Join us on Friday, July 4 for lunch and a special 0-1500 game.

The game will start at 10:00.

We will play several rounds and then break

for lunch before finishing the game.



This Week At North Penn

Mon, 06/30

Tue, 07/01

Wed, 07/02

Thu, 07/03

Fri, 07/04

Open, Evening Shuffle & Deal.

0-1500.

Shuffle & Deal, Open 4IE Mentor

Open Handicap Swiss

0-1500 game and holiday party

Hand Analysis

By John Dickenson

Unblock, Please

Playing on a Friday at King of Prussia, I picked up: x Qxx xxx QJ9xxx. RHO dealt and passed, as did I and LHO opened 1N, announced as 15-17. My partner Judy Robbins passed and RHO bid 2C. I chose to double for a club lead – I know you are supposed to have 3 of the top 5 honors in addition to length, but I was swayed by the presence of the 6th card in the suit, means very little chance of opener redoubling to suggest playing 2C redoubled. I was not thrilled, however, with my paucity of entries outside of my club suit.

Opener bid 2D, no major and responder invited with 2N, accepted by opener. So responder should have a 9 count and opener a 17 count, giving partner around 9 points. Partner led the club 6 and the entire deal is shown below:

Now a couple of key points here – first, when Stayman is doubled for a lead, most strong players play that a redouble shows club length and suggests playing there, and an immediate bid of 2D,2H, or 2S has the usual meaning AND additionally promises a club stopper. Without a club stopper, opener should pass and responder can redouble to insist on an answer to his Stayman query. This is similar to when a Jacoby transfer bid is doubled, and an immediate accept by opener promises 3 or more cards in the target suit, opener should pass with only two cards. When the opponents interfere with your auction, it often gives us the chance to convey additional information to partner and we should take advantage of the opportunity – in this case, pass and redouble are options we would not have in the absence of the lead directing double.

The first trick went club 6, 4, jack, deuce. I continued the club 9 to smother the 8 in dummy and declarer won the ace. Judy thought for a bit and played the club king under the ace. Declarer now went to dummy winning the heart king and passed the diamond jack to my partner’s queen. I overtook her club ten with my queen and cashed 3 more clubs, Judy discarding the spade 3 on the 4th round of clubs. We play upside down attitude so I led my spade to her ace for down 3 and declarer claimed the balance.

The second key point is to be diligent and unblock when needed. Judy is holding the king and ten of clubs, and declared has won the ace. I played the jack at trick one, and I would not have doubled Stayman for a club lead holding only jack empty sixth or, heaven forbid, jack empty fifth. So I must hold the queen and she must unblock.

Note that double dummy declarer can make 8 tricks on any lead, but this would require dropping the doubleton diamond queen offside with 5 diamonds out. Note also that two declarers made 11 tricks in 3N and one made 10 tricks. Without the lead directing double, West will likely lead a 4th best spade from her five card holding, giving up a tempo. Declarer can now continue spades, driving out the ace, and unless West now finds a killing shift to a club honor, will have an easy path to 10 tricks – 3 spades, two hearts, 4 diamonds and the club ace.

Ask the Expert

Your hand is A KQ85 AKQ7654 8. The dealer at your right opens 2S. 

What is your call? If you double, the bidding goes:

2S       Dbl     3S       P

P         ?

What is your call?

Dennis O’Brien. I will bid 5 D, expecting partner to bid 6 with an A.

Bill Bauer. Before deciding upon your call, you must discern what partner's “pass" means. First, the pass denies 9+ points. However, partner may still have 4+ hearts. So DBL a second time and if partner denies hearts and bids 4C, then bid 5D.

Elaine Clair. I see two losers in that hand. I’d be afraid to double again fearing that my partner might pass. I would jump to 5D with that self sufficient suit and hope for the best. If partner has anything he should consider going to six.

John Dickinson. I am with Elaine. I wasn't told if this is IMPs or matchpoints, or the colors. At IMPs I am bidding 5D at my second turn. At matchpoints, I am afraid of playing in an inferior strain, but guess what, preempts are effective. At both forms of scoring I am afraid we are missing a slam if partner holds either the AH or the AC. In any case, I am going for the nearly certain plus at 5D.

Mitch Snyder. I want to bid 4S and will correct partner's 5C bid to 5D. This keeps hearts in play but at the five level. If you are willing to play 5D why not 5H?

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.

70% Club

Monday, Jun 23

71%

Seulky McInneshin & Douglas Dye

July Birthdays

Clair, Elaine

Dickenson, John

Melchiorre, Evelyn

Milton, Beth

Morganstein, Stanley

Scena, Sherry

Tweedie, Harry

Walker, Toysie

Waters, John