November 2008 - 31

The Bidding Box

Problem 6

East deals. E-W vulnerable.
West
83
AKQ4
K954
 10 8 4

East
J6
62
AQ762
KQJ3

Cappelletti

Russell
1
2
Pass

1
3

Cappelletti's 3 was natural and
invitational. Perhaps it's a bit heavy
for a simple invitation, but if a pair
has agreed to open light, this type of
evaluation adjustment is necessary.
Teaford
1
3

Johnson
1
2
Pass

Because the 1 opening is
nebulous in Precision, the number of
diamonds held by opener may only
be guessed later in the auction. In this
pair's methods, a 2 follow-up to a
1 opening shows longer clubs than
diamonds, typically 4-5. With five
diamonds and four clubs, they usually
rebid diamonds and hope to show
clubs on a later round of bidding.
Johnson forgot this, however, and bid
his pattern as if he were playing standard. Teaford, believing his partner
had longer clubs, raised to 3. And
that, boys and girls, is how you wind
up in a seven-card fit instead of a
nine-card fit.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-1;
2-3; Pass

Problem 7

South deals. N-S vulnerable.
South opens 1. North bids 2.
West
KQ82
K3
KQ52
Q42

East
 A 10 6
65
J986
A863

Cappelletti North Russell South
(1)
Dbl
(2) Dbl
(Pass)
3
(Pass) 3
(Pass)
4
All Pass
Teaford North
Dbl

(2)

Johnson South
(1)
2
All Pass

Cappelletti and Russell started
well, with Russell employing a responsive double. This is commonly
played as denying a four-card spade
suit, but promising length and values
in the minors. Indeed, the East hand
is a textbook example. After Cappelletti chose diamonds, however,
Russell was unsatisfied and tried
for more. Introducing his three-card
spade suit, he angled for a perfecto
Moysian setup, and almost caught it:
Change West's K to the K, and
4 has a shot. On the actual layout,
however, 4 will take a miracle.
Bridge Bulletin auction: (1)-
Dbl-(2)-Dbl; 3-All Pass
Scores: 2NT (W) 12; 2 (W) 11;
2 (E) 10; 3 (W) 9; 3 (E) 7;
3 4; (2 South) 2; (2 South,
doubled) 1
Cappelletti-Russell 40, Teaford-
Johnson 55

Problem 8

West deals. Both vulnerable.
West
A
KJ983
J632
A74

East
8762
 A 10 7 4
8
KQ82

Cappelletti
1
4NT
6

Russell
4
5
Pass

After a 1 opening, the East hand
is somewhat awkward to describe.
Russell chose a splinter bid of 4
(shortness, four-card support for the
major and game-going values). He
was light in the values department,
but 4 does give a good overall
description of the hand. Opposite a
partner advertising diamond shortness, Cappelletti understandably
drove to slam after checking on aces.
Teaford
1
4

Johnson
3
Pass

Johnson tried a conventional 3, a
Bergen raise showing four-card support for opener's suit and invitational
values. Johnson intended to carry on
to game even if Teaford tried to sign
off in 3.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-3
(limit); 4-Pass
Scores: 4 10; 5 5; 6 4; 3 2
Final score: Cappelletti-Russell
44, Teaford-Johnson 65
r

Scores: 3 10; 4 9; 1NT 6; 3
4; 2NT 3
Cappelletti-Russell 40, Teaford-
Johnson 45

Practice this set and other
pre-dealt sets of boards
at www.biddingquest.com

November 2008

31
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2008
