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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Sunday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

Quiz How much do you know about this page? Quiz

<= find/hide more deals exploiting this aspect

Quick summary

Opener should tell partner what he has. But never break your barrier when you shouldn't. Otherwise:

5-4: LS (Long-Short)
6-4: LSL
6-5: LSS

With equal length, use denomination to select

5-5: HLL (High-Low)
6-6: HLLL

The first of these, 5-5, shows the same pattern as 6-5, unless the long suit is the low ranking suit.

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

+	West
	K 6
	J 9 4 2
	J 8 7
	Q J 8 4

+	North
	A Q 8 5
	A 8 3
	6 3
	10 9 5 3

+	East
	10 9 7 4 2
	7 5
	9 2
	A K 7 6

	South
	J 3
	K Q 10 6
	A K Q 10 5 4
	2

Example Deal

You: South
Dealer: East
Vuln: none

# 126020

Game-going strength, but how to choose the right contract?
..
Go to quiz (& full page) of deal # 126020
***

Click the + buttons to peep

Click on "q1" below to see question 1, and on "A1" to see the answer.

Question 1

I guess you're going to bid your 6-card minor rather your 4 card Major? But what do you plan to bid next?

Question 1

I guess you're going to bid your 6-card minor rather your 4 card Major? But what do you plan to bid next?

Answer

Yes, diamonds.

What a nice hand I've got, with great shape (6-4-2-1), much more powerful than the HCPs suggest. "six and four, bid some more, tra-la"

But yes, diamonds. Unless I get support for diamonds, I'll bid Hearts next, and then go back to Diamonds, to show a 6-4 distribution. My partner can then choose.

When I rebid Hearts, let's hope my partner notices that I bid the two suits in reverse order (or, same thing, that he spots I went through my barrier). Otherwise he'll fail to spot that I must have a strong hand.

Question 2

Have a peek at North's hands. After North's initial response of 1S, South then rebids a switch to Hearts, going through his barrier and showing 16 HCP (only a small lie), what are you at North going to do for your rebid, having replied initially in Spades?

You only seem to have 7 hearts, and 7 diamonds between you. A Spade fit has been ruled out. But we seem to have game going High Card Points. Could No Trumps be an option?

What should North now bid?

Question 2

Have a peek at North's hands. After North's initial response of 1S, South then rebids a switch to Hearts, going through his barrier and showing 16 HCP (only a small lie), what are you at North going to do for your rebid, having replied initially in Spades?

You only seem to have 7 hearts, and 7 diamonds between you. A Spade fit has been ruled out. But we seem to have game going High Card Points. Could No Trumps be an option?

What should North now bid?

Answer

Find out if No Trumps is an option by bidding the 4th suit, Clubs, the one you are worried about. By bidding the 4th suit, your partner will interpret your bid as "4th Suit Forcing", since he will certainly be awake, and he will switch to NT if he does have Clubs.

If instead, on another day, you did have a club stopper then you could bid NT yourself.

Question 3

After South denies having any useful Clubs, by bidding Diamonds again, whatever can you at North do?

Question 3

After South denies having any useful Clubs, by bidding Diamonds again, whatever can you at North do?

Answer

Well, you now know he has 6 diamonds and 4 hearts, and he has claimed 16 HCP. So you've got an 8-card fit in diamonds, and 26 HCP between you. But that's a minor, and you'd need to bid 5 to get your hands on the game bonus. You could bid 4 diamonds, inviting South to go for 5 if he is at the top of his range, or you could consider a 4H bid, and risk a game with a 7 card fit. That's what they did. And I think it can make, if you're clever.

The other alternative was for North to bid 3NT, and take a risk on the absence of a Club stopper, and hoping the enemy Clubs split evenly. Risky, given that South might have very very few Hearts, given his minimum 6-4 shape in the suits he bid...

. . . .

Some subjects to follow up on
NT and minors 4th suit forcing
Unbalanced, The general idea
Selection of opening suit
After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit
Showing shape

#1	+	<-- click the + to show/hide one possible Bidding Sequence
West			North	East	South
-			-	p	1D
p			1S	p	2H
p			???
			3C	p	3D
p			4H	p	p
p
-			System: Acol (Benji)
suggest a different Bidding Sequence

bid	explained at....
#2	+	<-- click the + for explanation of relevant Bidding Techniques
1D	After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit
1S	Barrier-Reversing
2H	Unbalanced, You are strong
3C	NT and minors 4th suit forcing
3D	NT and minors 4th suit forcing

			Hand evaluation

#3	+	<-- click the + for ideas on the Opening Lead
Opening Lead: West , Q Reasons, when playing in Either suit or NT contract: 1. unbid suit 2. top of touching honours

OK, What's Your Plan for trying to make the contract ?

Only after you've thought about your plan for a short (but important) while, click the + to show/hide Card Play questions.

for	click on....
#5	+	<--click the + for notes on relevant Play & Defence methods
lead
plan	Plan for a suit contract
play	Draw trumps soon, or later?
play
play
defence	Which signal to send?
defence

Related			Communication and entries
Overview

« 0016 »

Hand evaluation. Showing shape

Beyond beginner - really tell your partner your shape

Showing shape with 5-5, 6-6, 6-5 hands

Most people soon learn how to show their partner a 5-4 shaped hand. (Bid the long suit first, followed by the shorter suit, not forgetting the effect of the barrier). But not everyone learns how to show these other shapes - in some ways much more useful shapes. They therefore sometimes deprive their partner of essential information needed to choose the right suit for trumps.

The basic pattern of bridge bidding is for each partner to use the first rounds to show shape until one partner has the data to make a decision. These first rounds of bidding reveal other things too, essentially strength. Once the shape has been established, the bidding can usually focus entirely on selecting the right level. With unbalanced hands it can take 3 bids to explain the hand pattern to your partner, even 4, assuming you have enough strength to keep the bidding going.

Let's call the higher ranking suit "High", and the lower ranking suit "Low" (HL), and the long suit "Long" and the shorter suit "Short" (LS). Imaginative. The bid order is as follows (but don't follow it slavishly if that would break your barrier inappropriately and therefore significantly mislead your partner. Instead, use the alternatives given):

16. Showing shape
Shape	Bid order	Alternative order	Alternative if needed on <16pts
5-4	L-S	L	It may not always be possible to bid the shorter suit. With <16pts, do not break barrier, and do not bid at the 3-level.
5-4-4-0	L-S1(low)-S2(high)	L
5-4-3-1	L-S	L-RPM	RPM: Raise Partner's Major with 3-card support. Failing that, rebid 5-card suit.
5-4-2-2	L-S	bid NT if..	..if 5-card is minor and power is in the doubletons
6-4	L-S-L	L-L	Bid alternative pattern also if short suit is a weak minor after strong Major
6-5	L-S-S		Note: this is the same pattern as 5-5, but only when the 6-card is higher ranking
Equal length suits			Notes for suits of equal length
5-5	H-L-L		Higher ranking suit first
6-6	H-L-L-L	X-5m	A rebid straight to 5 of the minor also shows a 6-6 shape
Add to your customised cribsheet

What about and 6-4 hands

You might want to show a second suit with 4-cards, and you should if you can. But no not break your barrier if you have fewer than 16 points ! That would be showing your partner a much stronger hand than you have. Instead, you will have to do something else: rebid your 6-card suit.

Also, if your 6-card Major is strong, and your 4-card minor is weak, you are better off simply repeating the 6-card Major anyway.

Quiz

A. With 4432 distribution, and the following two 4-card suits which would you bid first ?

B. With 5521 distribution, and two 5-card suits, which would you bid first ?

Now try the quiz

Can you put all this into action ? Try the quiz for this subject by clicking on the link at the top left of the page, just below the main menu.
(You can try quizzes for any other subjects too while you're there. Look out for the thin red line).

A). 1:C, 2:H, 3:S, 4:S, 5:H. B). 1:D, 2

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Sunday

Quick summary

Bridge Venue

Question 1:

Question 2:

Question 3:

Answer 1: