CONTRACT BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 225, 23 September 1938, Page 6

CONTRACT BRIDGE.

SLAM INVITATIONAL GAME

FORCE.

(By THE FOUR ACES.)

Since any response in a new suit forces partner to bid again, there is actually no need for the immediate jump response in a new suit when game is responder's only objective. Therefore, the jump response in a new suit should lie reserved to act as a definite and immediate slam invitation, and conveys the message: "Partner, if you have anything more than a minimum, I am definitely interested in a slam."

There are numerous advantages to be gained by the jiroper use of this bid. First, we have the negative advantage that when a j,]aver fails to respond with a slam invitation game force, irrespective of how strongly he bids thereafter, the opening bidder with a minimum or near-minimum will not take the hand past game. On the other side we have two positive advantages: (a) Since our first bid has be'en a slam try. if our partner shows no signs of life, we may. if "vve desire, sign off thereafter and eventually drop the hand at a safe game contract: (M we are, in effect, saving to our partner that we are interested in a slam, he will prepare for this immediately, and slams can be bid much more easily and accurately than by other methods.

The exact, strength necessary to make the slam invitational game force is, of course, hased on three factors: (1) High cards; (2) support for partner's suit : (3) your own suit. The minimum requirements mny be stated its follow: —

(a) With strong support for partner's suit and a verv i-tronsr suit of your own. a hi;'-! card value of S (1\ quick tricks plus). Example:

A —K 0 x x V —A K x x x x 4—x x *—X Respond three H<\irt« to partner's opening bid of one Spade. H'lwcvcr. with hut live Hearts, simply give an immediate jump raise to three Spades. With this second hand, you are interested in a slam only if partner invites it. (b) Wit.li strong support for partner's suit and no suit of your own. a high card value of 10 (more than three quick tricks). Example: A — K Q x x V—A ♦—OXXX A —A .T x x Respond three Clubs to partner's opening oneSpade hid. (<•} With a loner solid, or nearly solid, suit of vour own. hut without supnnrt for partner's suit, a high card value of 10 (more than 3 quick tricks). Example: A—x V—A. x 4— K x x A —A K Q x x x x • Respond three Clubs to partners opening on.?Spade hid. (<0 With no good suit of your own and no real support for partner's suit, a minimum high card value rf 12} (more than 4 quick tricks) is necessary. E.\ani])le: A—x x V—A .T x 4 —A K x x *—A Q x x Respond three Diamonds to partner's ojienins one-Spade hid. With this last hand, in spite of your tremendous high-card holding. you must he particularly careful to hear in mind that you have told almost your whole story when you give the slain invitational game force; and if your partner's first rebid is three Spades, you should simply hid three no trump. The reason for this is that, for all you know, your partner has a minimum hand with a five-card Spad? suit. Remember that in lelwltling over your partner's slam invitational frame force you should always show your distribution on the first hid. and additional values, if any. at a later stage. Now if over your second-round three no trump the original bidder makes anv further bid, even if it is only a re hid to four Spades, you will be entitled to go on. since this second rebid of Spades will indicate a long, strong suit, which, combined with your own high cards, should prcMuce a slam.— (Copyright.)