December 2014 - 48

Newer Players

Newcomer Help Desk
BY BRENT MANLEY

 editor@acbl.org

The bridge teacher was describing the features of a 1NT opener to a group that included people
whose English was less than perfect. The teacher told about the point range and the required shape:
4-4-3-2, 4-3-3-3 or 5-3-3-2.
Players were divided up to practice their bidding, and after a few minutes, the teacher was called to a
table where there was some difficulty. One of the players insisted she could not open 1NT despite the fact
that her balanced hand counted to 15 high-card points.
"Why can't you open 1NT?" the teacher asked. The student replied, "I don't have any 2s, 3s or 4s!"

For many players new to duplicate,
competitive bidding can seem daunting. It's tough to figure out when to
get in there and fight and when to go
quietly.
There are many aspects to competitive bidding: a variety of overcalls,
takeout doubles, opening preemptive
bids, other doubles (almost none of
which are for penalty) and balancing,
the topic for this month.
In duplicate, if the opponents are in a
comfortable contract at a comfortable
level, you will not be content with your
result. You must give the opponents
a push to try to get them out of their
comfort zone.
Maybe they will bid on and go down.
Perhaps they will let you have the contract and you will go down, but when
you are not vulnerable, your minus is
likely to be smaller than if you let them
play in comfort.
There are many scenarios in which
you might make a balancing action.
Here are some examples (you are
South):

48 Bridge Bulletin December 2014

West
1♦

North
Pass

East
Pass

South
?

West
1♣
2♥

North
Pass
Pass

East
1♥
Pass

South
Pass
?

West

North

2♠

Pass

East
1♠
Pass

South
Pass
?

Is your hand right for a balancing
1NT? Some pairs agree that this bid
does not necessarily show a stopper in
the opponent's suit.

West
1NT

North
Pass

East
Pass

South
?

It is vitally important for partnerships to discuss these issues and
decide on parameters (for example,
the range for a balancing 1NT). If you
make a takeout double in the passout
seat, what should partner expect? How
should partner respond? How will you
proceed if one of you balances with
1NT? How can the balancer show extra
strength?
These and other questions will be
addressed next month, with examples
included.
◾

If you pass, the auction is over.
Should you act? Maybe, maybe not.
Here are some factors to consider:
Do the opponents have a fit? If so, it
is safer for you to take a balancing action (a bid or double).
Is your side vulnerable? If so, you
should be cautious about forcing your
side to the three level, where the opponents might not even have to double
to get a good result. Note that if the
opponents have stopped in 2♠, any ac-

tion you take that results in the bid of a
suit will push your side to the dangerous three level.
Is your hand right for a takeout
double? Be wary of takeout doubles
with scant support for an unbid suit.

Send comments and questions to
brentmanley@yahoo.com.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2014