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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday
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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

With 8+ points, shut up

With < 8 points, use weakness takeout:

Opener will always pass, unless

he's mad, or
you use Stayman & Transfers

If they double, you can wriggle

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

+	West
	A 9
	K Q 9
	K 5 2
	J 8 7 6 3

	North
	K Q J 3
	10
	A Q 9 4
	A 10 5 2

+	East
	10 6 5 2
	J 8 7 6 2
	8 7 6
	9

+	South
	8 7 4
	A 5 4 3
	J 10 3
	K Q 4

Example Deal

You: North
Dealer: South
Vuln: all

# 126023

Doubling 1NT and its consequences
..
Go to quiz (& full page) of deal # 126023
***

Click the + buttons to peep

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

Question 1

South is dealer and passes. You at North are strong, and would like to bid. But West has stolen your thunder with an irritating 1NT opening. Can North overcall ?

Question 1

South is dealer and passes. You at North are strong, and would like to bid. But West has stolen your thunder with an irritating 1NT opening. Can North overcall ?

Answer

Yes. The best bid is to double, which North should do with 16 HCP or more, or a strong 15+. EW are quite likely to be in trouble.

Question 2

Assuming that E and W use Stayman and Transfers, whatever should East do with his 1 point ?

Question 2

Assuming that E and W use Stayman and Transfers, whatever should East do with his 1 point ?

Answer

Haha ! Many (but not all) teams cancel Stayman and Transfers after an intervening double for penalty. Bid a good old-fashioned weakness takeout in your 5-card suit, by bidding 2 Hearts.

Better still, if your team uses exit transfers, bid the suit one rank below your 5-card suit, and your partner will transfer as commanded - keeping your better cards hidden from the doubling enemy... (To bid one rank below '2 clubs', use the only bid remaining - 'redoubled'.)

Best of all, if your team uses the 'wriggle' after a doubled weak 1NT, then not only can you tell your partner about your 5-card suit - but also you can still find a 7-card team fit if you don't have a 5-carder (as long as you don't have the nasty 4333 flat hand).

Question 3

Should South also double ? He's got 10 HCP, so it really does look as if EW are in trouble, and they're vulnerable.

Question 3

Should South also double ? He's got 10 HCP, so it really does look as if EW are in trouble, and they're vulnerable.

Answer

Well, perhaps. But they may only go down 1 or 2. In that case you'd earn 200 to 500 points if you double them.

On the other hand, since you know your partner has 16 HCP, then you've got enough between you to reach game, worth 600 since your team is also vulnerable, just like them.

Your partner must be strong across the suits, and you've got the Heart bid from East stopped. So you could bid 3NT. That 600 is looking more tempting than getting them down a couple. So only double them if you are confident you'll get them down by at least 3 tricks, worth 800 in penalties.

. . . .

Some subjects to follow up on
Doubles, Double a 1NT
After 1NT, Getting out of trouble
Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25"
Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT
Doubles, Double then bid a suit

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

bid	explained at....
#2	+	<-- click the + for explanation of relevant Bidding Techniques
1NT	Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT
1NT X	Doubles, Double a 1NT
2H	After 1NT, Getting out of trouble
3NT	Doubles, Double a 1NT


			Hand evaluation

#3	+	<-- click the + for ideas on the Opening Lead
Opening Lead: West , K Reasons, when playing in No Trumps: 1. partner's 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.

« 0031 »

Responder 1st bids: Weak reply to 1 weak NT

Preferrably: Say nothing! (i.e. "no bid" or "pass").

(or if you're very weak, then bid a 5-card suit if you have one).

With less than 11 points, your combined strength is weak (12-24), so game is not possible, therefore pass (or try to get out of 1NT if it's inappropriate).

31. Weak reply to weak 1NT. < 11 HCP
Points	State of mind	Beginners	More advanced players
8-10	Relaxed	Pass	Pass
<8	Worried	Dizassssster! Takeout into your 5-card suit, by bidding 2. Opener WILL pass.	Takeout with Transfers or Stayman
<8	Panic, they doubled you	Takeout if you have a 5-card suit, pass if not. Opener will pass	Takeout with 5-card suit, if not "wriggle"
how partner will reply		Opener should always pass after hearing a bid of 2 of a suit, because it's weak. For advanced player it's totally different, see Transfers and Stayman.
related stuff		Weak reply to strong1 NT: same, but 3 fewer points.
Add to your customised cribsheet

When your partner opens 1NT, in addition to describing a balanced hand with stoppers in 3+ suits, it also gives a very precise point count: 12-14. If you don't have sufficient points to increase the level needed for "game", namely 25, then you are "weak". So with fewer than 11 points in your hand, "game" is pretty well impossible. So you may as well stop right there. Unless, of course, there is a problem. . ...

(a) Base case: All seems OK

Anything less than 11 points is in effect weak. If you have 8-10, you're probably OK (20-24 altogether), but you need to say to your partner "we can't get to game", by bidding "no bid / pass". Unless of course you are a bit worried….

(b) Worried case

If things look grim in NT because you have 0-8 points and/or your shape is bad[1], then you can get out of NT if you have a 5-card suit.

You should say to partner, "Oh my god, we need rescuing out of NT". This is known as "5-card weakness takeout". Bid 2 of your 5-card suit, which opener MUST pass, if he wants to remain your friend. (Slightly more advanced players using Stayman and Transfers have a different way of rescuing.[2]).

The point is that you're in trouble. For example, you could have 0-8 points. Yes, even zero points. Add this to your partner's 12-14, and you can see that things are bad, so you'll have to hope that the enemy bid something, or failing that you need some trump help. If you switch to your 5-card suit then you know from the opener's bid (which guarantees at least 2 of every suit) that you have at least 7 of them, probably 8, sometimes 9, occasionally 10, and 11 at the rarest best. Although you'll still probably go down, the damage will be less. Going down two in a suit is better than going down 4 in NT, which is often what happens if you stay in NT. If you're doubled and vulnerable (you will be!), that's going to cost you 1100.

Here's an example: with QJ10842 75 J4 J104, opposite opener's 1NT holding of 83 AK93 K853 K82, you'd be much better off in 2, which is actually likely to make, rather than staying in 1NT which is likely to go down 3.

If the opponents bid at any stage, great, you're out of jail. Just pass.

Having said that, if they double you, you're now in solitary confinement ! But you do have another way out. . .. see "panic case" below.

Medium or advanced level players: see Stayman and Transfers for the details.

In summary, takeout into 2 of a 5-suit Major ( or ) is done very simply with Transfers.

But the relatively rarer takeout into a minor ( or ) is a bit more complex (done either via 2 Spades or via Stayman) and will often end up with a 3-level contract, thus requiring a 6-card suit for it to be done with safety[3].

"If you can't even takeout out into a minor without ending up at the 3 level", I can hear you saying, "doesn't this all make the 1NT opening a bit risky?" You're right. But it happens sufficiently rarely that it's worth it for all the benefits. (However, for this very reason, a few people switch to the "strong 1NT" opening when they are vulnerable, because going down 3 or 4 doubled and vulnerable is expensive).

(c) Panic case

If you're really in trouble, because opposition have doubled partner's 1NT, sorry, bad luck, there's no easy way out if you don't have a 5-card suit. However, with two 4-card suits, advanced players do have a solution, called the "wriggle". They can use this advanced technique to take out into any suit including ,, taking advantage of the fact that the opponents' "double" cancels the coded meanings of Stayman and Transfers.

[1] Bad : 4333 flat distribution. Good: 10's and 9's, honours together.

[2] if you are using transfers, bid one suit lower than the suit you mean, and your partner will transfer if for you to the suit you meant.

[3] "Weakness takeout" isn't so easy with minors, because unless you're a complete beginner you end up at the 3 level: That's because the 2 bid is not available if you're using Stayman, and likewise 2 is out if you're using Transfers. (However, I urge you to use these systems when you've got past the beginner stage, because they're great). Talking of Stayman, some people with a 6-card minor suit use Stayman 2 for a take-out to a minor suit, following this up by re-bidding 3 if they really meant , or 3 if they want diamonds. This has the advantage on some occasions of taking out at the lower level of only 2 if opener denies a 4-card Major.

Oh, and you'll need 6-cards, not 5, to take out at the 3 level. Not ideal, but could be better than staying in 1NT and getting hammered.

An alternative is to transfer bid 2 to tell partner to transfer to 3, and 2NT to transfer to 2. Unfortunately, this consumes the useful "balanced 11-12 HCP" 2NT game invitation reply, and is not recommended. Some players like to use the 2 response to show precisely 11 points and the 2NT response to show 12. This is lazy bridge according to some - these people say you should be evaluating your hand instead - a 'good 12' is worth game whilst a 'bad 12' is only worth an invite. I disagree, because you it allows you to add more precision to a situation often requiring accuracy.

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday

Quick summary

Bridge Venue

Question 1:

Question 2:

Answer 1:

Answer 2:

Responder 1st bids: Weak reply to 1 weak NT