "desperate times call for desperate measures!" True, South
no longer can play a Spade to get to the dummy, yet the opponents
are stuck promoting your suits and eventually must play to your
precious Spade King entry.
Don't worry about learning subtle unblocking play as we've shown
here - many strong players could easily miss this line of play or
try other sensible tactics. Yet hopefully you have a better
appreciation of promotion, entries, and finesses. Each tactic has
its place, often with just a card or two changing places. So be
on the lookout and let your creative juices flow.
==============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Eleanor for this giggle:
An elderly gent coming out of a meeting spotted a face that
looked very familiar. He racked his brain for a few moments but
nothing came to him. He finally walked over and tapped the man on
the shoulder.
"I know that I know you," he said, " But I just can't remember
your name. What is your name?"
The man paused, looked at him and said, "Umm... How soon do you
need to know?"
===============================================================
TREBLE'S TABLE TALK
===================
Pre-empts Work: Or Do They?
One of my friends, and sometimes bridge partner, Colin (Kaltica)
Ward's favorite expressions is that "Pre-empts work", which is a
succinct way of putting what we know all too well, that when the
opponents jam the auction at a high level, it's sometimes quite
difficult to cope. The other Kaltica gem of wisdom is that the
only effective defense to a pre-empt is an overbid. If only it
were as simple as that. Undisciplined, random pre-empts create
an element of confusion for the opponents but also make it
difficult for our side to accurately make high-level decisions
or even determine game prospects for our side. Conversely,
overbidding against pre-empts makes life hell for advancer when
partner doubles or overcalls.
One of my favorite articles in the Bridge World was "You be the
Judge", a feature that appeared every three or four issues where
two bidding (or defensive carding) disasters were shown and a
panel of experts commented on each player's share of the blame
and what the worst single action was. In perusing the back
issues, I found a quartet of auctions that had poor results
stemming from competitive bidding sequences. While the problems
are 20 to 30 years old, they are not "dated" by the evolution of
bidding methods and feature themes that are just as relevant
today as they were at the time.
Hand 1
IMP pairs, both sides vulnerable
West East
S-- K76 S-- 84
H-- A98752 H-- J10643
D-- void D-- K832
C-- AKQ3 C-- 75
The bidding:
South West North East
pass 1H 1S 2H
pass 4H 5D dbl
pass pass pass
Result: EW -750, cold for 5H
The panel divided evenly, five blaming West more and the rest
faulting East. The average of the votes was 51.2% of the blame
for opener, indicating this was a very good problem and a
razor-thin margin.
West's detractors had two main criticisms. One was of the 4H bid,
which could be solidly to play, with an abundance of high cards,
or semi-gambling with a more distributional hand. It's a somber
thought that many players would "reflex" into 4H, blandly
assuming there will be no further bidding. Here, opener could and
perhaps should have bid clubs as there is some slam potential
if responder has useful cards, and because it lays the groundwork
for making the correct high-level decision if the opponents
persist in getting in our way. The other action to be questioned
was the leave of East's double of 5D with a void in the enemy
suit.
East came under fire for two actions as well. First was the 2H
raise, instead of a direct jump to 4H. This hand occurred in the
1964 U.S. International Trials, when the Law of Total Tricks had
not been envisioned, and expert practice was to have more
unbalanced distribution for the game raise in competition.
However, it was the double of 5D that generated most of the
adverse comments, and those panelists that identified it as the
worst action said that with the five-card support that opener
can't really know about given the 2H raise, double is a bid that
is fraught with peril.
I myself have no quibble with the 2H raise. Since the opponents'
suit outranks ours, a jump to 4H is far too likely to elicit 4S
by the enemy, which we really don't want to hear.
If that happens, we might have no winning position available to
us. With my frequent partner Dave McLellan I play that 3NT by
responder after a major suit opening and an overcall is a
conventional raise showing five-card support and exactly one
potential trick outside the trump suit. This would have made this
hand a piece of cake since West now bids on to at least the
five-level, but is irrelevant to the discussion since these
advanced competitive treatments were not in usage at the time.
Yes, perhaps opener could have bid clubs, but 3C would have
merely been a game try and would not have changed the nature of
opener's later problem appreciably. The only thing West could
have done to indicate slam interest is jump to 4C after partner's
2H raise, and who knows how that would be interpreted, even in
the modern environment?
My assignment of the blame would have been 32% to West, 68% to
East. There were maybe slightly better alternatives to 2H, 4H and
the final pass, depending on your point of view. The action that
sticks out like a sore thumb in my opinion is the double of 5D.
In high card values, East is on the lower end of the 2H raise in
the first place.
When North bids 5D, responder has about three-quarters of a trick
against diamonds and even less defensive prospects against a
spade contract if South corrects. This is a "half-full, half
empty glass" type of hand and I'd recoil from making any type of
powerful suggestion like double with the East hand. The worst
thing I'd expect to happen if I passed and opener went on to 5H
is both five-level contracts down one. As opposed to that, there
are many scenarios that play out in your favor: 5H making, 5H a
good sacrifice against a cold 4S or 5D, and so on. Moreover, in a
team match, you don't have to explain the double game swing that
you just coughed up.
Hand 2
1953 Bermuda Bowl, America vs Sweden
North-South vulnerable
West East
S-- 98 S-- 6
H-- KJ982 H-- AQ104
D-- QJ9 D-- 832
C-- AK4 C-- QJ852
The bidding:
West North East South
1H 1S 4H 4S
pass pass 5H pass
pass pass
Result: -50 in 5H, if EW double 4S, they go +500
I confess that I've altered this hand slightly from the April
1979 Bridge World, to have West opening a five-card heart suit.
The original version had opener holding 4-4 in the red suits and
East having 5 hearts and 4 clubs.
It must be said that taking the push to 5H could have easily been
right for EW, since 4S could have been a make the opponents' way.
North could have a singleton club and South shortness in hearts.
Normal expectation, however, is that our side will get four
defensive tricks in some way, shape or form, and both 4S and 5H
will go down one trick. Note, by the way, that the Law of Total
Tricks (LOTT) again comes a cropper on this hand, as there are 19
total trumps and only 18 total tricks.
Those panelists that faulted West suggested that he should have
doubled 4S with a hand that is more suited for defense than
bidding. However, East's jump to 4H, especially at these colors
would not create a forcing pass situation in the agreements of
some if not most expert partnerships. Consequently, a final
contract of 4S passed out is permissible. Nor would it be assumed
that East is obliged to act further once he has made the 4H bid.
A sobering note for the advocates of fit-showing jumps is that in
this case, that tool would not have been particularly useful.
Responder's hand is pretty much a textbook example of a FSJ to 3C
after the 1S overcall. Now, if South bids 4S, the West hand is
more likely to forge on to 5H with the double fit instead of
defending the enemy contract.
Those panelists that took aim directly at East implied the hand
was far too good for a 4H raise. Note how far apart it is from
responder's hand in the first example, which some were touting as
a direct 4H raise after a 1S overcall. Hugh Ross said the key
point was that neither East nor West knew what the opponents
could make, and that a limit raise instead of the ever-ambiguous
4H would have served to determine at what level both our side and
theirs are willing to voluntarily go to. The Editors concurred,
saying that responder in raising to 4H must either know himself
what to do over 4S (he didn't) or be willing to abide by
partner's decision (he wasn't).
The East hand is a "between the cracks" hand that doesn't nicely
fit any particular brand of heart raise. A 4H raise is a
crap-shoot, but a cuebid to show a limit raise isn't going to
make the decision over an eventual 4S by the opponents any
easier. A fit-showing jump would not have done the trick, either.
We'd like to show a "mixed" or 4-card constructive raise as
responder and THEN bid game if we so desire. Now opener would
have a pretty fair picture of our values, a distributional
supporting hand with 1 to 1.5 tricks on defense. In our system,
we play that 1H-(1S)-2NT or 1S-(2H)-2NT shows this kind of hand.
The only loss is that of a natural 2NT bid, which is unlikely to
produce exactly eight tricks when you're getting a lead of RHO's
five-card suit. Besides, the 11-12 point balanced invites can
always be started with a negative double (or pass followed by
whatever if partner reopens). In any event, if opener knows he is
facing an 8-10 point four-card raise, it's pretty logical to take
the money by doubling their 4S contract.
Hand 3
IMPs, EW vulnerable
West East
S-- Q8654 S-- A10
H-- AK8753 H-- J102
D-- 104 D-- AJ763
C-- void C-- KJ5
The bidding:
South West North East
pass pass 3C pass
4C dbl pass 5D
pass pass pass
Result: down 2, cold for ten or 11 tricks in hearts
Some of today's enterprising bidders might scoff at West's
original pass, but even in this day and age, this is not a
particularly attractive hand to open. A weak two-bid in hearts
would be obscene, as would opening the moth-eaten five-card spade
suit at the one-level ahead of the six good hearts. Yet 1H has an
inherent risk as well, that of losing a spade fit. In fact, there
is an excerpt from the fiftieth anniversary (October 1979) of the
Bridge World in which longtime editor Alphonso (Sonny) Moyse,
approached Tobias Stone on what to open with this kind of West
hand. Stone, he of the rock-solid opening bidders, stuck to his
guns and passed even when Moyse tried to entice him into taking
action with a $50 bribe.
So West passes, intending to bid vigorously at his subsequent
opportunity, but it turned out to be later than he thought and he
was faced with an awkward four-level quandary. Rather than put
all his eggs in one basket he doubled the raise to 4C with the
fond hope partner would bid a major. Advancer, East, clearly
expected a three-suited takeout and jumped to 5D, neither an
elegant or successful contract.
Only one of the panelists thought that West should have opened
the bidding, and not many quibbled with the pass by East over the
3C pre-empt. 3D is kind of borderline and may not get our side to
the most desirable contract of 3NT. A direct 3NT, on the other
hand, would get high marks for bravery, but partner is still
going to expect a shade more in values than what we've got here.
The real meat of the hand is which partner was more culpable in
the final result after South's 4C boost?
West drew the ire of the panelists for the takeout double and the
failure to pull 5D to 5H. It's quite a position to take both of
West's actions. I could be talked into doubling with the
understanding that I'd bid hearts next to offer a choice of major
suit contracts. On the flip side, I'd have no problem admitting
my agenda of showing both suits has come to naught because of the
level and come in with 4H, burying the spades. To double and then
sit 5D, however, is something I just wouldn't be happy doing at
the table.
East was berated for not straining to bid a major suit contract
after the double of 4C. Although West drew more fault with the
panel's vote, it was East's 5D that was dubbed as the worst call
of the auction. I'm not sure I can go along with that view.
Bidding 4H could easily result in a laughable contract, with the
minor-suit game being on ice. I regard this one as a very close
one, and would saddle West with more fault, 60-40 sounding about
right. He could have opened instead of passing (although I
endorse the pass), bid 4H instead of doubling, and removed 5D to
5H. The worst bid of the auction is in fact East's 5D, but NOT
because he should have gazed into his crystal ball with a 4H
removal. With 3 or 4 tricks on defense and no surefire game his
way, passing 4C doubled rates to net +300 or +500 on average, and
that's fine with me. You might recall the title of one of my
articles some time back, called "Second Best", the theme of which
was contenting yourself with the a moderate plus on a tough hand
is often a superior option to going for the entire biscuit.
Hand 4
1967 US International Trials
Neither Side Vulnerable
West East
S-- 82 S-- 3
H-- 963 H-- KQ852
D-- J52 D-- A87
C-- AK962 C-- J1084
The Bidding:
West North East South
pass pass 2H 2S
3C 4S 5C dbl
5H dbl pass pass
pass
Result: down three, -500 with 4S down one or two
This offering, in common with the rest of the hands in the
article, resulted in a fairly evenly split vote, with each player
getting five of the ten panelists condemning his actions in
various degrees. West's 3C is reasonable as a lead-director in
support of hearts if South had made a takeout double instead of
2S. The criticism leveled at it was that West rated to be on lead
so what's the point of 3C? I suspect that his action was based on
the possibility that North might bid 3NT instead of 4S, in which
case the "fatuous" 3C bid does have some value for the defense
after all.
Those who pointed the finger at East disagreed with one or both
of his actions. 5C was characterized by one panelist as "a
horrible bid. How cheap does he expect the equal-vulnerability
sacrifice to be? Does he think he has no defense? If I were East,
I'd expect to defeat 4S." And from another: "East gets 70% for
the 5C bid. With West a passed hand, the chances of making are
minimal, and the five-card heart suit is a plus factor on
defense. Did East ever hear that it is a no-no to bid again after
opening with a pre-empt?"
East was also reviled from various sources for the 2H opening
bid, and it was remarked that a 1H third-seat opening was a more
sensible choice. East probably thought the opponents had a good
spade fit and wanted to throw a monkey wrench into their bidding
with the higher-level opening. Then he felt in the light of the
auction to venture another bid, and it's true that he might have
envisaged a different holding from West, like a six-card club
suit. This less than glowing result was more or less a replica of
a hand that occurred in the previous year's world championships
against the Italian Blue Team, where the East player again
persisted in the bidding after opening a weak two-bid on a
five-card suit, and the pair suffered a loss on the hand when his
cohort went on to game rather than defending.
Sonny Moyse had a well-known bias against the weak two-bid, which
he vented frequently. His exact words from the July 1966 issue of
the Bridge World are: "Vendetta, psychosis, call it what you
will, I submit that partnerships are never sure of their ground
when this monstrosity is the cornerstone of their auction-- or so
rarely sure that my statement can't be successfully challenged."
My own vendetta isn't quite as quite as heated as Sonny's, but I
loathe the evil seed that pervades bridge nowadays and assures
us that it's quite all right to open weak two bids with a
five-card suit or with potential defensive tricks in other suits.
I shouldn't complain all that much, since pairs that use
undisciplined weak two bids have spiffed up my matchpoint results
with a healthy assortment of tops and near-tops. However, when I
hear about experts preaching the virtues of random weak two-bids
to intermediate and novice players, it gives me a queasy feeling.
There's a common denominator to the four hands I've set out for
your inspection this month. You can't take two views on the same
hand. One view is all right, but to compound it with another
control-seizing or pushy decision is tempting fate and usually
reaps the bitter fruits of so doing. To summarize:
Hand 1: East raises to 2H after the 1S overcall when he might
have jumped to 4H, then doubles 5D with really no compelling
reason to do so.
Hand 2: On this one, East did jump to 4H, which should have left
him on the sidelines for the balance of the auction, but now felt
he should make one more last and irrevocable decision for the
partnership.
Hand 3: West passes initially, which is all right, but then makes
a skewed takeout double with 5-6 in the majors and does not
follow through with a removal of partner's 5D. East is almost as
guilty, failing to overcall 3D after the 3C pre-empt and then
jumping to 5D.
Hand 4: East begins with an off-beat third seat 2H opening and
while West might have set temptation in his path with the 3C bid,
the fact remains that he took a second view on the same hand and
paid the price.
********************
You will find Bill doing his FireSide sessions on Fridays
at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Bill is available for private/group lessons and/or supervised
play sessions. Email Bill at (btreble@shaw.ca) for more
information.
================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Okay.....I can relate to this.....
Cleaning Poem
I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'putering',
And I had to answer "yes."
He told me to get off my fanny
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse.
I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my work...
I didn't mean to 'click.'
But click, I did, and oops I found
A real absorbing site
That I got SO way into...
I was into it all night. <>
Nothing's changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.
===================================================
AND FINALLY KALTICA
===================
Texas Transfers Over 1NT
One of our students asked why I believe that Texas
Transfers are a bad idea opposite a 1NT opening. First, let
us look at the advantages of Texas Transfers opposite a 2NT
opening.
2NT 4D - Texas Transfer to 4H.
4H 4NT - Blackwood (RKC if you play it).
...whereas:
2NT 3H - Jacoby Transfer to 3S.
3S 4NT - Quantitative.
Without Texas Transfers we would have to rely on Jacoby
for our slammish hands. This will virtually require Responder
to rebid a new suit (usually a minor) after the transfer. This
second suit may be bogus.
2NT 3H - Jacoby Transfer to Spades.
3S 4C
?? - What does Opener do now?
4H is available to Opener with a MINIMUM and Heart support,
but what if Opener has a maximum? Cuebid? And how will
Responder know which suit is being supported? What if Opener
has support for neither suit? 4NT? And what if Opener raises
the MINOR, only to find that Responder doesn't really own that
suit?
One way to handle this is to agree that:
1. 4NT is a minimum, no fit for either suit;
2. 5NT is a maximum, no fit for either suit;
3. A cuebid of the unbid MINOR supports the MINOR (maximum);
4. A cuebid of the unbid MAJOR supports the MAJOR (maximum);
and,
5. A simple bid of either of Responder's suits is natural,
minimum.
This is hardly "standard" though; it would require a
partnership agreement.
Over ONE No trump, though, the Jacoby Transfers have plenty
of room to make all of these distinctions AND, in most cases, do
it at a lower level--thus saving critical bidding space for more
slam exploration. Let us look at a typical 1NT Jacoby Transfer
auction:
1NT 2D - Jacoby Transfer to Hearts.
2H 3C - 3+ Clubs, slam try.
??
Here, Opener can rebid 3H (not minimal) or 4H (minimum)
with 3+ Hearts, depending on their strength. With support for
the minor (Clubs here) Opener can cuebid a suit at the 3-level
with a minimum, raising to 4C ONLY with a maximum; if Responder
doesn't have that minor Responder can leap to 6NT (3C was a slam
try, remember). With support for NEITHER of Responder's suits
Opener can rebid 3NT (minimum) or 4NT (maximum). Thus, the pair
NEVER gets above the game level UNLESS going to slam!
To illustrate, consider this auction if the pair is playing
Texas:
1NT 2D - Jacoby Transfer to Hearts.
2H 4NT - Quantitative (if playing Texas Transfers, at least).
5H - Minimum, with 3+ Hearts.
Without 3+ Hearts Opener will pass the quantitative 4NT
rebid if minimal. Either way, the pair finds itself
unnecessarily beyond game.
Most often 1NT Opener WILL have 3+ card support for the
major. Note how the pair can establish trumps AND know Opener's
strength BEFORE going beyond game:
1NT 2H - Jacoby Transfers to Spades.
2S 3D - 3+ Diamonds, slam try.
4H - Minimum, declining any slam tries.
1NT 2H - Jacoby Transfers to Spades.
2S 3D - 3+ Diamonds, slam try.
3H - Maximum, accepting any slam tries.
In the latter case Responder can continue with cuebids or
rebid 4NT, which is clearly Blackwood (RKC if you play it).
Having shown that opposite 1NT openings Jacoby Transfers do
everything that Texas Transfers do--usually better--what benefits
derive from the alternative approach?
1NT:4H and 1NT:4S are natural signoffs if we do NOT play
Texas Transfers. Note that this caters to those hands where
RESPONDER wants to play in the major WITHOUT inviting slam--as
the natural 1NT:3H and 1NT:3S replies do.
Most experienced pairs who do not play Texas Transfers play
1NT:4D as asking for Opener's better major ("PAM" or "Pick A
Major"). Responder has 5-5 in the majors and no interest in
inviting slam. Note that if we use Jacoby Transfers RESPONDER
will play the hand half of the time; 1NT:4D always allows Opener
to play the hand.
1NT 2H - Jacoby Transfer to Spades.
2S 4H - Forces a choice of majors without inviting slam.
Pass - Preference for Hearts, but RESPONDER will declare.
1NT 2D - Jacoby Transfer to Hearts.
2H 2S - 5-5 in the majors, forcing for one round (for most).
3S 4S - To play, but by RESPONDER.
1NT 4D - 5-5 or better in the majors.
?? - 4H or 4S allows Opener to declare.
While it may get competition from New Minor Forcing and
Flannery, the Texas Transfer opposite 1NT rates up there with
CAPP vs a strong 1NT as worst convention ever invented. Indeed,
if we factor in the consideration that CAPP was designed for use
against WEAK 1NTs, Texas Transfers opposite 1NT stand alone. :)
**********************
You'll find Kaltica (Colin Ward) doing his FireSide sessions on
Tuesday evenings at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Colin is available for private/group lessons and/or supervised
play sessions. Email him at (kaltica@mts.net) for more
information.
Rainbow and Spectrum Series Online!
The popular Rainbow (SAYC and play) and Spectrum (2/1-GF) series
have been automated for your convenience. You can take any of
the lessons at your leisure simply by clicking on either of these
links:
http://www.firesides.net/rainbows.htm
http://www.firesides.net/spectrums.htm
Enjoy!
=====================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Pringle for these giggles:
To all you OWLS (Older Wiser Laughing Souls)
Wisdom from Grandpa
Whether a man winds up with a nest egg, or a goose egg,
depends a lot on the kind of chick he marries.
Trouble in marriage often starts when a man gets so busy
earnin' his salt that he forgets his sugar.
Too many couples marry for better, or for worse, but not
for good.
If a man has enough horse sense to treat his wife like a
thoroughbred, she will never turn into an old nag.
On anniversaries, the wise husband always forgets the
past - but never the present.
A foolish husband says to his wife, "Honey, you stick to
the washin', ironin', cookin' and scrubbin'. No wife of mine
is gonna work."
Many girls like to marry a military man - he can cook, sew,
and make beds and is in good health, and he's already used to
taking orders.
Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about
your age and start bragging about it.
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I
want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long
way and some of the roads weren't paved.
How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?
Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled
and bald, they don't recognize you.
Have a GREAT day.......and keep Laughing
=============================================================
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