This Week At North Penn

Mon, noon

Tue, 10a

Wed, 9:30a

Wed, noon

Thu, 11:45

Thu, noon

Fri, 10a

Sat, 10a

Open

0-1500

Bid & Play

Open

0-199

Open

0-750

0-99

4 Is Enough

Lunch at 11:15,Game at 11:45

Swiss Teams



Upcoming Special Events

Handicap Swiss Teams

0-199

Evening Pizza

4 Is Enough

0-750 Swiss Teams

Thursday, 2/19

Thursday, 2/26 (lunch at 11:15, game at 11:45)

Friday, 2/27 (pizza at 6:00, game at 6:30)

Wednesday, 3/11

Friday, 3/13

Rank Achievements

Congratulations to the following members who advanced in rank during January:

Eileen Brode

Jacqueline Swartz

Betsy Smith

Kathy Sullivan

Seulky McInneshin

Michael Carver

Daniel Frey

Bonnie Bickman

Erma Waters

Club Master

Club Master

NABC Master

NABC Master

Adv NABC Master

Silver Life Master

Silver Life Master

Ruby Life Master

Ruby Life Master

Bid & Play

This week Mitch will give a mini-lesson on penalty doubles. Jeff will assist.

Education

Joann Glasson's final February Zoom class will be held on Monday, February 16 at 10:00 a.m. See flyer for details.

Deal Analysis

by John Dickenson

No Trump Opener’s Rebids When Responder’s Transfer

Or Stayman Inquiry Is Doubled

I know I have written about this before, but I see players continuing to take the wrong action over a lead directing double so let’s go over it again.

When one opens 1NT and responder bids 2C, Stayman, we all know there are only 3 allowed responses: 2D showing no 4 card or longer major, 2H showing 4+ hearts (may also have 4 spades), and 2S showing 4+ spades and denying 4 hearts.

When responder bids 2D as a transfer to hearts, the only responses are 2H or a super accept of 3H if holding 4+ hearts and a maximum 17 high card points.

But what if RHO doubles partner’s Stayman or Jacoby bid? Now we are not required to bid and have two additional options: pass and redouble.

Over 1N-p-2C-dbl:

• 2D, 2H or 2S have the usual meaning and PROMISE a club stopper
• Pass DENIES a club stopper – responder can redouble to demand a response to Stayman
• Redouble shows length and strength in clubs and suggests RHO has made a mistake and we should consider playing 2C doubled and redoubled – that is game!

Over 1N-p-2D-dbl:



• 2H shows 3+ hearts
• pass shows a doubleton heart – responder can redouble to force opener to complete the transfer or bid 2H to play from her side.
• Redouble shows length and strength in diamonds and suggests RHO has made a mistake and we should consider playing 2D doubled and redoubled – again, that is game!

A couple of interesting hands that came up at the Suffern, NY regional:

First hand during the first session of the Fast Pairs, we were playing against a NYC pro and her client. Lisa Mita opened 1NT, pass, and I responded 3C which in our methods is a form of Stayman. The pro doubled for a lead, Lisa passed to deny a club stopper and after the client passed, so did I! Here was the layout:

First, the math. With my 11 count and a good 5 card suit, I reasoned we probably make game in NT which is worth 600, or 630 with an overtrick. If I can make 3C doubled, that is 20 points a trick times 3 tricks equals 60, double that to get 120 for tricks plus 500 for the vulnerable game and 50 for “the insult” for a total of plus 670. That score beats even 660 for 3N making 5. Note that the Laws of bridge do not allow you to consult the back of the 3C bidding card to check this during the auction or play so you need to be able to do the math.

North led her stiff spade which I ducked to establish the queen. A spade came back, I played low from both hands letting North ruff “air” with one of her natural trump tricks. I won the heart led next in hand and led a club toward dummy’s Tx. North won the club jack and the diamond ace and +670 was worth all the matchpoints. Note also that 3N does not make against good defense.

Second session, playing the same pair the following deal came up:

I dealt as West and opened 1N, pass by North and 4D by Lisa. Double by the client holding only Axxx! Do they not learn? I was sorely tempted to redouble and play 4D doubled and redoubled, but unlike the first encounter with this pair where Lisa’s 1N opener promised at least two clubs, here she may very well be short in diamonds after her Texas transfer, even void. So I bid 4H to play. The client’s poorly thought out double got her partner off to the wrong lead – they scored the diamond ace and a ruff and I claimed the balance for a 64% score. Absent the lead directing double they might have found a spade lead holding me to 10 tricks – knocking out the spade ace entry to the diamonds before I can pull 3 rounds of trumps and then it is a simple matter for South to win the third round of diamonds killing my access to hand.

Had I redoubled we would have scored +720 for an 86% board but I chickened out and had to settle for 64%. We could never beat the pair who doubled NS in 3D in their 4-1 “fit” and scored +1400.

Don’t forget – if the opponents are silent you must bid after responder’s Stayman inquiry or Jacoby/Texas transfer. But if they make a lead directing double you are no longer required to bid – pass and redouble are now options and can give your side a real advantage.

Ask the Expert

Email your questions, or a pesky hand, or something you’d like to know about bidding or playing to Toysie Walker. She will forward them to the panel, one will be chosen, and the question and answers will be printed in the following week’s newsletter.

February Birthdays



Carole Bishop

Scott Guiser

Marlene Hino

Janice Hutt

Nancy Parke

Barry Shinberg

Neil Snyder

Bucky Sydnor

Elaine Watters

Ginny Woodbury

Everett Young