The Times Improve Your Bridge Game - Andrew Robson

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      Do not bid to increase the size of the part-score.

       Deal 10

      We now turn to responding to a one-of-a-suit opener. The golden rule is that you must respond with six or more points. This is because opener could have up to 19 points, and 19 + 6 = 25 (25 points for game). Pass partner’s opener with six points and you risk missing game.

       What happened

      North’s hand was unmemorable. But he had too much to pass the 1

bid. Actually the lowly contract only just made.

      East won West’s

5 lead with the
A and returned his
10. West beat declarer’s
J with
K and led a third spade for East to trump. East led back a low heart. West beat declarer’s jack with the king, returned the
3 to East’s ace, and East led a third heart for West to trump. The defence had taken the first six tricks but that was the end of the road. Declarer won West’s diamond switch with the queen, crossed to the queen of trumps, returned to the jack, cashed the ace (drawing the opposing trumps), led his
K and tabled his last two trumps. Seven tricks.

       What should have happened

      Against 3NT, West leads the

Q. He cashes the
AKJ, and tables
5 (a winner by virtue of its length). Nine tricks and game made.

      Respond to a one-of-a-suit opener with six(+) points.

       Deal 11

      Say responder has a choice between supporting opener (with four or more cards) or bidding a suit of his own. Which should he do? Unless opener has bid a minor, and responder has a decent major to bid, the answer is always the same: SUPPORT! After all, that is what the bid opener most wants to hear.

       What happened

      North might have recovered from his failure to support if the opponents hadn’t entered the bidding. But suddenly he was faced with the decision of whether to bid 4

(with a hand that hardly justified it) or to go quietly. He should probably have bid 4
, but it was less of an error to pass at this point than to have bid 2
last time.

      Defending East’s 3

A, led
6 to
K, but declarer won South’s
AK, felling North’s
Q, and claimed eight tricks. Down one but N–S had better available…

       What should have happened

      If North had supported immediately, jumping to 3

to show fair strength, East would have been silenced (the three-level being just too high) and South would have carried on to game (just!).

      West leads

A, back to
K, trump
4, and concede
9 in dummy. Ten tricks and game made.

      Always support partner when you know there is an eight-card major fit. Think: ‘Fit First’.

       Deal

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