First Lessons

General Advice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 4

1.    Leading holding an Ace

Never underlead an unsupported  Ace against a suit contract.  Indeed, if you hold a suit headed by the Ace but not the King, avoid leading it at all unless partner has bid the suit.

Obviously, it's OK to lead 4th highest from an Ace against a notrump contract as the Ace can make later.

 2.    5 card Suits

If you are first to bid and you hold an opening hand with two five card suits, open with the higher ranking one.

 3.    Opening with Major and rebids

If you open with a major suit bid and subsequently rebid a second suit you are guaranteeing 5 cards in the first suit bid.  eg.  You open 1 Heart, partner bids 1 Spade,  you rebid 2 Clubs – you guarantee holding 5 hearts.  Why?  Well, if you only hold 4 cards it must mean that you intended to rebid in notrumps ie you have a balanced 15+ points.  If you hold less than 15 points and no 5 card suit – open 1 notrump.  The only exception is if you are 4 4 4 1 in which case you open the lowest suit.  Therefore if you open 1 of a major and rebid in a suit rather than notrumps you must have an unbalanced hand.

 4.    Drawing Trumps

If you draw trumps and the opponents are left with one trump only and it is the highest remaining, it is usually correct not to bother drawing it as it takes 2 of your trumps to remove and you don't even win the trick.  Just keep playing winners in a side suit and let them ruff with it.  You may be lucky enough to dispose of a few losers before they get the chance to trump in.  The exception is where your long suit of winners is in dummy and there are no entries.  The opponent could ruff in and stop you getting to them – however this doesn't happen often. 

5.    Transfer Bids

Transfer bids do not necessarily imply that you are weak.  They can be the first step towards a game contract or even a slam.  All they say is that you have at least 5 cards in the suit. They are designed to allow the notrump bidder to play the contract which is usually safer as the lead comes up to the notrump hand rather than through it. 

So, if you have a 5 card major you should transfer irrespective of the strength of your hand.  You now have options.  If you are weak (less than 11 points) you pass.  If you have the values for 2NT ie about 11 points and are semi balanced you bid 2NT.  This tells your partner 3 things about your hand – you have 5 of the major and 11 points and you are happy to play in notrumps opposite a doubleton in your suit.  Partner can now choose the final contract.   With 13+ points and a similar shape you jump to 3NT after the forced response sending the message that you are happy to play in 3NT unless partner has 3 or 4 of the agreed major. 

There is only one situation in which you do not transfer with 5 of a major – it is when you are weak with 5-4 in the majors.  You could transfer to the 5 card suit and pass the response but there is a chance that partner has a 4 card fit for your 4 card major so in this case only you bid 2 clubs (Stayman).  If partner responds in one of your major suits you breathe a sigh of relief and pass,  if not you bid your 5 card suit and partner will pass.

If you have game values and are unbalanced you can rebid in a second suit which is forcing or jump to game with a 6 card suit (your partner holds at least 2 cards in your suit).

Bidding.

Open all balanced or semi-balanced 12 – 14 point hands  1 no trump, even with a small doubleton.  You may have a 5 card minor but not a 5 card major unless it’s a very poor suit

Playing 4 card majors, the only time you open a 4 card major is if you’re planning to rebid in notrumps so you must have 15+ points.

What do I open with 12 – 14 points and a 4 4 4 1 hand?  Open the minor – with both minors open 1 club.

When responding to an opening bid of 1 of a major treat it initially as a 5 card suit, ie with 6 -9 points raise to 2 of the suit with 3 cards rather than bidding 1NT.

If you open a major and rebid any other suit you promise 5 cards in the first suit bid.

If partner opens a major and rebids 2NT a bid of 3 of his major suit by you promises 3 cards and is forcing – ie he bids game in the suit if he holds 5 cards or 3 NT if not.

Play

When leading, lead a low card from 3 or 4 headed by an honour.  From weak suits with no honour lead the second highest – with 3, use MUD with 4 or more play the 4th highest on the next round – partner should be able to work out that it isn’t a doubleton.

Against notrumps avoid leading a suit they have bid unless you have a very strong holding.  Prefer a short suit lead in an unbid suit.

In a suit contract try to ruff with the short trump holding if you can – that way you make extra tricks.  So if dummy has a singleton in another suit and 3 trumps go for the ruffs before drawing trumps.  If you hold 5 good trumps in your hand and draw trumps you make 5 trump tricks but if you ruff with the short holding you make 6 trump tricks or 7 if you score 2 ruffs. 

When ‘cashing’ a suit play the high cards from the short holding first to avoid ‘blocking’ the suit.  Eg  with Qx  opposite AKx play the Q first.

When defending against notrumps don’t keep switching from suit to suit – it gives away tricks.  Unless a switch is obvious keep plugging away with your original lead and hope to establish a long card in it – let declarer do the work.  

 

 

 

 

K. J Sharp 2007 and 2008