Sittard BC Internal Championships Imp Teams 2002

Session 02, Baandert, Sittard, May 14, 2002

Red section

Boards 01-04

Copyright © 2002-2025 by Michel Franssen

Recommended bidding sequence:

2§ = Stayman relay, no 4-card major required.
2ª = 4- or 5-card ª-suit, nó 4-card ©-suit.
4ª = An invitational raise with a proven 8-card fit, 8 hcp and 2 doubletons is rather chicken for a team game.

West goes off two after © to the ace, ©-ruff, ¨A, ¨ to the king, and another ©-ruff. There is nothing wrong with the game though, for it makes when © break 3-2, a chance of almost 68%.

Alternative bidding sequence:

2¨ = Jacóby transfer: 5+ ©-suit, 0+ hcp.
Dbl = For penalties and ¨-lead.
2© = 3+ ©-support. West should pass with just 2 hearts, and redouble with 2 hearts plus 5 diamonds.
2ª = 4-card suit, forcing game (the most common standard).
3ª = 4-card ª-support and maximum (leaves more room in case East wants to explore slam).
4ª = Signoff.

East's hand is only worth more than an invitational raise, when there is an 8-card fit in one of the majors. Therefore, we prefer to use 2ª as an invitational call:

2ª = 4-card ª-suit, invitational.
4ª = West has 16 excellent hcp, and a double fit for East's majors, he should not confine with 3ª, which denies a maximum opposite East's invite. If West confines with 3ª, East will still correct to game with this particular hand, but stay out of game when his 8 hcp are not as neatly concentrated in his majors, or consist of queens and jacks.

Once again, East's hand is only worth a direct game raise when the 8-card fit in one a the majors has been proven. This rules out an attempt to use Smolen Transfers, where responder jumps in his 4-card major to show 5-card suit in the other major, in case opener denies 4-card majors (1NT-2§-2¨). Smolen Transfers force game by common sense.

Recommended bidding sequence:

2¨ = Multi-colored, based on weak-2 in spades.
2NT = Relay, virtually forcing game.
3ª = 6+ ª-suit, 5-10 hcp. If vulnerable, the ª-suit should contain 2 top honors, but a 7-card suit headed by queen-jack is O.K.
4ª = North should only pass with a bare minimum for his relay, like 15 hcp and less than 3 spades.

A capable defender will not cover the jack of spades, but will cover the nine in the next round of trumps to keep declarer from making an overtrick. Game only fails when South overtakes the jack of spades, and bangs down the remaining top honor next. Declarer is even more unlikely to maltreat clubs.

Matchpoint freaks will try 3NT and get away with it, for example: ¨ for king and ace, ªJ for queen and king, § to the jack, ª to the ace, and § to the nine.

Recommended bidding sequence:

1NT = Upgrading for excellent 5-card ¨-suit.
2© = Jacoby Transfer: 5+ ª-suit, 0+ hcp.
3NT = Precisely 5-card ª-suit and 9+ hcp (but no interest in slam).
4ª = 3+ support in spades.

South must find ¨Q for his game contract. A hell of a job, unless East gives him some help by dumping one or more diamonds on dummy's spades.

Recommended bidding sequence:

1§ = Trade one of the red queens for a little club, and West has a perfect upgrade to 2NT. If West opens 2NT now, East is (even more) likely to pass after 2NT-3§ (Puppet Stayman)-3NT (no 4-card majors).
1¨ = Needs alert, for in Walsh approach, East virtually denies 4-card majors.
2NT = Balanced hand, 18-19 hcp.
3¨ = 5+ suit, and forcing.
3© = ©-stopper, denies ª-stopper, for if he held both, West would certainly rebid 3NT.
4§ = 3+ §-support. Note that East could show 4-card §-support at his previous turn to call, for 3§ would be Checkback Stayman.
5¨ = Dummy contains probably 6 or more diamonds, and is therefore much more valuable in a ¨-contract. This outweighs the disadvantage of West's tenaces being spread on the table.

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