December 2010 - 33

The Bidding Box

West
 K 10 5
J754
AKJ9
73

East
Q72
AK96
432
KQ6

Tacchi

Horton
1
1
4

1
2
Pass

After a 1 opening, there are sev‑
eral possible responses and rebids
for standard players. Some auctions
might begin 1-1; 1, as above,
but 1-1; 1NT is possible as is
1-1; 2.
Tacchi opted for the 1 response.
After the heart fit was discovered
(2 shows an invitational hand with
four hearts), the duo quickly arrived
in the tentative game.
Zwerling
4

Thompson
1
Pass

Zwerling and Thompson also got
to the thin heart game on the auc‑
tion 1-4. In standard bidding, 4
typically shows a weak, unbalanced
hand with five hearts. In Precision,
however, it can also show a balanced
minimum opener, because responder
knows that opener does not have a
huge hand.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-1;
1-4; Pass
Scores: 2 10; 3 8; 4 6; 3NT 5;
1NT 3; 2NT 2
Tacchi-Horton 47,
Zwerling-Thompson 37

Problem 7

South deals. N-S vulnerable.
North opens 1 (natural) if possible.
West
-
Q875
AKJ8
J9875

East
KJ976
AK
Q9732
6

Tacchi North
1
2
3

Pass
Pass
Pass

Horton South
Pass
1
Pass
2
Pass
5
All Pass

Tacchi opened the West hand 1,
silencing North. Players who decide
to open the minimum but shapely
West cards may well prefer a 1
opening to allow for a 2 rebid over
the expected 1 response. Because
Tacchi started with 1, he was essen‑
tially forced to rebid 2. Horton's 2
created a one‑round force, and when
Tacchi showed four diamonds with
the 3 follow‑up, Horton jumped to
the diamond game.
Zwerling North Thompson South
Pass
1
Pass 1
Pass
2
Pass 2
Pass
2NT
Pass 3NT
Pass
This strange‑looking sequence is
actually equivalent to the natural
one above. Zwerling opened 1 and
rebid clubs to show (as in Problem
2) at least nine cards in the two suits.
2 is an artificial force requesting
more information. Zwerling tried 2NT,
showing five or more clubs and four
diamonds, hence a 0=4=4=5 pattern.
Over 2NT, Thompson could have
passed, signed off in 3NT or 5, bid
3 as a forcing relay or invited with
3. He chose 3NT.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-1;
2-2 (fourth suit forcing); 3-4;
5-Pass
Scores: 5 10; (1) doubled 8; 4
7; 3NT 3; 6 2; 2NT 1
Tacchi-Horton 57,
Zwerling-Thompson 40

Problem 8

West deals. Both vulnerable.
West
K95
AJ542
Q87
K3

East
 A Q J 10
K
AKJ5
A864

Tacchi
1
1NT
3
5
6
Pass

Horton
1
2
4NT
5NT
7

2 is checkback Stayman. 3
shows a maximum opener with three‑
card spade support. A RKCB auction
allowed Horton to find out about the
K, A and K in the West hand.
Horton bid the nice grand slam in
spades despite knowing he was in a
4-3 fit.
Zwerling
1
2
3
4
6
Pass

Thompson
1
2NT
4
4NT
6

Zwerling raised spades, and over
the forcing 2NT probe, bid 3 to
show a minimum hand with precisely
3=5=2=3 or 3=5=3=2 shape. 4 is
an artificial slam try, and the 4 re‑
sponse shows either a minimum hand
and/or poor hearts.
The duo had a slight misunder‑
standing here. Thompson believed
4NT to be encouraging, but natural
and non‑forcing. Zwerling believed
4NT to be a slam try in diamonds,
which he accepted. Thompson, sur‑
prised by the jump, ran back to the
known fit in spades, so the auction
had a happy ending for them.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-2;
2NT-3; 3NT-6NT; Pass
Scores: 7 12; 7 11; 6 10; 6NT 8;
6 5; 5 3; 5NT 2; 7NT 1
Final score: Tacchi-Horton 69,
Zwerling-Thompson 50

December 2010 Bridge Bulletin

33
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2010
