NBB - Dutch Bridge Federation

Final Dutch NC Imps Teams

Onstein Castle BC Vorden - Modalfa BC Amsterdam

Amsterdam, RAI Exhibition and Convention Center

Session 3, Boards 01-08

December 09, 2000

Recommended bidding sequence:

1 = We don't include a weak-2 with 5⁺/4⁺ in the majors in our 2§-opening, for we feel this will go at the cost of accuracy, when we have strong hands. This board proves we have some point, for Ramondt felt he had to preempt to 3ª opposite the 2-suited weak-2 of Maas, missing a virtually cold game.
2 = This trash is not worth bidding with opposite South's 1¨-opening.
3 = Still Michaels Cuebid, promising 5⁺/5⁺ in the majors.
4 = South has no reason to re-enter the bidding with his 4333-hand.
5 = It would be chicken to bid anything else. Remember, East would not have kept the auction going with less than 10 hcp.

More discussion to follow.

Recommended bidding sequence:

1 = Muiderberg weak-2: 5-card ª-suit, 4⁺ of a minor, and 5-10 hcp.
2 = Too soon to sign off in game, for if East brings the right cards, slam could be a lay-down.
3 = 4⁺ §-suit.
4 = Time to stop hoping for slam, because East needs to bring ªKQ, ¨K en §K. He can't have these 11 hcp.

More discussion to follow.

Recommended bidding sequence:

1 = Multi-colored, based on a weak-2 in ©.
2 = 5⁺ ¨-suit, forces game.
3 = Weak-2 in ©. For clarity, West should show any strong type of hand with 3NT or at the level of 4.
4 = Real suit. West can't possibly have a 4-card ª-suit for his weak-2 in ©, but a 4-card §-suit is very well possible.
5 = 3⁺ ¨-support.
6 = Should have a fair chance.

More discussion to follow.

Recommended bidding sequence:

1 = We don't adhere to canapé principles, so we open this hand 1¨.
2 = North's hand is slightly oversized for an initial 1ª-overcall, according to Action for the Defense by Wei and Andersen, but we must question the value of ¨Qx.
3 = 5⁺ §-suit and 8-11 hcp. We favor negative free bids in all situations where RHO makes a simple overcall at the 1- or 2-level.
4 = Westra used the weak jumpreverse, showing 6⁺/5⁺ and 11-15 hcp. We already advocated this gadget back in the early eighties at Verkeerd Gesneden YBC in Weert, by light years the best youth club we have met in The Netherlands so far.
5 = When South can't offer any help, North must keep quiet as well.
6 = Why not, with an excellent §-suit, and a couple of finesses to are most likely to work?

More discussion to follow.

Recommended bidding sequence:

1 = Once again, such hand is not woth a vulnerable Muiderberg weak-2.
2 = East may, or may not have a 4-card major, so West should alert this response.
3 = No 4-card major.
4 = Inviting to 3NT.
5 = West must downgrade his hand for its 3334-pattern.

3NT has no chance after a ©-lead, even when South has §K, or when East is fortunate enough to find North with the stiff king. EW could, however, reach a better game contract with the 1NT-relays of Jansma and Van Wel:

6 = First relay.
7 = 4§333, 4¨333, or 5¨332.
8 = Second relay.
9 = 4§333 or 4¨333.
10 = Third relay.
11 = 4§333.
12 = 4§ would be a slamtry, asking for controls (ace = 2, king = 1). 4ª in the 4-3 fit is not a good idea, for East will be forced to ruff hearts from his 4-card ª-suit.

5§ makes when the §-hook works (the finesse is the far superior line in the long run) , or (this time), when East goes for the stiff king in North.

Recommended bidding sequence:

1 = Weak jump overcall: 6⁺ suit, 5-10 hcp.
2 = Negative double, promising 4-card ª-suit, 12⁺ hcp, or both.
3 = Unwise to take action opposite a partner who just preempted.
4 = Opposite a negative double, East is supposed to show his 4-card ª- or ¨-suit, or 5⁺ §-suit, and show hcp strength by cuebidding 3©. 2NT, therefore, shows a balanced hand, probably 3334, ©-stopper, and 12 to a bad 15 hcp.
5 = West could cuebid with slam interest, so this should be invitational. East will not bring more than a 3-card ¨-suit, so 3NT will most likely fail on a ¨-lead.
6 = We can't help it, but East is on top of his previously shown strength.

Normally, 5§ will go down one because of duplication of values in the ©-suit. This time, it goes off 3§ after ©A, © ruffed, ¨A, © ruffed, and declarer still owes defenders a ª-trick.

We are surpised to see that both NS-pairs still adhere to the intermediate jump overcalls, tought to them by Dutch and British experts in their bridge youth in the late seventies and early eighties. The fact, that both EW-pairs use the negative double in 1§-1©-dbl to deny a 4-card ª-suit, surprises us even more.

Recommended bidding sequence:

1 = Multi-colored, based on a weak-2 in hearts.
2 = Balanced hand, 16-18 hcp.
3 = South would be happy to make a preemptive raise in ª, but in ©, he has to be more careful with his small doubleton of support.
4 = Puppet Stayman, ready to pass on 3¨ (promising 4-card major, but the 6-2⁺ fit in ¨ plays easier), 3© (5-2 fit, still better than 4¨ in 6-2⁺ fit), or 3ª (5-3 fit). West is only in trouble, when East denies 4-card majors with 3NT, since 4¨ would show 5⁺/5⁺ in the majors. West's alternative is to transfer transfer directly to 4¨ with 4§, but than he misses all other chances just discussed.
5 = One or two 4-card majors.
6 = Glad to have been able to end the action here.

NS can beat 3¨ with a © to the ten and ace, ¨A, ¨K, © to jack and king, ª to the queen, § to the king, and a ª. If East tries to make his contract by relying on the double finesse in ª, South wins the king, and gives North a ruff on the return of another ª.

De Boer allowed Maas to make his partscore: © to the ten, ª9 to the queen, © to queen and ace, ¨A, ¨K, © ruffed in dummy, ¨Q, § to jack, queen and ace, § to the king, and now, Maas could rise on the second round of spades, and dump dummy's third spade on §T. De Boer should have inserted §K and led another ª through, before Maas could have set up his §T.

Verhees gave Leufkens an even easier time: © to the ten, §K, and defense was already over.

Recommended bidding sequence:

1 = The alternative is to upgrade the hand to an opening of 1NT, but with 10 hcp in hearts, North's hand is too much a 1-suiter.
2 = East is too strong for a 2¨-overcall, the more so, because his hcp in the minors are placed very well.
3 = Truscott 2NT shows a limit raise or better, freeing 3© and 4© for preemptive purposes. With a genuine yarborough, 3© should be enough.
4 = Responsive double, asking East to bid spades, if he has them.
5 = Showing a hand too strong for an initial overcall of 2¨.
6 = Proposing to play 4ª in a 4-3 fit, if it is there. West could not make this call without ¨-support, adequate for 5¨.
7 = Decides to give it a try.

Greatly owing to the existence of responsive doubles, EW have found the best contract. Unfortunately, 4ª is beaten because of unfavorable coincidence: North to posses ªK and South to have singleton of ¨.

Go to session 03, boards 09-16

Copyright © 1999 by Michel Franssen