Note:
Only summaries are included below -
see book for details
Sometimes
the Fourth Suit is the Best
Bid
25
Beware the
Misfit
28
Don't Be
Shy, Tell Me What You
Prefer 31
A Unique,
Crucial
Exception
32
Sometimes the Fourth Suit is the Best Bid
Partner
You
1
1
1
???
1. Should you
bid 2NT? No. You would be promising at least one stopper in
clubs. Why? When three suits have been bid, it is likely that
the opponents will lead the unbid suit. If the defenders
have an indicated lead, declarer must be prepared for it.
It would be rash to jump in notrump without a club stopper.
2. Should you
bid 3?
This would be the choice of some players. Does it appeal to
you? I hate it! A jump rebid in your own suit promises six of
them. A suit like KQJ109 would be a reasonable exception, but
Q9754, no way.
3. Should you
bid 3?
This bid has similar drawbacks; playing 4
with seven trumps will rarely be correct. Now what?
Note: Some
experienced players would treat responder's second-round
jump as invitational. Discuss this with your partner.
...
Beware the Misfit
“Sometimes the bulls win. Sometimes the bears win. But the
hogs never win.”
Wall Street Adage
...
| |
|
When you
sense a misfit, stop bidding ASAP.
|
|
|
...
Don't Be Shy, Tell Me What You Prefer
Sitting South, you
are dealt the following mediocre hand:
|
|
West
North East South
— 1
P 1
P 2
P ???
|
What is your call?
1. Should you
pass? Do not panic, passing 2
is not the answer. Four-two fits are not the solution, even
when you are stuck.
2. Should you
bid 2?
No, a new suit by an unpassed responder is forcing. The
last thing you want with this weak, misfitting hand is to
force partner to do more bidding.
3. Should you
bid 2?
No way. You should not rebid an unsupported five-card suit.
Once partner bids hearts and clubs, he is likely to hold a
singleton spade. 2
takes you from the frying pan into the fire.
4. Should you
bid 2NT? No, 2NT invites partner to bid 3NT if he has more
than a minimum opening bid. You would need about 11 HCP
for an invitational 2NT bid.
...
A Unique, Crucial Exception
“It is a miracle to me that, in all the literature of bridge,
there is not a single chapter on ‘how to pass.’”
Ely Culbertson, outstanding pre-Goren bridge personality
A new suit by
responder is 100% forcing as long as he is an unpassed hand
and the auction is not competitive. Understanding this is
crucial to harmonious partnership bidding. The only exception
occurs after opener rebids 1NT
...
CHAPTER 5 -
THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES
33
