November 2022 - 63

Better Bridge with Bergen
Intermediate Players
BY MARTY BERGEN
martybergen.com
Y
ou are in second seat after
your RHO passed. Both sides
are vulnerable.
Your hand is:
K J 3 kJ 7 4 lK Q 3 2 'A K J.
What would you open?
Because you have 18 HCP, most
players would conclude that they are
too strong for a 15-17 1NT opening,
so they'd open 1l intending to rebid
2NT after partner's expected major-suit
response. I definitely beg
to differ. This mess is definitely not
worth 18 points. Why?
* Hands dominated by quacks
(queens and jacks) should always be
downgraded.
* 4-3-3-3 distribution is not good for
taking tricks.
* You have zero intermediate cards.
* For a hand with 18 HCP, having only
one ace is not good.
So, like it or not, I am forcing you
to open 1NT. That bid is followed by
three passes. West leads the 10,
and you're pleased to see that your
partner is far from broke.
Dummy
 7 5 2
k Q 10
l A 8 7
' 9 7 6 4 2
You
 K J 3
k J 7 4
l K Q 3 2
' A K J
Do note that for the many, many
players who would not dream of opening
1NT with 18 HCP, after opening
1l, your partner would respond 1NT
and your correct action is to raise to
November 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
63
Improve your bidding judgment - part 18
2NT. Your partner would pass that,
but having the weak hand declare 2NT
can't be in your side's best interest.
Counting winners in your 1NT
contract: three diamonds, two clubs
and, after the spade lead, at least one
spade trick. East wins the A and returns
the 4. You play a hopeful J,
but West wins the Q and returns
the 9. East discards the k6.
How will you play? As always, I
suggest deciding before reading on.
What are your prospects for a
seventh trick? If diamonds split 3-3,
you can win an extra diamond trick.
The clubs definitely have potential.
With eight clubs, as you know, the
percentage play in the suit is the
finesse. And because West has spade
length, East is definitely more likely
to have the 'Q. Of course, if the 'Q
is doubleton, cashing the 'A K while
dummy still has the lA will result in
five club tricks! That would produce a
great matchpoint score!
However, even with matchpoint
scoring, your No. 1 priority is to make
your contract. Although hearts is
the shortest and weakest of your
side's suits, based on your three heart
honors, the correct play at trick four
is to lead a heart. The opponents can
win that and run their spades, but
regardless of what they lead back, you
will continue hearts and set up your
seventh winner.
Here is the full layout:
 7 5 2
k Q 10
l A 8 7
' 9 7 6 4 2
 Q 10 9 8 6
k K 5 2
l 9 6
' Q 5 3
 K J 3
k J 7 4
l K Q 3 2
' A K J
FYI 1: As you see, working on either
minor would not have been successful.
FYI 2: For those who opened 1l,
note that in 2NT, East would lead a
heart, and that contract has no chance.
FYI 3: When playing 1NT = 15-17,
choosing to open an ugly hand with
18 HCP is not illegal. Of course, if you
agree with me of the importance of
judgment and hand evaluation, rather
than writing 15-17, you might choose
to describe your 1NT opening as 14+
to 18-. This means that your 1NT
opening might be an upgradable 14 or
a downgradable 18.
By the way: Any pair I encounter
that states that range always immediately
gains my respect!
 A 4
k A 9 8 6 3
l J 10 5 4
' 10 8
http://www.martybergen.com
November 2022

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