Sittard BC Internal Championships Imps Pairs 2002

Session 01, Baandert, Sittard, March 05, 2002


Group A, Boards 01-04

Special thanks to William Gielkens

Copyright © 2002-2025 by Michel Franssen

Board 1
N/-


WEST		 NORTH
ª  J T 7 3
©  4
¨  9 7 4 2
§  K Q T 8



EAST
ª  2
©  A 8 7 5 3
¨  J 8 6 3
§  9 5 2


SOUTH		 ª  A K 9 6 5
©  J 6 2
¨  K 5
§  7 4 3
ª  Q 8 4
©  K Q T 9
¨  A Q T
§  A J 6

NS score

Freq

imps NS

imps EW

430

3

4

-4

180

1

-3

3

120

1

-5

5

-50

1

-8

8

NS avg =

290


Recommended bidding sequence:

West North East South
--- pass pass 1§
pass 1ª pass 2NT
pass 3NT pass pass
pass.

1ª = Walsh Approach, bypassing a 4+ ¨-suit when having less than 12 hcp.

This is what our expert William Gielkens reported from his table. His partner Henk Stevelmans played North:

"3NT with only 24 hcp, but the tens (and nines, MF) are valuable assets as well. The double ª-stopper is mandatory, in order to give declarer the time to develop his tricks.

West Stevelmans East Gielkens
--- pass 1ª dbl
pass 2§* pass 2NT
pass 3NT** pass pass
pass.

*) 1NT is allright with me.
**) Well done with positive hand and ª-stopper.

Our score: +4 imps for making 10 tricks in 3NT."

We do not recommend to open 11-counts in 1st and 2nd chair unless you have a 6+ suit or 5+/4+.
Note that South must confine with 2NT, in case North is busted for his 2-§-response. If North responds 1NT instead, South should jump to 3NT, or else, North will pass with his minimum.

Board 2
E/NS


WEST		 NORTH
ª  7
©  A J 9 8
¨  Q J 7 3 2
§  J T 9



EAST
ª  Q T 8 6 4
©  K 5 4 3
¨  9
§  Q 5 4


SOUTH		 ª  K J 9 3
©  Q T 7 6 2
¨  5
§  A 6 2
ª  A 5 2
©  - - -
¨  A K T 8 6 4
§  K 8 7 3

NS score

Freq

imps NS

imps EW

620

1

1

-1

600

4

0

0

300

1

-7

7

NS avg =

600


Recommended bidding sequence:

West North East South
--- --- pass 1¨
pass 1© pass 2§
pass 2ª pass 3¨
pass 4¨ pass 4©
pass 4ª pass 4NT
pass 5§ pass 6¨
pass pass pass.

2ª = Fourth Suit Forcing, used to keep the auction alive in order to announce the ¨-fit later.
3¨ = Extra length in diamonds, most likely a 6+ suit.
4¨ = Slamtry in diamonds.
4© = 1st or 2nd round control of hearts.
4ª = 1st or 2nd round control of spades.
4NT = RKCB.
5§ = 1 or 4 out of 5 aces (1403-variantion).

South draws trumps, ruffs 2 hearts in hand, 2 spades in dummy, finesses the queen of clubs, and ruffs another heart in the end. This is a 50% line. 3NT will go down on a ª-attack in general, regardless of the position of §Q. The chances of surviving this game are way below average. 5¨ may be considered cold (an assumption that turns out to be right). If game in NT or ¨ is cold or almost cold, a minor suit slam requires only some 48% chance of making, according to the book. This board certainly strengthens the case of the book.

Board 3
S/EW


WEST		 NORTH
ª  K T 8
©  Q 8 7 4
¨  9 6 4
§  J T 4



EAST
ª  3 2
©  A J T 9 3
¨  A T 5
§  K 6 2


SOUTH		 ª  J 7 6 5
©  K 6 2
¨  J 3
§  A 9 7 3
ª  A Q 9 4
©  5
¨  K Q 8 7 2
§  Q 8 5

NS score

Freq

imps NS

imps EW

-50

2

2

-2

-100

1

0

0

-140

3

-1

1

NS avg =

-110


Recommended bidding sequence:

West North East South
--- --- --- 1¨
1© 1NT dbl 2¨
2© pass pass pass.

1NT = Balanced hand, less than 4 spades, ©-stopper, 6-10 hcp. The hand is not quite suited for a trap pass.
Dbl = Showing precisely 3-card ©-support and 6+ hcp.

Board 4
W/All


WEST		 NORTH
ª  A J 9 2
©  T 9
¨  J T 6
§  A 5 4 3



EAST
ª  Q 8 5 3
©  A Q 8 4
¨  Q
§  K 8 7 2


SOUTH		 ª  T 4
©  J 6 3
¨  A K 9 8 5 3
§  J 9
ª  K 7 6
©  K 7 5 2
¨  7 4 2
§  Q T 6

NS score

Freq

imps NS

imps EW

-90

3

0

0

-110

1

0

0

-130

1

-1

1

-150

1

-2

2

NS avg =

-100


Recommended bidding sequence:

West North East South
1§ pass 1¨ pass
1NT pass 2¨ pass
pass pass.

1¨ = Virtually denies a 4-card major in Walsh Approach, tends to show 5+ ¨-suit, since we use Inverted Minor Raises as well.
1NT = Better than 1©, which virtually promises a 5+/4+ type of hand.

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