Sittard BC Internal Championships Imps Pairs 2002

Session 01, Baandert, Sittard, March 05, 2002


Group A, Boards 05-08

Special thanks to William Gielkens

Copyright © 2002-2025 by Michel Franssen

Recommended bidding sequence:

2© = 3+ support and 6-9 hcp, or 4+ support and trash. Remember, we bid 3§ with 4+ support, relatively balanced hands, and 6-9 hcp (Bergen raise).

Report from Mr. William Gielkens:

"North does well in advancing to 4©, which often fails, but puts an immense pressure on EW, who are likely to go for the lesser risk of 5¨. The Law (stated in the books of Larry Cohen, MF) says there are 18 tricks on this this deal, so if NS make 4©, 5¨ goes off three which can hardly be a bargain (gains 3 imps at most, but may lose a lot more, MF). EW should show some restraint and pass.

Our score: +8 imps for setting 5¨X by 2 tricks."

EW have to defend very accurately to set 4©, for example: ¨A, ªA, ª4-T-Q ruffed, §A, ¨ ruffed, ª ruffed, ¨ ruffed, § to king, and this avoidance play does not help to avoid losing 2 more tricks in the end.

The same sort of avoidance play helps East to get away with down one in 5¨: ©T-Q-K, ©A ruffed, ªQ, § for king, ©-return ruffed, § ruffed, ª to ace (avoidance play), § ruffed, ¨K, § ruffed, ªK, and declarer gets 2 of the last 3 tricks. If North ruffs the second ª-round, he has nothing left but to return another heart. Declarer ruffs in dummy, cashes ¨A, ¨K, ªA, ruffs a club and makes his 10th trick with ªK.

Recommended bidding sequence:

2¨ = Multi-colored.
2© = Signoff opposite weak-2 in ©, perhaps invitational opposite weak-2 in ª.
3ª = Semiforcing in spades, i.e., 6+ suit and either 20-22 hcp, or 8-9 playing tricks with spades as trumps.

This sequence knock NS completely out of the auction.

Report from Mr. William Gielkens:

"NS should have got more out of this, and had EW received a warning?

*) "Who is psyching here?"
"Sorry partner", South said after the play was completed. "I should have trusted you and nailed them." Yet another statement of regret after the sin has been committed. Rob van Wel, frontrunner in this competition, opened 1ª in East and was allowed to play it. He and his partner must have had a lot more fun on this deal.

Our score: +3 imps for setting 4ª by 2 tricks."

Van Wel was pleased to find §K in South, so that he could use §Q to ensure his seventh trick.

Recommended bidding sequence:

Unless East leads a heart and returns one when he gets in with ¨K, North will score his game by ruffing a ¨ in dummy, and hooking ©K on the way home.

Report from Mr. William Gielkens:

"Who laughs best?"

" *) North must double. The world ends when you can't cash all of your aces, but if you can, you are looking at down one already.

The following sequence caused Peter Soeterbroek# some nightmares:

*) How can one invent this call?

If North leads a heart for jack or king, West must quickly grab his 5 §-tricks to limit the damage to -800. If he attempts to knock out ¨A first, he goes for 1100 (as actually happened, MF).

I would never recommend North to pass over 1NT. 4© is an excellent contract, that can only be set by a trump lead and subsequent ©-return.

Our score: - 7 imps for setting 5§ by one trick."

#) Another leading player of Sittard BC..

Recommended bidding sequence:

1NT = Balanced hand, 15-17 hcp, but North downgrades for his 3433-pattern.

Report from Mr. William Gielkens:

"Yet another excellent, but rarely bid 4©"

*) Mentioning the 4-card ©-suit has the highest priority.
**) If North cuebids to show an 18+ hand, 4© becomes in sight (2© is a gross underbid indeed, MF).

Ten tricks taken, as declarer set up his ¨-suit in time for a ª-discard.

Our score: +5 imps for taking 10 tricks in our ©-partial."

Go to Boards 09-12