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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

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Quick summary

With 8 points, things are looking very good, so give a positive and natural response (game is certain, and Slam could be on)

support with 3 cards, and include distribution if you do
with 2 tricks, raise to Major game (weak)
with stronger hand raise to 3 (an Ace required)
only change suit with a good 5-card suit
with interest in NT, avoid bidding 2NT - see below
all these are forcing to game

With <8 HCP, a slam seems very unlikely, and a game is not certain, so give a negative response (2NT, or 2 after a 2 opening), and see what partner says next.

Remember that more advanced players use "Weak 2" openings, which have a different meaning.

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Bridge Venue

« 0047 »

Reply to a 2 Suit opening, Strong 2s

Your partner is so strong that he's opened at the two level to force you to bid, in order to make sure we don't miss a game. Or even a Slam. Better tell him what's possible:

47. Reply to Strong 2 suit opening
Points	0-7	6-7	8+	8+	8-11	12+
cards		3+	3+	5+	balanced	bal
other		AK together, or AQ in trumps	1+ Aces	colour in suit	stoppers in 3 suits
bid	2 NT when weak	raise 2	raise 1	new suit	3 NT	4/6NT
meaning	game not on, based on 1st bid	game	game +	game	game only	slam
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Your partner's opening bid makes it easy for you

Strong 2s

When your partner opened 2, or , he did it because he wants to signal that a game is very likely. If he said 2 he's even stronger.

So you cannot pass !

He has also told you that he can make 8 tricks all on his own, even if your hand is totally useless. Because the bidding space is reduced, your partner also guaranteed you a good 5-card suit with at least 2 honours, and probably has 6, so you can support his suit with 3-cards, assuming you have sufficient HCPs. (Remember he might have fewer than 20 HCPs, even as few as 16 if his shape is good).

Very Strong 2! Game force

The 2 bid is a special forcing bid, see the end of this page, signifying 23+ HCP and 9+ tricks, but without implying any preference for clubs. It's also forcing the two of you to bid up to Game, even if you have nothing.

Weak 2s - more advanced players only

This page assumes you are using the "Strong 2" convention, in other words any bid of 2 of a suit promises a strong opening hand. More "advanced" players can use the "Weak 2" convention. Weak 2's bidders only use opening bids of 2, or 2/, to indicate strong hands of undefined suit. It is arguably a more useful convention, and is certainly gaining the upper hand these days in the sense that more and more people use it. See Weak 2s.

Weak 2 bidders need to understand Strong 2s, since the Weak 2 convention is a derivation of Strong 2s.

Responding to Strong 2s

Sorry, game not on

If you can see that your hand will not promote your partner's hand to a game contract, then use the coded "negative bid" of 2NT. This does not actually mean that you have a balanced hand or that you want to play in NT. It simply means "game seems not to be on". It gives the opener a chance to persist with the exploration if he has a second good long suit. Or more likely put it back into 3 of his opening suit, which you will obviously pass.

Any other bid from you is postive, and forcing to game

Game on

If you have enough for game then you can bid postively - which would generally mean having either 8+ HCP or that you can make 2 more tricks on your own. For example, if you have an AK in one suit, then this is likely to create two more tricks when added to partner's hand.

Partner's suit

If you have 3 cards in your partner's Major suit, then you can support it, by raising to 4. Note that raising to 3 is a stronger bid - see below.

Different suit

If you can't support partner, change suit. But only if you have a long suit (5+), and a good one if you have to bid at the 3-level.

No Trumps

If you don't have your own good 5-card suit, think about NT. But do not bid 2NT. It means you are weak!! You'll have to bid 3NT, and therefore you'll need to be sure you can stop the opponents from running away with 5 quick tricks.

Possible slam ?

Slow is strong. Raising to 3 in your partner's suit is a stronger response than raising straight to game with 4 in his Major. Your 8+ HCP should include an Ace, otherwise simply raise to 4, the weaker bid.

Openers's rebid. After your bid of 3 or 4, in addition to understanding that game is now on, your partner might sometimes want to explore Slam. Because of the shape of his hand for example. In that case, if he needs to know how many Aces you've got, or how many control cards, he'll use Blackwood. If he needs to know which Aces you've got, he'll use cue bidding for controls.

Slam on

With a balanced hand, you can use a quantitative bid when you can see that you might have a total of 33+ HCP, enough for a small slam in No Trumps. But it might be best to wait for your second bid to do that.

With an unbalanced hand, use your second bid to explore Slam. You'll certainly get the chance, because any first bid that you make (other than 2NT which denies strength) is a forcing bid. Best to take your time to work out which suit you should be in, and only then explore Slam.

The 2 opening bid. Whoohoo !

This is a special coded forcing bid by opener which simply means "Whoohoo ! I've got 23+ points and I can make 9 tricks on my own, or 10 in a minor, tell me what you've got". It's always forcing all the way to game, unless the opener subsequently rebids 2NT to show a balanced hand. Because it's a stronger bid than 2//, it helps responder to comprehend the possibilities of a Slam. It says nothing about opener's Clubs, so opener will have to rebid 3 if Clubs is his best suit.

Negative response

The negative reply is 2, which simply means "I've got fewer than 8 HCP". It does not mean you have diamonds. You'd have to make a bid of 3 to show that suit. A positive response can be made with fewer than 8 HCP only if you have AK together, or AQ in a 5 card suit.

-	West
	A 3
	6
	K Q 10 7 4 2
	6 5 4 2

+	North

+	East
	K 9 8 2
	A K J
	A J 5 3
	A K

+	South

	W	N	E	S
	-	-	2	Pass
	?
	After East's opening bid of 2, what should you reply as West?
+	<---- Click the "+" for the Answer
	With 8+ HCP you should reply positively. You have a long strong suit in diamonds, which could be the foundation for a Slam - you need to tell your partner about this. So bid 3 (don't bid 2 because that is a negative reply).

Positive response

Bid naturally, describing your hand. Your partner knows that Slam is possible, so you don't need to jump. Opener will then tell you which suit he really meant, given that he didn't of course mean clubs.

The problem 4441

Because a 2 suit opening promises 5 cards, it won't be possible for opener to bid at the 2 level with the 4441 distribution with less than 23 HCP.

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday