Page 16 - ABF Newsletter August 2024

A GAME
AT THE
CLUB
Barbara Travis
www.bridgeatbeaumont.com
A recent game generated heaps of interesting hands. Let’s start with:
] 3 2 [ A K Q 10 7 3 } A { K Q 10 2
Your RHO opens 1}. At the table, partner over- called 1[. The problem was, if LHO had passed, he would have played in 1[. Would you be happy to be passed in 1[, or would you think you may have missed game?
If your hand is good enough that you think you may miss game if you overcall at the one-level, then you should start with a double. Whilst doubles normally show at least three cards in each unbid suit, they can also be used on hands that are simply too strong to make your normal overcall, as in the hand above.
Fortunately for partner (East), the auction proceeded:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH pass 1} 1[ 1] pass 2} 3[ pass 4[ all pass
I held:
]K987 [98 }872 {A753
Partner could have started with a double, then cor- rected my response to 2[ or even 3[ (stronger hand). With the decent values I held, I would raise to 4[. That is a typical hand, and auction, for a ‘big double’.
The next hand proved very awkward, validating the need to overcall (and preemptive overcalls can be even more damaging). I held:
] 6 3 [ A K 10 9 4 3 } A { J 6 5 4 Page: 16
WEST NORTH
2[ 2] ?
EAST SOUTH 1} 1] pass pass
I had already shown five hearts with the 2[ bid, but what now? Sometimes one can use the cuebid of their suit (3] here) to create a game forcing auction, but that isn’t likely to help partner on this hand. I de- cided just to bid 4[. Practical bids appeal to me, es- pecially when there are rebid problems, as we both had.
Partner’s hand was: ]J42 [Q }K97643 {AQ8
When the [J fell doubleton, I was able to establish the diamond suit for eleven tricks. Whilst others bid and made 4[, one still has to think about overtricks!
Your RHO opens 1] (or even 2]). What would you bid with:
] 8 [ K J 7 6 } A Q J { A 10 8 6 2
My personal preference is to make a takeout double, rather than bidding 2{. I would overcall that suit if I was able to bid it at the one-level, but I am of the firm belief that when you make an overcall at the two-level, your suit should have quality to it, unless you have extra length (6+ cards). This club suit in no way meets my two-level overcall suit standards! Double, on the other hand, works perfectly.
The reason your suit, in particular a minor suit, should have quality at the two-level is that, if your side belongs in game, most often that game will be 3NT. And for 3NT to make, you need the suit to pro- vide the tricks partner is expecting/hoping for.
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: August 2024