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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!

[Read more…]

  

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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Click here to view Part 3, hand 3 of our video commentary

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

[Read more…]

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.

 Visitors – Click here to view Part 1 of the video commentary

Free Membership – Click here to view Part 2, hand #1 of our video commentary

Premium/ULTRA – Click here to view Part 3, hand 2-4 of our video commentary

 Declarer’s Basic Trick-Taking Strategies:

– Ruff side suit losers in dummy

– Promote suit in dummy or hand

– Finessing

[Read more…]

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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Premium/ULTRA – Click here to view Part 3, hand 2-4 of our video

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.

[Read more…]

Polling You #58 – Loser on Loser, Contract Bridge

What, needlessly give up a loser – whose crazy idea is that, anyway?  Well, as the saying goes, sometimes when we offer something up we are returned more in dividends.  And when it comes to the loser on loser play, with a bit of preparation, planning and a modicum of good fortune we have an opportunity to make a critical trick.

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Of course as we’ve all seen in Bridge as in life, timing always seems to be the catalyst for good thing to come our way.  So whether you are acting or investing, skydiving or maybe asking for that first date, timing is everything!

Declarer’s Basic Trick-taking Strategies

• Ruff side suit losers in dummy
• Promote suit in dummy or hand
• Finessing

General Loser on Loser Concept

Why should we ever give up a trick?

• We know RHO will overtrump dummy
• We foresee a future opponent ruff/overruff
• We can gain a future ruff on our side
• To avoid dangerous opponent gaining lead
• To promote a side suit [Read more…]