A Coup For You

Lee Prellwitz, an old friend, partner, and teammate from Wisconsin has won just about everything at the regional and sectional level. His other activities prevent him from hitting the NABC’s, but he is a fine player and analyst. He often watches hands on BBO’s vu-graph and sends entertaining and insightful commentary to his friends. He has an interesting observation for us to consider.

“…in watching the Spingold on Bridge Base, these guys opened one notrump every time they had the requisite number of high cards (and at least one high honor in one of the short suits.) I saw 6-3-2-2, 5-4-2-2, 4-4-4-1, and 5-4-3-1 all opened one notrump. And on the 5-4-2-2 hands even with the four card major, it was automatic. What is the logic behind this theory? The 4-4 fit major will still be discovered, and the defense will be made more difficult against three notrump with the unbalanced hand hidden, increasing the chances that the defense might get the distribution wrong and misanalyze how many tricks declarer has?

I don’t recall seeing any “wins” using this strategy, although I don’t know what “problems” were created for the defenders either. I did see some losses however. For example, Bart Bramley opened one notrump with a 1-4-3-5 pattern including the singleton ace of spades. His partner put him in four spades using Texas, with J109xxx, x, x, AJxxx. Bart failed by two, losing both red aces, the king and queen of spades, and a club ruff. The other table played five clubs losing only the red aces.

Comments on the advantages and disadvantages of this strategy.”

The intermediate range is difficult to show in a natural system. Most players have a well-documented structure after a NT opening, and more importantly, they usually get to play the hand!! My partnerships eschew the offbeat patterns for more descriptive auctions, and I confess that I view these openings as the refuge of lesser “experts.” I was therefore surprised to see that Lee spotted so many in the Spingold final.

I reviewed some hands and found a Rodwell 1NT opening consisting of 3 2, 7 2, A K J 2 , A K J 7 2. His RHO bid 2 with 6-4 in the majors, Eric bid 2NT and the opponents drove to 4 down one. It is not clear whether the 2 bid was the popular Multi bid (probable) or showed majors. You can see the entire hand by going to BBO, looking at vu-graph archives, 3rd quarter, Board 3.

Playing in the final session of the Swiss Teams at the Chicago NABC, you hold the following: A K J 9 6, J T 8, J 5 4 , J 4. First to speak with both vulnerable, you elect to pass. (Would you? You had a Multi 2 opener available.) The auction proceeds 1 on your left, pass by partner, 1 on your right. You are now silenced and you listen to 1NT by lefty and 3NT by righty. What do you call?

This is an interesting ethical position, by the way. Most players are grabbing up their bidding cards as RHO bids 3NT. My partners know that I always give it a few seconds in this position, even with nothing to think about. I do it because I will have this hand some day, but I suppose you would still land in committee if you took 8 seconds, passed, and partner led a spade.

Your decision?