Bridge Club Bronsbeek

Night of Bronsbeek 2001

Brunssum, Casino Treebeek

December 28-29, 2001

Session 01, Boards 17-20

Unsatisfying Bidding Sequence:

2¨ = Multi-colored, based on semiforcing in diamonds.
4© = 3+ support for both majors, in case West has a weak-2. Response may be preemptive or for business, but denies slam interest.
4NT = Six Aces RKCB.
5© = 2 (or 5) out of 6 aces without queen of hearts.

West takes the initiative while East can be very weak, and may only have 3-card ª-support.

East wants to invite to game opposite any weak-2, but without adjustment of his set of responses, he can only invite to 4© and signoff in spades with 2¨-2ª, or signoff in hearts and hope to be able to raise in spades after 2¨-2©-2ª (weak-2 in spades). 2© and 2ª have in common, that West will pass with a maximum weak-2 in the major, he is supposed to pass with. We need to give East a tool to invite to game in both majors. The 2NT-response, which is already forcing, serves this goal best:

2¨ = Multi-colored.
2NT = Forcing relay.
4¨ = Semiforcing in diamonds.
4© = 4+ suit and forcing, since the combined hcp strength of EW adds up to at least 32.
4ª = 4+ suit.
4NT = RKCB for spades.
5¨ = 0 or 3 out of 5 aces (1403-variation).
5© = Asking for queen of spades.
6§ = ªQ plus §K, or, ªQ, ©K and ¨K.
6ª = East should be glad to have reached a slam which the vaste majority of the field will certainly miss.

The jump to 4¨ consumes a lot of bidding space, and makes it more difficult to explore the grand slam, that makes when West is able to ruff 2 diamonds in hand. This requires one of the following breaks:

1. Spades 3-2 and diamonds either 4-2 or 3-3 (a line of about 58%);
2. South holds 4 spades, and 3 or 4 diamonds (about 6%);
3. North holds 4 spades, and diamonds break 4-2 or 3-3 (about 12%).

This gives 7ª a chance of at least 76%. Even when West does not hold ªJ, he should be able to bring his grand slam home in about two-thirds of the time, so it should be investigated in a strong field. East could, for instance, bid 6¨ instead of 6ª. West will certainly bid 6© to show ©K, which means he also holds ¨K for his response of 6§. EW have an easier job in Precision:

1§ = 16+ hcp, several types of hands.
1¨ = 1. Less than 8 hcp (negative); 2. some 4441 and 8+ hcp ('impossible diamond').
2¨ = 5+ suit, 16-21 hcp.
2© = 4+ suit, 5+ hcp (forcing game).
2ª = 4+ suit.
3ª = Slamtry in spades; the fast arrival at 4ª would be the only way to call off the mission.
4§ = 1st or 2nd round control of clubs.
4¨ = 1st or 2nd round control of diamonds.
4© = 1st or 2nd round control of hearts.
4NT = RKCB for spades.
5¨ = 0 or 3 out of 5 aces (1403-variation).
5© = Asking for queen of spades.
6§ = ªQ plus §K, or, ªQ, ©K and ¨K.
6¨ = Shows some ¨-control, and gives West the chance to specify his outside king(s).
7ª = West has extra ¨-length headed by ace-king, jack of trumps, singleton ace, and doubleton king, so he simply too many extra's to just confine with 6©.

Recommended Bidding Sequence:

Recommended Bidding Sequence:

Recommended Bidding Sequence:

Go to Boards 21-24

Courtesy of Freek Posthuma

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