Page 16 - ABF Newsletter June 2024

BRIDGE INTO THE 21st CENTURY Paul Lavings, plavings@gmail.com YOUR ACTION WHEN YOUR RHO OVERCALLS 1NT What would you call on the following hands, neither side vulnerable? 4. Pass. You might consider 2\] but opener could well have a singleton spade, and a 5-1 fit at the two-level would not play well. Pass is recommended but then what do you now lead to 1NT? The choice is between \]6 and a high heart. The \]6 is all or nothing so per- haps a high heart is better idea, especially if your partner is good at finding defensive switches. 5. 2\}. When I had this hand recently, I bid 2\[ and opener had four spades and two hearts. 2\] would have scored +140 but 2\[ was down two. Highly recommended is that after a 1\{ or 1\} open- ing and a 1NT overcall, the other minor by respond- er shows both majors. Now you bid 2\} and get to your better major-suit fit in a breeze. Most methods of competing against a 1NT opening include a bid to show both majors as a matter of priority. This situa- tion is no different. 6. 3\}. You would normally bid 2\} but if that is for the majors it’s not on the menu. You have the choice of 3\} or pass and a lot of good things can happen if you bid 3\}. 7. 2\}. A reminder that 2\} shows both majors. You only have 5 HCP but the fact you can play in your better major-suit fit makes competing a big winner. Without 2\} for the majors you would probably bid 2\] and hope to bid 3\[ later, or meekly pass. 8. 2\{. If you play Better Minor, 1\{=3+ and 1\}=3+, a raise to 2\{ is an easy choice. At worst you have 4-3 fit, which is acceptable at the two-level. If opener has 4+ clubs they can now compete to the three-level or higher and often win the contract or push opponents one too high. If you play Short Club, where 1\{=2+ and 1\}=4+, you can’t bid 2\{ since you could have a 4-2 fit. Of course, you are much better off playing Short Club when you open 1\}. 9. 3\{. Assuming Better Minor, the choice is between 2\{ and 3\{. The overcaller likely has \{K so you know the finesse is working. If you bid only 2\{, opponents could find a fit and then compete to the three-level scoring 110 in 3\} or 140 in 3\[ or 3\]. Better to bid a tactical 3\{ now and hope to shut them out. 10. 3\[. You might be tempted to play it safe and bid just 2\[ but you are worth 3\[. If you bid 2\[ you might miss a game in 4\[ or let opponents into the bidding cheaply to find their possible spade fit. Bid the full value of your hand at your first opportunity. WEST NORTH 1\{ (1NT) ? 1. \]QJ7653 \[KJ5 \}62 \{43 2. \]KJ109 \[A32 \}Q106 \{875 3. \]QJ1097 \[K64 \}K72 \{63 4. \]KJ863 \[875 \}A52 \{64 5. \]QJ43 \[KJ754 \}86 \{65 6. \]J82 \[32 \}AQJ1084 \{32 7. \]K10982 \[Q10876 \}5 \{53 8. \]74 \[97 \}QJ952 \{KJ75 9. \]86 \[54 \}9842 \{AQJ87 10. \] 7 6 \[ K J 10 9 6 4 3 \} K 9 7 \{ 2 SOLUTIONS 1. 2\]. When your partner opens and RHO overcalls 1NT, a new suit by you is not forcing. The theory is that if responder had a good hand they would double 1NT, which is for penalties. In so many situations the easy way to get a good score is to double opponents for penalties, and this one is high on the list. Experts are constantly on the lookout for penalties at the one and two-level. 2. Double. The strength of your penalty double of a 1NT overcall depends on the strength of your open- ing bids. In my partnerships we open all hands with 11 HCP except when 4-3-3-3. You want to have more HCP than the opponents, at least 21 vs 19, so our double is 10+ HCP. If partner’s opening is less than 11 HCP with a long suit or a two-suiter they can remove the double. If you double and all pass, what would you lead? With only a four-card suit, the \]J lead doesn’t seem worth the risk of leading into declarer’s \]AQ. I would lead \{8 and give nothing away. 3. Double. Having said you need 10 HCP to double the 1NT overcall, with this hand you have an easy lead in \]Q. You will take at least three spade tricks and two kings in defence. Surely, it’s not asking too much for two defensive tricks from your partner’s opening bid to defeat 1NT. Page: 16 EAST SOUTH Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: June 2024