Winning Duplicate Tips

Winning Duplicate Tips

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Lesson 1

“10 RANDOM PRINCIPLES FOR BETTER BIDDING”

(You are South in each of the following Examples)

1. You Hold: Q9874 North East South West

K84

74 1D P 1S P

J73 1NT P ?????

North, having bid 1NT on his/her first rebid must have a balanced hand with no fewer than two (2) cards in each of the four suits and 11-14 HCP’s. North, therefore, not having supported Spades, cannot have four Spades, but must have either two or three Spades. In either instance, South’s hand will produce more tricks in a Spade contract than it will in a NT contract. In this example, South’s proper rebid is “2S”. Always bid or rebid a 5-card Major over 1NT

If you held: QXXXX XXX XX XXX You would not hesitate to transfer to 2 Spades over a 1NT Opening by partner, and so should you do similarly in the above referenced example with a 1NT rebid by Opener. Always bid or rebid a 5-card Major over 1NT

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2. You Hold: A53 North East South West

K84

K984 1C ?????

KJ3

Here, South has opening count, but does not have enough cards in the three unmentioned suits, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades, to justify a take-out double. In this example, South’s proper bid is to “Pass”. A second position “Pass” says nothing other than at this moment the player chooses not to make a bid, and, indeed, could even have values equivalent to or even stronger than the opening call. In order to make a Take-out Double, one’s hand must be of proper shape, and/or of sufficient point count.

One should never make a direct take-out double with minimum balanced opening hands that contains more than 2-cards in Opener’s suit.

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3a. You Hold: A853 North East South West

KQ84 1D P

KJ3 1S P ?????

Here, in this example, everyone would surely support partner by re-bidding “2S”. North has shown 6-18 HCP’s with at least four Spades, and therefore, a rebid by South is mandatory. South’s rebid of “2S” evidences a Golden Fit in Spades with minimum opening count. With this as a baseline background:

3b. You Hold: A853 North East South West

KQ84 1D 1H

KJ3 Dbl. P ?????

Here, the bidding as gone slightly differently. Never-the-less, North, has, in effect, similarly bid the same 1 Spade by virtue of his/her Negative Double. If you had been prepared, as above in (3a) to bid “2S” why not still do the same here. South should bid “2S” just as in (3a) above. A bid of “3S” would have shown a one trick better Opening count of 16-18, but here, the “2S” bid, as before, would show minimum count and a hand which would have bid “2S” had there not been an intervening overcall. In effect, why bid only “1S” which would more easily allow West an opportunity to enter the bidding with a “2H” or “2C” call?

Ignore the Opponents! Never suppress support for Partner! Bid as quickly as possible to your own contract level, thereby making it more difficult for the opponents to find their best contract.

3c. You Hold: A85 North East South West

984

KQ84 1D 1H

KJ3 Dbl. P ?????

Here, if you recognize as in (3b) above that a “2S” bid would guarantee four (4) Spades, then in the referenced hand here in (3c), the appropriate rebid by Opener would then be “1S” which would evidence minimum values and only three (3) pieces of Spades. (Note: In effect the principal in (3c) acts similar to a Support Double which, in competition, evidences 3-card support for partner’s 4-card suit.)

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4. You Hold: A9853 North East South West

KJ76

K84 1NT P ?????

With game values (11+ HCP’s) opposite a 1NT opening bid, Responder, having both a

4-card and a 5-card Major suit holding must abandon the tendency to think in terms of Jacoby Transfer bids and alternatively first bid a “2C” Stayman call. Receiving either a “2H” or a “2S” response by opener, Responder will then proceed to game level in the agreed-upon Major. If however, opener bids “2D” denying a 4-card Major, Responder may then proceed to the 3-level of his/her 5-card Major (“3S” in this instance) asking opener to proceed to the 4-level if holding three pieces, else to 3NT as an alternate rejection of the 5-card Major suit of Responder. Never use Jacoby Transfer bids opposite 1NT or 2NT Opening bids when holding both 5-card and 4-card Major suits and game values. Stayman always takes precedent over Jacoby Transfers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. You Hold: A953 North East South West

K76

K4 1C Dbl.

QJ53 ReDbl. 1S ?????

A Redouble is the only strong bid, other than conventional raises of partner’s opening suit (Like Jordan) following a Take-out Double by the Opponents. A Redouble implies no fit with partner and is a Defensive Bid. As a result, in this instance, South should make a penalty “Double” confirming his/her willingness to defend against the 1S overcall by the opponents. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. You Hold: 63 North East South West

A853

KJ94 P P 1D P

Q73 1H P ?????

Previous discussion indicated the thought that it be best to pass a previously-passed Responder’s bid when one held a third-hand light opening bid as shown here in (6). The latest thinking, however, is that to “Pass” in these instances would only invite the opponents to enter the bidding in what might be, for them, a favorable contract. To thwart this, however, as in this hand, bid aggressively even with a sub-minimum opening count. Here, South should bid “2H”. Never suppress support except when pre-empted.

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7. You Hold: 8753 North East South West

986

KQ84 1S 2H ?????

When holding few HCP’s and the opportunity arises to bid a pre-emptive support bid for partner’s bid suit, bid as quickly as possible to a level supported by the “LAW OF TOTAL TRICKS”; i.e., the 3-level with 9 pieces, 4-level with 10 pieces, and the 5-level with 11 support pieces for partner.

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8a. You Hold: A953 North East South West

K85

K84 1C P

K83 1H P ?????

If you bid two suits, you have two suits! If one were, therefore, to open 1 Club and rebid 1S one must have 4+ Clubs. In this instance, therefore, one should not rebid 1S, but rather “1NT”. Percentage wise, even acknowledging the potential to sometimes miss a 4-4 Major suit fit, the acknowledged admission of two suits, as in the following hand, more than makes up for the possible afore-mentioned deficiency.

8b. You Hold: A953 North East South West

K85

K8 1C P

K873 1H P ?????

Here, Opener should rebid 1S, thereby showing two suits, Clubs and Spades!

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9. You Hold: A853 North East South West

9843 1D P 1S P

K764 2D 2H 3D 3H

3S P ?????

North has shown, by virtue of his/her rebid of 2D, a likely 6-card Diamond holding. South easily competes to the 3-level holding 4 Diamonds. When West bids 3H, North re-enters the bidding with a 3S call which, having previously denied four pieces of Spades absent a 2S call in lieu of his/her 2D bid, confirms North to have just three pieces of Spades. South, not wanting to be in a 3S contract with only seven trumps, easily bids the preferred contract of “4D” holding a likely ten Diamonds between the two partners. Play in the right suit, Even if you are 1-level higher!

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10. You Hold: A953 North East South West

KQ84 1D P

KJ73 1H P 1S P

1NT P ?????

South should bid “2C”. Similar to (8b) above which indicates that if one bids two suits, one has two suits: If one bids three suits, you have three suits and are short in the fourth! Here, North can now either pass the 2C bid, else seek the best 7-card final contract.

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Winning Duplicate Tips

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Lesson 2

Utilization of and Modifications of the “Rule of 20”

To Open the Bidding or Not – That is the Question!

With some qualifications and several modifications, herein discussed, the “Rule of 20” is a sound approach as a yardstick to determine whether or not a hand is strong enough to qualify as sufficiently strong to open. One simply adds the HCP’s to the number of cards in one’s two longest suits. When this summation totals 20 or more, the hand qualifies as being strong enough to justify a player taking the position to open the bidding in first or second position; i.e., either the dealer or the player to the immediate left of the dealer, should the dealer choose to pass.

(A) KQXX (B) AXXXX (C) AJXXX

X X X

AJXXXX XX X

XX AQXXX AXXXXX

With (A): Open 1D! If partner bids 1H you intend to rebid 1S. If Responder, alternately bids 1NT or 2C (Denying 4 Spades) your plan is to rebid 2D. Remember, always mentally consider your rebid before you make your opening bid.

With (B): (Any hand with 5 Clubs and 5 Spades potentially houses a bidding problem.) Notice, if you open 1S, partner is likely to respond 2D or 2H. You would then be forced to rebid 3C which is a “High Reverse” evidencing 16 or more HCP’s.

Some prefer to open 1C with a minimum holding as herein depicted, and to follow up with a rebid of Spades as if one held a 6-5 Distribution. That works if the opponents promise not to intervene, but the reality of today’s world is that one is likely to get a raise in either of the red suits to the 3-level or higher, and then opener would be reluctant to introduce the Spades with such a weak holding.

Better to start with 1S, the higher ranking of two 5-card suits. If Responder responds 1NT you can rebid 2C. Over 2D or 2H your best rebid is to bid 2S.

With (C): “Bid Length before Strength”. Open 1C. Over 1D or 1H, rebid 1S, then Spades again on the third round evidencing a 6-5 distribution (assuming partner has not supported your first Spade rebid).

Modification #1 to the “Rule of 20”:

(A) AXX (B) KXX (C) QJXXX

AXX QJ X

AXXX QJXX KQ

XXX KXXX QXXXX

As previously simply stated, the “Rule of 20” would suggest that one pass with (A), and open with both (B) and (C).

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One needs, however, to take into account the negative aspects of such as the doubleton QJ in (B) and the KQ in (C), as well as the positive aspects of the Aces present in hand (A).

The first modification to the “Rule of 20”, making it more accurate, is to add the HCP’s, plus the number of cards in one’s two longest suits, plus the Quick Tricks (QT) in the hand.

Quick tricks (QT) are the tricks one figures to win in the first two rounds of a suit whether as declarer or in defense. The Quick Trick scale is:

A-K = 2, A-Q = 1½ , A = 1, K-Q = 1, K = ½ (0 if a Singleton)

When counting Quick Tricks as well, the standard for opening now goes to 22 or more. Adding Quick Tricks to the “Rule of 20” now produces the “Rule of 22”. By this calculation, hand (A) measures 22 and should be opened, whereas hand (B) and (C), each having only 1 QT, measure 21 and should, therefore, be passed.

Modification #2 to the “Rule of 20”:

(A) AQXX

XXXXX

AXX

Reduce the “Rule of 22” to “21” at favorable vulnerability.

Hand (A) above calculates to 21½ . With equal vulnerability (Both sides vulnerable or not-vulnerable) or if unfavorable vulnerability (Your side vulnerable and the opponents not) “Pass” with the above hand. With favorable vulnerability (Your side not-vulnerable and the opponents vulnerable) open the above hand with 1D.

Modification #3 to the “Rule of 20”:

(A) AJ1074 (B) A9743 (C) AKJ2

AJ103 K 93

8 A652 K986

743 875 642

Honors cards in combination are more powerful than are honor cards on their own. It is worth upgrading a hand by ½ a point for a queen or jack in a suit with two higher honors

(A-K-Q, A-K-J, A-Q-J, K-Q-J) or J-10 in a suit with one higher honor (A-J-10, K-J-10, Q-J-10). These above combinations boost one’s chances for making an extra trick

Conversely, honor cards in short suits should be downgraded. Deduct 1 point for a singleton King, Queen or Jack, and deduct ½ point for the King, Queen, or Jack in a doubleton suit.

Upgrade for honors cards in combination and downgrade for honors in short suits.

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With (A): This hand has 10 HCP’s, 9 points for length, and 2 Quick Tricks for a total of 21. Being one short of the recommended 22 suggests a pass. However, once one upgrades ½ point each for the two A-J-10 holdings, one reaches 22 and should open 1S.

With (B): This hand has 11 HCP’s, 9 points for length, and 2 Quick Tricks totaling 22 which, at first glance indicates opening strength. However, after deducting 1 for the singleton King, you now drop to 21 and should pass except at favorable vulnerability where the Rule of 21 applys.

With (C): This hand has 11 HCP’s, 8 points for length, and 2½ Quick Tricks for a total of 21½ , but adding ½ for the Jack with two higher honors justifies one’s opening. If the Jack were elsewhere, one would pass.

Modification #4 to the “Rule of 20”:

(A) KJ8632 (B) QJ8632 (C) K96532

8 AK7 AK7

KQ862 62 8

5 85 964

The more shapely a hand, the more attractive it is to open. There is, therefore extra value in having singletons or voids.

When using the Rule of 21 or 22 in deciding whether or not to open the bidding, if your length total is 8 or 9, add ½ for a singleton or void; and if your length total is 10 or 11, add ½ for a void.

With (A): This hand has 9 HCP’s, 11 points for length, and 1½ Quick Tricks for a total of 21½ . With this holding, therefore, one should open 1 Spade at favorable vulnerability, and a weak 2S at equal or unfavorable vulnerability.

With (B): This hand has 10 HCP’s, 9 points for length, and 2 Quick Tricks totaling 21. Once again, here one should open 1 Spade at favorable vulnerability, and a weak 2S at equal or unfavorable vulnerability.

With (C): Here we have 10 HCP’s. 9 for length, 2½ Quick Tricks, and an additional ½ for a total of 22. This hand is worth a 1S opening at any vulnerability.

In duplicate play, safety is not one’s primary concern, but rather the frequency of gain. The above-mentioned factors reflect the main considerations which should be employed in the decision-making process as to whether or not to open any particular borderline hand in first or second position at the table. In the long run, utilization of these factors will pay off with a positive duplicate score.

Winning Duplicate Tips

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Lesson 3

Constructive Bidding

1. When you have a choice between passing 1NT or reverting to opener’s Minor, choose the minor suit if your combined point count is likely to be 21 or less, but pass 1NT if the total combined count is 22-24.

What action should South pursue with the following hands:

North East South West

1D P 1S P

1NT P ?????

(A) Q10XX (B) A10XX

XX XX

KJXX KQXX

XXX JXX

Answers: (“2D”) with (A) – Combined total = 18-20 HCP’s

(“Pass”) with (B) – Combined total = 22-24 HCP’s

When your side has 23-24 points, 1NT is likely to be safe and an overtrick is even feasible. With fewer points, 1NT is not safe and an overtrick is highly improbable, whereas the Minor suit part-score is more likely to yield a plus.

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2. With a Major suit fit and also a hand reasonably suitable for a NT contract, play in the Major suit when your combined total is 25-29, but choose No-Trumps when your side has 30 points or more.

What action should South pursue with the following hands:

North East South West

1NT P ?????

(A) AQXXXX (B) AJ10XXX

QX AJ

KJX QXX

XX KX

Answers: (“2H”) (Transfer) with (A) – with intent towards a final 4S contract (27-29 HCP’s)

(3NT) with (B) – Combined total = 30-32 HCP’s

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3. When partner transfers to a Major after your 1NT opening bid, accept the transfer at the 2-level on most hands, but take a “Super-Acceptance” Jump-Accept to the 3-level if holding all three of the following positive features:

(A) – 4-card support for partner’s Major

(B) – Maximum (17) point count – if borderline, upgrade a hand with Aces and Kings, downgrade one with many Jacks and Queens

(C) – Ruffing value via the presence of an outside doubleton

What action should North pursue with the following hands:

North East South West

1NT P “2H” (Transfer) P

?????

(A) AQJ4 (B) AJ64 (C) AJ64 (D) XX

Q7 K5 K53 AKX

K983 KQ42 KQ4 KQ42

QJ3 A109 A108 QJ83

Answers: (2S) with (A) – Borderline, but holding too many Queens and Jacks

(3S) with (B) – All three positive features are present

(2S) with (C) – You have no ruffing value (Absence of a doubleton)

(2S) with (D) – You are never permitted to decline a transfer

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4. If partner opens 1H or 1S and you have support, but a balanced hand with 10 losers, choose a 1NT response rather than raising to 2H or 2S.

What action should South pursue with the following hands:

North East South West

1S P ?????

(A) K874 (B) A64 (C) J432 (D) Q76

K93 J5 KQJ J1086

983 J742 874 K842

J53 9862 J63 98

Answers: Each of the above hands has enough HCP’s AND Spade support to warrant a raise to 2S, but in each instance a 1NT response will provide a better result most of the time. Each of these hands holds 10 losers. In SAYC, a 1NT runs the risk of being left there, but to raise to 2S with 10 losers runs an even greater risk. Having bid 2S runs the additional risk of opener taking further action wherein you are most likely headed for a minus score. In “Forcing” NT circumstances, Responder may then revert to 2S on his/her rebid, a circumstance not likely to excite opener to further action. This will not sound nearly as encouraging as an immediate raise to 2S. In the final analysis, you may suffer occasional losses by responding 1NT under these circumstances, but in the long run the upside potential will significantly outweigh the downside.

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Winning Duplicate Tips

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Lesson 4

Competitive Bidding

1. When Partner opens with a 1H or 1S bid, and you have a weak responding hand with 5 pieces of partner’s suit or a 9-card trump fit and 10+ cards in two suits, jump to game at once.

What action should South pursue with each of the following hands:

North East South West

1S P ?????

(A) KXXXX (B) AXXX

&nb