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In this lesson, again we focus on the opening lead when the opponents work their way into a 3 Notrump contract.  As we’ve seen earlier in our Incredible Defender series when playing against Notrump contracts, sound opening leads include top of sequence leads, fourth best leads, leading partner’s bid suit, signaling count to partner, etc. 

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In this lesson, we turn our attention to leads from broken suits.  Among the most common lead opposite a Notrump contract is:

1. Fourth best leads promising an honor – i.e., the bottom of “something.”
2. Lead the top of a broken sequence – an honor sequence with 3 of 4, missing the third spot (as Queen from QJ9…). 
3. Lead the top of an interior sequence – an honor sequence again with 3 of 4, missing the second spot (the Jack from KJ109…).

1. What were the opponents’ bids? 
2. How high did they go and what are their estimated combined points? 
3. What do you know about their hand shape?
4. How many points does that leave for your partner?
5. Did your partner bid? (or perhaps pass an opportunity to double opponents’ artificial bid)
6. Did the opponents auction proceed smoothly or did they hesitate, make inadvertent gestures and the like (players must never deliberately signal their partner), make inaudible noises and the like?

On the first three hands, the opening leader West has identical cards.   So having given due diligence analyzing the bidding, you’re ready to table your opening lead from a broken sequence hoping for the best.  Okay, here we go…

 

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In this lesson, we focus on the opening lead when the opponents work their way into a 3 Notrump contract.  As we’ve seen earlier in our Incredible Defender series when playing against Notrump contracts, sound opening leads include top of sequence leads, top of inner-sequence leads, fourth best leads, leading partner’s bid suit, etc.  We also learned the importance of being a good communicator with partner, providing card signals to share information about like-dislike suit continuation attitude, suit count and even suit preference signals. 

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Let’s combine these factors with another key factor – using our deductive skills to make inferences when making an opening lead.  Focusing on the essentials, in this segment for each hand we will have the opener begin with a 1 Notrump contract.  The responder will begin with either a 2 Club Stayman bid showing a 4 card major suit or make a Jacoby transfer bid to Spades (bidding 2 Hearts).  After opener’s rebid, the responder will make a 2 Notrump rebid with the opener denying a major suit fit but accepting a 3 Notrump game.

Inferences – In these classic bidding situations, both defenders know a great deal about the opponent’s assets, both High Card Points and suit hand shape.

–  The opener has a balanced hand with 16-17 points (accepting responder’s invitational bid).

–  The responder has at least one 4 cards major suit when bidding Stayman, or a 5 card suit when making a Jacoby Transfer bid.  And making an invitational 2 Notrump rebid, the responder has 8-9 points – just short the partnership 25 points to make a 3 Notrump contract. 

Building on this information, both defenders are able to make their initial assessment of the declarer and dummy assets before the opening lead is tabled.  Better yet, with a bit of basic detective work the defenders can make a sound initial assessment of their partner’s remaining points and probable hand shape.  As we will see, the opening leader can make good use of this information to make well-reasoned lead on trick one.

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As we previously discussed, being a good defender requires a variety of tactics to take all your tricks.   Top favorites include: making the right lead, third hand play, signaling on opponents leads, considering inferences, etc.

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In this session, some of the common themes we will use include:

Uppercuts – On a good day, occasionally when both the opponent (declarer or dummy) are void in a suit and our partner sitting behind the void player are also void, our partner has the option to either over-ruff or not when opponent plays high.  However, when the opponent plays a high honor, in some situations partner’s intermediate honor might be promoted.   Or perhaps when partner ruffs (declarer sluffs) or partner over-ruffs, our partner may be able to return a favorable lead back to us (finesse or ruff in another suit).

Unblocking – Just like when we are declarer and need to be careful leaving an entry to the other hand (promotion, future finesse play, ruff/cross-ruff, etc.), as defenders we should also be on the lookout to unblock partner’s suit.   Unblocking clues include the situation when partner leads the top of a sequence suit, Ace from Ace-King (or vice-versa for those who lead King from Ace-King), or an earlier suit preference signal by partner when you have few cards in the given suit.  Incidentally, when we return a shorter suit requested by partner (or not), we typically show count in the suit.  So with a doubleton we return the high card and with three we begin with a low card.   One notable exception is when we have a bust hand and should consider leading a Jack from a three card holding since we will no longer have an opportunity to gain the lead. Hopefully partner has “counted out the hand” in High Card Points and realize we may not have a doubleton, understanding we are trying to help partner pin an honor by our Left Hand Opponent.

Communication – Effective communication is paramount to mounting an effective defense.  Once we realize the importance of teamwork to gain the maximum number of tricks, we’re all ears (okay, eyes) watching partner’s signals.  Leads, attitude signals, length count signals, suit preference signals all provide important clues on how to play the hand.

Inferences – What is partner doing during play?  How about the declarer?  What happened during the bidding phase?  Did the opponents hesitate and if so, what inference should we make from the change in tempo?  How about our hand – how does that contribute to the evidence of what’s going on during play?   What have we learned when we saw the dummy?   After viewing the dummy and looking at our hand, what inferences can we make about partner and the declarer’s hand?  Inquiring minds are very busy pondering these and other questions on the opening lead, once the dummy comes down, third hand play, how the declarer plays the hand and more.
 
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Good defenders make use of numerous tactics to ensure they take all their tricks.   Top among the favorites include:

1. Opening Leads – For better or worse, the opening lead often determines the outcome of the hand.  And while no one always makes perfect leads, the players who make the best lead most of the time score more tricks in the long run.

2. Third Hand Play: Signals – After partner has led, in third seat there’s far more to the game than remembering the general axiom “third hand – high.”  Aside from the third hand’s duty to immediately take tricks, good players always strive to effectively communicate various signals with their partner using an assortments of signals depending on the situation at hand.

3. Playing on Opponents Lead: Possible Signals –  Even when the opponents have lead, in either second or fourth seat on occasion we have the opportunity to communicate with partner using signals.

4. Inferences: Bidding, Play, Hand Evaluation – Entire Bridge libraries have been written about the plethora of logical deductions associated with evaluating one’s assets and deducing other players cards (honors and length) based on everyone’s bidding and play.

Opening Leads

1. Top of Honor Sequence 
2. Ace from Ace-King, etc. 
3. Count: Fourth Best, Top of Doubleton, etc. 
4. “BOS-TON” Bottom Of ‘Something’ – Top Of ‘Nothing’ (promise an honor) 
5. Lead Partner’s Suit

Third Hand Play

1. Analyze Partner’s Lead 
2. Win – Lowest of Equals (bottom of sequence) 
3. If Unable to Win, Show Attitude/Count/Suit Preference 
4. Dummy Becomes “Boss,” Count or Suit Preference 

Special Situations – Unblock, Underlead Request, etc.

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Jacoby Transfers help ensure the stronger Notrump hand is declarer, regardless of the fact responder has a long major suit.  Then there’s a second use of transfers to a minor suits with similarities to major suit Jacoby transfers with a few new wrinkles.  So what’s the big deal with the Texas Transfer bid – do we really need yet another convention to do something different when partner opens with 1 or 2 Notrumps? 

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Well, like the big State of Texas, the Texas Transfer bid makes a jump to the four level when responder has 6+ cards in a major suit.  It turns out having more than one method to accomplish a task allows refinements in the application of our beloved Jacoby Transfer bid.  And additionally, when responder jumps to the four level, it certainly keeps the opponents from cheaply entering the auction and make a mess of things. 

Review: Jacoby Transfer bids after Opener bids 1 Notrump:

1.   0-7 Distribution Points – Transfer & Pass

2.   8-9 Dist. Points – Transfer & Invite 2N or 3H/S

3.   10-14 Dist. Points – Transfer & 3NT or 4H/S

4.  6+ Card Minor –Transfer/Signoff/Invite or NT

[Read more…]

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Is the suit at least 6 cards in length?  Is the hand weak, invitational or slam going?  What about the suit quality – are the honors in the 6+ card suit?  Should we be playing in the minor suit or a Notrump contract?   After opener bids 1 Notrump, when responder makes a transfer bid the bidding level is getting a bit lofty – 3 Clubs or 3 Diamonds.  This, along with the fact that it requires 11 tricks to make a 5 level minor suit contract, requires us to use different bidding strategies when transferring in major and the minor suits.

Okay, if we haven’t scared you away and you’re ready to sink your teeth into minor suit transfers, we have a special treat for you!  Unlike other somewhat dry Bridge instruction that just tells you “what,” our instruction includes statistical percentages to illustrate the odds and benefit of makes transfer or Notrump bids with a variety of hand patterns!   So if nothing else, please tune in to Part 2 and 3 where we “crunch the numbers.” In our commentary we illustrate how to effectively evaluate assorted hand patterns with minor suit length.  We think you’ll be surprised how after partner opens 1 Notrump, certain 13 HCP hands can make a slam contract!

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When you have a close call, what is your strategy? Seek more information?  Pray for enlightenment?  Exude a positive mental attitude?  

And how about at the Bridge table, or were those your Bridge-related answers, too?  When bidding or responding to Jacoby Transfer bids on the threshold of game, what’s important?

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Review: Responder Jacoby Rebid Strategy

– With a 5+ card suit, Responder always begins with a transfer, regardless of points (rebid Notrump with invitational+ hand) – With a 6+ card major, Responder insists on trump suit with known 8+ card major suit fit rebidding major with invitational+ hand) – Opener obligated to accept w/o interference

 

Review: Responder Jacoby Rebids

1N – 2H;
2S – ?

With less than 8 points – pass.
– If 5 Spades, invite 2 Notrump
– If 6 Spades, invite 3 Spades
With 10-14 distribution points…
– If 5 Spades, rebid 3 Notrump
– If 6 Spades, rebid 4 Spades

Responder Jacoby Transfer Statistics
100 deals with a 5-2, 5-3, or 5-4 trump fit

Balanced 5-3-3-2                                                   Unbalanced 5-x-x-x
– 2 HCP   7=54%, 8=22%                                               7=65%, 8=27%
– 4 HCP   7=80%, 8=52%                                               7=95%, 8=64%
– 6 HCP   7=94%, 8=79%                                               7=99%, 8=89%
– Valuation of long suits (4+ cards)

Review Summary:

– Transfer & Pass with < 8 distribution points
– Length points based on working honors
– Extra trump matters!
– Responder may ask for more information:
– Invite 2N with 5 trump & 8-9 distribution points
– Invite 3H/S with 6 trump & 8-9 distribution points
– Bid 3N with 5 trump & 10-14 distribution points
– Bid 4H/S with 6 trump & 10-14 distribution points

…

1N – 2H; 2S – P	Q 10 5 4 3 4 3 2 K 3 2 Q 2
Spade tricks / Percentage 7 = 96 percent 8 = 87 percent 9 = 43 percent 10 = 15 percent	15 – 17 HCP	Notrump Tricks / Percentage 7 = 77 percent 8 = 50 percent 9 = 18 percent

Jacoby Transfer: Super-Acceptance

1N – (P) – 2D – (P);
3H

• When Opener has 17 points and 4 cards in partner’s implied transfer suit, Opener may make a “Super-Acceptance” bid jumping 1 level to show extras
• After Super-Acceptance, Responder may still Pass with less than 7 distribution points

…

1N – 2H; 3S – P	Q 10 5 4 3  4 3 2  K 3 2  Q 2	Note: Spread honors are a liability
Hand #1	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (poor spread values), Pass
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 55 percent 10 = 19 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

…

1N – 2H; 3S – 4S;	A Q J 3 2  4 3 2  4 3 2  3 2	Note: 3 working honors
Hand #2	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (honors okay), accept 4 Spade invite
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 87 percent 10 = 57 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

1N – 2H; 3S – 4S	A J 10 3 2  Q 3 2  4 3 2  3 2	Note: 4 working honors
Hand #3	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (good working honors), accept 4 Spade invite
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 96 percent 10 = 66 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

…

1N – 2H; 3S – 4S	A K 10 3 2 4 3 2 4 3 2 3 2	Note: 2 prime honors plus one working secondary honor
Hand #4	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (nice working honors), accept 4 Spade invite
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 93 percent 10 = 75 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

1N – 2H; 3S – 4S	A K 10 9 8 10 9 8 10 9 8 10 9	Note: 2 prime honors plus 3 sequence suits with 8 body cards
Hand #5	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (best working body cards), accept 4 Spade invite
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 97 percent 10 = 79 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

    

Recap: On the threshold, evaluate closely:  

• Extra length in trump suit
• Unbalanced (5-5-x-x, 5-4-4-0, 5-4-3-1…)
• Working honors, especially long suit
• Sequence suit (K-Q-J-x, Q-J-9-x, J-10-9-x)

• Body Cards (10, 9, 8 ) 

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Happy Bridge Trails and Tales,

BridgeHands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

It seems a bit ironic that after opening 1 or 2 Notrump with a strong hand, we are relegated to have our partner control the auction.  However, on reflection it certainly makes sense that since opening Notrump shows a very well defined hand, we need responder’s help to steer the auction to the ideal contract.

And so it goes with the Jacoby transfer bid.  And better yet, the responder both directs the auction and pays partner the compliment using bids to allow the Notrump opener to actually be declarer – how thoughtful.  Better yet, having the strong hand play the contract is a great way to win extra tricks.

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Jacoby Transfer – Opening Notrump

• Opener bids Notrump (1N, 2N…)
• Well defined points (as 15-17 HCP) and shape
• Balanced hand with 2+ cards in every suit
• Turns over bidding leadership to partner – Responder provides direction (may ask & tell)

General Notrump Bidding Philosophy

• Find an 8+ card major suit fit
• Lacking a fit, generally play in Notrump
• Responder makes conventional “asking” bids
• Opener provides conventional “answering” rebids
• Stayman: 1 NT Opener rebid has 3 responses
• Jacoby Transfer: Opener has mandatory rebid

Benefits: Stronger Hand Plays Contract

• The opponents cannot see honors
  • Harder to deduce partners honors
  • More difficult to figure finesses
• Strong hand initially is in fourth seat
  • Lead comes up to strong hand
  • Leader or partner may be finessed

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Now that we’ve mastered  endplay tactics as the declarer, it’s time to turn our attention to the more formidable task – defending against the throw-in, elimination and avoidance play by our craft opponents.

Playing good Bridge requires thought, measured responses, partnership cooperation and more (good fortune is always graciously accepted).  So let’s get in the mind of the declarer trying to perpetrate an endplay on us and come up with some appropriate countermeasures.

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 Declarer’s Basic Trick-Taking Strategies:

– Ruff side suit losers in dummy

– Promote suit in dummy or hand

– Finessing

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Partial Elimination Play – Contract Bridge

Okay, we have one remaining endplay tactic in our bag of tricks, the partial elimination play.  No, this does not mean that on occasion we get to give up before completing play.  Instead, on occasion we find that double suit elimination is not possible.

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Can we use the same tactics for partial elimination as we do for traditional forms of endplays?  In this lesson, we will learn more tactics on how to make a challenging contract with a bit of pre-planning mixed with a bit of good fortune.

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