INTERMEDIATE BRIDGE - TIPS FOR TOPS

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INERMEDIATE BRIDGE - TIPS FOR TOPS

INTRODUCTION

The “Tips For Tops” that we are about to discuss are not meant for beginners. Neither are they intended for experts. They are meant for the intermediate player in an attempt to substantially improve his or her game.

As you might well imagine, it is virtually impossible to cover the infinite number of variables that might exist in the almost infinite number of possible card combinations. Furthermore, although most of the offensive and defensive tips covered are considered standard and basic by most, occasionally they will require a mutual partnership understanding in order to be put them into proper usage. Partner’s level of skill as well as the level of play of the opponents, and the use of playing and bidding Conventions, all factor into the possible variables effecting the tips discussed as well as how and when they are to be utilized.

If some of the tips, at first, seem too difficult to absorb, patience please!!! No memorization is necessary. My experience is that by doing nothing more than participating in the discussions that will accompany the presentation of the Tips to follow, you cannot help but begin to have a greater, deeper, and more thorough understanding of the game, and the logic behind the tips will become increasingly more familiar. In the final analysis, your ability to play the fascinating and challenging game of bridge cannot help but improve. Over the months ahead you will, without much effort, discover the realization of a perceptibly increased acumen at the game. Your understanding, appreciation, and pleasure of the game cannot help but improve over the next several years. Yes, it will take that long to cover the more than 600 tips that I expect to accumulate for presentation.

Finally, one “must”. Please be aware of the title of each series of Tips. They will be presented by topic and you must mentally add the title to the tip for them to make any sense. For example, if the Lesson be entitled, “When You Are A Passed Hand,” the words will not appear before each Tip. You must mentally incorporate the title as to the circumstance accompanying the Tips presented so as to complete the understanding of each item presented.

If you play a different Convention or system, are comfortable with it, and it works, by all means disregard the tip. Remember the old adage, “If it isn’t broken, don’t attempt to fix it!”.

The Tips that are to follow will be in three broad categories; (1) Bidding Tips, (2) Declarer Tips, and (3) Defensive Tips. Some ideas that will be presented will expand upon that which you already have been taught, while others will necessitate your unlearning that which you previously considered as “the law”. But, by all means, have fun, expand your mind, and improve your Bridge.

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INERMEDIATE BRIDGE - BIDDING TIPS FOR TOPS

LESSON 1

THE OPENING BID - TIPS 1-8

1. Before opening the bidding, prepare your potential rebid. Remember, unless partner makes a 1NT or a simple 2-level raise in your opening suit (both of which show a limited 6-10 HCP count), you, as opener, are obligated to make a rebid (the only other exception being if your RHO makes an overcall thereby giving responding partner another opportunity to bid). Assume partner will respond in your shortest suit - he/she usually does. If you are prepared with a reasonable rebid under the worst response scenario from partner, you will surely be prepared under better than adverse circumstances should your worst case scenario not occur. Absent this aforementioned preparation, you might be backed into a corner having to lie, err, or mislead on your rebid.

Ex: (a) AQ XX QXXXX AJXX (Open 1D)-If partner bids 1H or 1S,rebid 2C

(b) KX XX AXXX AQXXX (Open 1C)-If partner bids 1H or 1S rebid 2C

(d) AXX X AQJX AQXXX (Open 1C) - You are strong enough to reverse

2. Never open the bidding 1C holding a singleton or doubleton Club - ever!

3. With two 5-card suits, open up the higher ranking suit first, regardless of the strength of the hand or of the relative suit strengths. However, with specifically five Clubs and five Spades, open IC if the Spades are weak and/or the hand is of a minimum point count; i.e., less than 16 HCP’s.

Ex: (a) AX XXXXX AKJXX X (Open 1H, Prepared to rebid 2D)

(b) AKXXX AQXXX XX X (Open 1S, Prepared to rebid 2H)

(d) AQXXX XX A AQXXX (Open 1 S, Prepared to rebid 3C if needed)

4. With a 4-4-3-2 hand pattern, open the preferred 1D if the hand is too strong or too weak to open NT. In the same vein, with a 4-3-3-3 or 3-4-3-3 distribution, open the hand 1C if the hand be too strong or too weak for a NT opening. Always use the preferred Minor opening rather than lie about the point count.

Ex: (a) AQXX AKXX AXX QX (Open 1D) - Too Strong for a 1NT opening

(b) AQXX AQXX QXX XX (Open 1D) - Too Weak for a 1NT opening

(d) AXXX AXX XXX AQX (Open 1C) - Too Weak for a 1NT opening

(e) AXX KQXX AJX QXX (Open 1NT)

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5. With a hand strong enough to open 1NT but holding either (1) four Clubs and four Spades but no stopper in either red suit, or (2) four Diamonds and four Spades but no stopper in either alternate suit, open the preferred Minor suit rather than 1NT.

Ex: (a) AKJX XX XXX AKJX (Open 1C)

(b) AKQX XXX AQJX XX (Open 1D) If partner responds 1H, rebid 1S)

If partner responds 2C, rebid 2S)

6. With three 4-card suits plus a singleton open 1D, unless the singleton is in Diamonds, then open 1C.

Ex: (a) AKJX QXXX KXXX X (Open 1D)

(b) AKQX X KXXX XXXX (Open 1D)

(d) AXXX AXXX X AQXX (Open 1C)

7. With a broken 6-card Minor (Clubs or Diamonds) and 15HCP’s, open 1NT if you have stoppers in the other three suits. Live a little!

Ex: (a) KX KX KJX AJXXXX (Open 1NT)

(b) AX KX KQXXXX KXX (Open 1NT)

8. With a balanced hand containing specifically five Hearts and 15-16 HCP’s, open 1NT not 1H. This hand usually has no convenient rebid if partner goes to the 2-level in another suit. Most rebids are usually misleading at best. (Note: The use of the Puppet Stayman Convention will eliminate this problem.) With 17 HCP’s, however, open 1H.

Ex: (a) AX KJXXX AJX QXX (Open 1NT) If you had chosen to open 1H

and partner had responded either 1S, 2C

or 2D, you have a tough rebid problem.

(b) AX KJXXX AQX KXX (Open 1H)

If partner responds 1S, jump to 2NT.

If partner responds 1NT, raise to 2NT.

If partner responds either 2C or 2D, jump to 3NT.

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INERMEDIATE BRIDGE - BIDDING TIPS FOR TOPS

LESSON 2

THE FIRST RESPONSE - TIPS 9-17A

9. With 4-4 in the Majors, respond in the lower ranking suit (Hearts) first to a Minor Suit (Club or Diamond) opening bid. With 5-5, respond in the higher ranking (Spades) first.

Ex: (a) AJXX QXXX XX QXX (Partner opens 1C, respond 1H)

(b) KXXXX AKJXX XX X (Partner opens 1D, respond 1S)

10. With a 5-card Major suit and 5 HCP’s or a 6-card Major suit with 4 HCP’s, do not pass a Minor suit opening bid by partner if your RHO (the second hand) passes.

Ex: (a) QXXXX KXX XXX XX (Partner opens 1C, Respond 1S (audibly!!)

(b) QXX KXXXX XX XXX (Partner opens 1D, Respond 1H)

11. Partner has opened the bidding with 1C. With a 4-card or 5-card Diamond suit and a 4-card Major suit, respond in Diamonds if you have 11 HCP’s or more, respond in the Major if you have 6-10 HCP’s. With fewer than 11 HCP’s it is possible that you will only have the opportunity of only one bid and it is, therefore, more important to mention the Major suit than the Minor. With 11 or more HCP’s, you are strong enough for a second bid, and you can, thus, bid the Minor suit first and other suit later, if necessary.

Ex: (a) AXXX XX KQXX XXX (Partner opens 1C, Respond 1S, not 1D)

(b) XX AKXX JXXXX XX (Partner opens 1C, Respond 1H, not 1D)

(d) QX AKXX AXXXX XX (Partner opens 1C, Respond 1D)

12. With game going responding hands, respond in your longer or stronger suit first. There may be a Slam and you could wind up in the wrong suit. Reread, reread, reread this one!

Ex: (a) AKQX XXXX AJX JX (Partner opens 1D, Respond 1S)

(b) XXXX AKQX XX AJX (Partner opens 1C, Respond 1H)

(d) AXXX AKXXX XX XX (Partner opens 1C, Respond 1H)

13. In some systems a two-over-one response is a game force. In others, it promises one more bid. In still others, it does not promise another bid if partner makes a minimum rebid. It is essential for a partnership to know which one of these methods, forcing or not, you and your partner are playing.

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14. A direct natural response of either 2NT or 3NT denies a singleton. A 1NT response may contain a singleton - yes, even a void.

Ex: (a) X AKXX KJXX AXXX (Partner opens 1S, Respond 2C) Do not even

think about bidding 2NT, you can always

bid NT later, if necessary.

(b) AX KXXX AXXX XXX (Partner opens 1S, Respond 2NT)

(d) - KXXX QXXXX QXXX (Partner opens 1S, Respond 1NT)

15. With a 4-3-3-3 distribution and 6-7 HCP’s plus 3-card support for partner’s Major suit opening, respond 1NT rather than supporting partner. With the same distribution and 8-10 HCP’s raise partner to the 2-level. However, if all of your points are in partner’s suit, raise regardless.

Ex: (a) QXX JXXX QXX QXX (Partner opens 1H, Respond 1NT in order

to slow the auction down with this piece

of cheese.)

(b) AQX XXXX XXX XXX (Partner opens 1S, Raise to 2S, all of

your strength is in partner’s suit.)

encouraging than 1NT.)

16. A 2-level Club or Diamond response to a 1 Spade opening bid by partner can be made on as few as four pieces. A 2H response to a 1 Spade opening bid by partner, however, promises five or more pieces and cannot be made on as few as four pieces.

Ex: (a) QX AXX XXXX AKXX (Partner opens 1S, Respond 2C)

(b) AX XXX AKXXX XXX (Partner opens 1S, Respond 2D)

(d) AX AXXX XXX AXXX (Partner opens 1S, Respond 2C, not 2H)

17. In competition, any response by opener’s partner promises at least a 5-card suit due to the presence of an overcall by responder’s RHO. In addition, in order to respond with a new suit at the 2-level, responder must have at least 11 HCP’s. With only a 4-card suit and/or less than 11 HCP’s, responder must use the “Negative Double” in lieu of an inadequate response with either a 4-card suit, or fewer than 11 HCP’s, or both. In the following examples, partner has opened 1S and your RHO has overcalled 2D:

Ex: (a) XX AQXXX XX KQXX (Respond 2H, You have a 5-card suit and

the requisite 11 or more HCP’s.)

(b) XX KQXX XXX AKXX (“Double” (negative) - You have the

requisite 11 or more HCP’s but only a 4-

card Heart suit.)

(b) XX KQXXX XXX AKX (“Double” (negative) - You have the

requisite 5-card suit but not the

required 11 or more HCP’s.)

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17A. Under usual circumstances, when partner opens a Minor suit (Clubs or Diamonds), and you, as

Responder, are faced with an overcall of a Major suit (Hearts or Spades) by your RHO, a double

(Negative) by you as Responder evidences a 4-card holding in the alternate Major suit.

Ex. Bidding has proceeded: a) 1C 1H Dbl. (Shows 4 Spades)

(AQXX XX XXXX KXX)

or: b) 1D 1S Dbl. (Shows 4 Hearts)

(XXX KQXX XX AKXX)

Previously we had spoken about circumstances when partner opens 1C, and you, as

Responder, are faced with an overcall of 1D by your RHO, that a double (Negative) by you, as

Responder evidences a 4-card holding in both Major suits, or at the very least, 4 of one and 3; i.e.,

tolerance, for the other.

Ex. Bidding has proceeded: c) 1C 1D Dbl.

(AQXX XXXX XX JXX)

or: (XXXX AQX XX QXXX)

or: (QXX AXXX KXX XXX)

In the specific circumstance when partner opens 1C, and you, as Responder are faced with a 1D overcall by your RHO, a double (Negative), by you as Responder, evidences a holding of 4 cards in both Majors, or at least 4 of one and 3; i.e., tolerance, for the other. Absent that holding, a bid of 1H or 1S by you, as Responder, can be made with as few as a 4-card holding in only one of the Majors; 5 cards in the bid suit are not needed.

Ex. Bidding has proceeded: d) 1C 1D ??

With: AXXX KXXX X XXXX (Double [Negative] )

X AXXX XXXXX AXX (Bid 1H [Note: previously you

would have had no other choice

but to pass] )

KXXX XX XXXXX AX (Bid 1S [Note: previously you

would have had no other choice

but to pass] )

Remember, this is only used when Responder if faced with a 1D overcall by his/her RHO subsequent to partner having opened 1C.

Note: If you and partner subscribe to this understanding, Opener must presume that Responder has only a 4-card Major suit, just as if there had not been any previous overcall by Responder’s RHO, until proven otherwise to the contrary.

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INERMEDIATE BRIDGE - BIDDING TIPS FOR TOPS

LESSON 3

OPENER’S REBID - TIPS 18-31A

18. After any 2-level response from partner, a new suit by the opener is forcing. After a 1NT response from responder, a new suit is not forcing.

Ex: (a) AKJXX X KXXX AXX (You open 1 Spade, partner responds 2C.

What is your Rebid? [2D] Forcing )

(b) J AXX KQXXX AXXX (You open 1 Diamond, partner responds 1S

What is your Rebid? [2C] Not Forcing )

19. After partner raises opener’s first bid suit, any new suit bid by opener is forcing. Bidding on in a secondary suit after partner raises you does not mean you are running from the agreed-upon suit, but rather that you are either seeking a no trump contract with a holding of 16 or more HCP’s, else are cue-bidding Aces exploring for Slam.

Ex: (a) XX AQX AX AKXXXX (You open 1 Club. Partner raises to 2C.

Bid 2H forcing. If partner bids 2S

evidencing a Spade stopper, you can bid

3NT else return to 3C. If partner

alternatively rebids 3C you can pass.)

(b) AKQXX AXXX XX AK (You open 1 Spade. Partner raises to 3S.

Bid 4C showing first round control of

Clubs. If partner bids 4D you can go to

6S. If partner returns to 4S denying

first round control of Diamonds, you can

pass.

20. Avoid re-bidding weak 5-card suits. Look for something else as an alternative.

Ex: (a) KX AKX XXX KXXXX (You open 1C. Partner responds 1D/1H/1S.

Rebid 1NT, not 2C, your Club suit is too weak.)

(b) XX AXX XXX AKQXX (You open 1C. Over partner’s 1D/1H/1S

rebid 2C, your 5-card Club suit is strong.)

21. With a minimum hand and a 2-2-5-4 distribution, open 1D and rebid 2C over a Major suit response.

However, if the Major suit doubletons are strong, rebid 1NT.

Ex: (a) XX KX AJXXX KQXX (Open 1D. Over partner’s 1H/1S, rebid 2C.)

(b) AQ KX QXXXX KXXX (Open 1D. Over partner’s 1H/1S, rebid 1NT.)

22. With a 3-1-5-4 or a 1-3-5-4, open 1D. If partner responds in your singleton suit, rebid 2C, not 1NT.

Ex: (a) Q AXX QXXXX AKXX (Open 1D. Over partner’s 1S, rebid 2C.)

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23. A jump shift followed by a simple return to partner’s original suit shows 3-card support, not four.

Ex: (a) AQX X AQXXX AKXX North (You) 1D 3C 3S

South (Partner) 1S 3D

24. Anytime you skip over two suits, including No Trump, to rebid your original suit, you show a 6-card suit.

Ex: (a) AX XX QXX AKXXXX North (You) 1C 2C

South (Partner) 1D

25. Rebidding a suit three times tends to show a 7-card suit, or, at the very least, a strong 6-carder. Such a bid is non-forcing and implies a 7-card suit with a weak opening bid.

Ex: (a) X AJXXXXX QJX QX North (You) 1H 2H 3H

South (Partner) 1S 2NT

26. With three 4-card suits and a singleton Diamond, open 1C and rebid 1H over a 1D response from partner. If you rebid 1S, you erroneously deny having four Hearts. If partner has four Spades, you’ll hear about it momentarily.

Ex: AJXX XXXX X AKJX (Open 1C, and rebid 1H over a response of 1D.)

27. With a 5-4-4-0 distribution, open 1 Spade. If partner responds 2C, your void suit, rebid 2H, not 2D. If you respond 2D, you deny four Hearts.

Ex: AJXXX KXXX AKXX - (Open 1S, over partner’s 2C response, rebid 2H.)

28. Holding a 5-5 Major suit distribution, having partnership game values, open the higher ranking suit first, then rebid the lower ranking suit twice - even after partner gives you a preference to your first suit. Ex: Opener (You) Responder Opener Responder

KXXXX AJ 1S 2NT

AKXXX QXX 3H 3S

AX KQXX 4H Pass

X JXXX

Responder is allowed to prefer Spades with a strong doubleton rather than rebid 3NT with weak Clubs or Diamonds. Responder does not know whether opener’s Hearts are four or five pieces. However, when opener rebids the Hearts, showing five, responder accepts the 4-Heart contract with responder’s 2-3 Spade-Heart holding.

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29. In a similar vein, holding a 5-4 Major suit distribution, having possible partnership game values, do not insist upon your 5-card suit even after a preference. Partner already knows you have 5 Spades, and should he/she have only 2 Spades, 2NT or 3NT are better contracts.