CONTRACT BRIDGE Introduction To Contract

Southland Times, Issue 22969, 15 August 1936, Page 13

CONTRACT BRIDGE Introduction To Contract

n. (F.H.J.) Doggerel has its uses, nevertheless I apologize. ONE-IN-A-SUIT. (“Honour” or “trick” means “honour trick” and the figures refer to the same.) ' Higgledy-piggledy! Shuffle the pack! I’ll mention a suit and you’ll answer

me back. I’ve possibly 2J or 5, With a trick in your hand you should keep it alive.

You will give me a raise if you’ve three to the Queen, Or four little fellows in trumps to be

seen; But give me a possibly trumpable suit, Or otherwise give me an honour to boot. If the foe on my left keeps the bidding afloat An extra trick held before clearing your throat.

A King and a Queen are enough for a “lone”; Or a 1 in a suit for a one-over-one, Holding 3 and a bit you will still bid the same. (These later responses are forcing to game.)

You will double your raise holding four to the Jack, And two or three honour tricks out of the pack: Unless you can ruff you require for a raise An honour trick more in your hand to appraise. The double no-trumper oh please understand Shows 21, and no suit in the hand.

For a “jump” in your suit it is hoping I am For that is a frequent approach to a slam, With 3-2 or 4 in the main If your suit isn’t strong to be mentioned again.

Of course if you’re hopeless you simply “No bid” And I can be thankful and bid as I did. Higgledy piggledy shuffle the pack! If a suit I shall bid try to answer one back.

We have considered the table of Honour Tricks and the requirements for a biddable or a rebiddable suit, and have reached the stage where your partner has bid and you have been obliged to bid 1 N.T. (with 1+ or even 1 Honour trick) or to pass. The Raise.—You must have two requirements to raise your partner’s suit from one to two. These are:—

(1) Adequate trump support (xxxx or Qxx). (2) 0,1, or 1 Honour Tricks, according to whether your hand contains (a) a singleton (b) a doubleton (c) no short suit. If your opponents have made an intervening bid (e.g. partner 1 Heart, opponent 1 Spade) you can only raise your partner to two if you hold (1) Adequate trump support as above.

(2) 1, 11, or 2 Honour Tricks ac-. cording to singleton, doubleton or no short-suit as above.

The reason is that the bidding has already been kept open, and you may remain silent if you have a bare minimum. I shall leave the matter of a double raise till later.

The Simple Take Out.—e.g. Partner 1. Heart, you 1 Spade. This is forcing for one round, and your partner must reply. So you can safely make this bid even if you have excellent support for his suit, which you can show later. Your minimum requirements are either a 5 card suit headed by 1 Honour Trick or a biddable suit and 1 to 3+ Honour Tricks.

Your partner has bid 1 Diamond. Bid 1 Heart with

S: 9-8-3; H: Q-J-7-5-4; D: 10-6-4-2; C: 7. S: K-8-3; H: Q-7-5-4-2; D: 10-6-4-2; C: 7.

S: A-6; H: K-Q-J-10-7-4; D: J-6; C: K-7-3.

A take out into a lower ranking suit is also forcing for one round, e.g. Partner IS you 2D, but in this case you require at least 2 Honour Tricks. In both the above cases you may show a 6-card suit with slightly less than the required Honour Tricks. The Rcbid. —Consider now the rebid. You have bid 1 Heart and your partner has bid 1 Spade or 2 Diamonds. You must on no account pass. _ If you have a bare opening bid, you should bid No Trumps. If you have a rebiddable suit, rebid it. If you have a second biddable suit, bid it. If you can raise your partner’s suit do so. But do not pass. If you bid a new suit, remember that your partner will bid again. If your partner has raised your suit, or bid 1 N.T., put your foot on the soft soft pedal, for he has denied his ability to do better and unless you have a tip-top hand no game is in sight.

The Response (resumed). Rarely will you raise your partner straight to game, eg. IS—4S. The requirements are 5 trumps, a singleton, and about 1 Honour trick. The purpose is to shut the opponent’s out from bidding. Now we come to three classes of responses, given in their order of preference, which are forcing to game. (1) Forcing Take out (2S or 3D over 1H). (2) Double Raise (1H —3H), unless after passing originally. (3) 2No Trumps, unless after passing originally. The Forcing (or Jump) take out is a bid of one more (not two more) than is necessary in a new suit. The requirements are:— (a) 3g Honour Tricks and (b) Either a rebiddable suit, or a biddable suit, plus strong support for your partner’s suit. This is the most desirable response of all to make to your partner’s opening bid, better even than a double raise. Both partners must keep the bidding open to game, and if the original bid was a strong one there is the likelihood of a slam. The requirements for a double raise of partner’s suit are: (a) 4 trumps to the Jack or better, and (b) 2, 21, or 3 Honour Tricks according as your hand contains (a) a singleton (b) a doubleton (c) no short suit. The requirements for the Two No Trump response are 21 to 31 Honour Tricks.