A BRIDGE CLINIC

Southland Times, Issue 21604, 16 January 1932, Page 11

A BRIDGE CLINIC

(By

Horatius.)

AUCTION

CONTRACT

One point in bidding which the beginner finds difficult is the pre-emptive call, both as an original bidder and as a responder. Under all systems the pre-emptive bid is valuable, even necessary, but it must be used only when the occasion demands it. Improper pre-emptive bids will quickly lead to heavy losses, but the guiding principles are not difficult—they are easily understood.

Taking up this question first from the viewpoint of the original bidder, we find that the pre-emptive bid is used only from necessity; but it is wise to hold the mini mum in Honour Tricks or Quick Tricks when the call is made. It is possible to shade the minimum slightly, but only when the freakish character of the hand is very pronounced. The object of the preemptive bid is to shut out other bids, to prevent the opponents from talking to each other, but it is necessary to remember that this same bid compels one’s partner to bid high if he wishes to rescue or propose a contract under which game can be made more easily. It has been seen that all original bids have certain defensive qualities. The 24 Honour Tricks and the 2 Quick Tricks declare trick-taking power (in reasonable ex pectations) against any declaration by the enemy. A-K and K-x in two suits justify an expectation of two tricks, three in fifty per cent, of the hands against any' contract, suit or No-Trumps, and 2 Quick Tricks (the equivalent of two Aces) is equally positive. It follows, then, that the pre-emptive bid discloses certain weaknesses. These may be summed up as a declaration that the hand is of value only if played in the suit named, and a bid of another suit by the enemy is feared. Obviously there will be no preemptive bids m No-Trumps, because a hand worthy of Three No-Trumps will be strong enough • o hold any suit bid from game unless it be made on some ultra-freakish distribution. And if a hand is strong enough for a second suit bid, the pre-emptive call is usually unwise because the chances of aid from partner in one or other of the two suits is increased. This is especially rue in the case of a two-suiter in major suits. lite two-suic hand is very powerful.

A typical hand for a pre-emptive bid s one containing a long suit without the op honour or honours, and with trie outride honours in short suits Take this aand for instance, in rubber game: S: x; II: Q-J-x-x-x-x-x; D: A-x; C: K-x-x. Here the Hearts are biddable and the Honour Tricks arc only two, but the. hand •S useless except in Hearts. A bid of One Heart would give a wrong impression of .ts strength. Allowing a normal distribution of Hearts, this hand can make seven ricks, and, if partner holds three tricks, Four Hearts can be made. A bid of Four Hearts will say to partner: “My hand .s only good for Hearts and it has some weaknesses—l require help outside of trumps.” Three Hearts would do as well, out if you pre-empt it is as well to proceed ooldly, because if the other side hold the Spades, they will bid them if possible. Look at these hands:

North East S: 7-4-2 S: Q-10-6-3 H: 10-3 H: A D: Q-J-8-6 D: K-4-3 C: Q-J-G-2 C: A-10-7-4-3 West South S: A-K-J-9-8 S: 5 H: K-8-6 II: Q-J-9-7-5-4-2 D: 10-9-7-5 D: A-2 C: 9 C: K-8-5 If South bids One Heart, West will go to One Spade, and after North’s pass East can go to Four Spades, which will be made. South’s Four Hearts would fail by one, a loss of 50 (less honours) set off against the 30, plus 45 for honours and 250 for rubber game, representing a saving of about 275.

If the other side has not a game in, the pre-emptive bid should be Three because it shows only seven playing tricks, a bid of Four should have eight—but to save rubber the additional risk is worth taking. In the Minor suits pre-emptive bids must be at least Four to be of value, and, therefore, where rubber is not involved, eight playing tricks should be held. A bid of three in Diamonds or Clubs could be doubled by West, and remember that under the British bidding Three Spades will overcall Four Clubs. Pre-emptive bidding in Minor suite should be used with more care.

It may be argued that South takes a big risk; but even if North held nothing, East-West must hold a sure game, and if they are prevented from entering the bidding, that game is saved. Give North’s honours' to East and West and penalise South three tricks—lso, less the honours, if East-West do not bid, and miss rubber, North-South gain 175. If South is doubled,

the gain is 25 plus honours. If EastWest win rubber on the next hand the 300 penalty may appear bad, but North-South have an equal chance and if they win their ■rain is 250 and 25. To lose judiciously is an advantage.

The Redouole of the Takeout Double is used to show 2J Honour Tricks, regardless of any strength in the doubled suit, and it is an invitation to go for penalties. There is, however, the line to be followed when the partner of the doubled bidder wishes to intervene. Of course, it is necessary to hold a sound biddable suit before taking this step, and 2 Honour Tricks must be regarded as the minimum. Your partner has shown 2 A Honour Tricks and the Double represents 3. You have 2 of the remaining A—l Honour Tricks and your bid gives this information to your partner, as well as disclosing the line on which you . prefer to play. North. East. S: J-6 S: 9-S-4-3-2 H. 8-7 H: 9-G-3-2 D: K-Q-9-7-4 D: J C: A-10-7-2 C: Q-8-5 West. South. S: Q-7 S. A-K-10-8 H: A-K-5-4 H: Q-J-10 D: A-10-5 D: 8-G-3-2 C: K-J-6-3 0: 9-4 South opened with a bid of Ons Spade, and West doubled. North has 2 Honour Tricks, and a sound bid of Two Diamonds. He makes this and after East's pass. South lifts the Diamonds to Three. Ht can count (S, 2J; H, 1; D, J; C, 1) five tricks and his original bid showed 4, so that an increase of one in the bid discloses the extent of the half he can give. North has no more to disclose, but he should just make his contract. Give North East’s Queen o c Clubs in place of his 10, and he will have 2J Honour Tricks. He would thex redouble and when East bid Two Hearts, South would Double for penalties, and the contract would be set by two tricks. Before going on we may as well consider the situation caused by the overcall of the pre-emptive bids. Four in a major suit or five in a minor are pre-emptive and they guarantee a long and powerful trump, but with no outside honour strength. As a rule they mean hands unsuitable for play in any other contract, for penalty doubles and for Slam. The bidder shows: Four in a major suit—(a) When vulnerable, 8 tricks. (b) When not vulnerable, 7 tricks. Five in a minor suit — (a) When vulnerable, 9 tricks. (b) When not vulnerable, 8 tricks. Therefore, the partner who raises the bid from Four to Five in a major suit and from Five to Six in a minor suit, when forced to do so must have I—21 —2 playing tricks when vulnerable, and 1 playing trick if not vulnerable. When the Responder is free (no bid from the enemy having forced him) he invites a Slam. When vulnerable it shows three tricks, mostly honours, and when not vulnerable four tricks. North. South S: A-5-3-2 S: J-7-6-4 H: H: 9-S-5-4 D: K-Q-10-9-6-5-4-S D; 7-2 C: 5 C: A-6-4 North is not vulnerable and bids Five Dia monds. He has the prospect of eight tricks. East intervenes with Five Hearts, and South who has 1 trick (the Ace of Clubs) lifts to Six. If the opponents try Five Hearts, they may get them, and N-S at most will go down Three tricks which, not vulneranle, but doubled will cost 400, while the enemy in Hearts would have scored 150 and game, equal to 400 or 500. Here is the case of the free raise to a preemptive bid: North. South. S: A-K-Q-5-4-3 S: 6-2 H: 7-6 H: 5-4-3-2 D: 9-6-5 D: A-K-10 C: A C: K-J-7-4 North bids Four Spades, and there is no bid from the opponents. South holds 3 playing tricks in honours and lifts to Five Spades, inviting a Slam; but North (his fide is vulnerable) has only 8 tricks and can say no more, so he passes. A little slam on these two hands is unlikely.