A Coup For You

There is a significant difference in style concerning when, if ever, to open 1NT with a 5-card major. While Bernie and I had a remarkable degree of agreement on bidding methods for a new partnership, we differed on this one.

Bernie’s feeling, based upon his long bridge experience, is that this is frequently the best way to show a balanced hand of the indicated strength, and one can worry about the major later. He can remember many instances where this was the winning call.

My feeling, based on a similarly lengthy bridge career, is that losing the major is a big mistake. I can remember several painful losses where teammates did not find a nine-card fit game that was bid easily by opponents at my table. The analysis of these situations by Grant Baze matches my opinions and experience.

Please take a look at Grant’s analysis by following the indicated link above. I’m sure that Bernie will also weigh in with his analysis.

I should also add that I dislike other offbeat NT patterns, especially hands with 2-2 in the majors. I also never open a 2227 or 2272 hand with 1NT, and almost never a hand with a six-card minor. These hands can never be described accurately after 1NT, and a good bidder can figure out how to continue after opening one of the suit.

Just my thoughts, and I await the group’s opinion.

Dr. Mohan, our team’s leading proponent of frequent Blackwood bids, suggests the following team understandings concerning when a bid of the partnership minor is KC Blackwood:

• After an inverted minor, by either partner at the 4 level
• After a minor suit positive by responder to a 2 opener, when opener raises the suit, either immediately or at the next turn to bid
• By opener, after a reverse and a constructive raise by responder

It would be nice to achieve a consensus on that to ease memory of the system. Please comment on the suggestions and any logical additions. I’ll post a follow up after we have the group’s opinions recorded.

A friend sent an interesting bidding problem that has implications for our understandings.

You hold, red on white, xx, Jxx, KT9xx, KTx. Your RHO passes as dealer and so do you. LHO bids 2 and partner bids 5 . RHO passes, and it is up to you.

Update on Saturday, December 31, 2005 at 06:07PM by Jeff Miller

Not that it matters to our group’s assessment of the best answer, the actual partner hand was A K Q J x x x, void, D A x, A Q x x.

The vote of the “other panel” was 5 for 6 and 3 for pass.

When given the problem, I voted for 6 . I stated that I was worried about missing the grand. 5NT might show both Kings, but might also be misunderstood. I dismissed the “1958″ hand as extremely unlikely, especially given the auction and my hand. (Scary how close that is to the Wickham comment). I suggest two practical rules for my partnerships:

1. Beware of expecting a bid to have an extremely specific meaning, especially if you and your partner have never discussed it.
2. When seeking to ask a question about a specific suit, try to set the suit first (as Jonathan suggested in his comment).