First Lessons

General Advice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes from February 27th 2008

Leading from sequences

Leading from sequences and 'partial' sequences such as QJ93 lead the top card ie the Queen.

 Partner knows you hold the card below and will return the suit when she gains the lead.

 However with QJ52 lead the 2 ie the 4th highest – against no trump contracts only. 

Bid 1NT with a 5 card Minor

You know to open 1NT with all 4-3-3-3 and 4-4-3-2 12-14 point hands but you should also consider opening 1NT with a 5 card minor suit (but not a major suit) - particularly if it is a poor suit which you would not be keen to rebid.

Responses to 1 NT

A response of 1NT to an opening suit bid denies holding any suit in between. 
ie  1H – 1NT denies holding 4 spades, 1D- 1NT denies either hearts or spades.

 After the bidding sequence 1NT – 2C (Stayman)

2D -   2NT  shows 11or 12 points and asks you to bid game with a maximum

The only time you don't need 11 points to bid Stayman is if you hold a weak hand with 5-4 in the majors.

Competing for Part Score Contracts at 2 level 

 Say opponents subside in 2C after the sequence
1C – 1D - 2C – pass  
Unless you have a holding in clubs you should consider bidding even with quite a poor hand as your partner is marked with some points – otherwise why didn't the opponents go further?

Partner should not get too excited even with a decent hand as she should know you may dredge up a bid in this position!

What do you do with this hand opposite a 1NT opener?           

s xxx
Heart x
d KQJ9xx
c Jxx

My personal preference is to pass, but if you really want to play it in diamonds you have to go through Stayman – ie bid 2C  and then 3D if partner responds with a major suit. If you pass, as I recommend , and 1NT gets doubled you can then take it out into 2D and you are a level lower with a reasonable chance of making.  Whereas 3D is unlikely ever to make.  You never know, partner may hold Ax of diamonds and 1NT makes!

 You open 1S with:     

s AQxx
Heart Jx
 d KQ10x
 c KQJ

and the bidding goes pass – pass – 2 hearts from your right hand opponent.  What do you bid?

You are a bit too good to pass, you can't rebid spades, you can't bid 2NT with no heart stop and diamonds at the 3 level is risky.  The answer is double.  This is not a penalty double it is a takeout double asking partner to bid something.  It shows extra values so partner will know you are good. Partner can only pass if she has length in hearts and a few points. 

 Leading – an inexact science!

 However by a process of elimination you can reduce the risk.  Avoid leading a suit bid by the opponents unless you have a very powerful holding like KQJ10x.  Top of a sequence is best; failing that, your longest suit against notrumps (could be a 3 card suit if they've bid your 4 card suit)  Low from an honour, MUD from 3 small.  Against a trump contract, a trump lead is often the best lead from 2 or 3 small – avoid leading a singleton trump. 

K. J Sharp 2007 and 2008