Sittard BC
Internal Championships Imps Teams 2001
Quarterfinals, Baandert, Sittard,
May 15, 2001
Match Lions versus Optimists
Boards 09-12
Copyright © 2001-2025 by Michel Franssen
Special thanks to Scott
Smith
Board 9
N/EW
WEST |
NORTH
ª A K J 9 2
© 8 6 5 4 2
¨ 2
§ A J |
EAST |
ª T 7 6 4
© Q 9 7 3
¨ 5
§ T 7 5 3 |
SOUTH |
ª 8 3
© K J
¨ A K J 7 6 4 3
§ 6 2 |
|
ª Q 5
© A T
¨ Q T 9 8
§ K Q 9 8 4 |
|
|
|
|
Recommended bidding sequence:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| --- |
1ª |
2¨ |
pass |
| pass |
dbl |
pass |
pass |
| pass. |
|
|
|
|
South's first call is known as a trap pass: he wants North to make a reopening double
in fourth chair, which South will be happy to pass out. With ªQ, ªJ, §A, CJ, and a ¨
for jack and queen, NS will gain 500, the best result they can get on this board.
On our table, South decided to cuebid over 2¨, after which a completely different auction
developed:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| --- |
1ª |
2¨ |
3¨ |
| pass |
3© |
pass |
3NT |
| pass |
4© |
pass |
pass |
| pass. |
|
|
|
|
North could not avoid losing 3 hearts and 1 diamond. We think South should convert to
4ª, since spades are likely to fit better. North could still have a 6-card ª-suit, and
if not, chances are, that he has more hcp concentrated in his ª-suit.
Passing 3NT with 5/5 in the majors can hardly be an option. By not
trapping, South has virtually denied the double ¨-stopper, needed to make 3NT a winning
option in the long run.
If South wants to take action over 2¨, why not saving costful bidding space by doubling?
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| --- |
1ª |
2¨ |
dbl |
| pass |
2© |
pass |
3¨ |
| pass |
3© |
pass |
4¨ |
| pass |
4ª |
pass |
pass |
| pass. |
|
|
|
|
Dbl = Negative, showing:
- A 4-card ©-suit and 6+ hcp
- 3-card ª-support and 10+ hcp
- Just 12+ hcp
- Any combination of the 3.
3¨ = Forcing game, and asking for more information.
3© = 5+/5+ in the majors.
3¨ = Asking North to chose his best major.
More analysis to follow.
Board 10
E/All
WEST |
NORTH
ª T 9 8 2
© T 5
¨ 9 8 4 3
§ K 7 3 |
EAST |
ª A
© A J 8 3
¨ K J T 2
§ J 9 6 4 |
SOUTH |
ª 6 5 3
© Q 9 7 4 2
¨ A 5
§ A T 2 |
|
ª K Q J 7 4
© K 6
¨ Q 7 6
§ Q 8 5 |
|
|
|
|
Recommended bidding sequence:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| --- |
--- |
pass |
1ª |
| dbl |
2ª |
4© |
pass |
| pass |
pass. |
|
|
|
East must jump to game, for 3© would be to play, unless West has 16+ hcp.
The responsive double would show 4 hearts and
10+ hcp, or just 12+ hcp.
The experts differ on the meaning of 2NT. Basically, there are three schools:
- Natural, i.e., balanced, no 4-card ©-suit, about 11 hcp, and ª-stopper.
- Good Bad 2NT or Lebensohl, forcing
West to bid 3§ with less than 16 hcp, after East can pass, or bid 3¨ or 3© with less
than invitational values. In this case, 3§ and 3¨ directly bid over 2ª, would be
invitational, while 3© would force game.
- Reverse Good Bad 2NT or Reverse Lebensohl,
where 2NT would show the stronger types of hands, and 3§, 3¨ and 3© would be signoffs.
Now, West should only rebid 3§ with 11-13 hcp, as sort of signoff from his
side.
We tend to favor the third approach, but need more analysis, since literature is rather
superficial on how to proceed when it comes 1ª-dbl-2ª to us.
Board 11
S/-
WEST |
NORTH
ª Q 9
© T 6 5 3
¨ Q 9 3 2
§ 8 5 4 |
EAST |
ª T 8 6 2
© 4
¨ A J 8 6 5
§ 9 6 3 |
SOUTH |
ª K J 5
© K Q J 9 2
¨ T
§ A K T 2 |
|
ª A 7 4 3
© A 8 7
¨ K 7 4
§ Q J 7 |
|
|
|
|
Recommended bidding sequence:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| --- |
--- |
--- |
1§ |
| pass |
pass |
dbl |
pass |
| 1¨ |
pass |
1© |
pass |
| 1ª |
pass |
1NT |
pass |
| pass |
pass |
pass. |
|
|
Dbl = Too strong to overcall 1© or 2© in 4th chair.
1¨ = If West responds 1ª, the train will not stop below the 3-level.
1© = 4+ suit and 16+ hcp.
1NT = Balanced, or slightly unbalanced hand with §-stopper and 16-19 hcp.
West yields, since his side owns 24 hcp at the most in a misfit.
More analysis to follow.
Board 12
W/NS
WEST |
NORTH
ª - - -
© K Q T
¨ Q T 9 7 5 3
§ J T 8 4 |
EAST |
ª A Q 8 7
© A 5 4
¨ A K J
§ K 7 5 |
SOUTH |
ª J T 9 2
© J 9 8 7 2
¨ 8 4
§ A 9 |
|
ª K 6 5 4 3
© 6 3
¨ 6 2
§ Q 6 3 2 |
|
|
|
|
Recommended bidding sequence:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| 2NT |
pass |
3¨ |
pass |
| 3© |
pass |
3ª |
pass |
| 4ª |
pass |
pass |
pass. |
|
Niemeyer, the Dutch name for the combination
of Puppet Stayman and Jacoby transfers,
offers a simple conventional solution to cope with the situation, where East has 5ª and
4©: he simply responds 3NT or 4NT. 3NT orders opener to pass or to pull out to game in a
major, while 4NT implies slam interest.
Theory does not offer a way to make opener declarer in case East
has 5© and 4ª, and there is a 4-4 fit in spades, for any agreement to do so, would cost
imps or matchpoints in situations that come up more often.
South should not even think about doubling for penalties. Despite the 5-0 break in trumps,
East has an easy play for 10 tricks, even on a trump lead: ª7, §A, §K, ¨A, ¨K, ©A,
§ ruffed, and a succesfull finesse on ªK.
More analysis to follow.
Go to
Boards 13-16