Chapter 1
GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
© 2001 - Marty Bergen
While
it is necessary to master your partnership’s conventions, it is
crucial to understand your partner’s style.
You need to know what to expect
from partner before you can make good bidding decisions. Keep in
mind that it is not necessary for you and partner to have
identical bidding styles. In fact, it is impossible.
In the
situations below, you must know what partner is likely to do.
With a close decision, does he:
Open light? (If
he relies on The Rule of 20, the answer is yes.)
Preempt
aggressively?
Overcall
aggressively?
Make light
takeout doubles?
Dramatically
change his style when vulnerable?
By the way:
It is essential to be consistent - “to thine own self be
true.” Whether you are a solid citizen or loose as a goose, stay
in character. Dealing with a chameleon is just too tough.
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© 2001 - Marty Bergen
The Law of the Land
You are
always safe bidding to the level equal to your side’s number
of trumps. This is known as The Law of Total Tricks.
Although
“always” is a word to be avoided in bridge, The LAW is more
accurate than any bridge player you (or I) know, and it even
transcends vulnerability. Applications of this essential
principle are endless
West North
East South
1
1
2
???
K7643
7 
85 
98642
Bid
4. Adding partner’s five spades to your five gives you a
10-card fit — so jump to the four (10-trick) level. Even if 4h
(doubled) goes down — not to worry — the opponents must have an
easy game or slam.
West North
East South
—
— Pass 1
2 2
3 ???
AQJ
876532
74
A2
Bid 3. I have seen stronger suits, but our six trumps plus
partner’s three totals nine. Sometimes, bridge is an easy game.
Page 16
© 2001 - Marty Bergen
A Class Act
It is
hard to play like a champion, but easy to behave like one.
A CHUMP
A CHAMP
gives “free”
lessons
does not preach
sides with
opponents
sides with partner
berates partner
treats partner with respect
dwells on bad
results
moves on
makes partner
wish
allows partner to enjoy
he were
elsewhere
the game
is in his own
world
knows that bridge is a partnership game
thinks he
knows it all
is willing to learn
insists on
playing
only is open to partner’s
his favorite
conventions
suggestions
Page 17
© 2001 - Marty Bergen
No Reason to Stall
"He who knows, goes.”
If you know
what the final contract should be, bid it.
West North
East South
—
— —
1
Pass 2
Pass ???
Q87432
Q3
—
AKQJ8
Bid 4h.
You have gorgeous clubs, but so what? You want
to play in 4h,
period.
West North
East South
Pass 2NT
Pass 3
(transfer)
Pass 3 Pass
???
6
KQJ95
J9863
82
Bid 4.
Because of your great hearts, you should insist on the
major-suit game.
West North
East South
—
Pass 1
Dbl
2 2
Pass ???
53
K6
AKQJ74
A84
Bid 3NT. On
a heart lead, all you need from partner to score this up is the
A
or the
K.
That’s not too much to expect after his free
2
bid.
Page 17
© 2001 - Marty Bergen
Take a Hike
Taking a
walk between rounds is often the best remedy for your bridge
woes.
There are
times when you must get away from partner and/or your opponents.
You have probably just gotten a bad result. Don’t sit around
playing the martyr or glaring at partner. As soon as you get a
chance, just excuse yourself and leave. It does not matter where
you go — the restroom, outside, the water fountain and “in
circles” are all fine choices.
I discovered
this technique the hard way early in my professional career. I
was playing with a client who turned out to be rather obnoxious.
He was obviously not interested in learning and spent his time
lecturing me, and the opponents, on the error of our ways.
One day I
just couldn’t stand it any longer. As soon as we finished
the round, I was “outta there.” I went outside for some air and
did not return until the next round was called. I can’t say that
I looked forward to returning to the “battle,” but at least I
had preserved my sanity. And, although the money was good, I put
a quick end to our arrangement. Life is just too short
By the
way:
Taking a walk to relieve a stressful situation has helped me in
many other situations.
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© 2001 - Marty Bergen
Some for Me, Some for You
Bid
aggressively when your partnership’s assets are evenly divided.
Proceed cautiously when they are one-sided
On hand 1),
the 26 HCP are divided 21-5 and dummy has exactly one entry.
Unless the
Q
falls, you are limited to two club tricks. Even if East has the
K,
you can’t finesse twice. Dummy is “useless,” so you are playing
“one against two.” Down you go.
On hand 2),
the 26 HCP are split 13-13. What a difference! Communication
between the two hands is a breeze. Now that dummy has become an
active participant, the two of you are ready for battle.
Win the
A,
unblock the
AK,
lead the
Q,
and relax.
Page 19
© 2001 - Marty Bergen
This Dummy is No dummy
When
dummy tables his cards, he should hold on to the suit that was
led and put it down last.
Why should
he do that? To force declarer to look over the other three
suits before playing to the first trick. It is uncanny how
many makable contracts are lost when declarer plays too
quickly at trick one. In fact, entire books have been devoted
to the subject.
Most players
are so excited to become declarer that as soon as dummy is
tabled, they are off and running. Even if they are one of the
five best players in the world, they can’t play effectively at
that speed.
By the
way:
There are lots of little things you can do to help partner when
tabling dummy. Alternate colors — do not put the spades next to
the clubs. Place the higher-ranked cards closest to you. Make
sure to space the cards neatly so that partner can easily see
how many you have in each suit. You get the picture.
Page 20
© 2001 - Marty Bergen
Thrifty is Nifty
When
in doubt, make the “cheapest” bid.
Trust me,
this works. Here is a good example.
West North
East South
—
1
Pass 1
Pass 2
Pass ???
J3
A98542
Q9
AJ10
Bid 3NT. On
a heart lead, all you need from partner to score this up is the
A
or the
K.
That’s not too much to expect after his free
2
bid.
Partner’s
jump shift was game-forcing, but you have loftier goals. Over 2,
most players would routinely rebid their six-card heart suit.
However, 3
is “expensive” (it bypasses 2NT, 3
and 3)
and misdirected (your hearts are probably too weak for 6
if partner has a doubleton).
You should
make the cheapest bid, 2NT, which has many advantages. It
assures partner that clubs are under control, and allows him to:
Rebid 3
with a six-card suit. That would be wonderful news — 6
here we come.
Bid 3
with three-card support. Your six-card suit is now looking good,
as is a heart slam.
Cheap bids —
they lead to good auctions, better contracts and best of all,
very happy partners.
Page 21
© 2001 - Marty Bergen
2 Hand Evaluation
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