CONTRACT BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22525, 16 September 1936, Page 22

CONTRACT BRIDGE

TWO-WAY THREE-BID strategy BY yiNESSE In the two articles published on tbo two-way three-hid did not permit of any illustrations whore there is competitive bidding by opponents over an opening throe-bid. To complete a description of this bid it is necessary to show how tho opening three-bidder and should treat such overcalls. Since the three-bid is generally made with freak hands, it is only right to assume that there will be other freaks around tho table, and the opponents will be induced to enter tho bidding. "When partner has opened with a three-bid and tho right-hand opponent overcalls, there is no necessity for the responding hand to bid. Hence, three no trump over an opposing bid indicates a sure stopper in the opponents' suit, and probable stoppers in tho other two spits. If the responding hand E asses tho overcall, and tho opening idder doubles, it is a penalty double, not a take-out double. Responding hand, however, may rescue this douhlo with a blank hand or with length in partner's suit. In tho latter case, howover, sound tactics dictate an immediate raiso, which does not show the same high-card values as would the free raise of an opening bid of one, but may be based on distributional support .alone. So. if partner's three-heart bid is overcalled with three spades, with the following: *752 9? J4 3 2 0Q9753 *7 rcspomler should raise to four hearts. Overcalls of three-bids should rarely be doubled without some trump strength, usually two trump tricks; as an example, over partner's three-spade hid, overcalled by the opponents with four hearts, responding hand holding: *8 should double; with *B3 <?A 74 09542 *Q963 should pass. Three-bid No-trump Game The three-bid often enables the partners to reach an easy three no-trump contract, and sometimes (as in the following case) an opponent feels compelled to double —to his cost: —

(Neither side vulnerable. South dealer. Tho bidding:—? South West North East 3 0 pass 3 N.T. double pass pass re-double pass pass pass North's is a strong no-trump takeout. East is trapped by tfhe three-bid; if South'g is a weak three-bid, it is imperative for him to take action, bouth's pass then shows the ready-made suit, and tells partner he can stand no-trump play. North has every suit stopped and knows his partnor has sever* winners. Etc therefore re-doubles, and East-West are helpless; NorthSouth must make four-odd on any opening. Asking Bid Conjoined Here is an illustration of the asking bid in conjunction with an opening three-bid:— West East AAKQ J8 5 4 *63 8 9A65 OA2 0 9 *lO 93 *A K J 8 7 5 4 The bidding:— 3* 4 * 40? / • 4 N.T. 5 * ? 5 N.T. 6 * ? 6 N.T. 7*

East's response of four clubs showed 2j honour-tricks and two of tho top honours in clubs. West now sees tho possbility of a slam if controls are present, so asks in four diamonds, to which his partner answers with four no-trump showing two aces and second-round diamond control. Note that with an opening three-bid, only two trumps are needed with a singleton; with a singleton spade, East would have to sign off, as an opening trump lead would render his singleton diamond useless. West now asks in his partner's suit for second-round control (the four notrump reply has already shown the ace), and East replies confirming tho club king, and the five no-trump response is followed by a futrher ask from West, about third-round control. Now, , East actually has not third-round control, but ho can assume that his partner must have three clubs (otherwise he would not bo interested .in thirdround control), and as it looks as if all the clubs will fall on his holding, he gives an affirmative anstver, and West bids the grand slam in spades. The Penalty Double I will give one more illustration, of the penalty double by the opening three-bidder:

South opened with three spades, which West overcalled with four hearts, which South doubled for penalties. Neither East nor West can afford to rescue, and North, although ho has a weak hand, is able to leave the double in for penalties. The result is two, or three, down, according to whether West ruffs high on the third lead of spades; the second lead is ruffed by North, as South, after leading a winning spade, lays down his singleton ace of clubs, and then tinues tlio spado suit. If West ruffs with anything but a high trump the second time he will lose another trick to the queen of trumps.