North Penn Bridge Bulletin

Greetings to the

North Penn Bridge Community!

Week of 08/25/2025

This Week At North Penn


Mon, 08/25

Tue, 08/26

Wed, 08/27

Thu, 08/28

Fri, 08/29

Open (final Monday NAP qualifier)

0-1500

0-99, Open (final Wednesday NAP qualifier)

Open (final Thursday NAP qualifier)

0-750

New Monthly 0-99 Game Starts This Week


On Wednesday, Aug 27 we will have a 0-99 game in place of Shuffle & Deal:


  • When: 4th Wednesday of each month
  • Time: 9:30 AM
  • Cost: $10
  • Boards: 12


Sign ups are greatly appreciated! If you need assistance finding a partner, let us know and we’ll work with you.

Labor Day Celebration



Please join us on Monday, September 01 for lunch at 11:30 and bridge at noon.


There will be hot dogs and chicken salad.

Side dishes and desserts are welcome!


If you haven’t signed up, please send an email

to let us know you plan to attend.


Education


Joann Glasson's September Zoom classes will be held on Monday, September 15 and 29 at 10:00 a.m. See flyer for details.

Bridge Game At North Penn

With Joann Glasson





Be sure to save the date


Saturday, September 27, 2025


Details and flyer to follow


Hand Analysis

by John Dickenson



Oops - I Passed My Partner's Jacoby Transfer


Playing matchpoints at King of Prussia Bridge Club with Mark Cohen, all non vulnerable, I pick up Jxx Jx AKQxxx AJ. We are playing a strong pair and RHO opens 1C in first chair. I overcall 1NT and LHO doubles for penalty. With Mark I play “systems on” after the double, although I really prefer DONT runouts after a business double of 1NT. Mark bids 2D after the double.


I duly announce “hearts” and RHO passes. So with my hand holding 16 hcp and say, 13 on my right and 10+ on my left, partner is marked with around a 1 count. Our diamonds have to be a better choice for trump even opposite a singleton in partner’s hand, vs hearts which is likely five small opposite my Jx. So I passed the transfer.


Now lefty doubles again, pass, pass, to me. I was sorely tempted to “rewind” the contract by placing the blue redouble card on the table, but then they might run, and 2D doubled and making is +180 and should be a good score at matchpoints given the hand belongs to the opponents. Even -100 should be a good score and I have a good chance at 7 tricks in my hand alone, and maybe partner has a ruffing value somewhere.


Here is the full deal:

As is obvious, we make 2D doubled, losing only a spade, two hearts, and two clubs. Meanwhile the opponents are cold for 11 tricks playing in either clubs or spades.


Be alert for other opportunities to pass your partner’s artificial forcing bid:


1) partner opens a Flannery 2D and you are a weak 2-1-7-3 shape


2) partner makes a Michaels cuebid over 1C and you are 1-2-3-7 shape


and a couple of examples when RHO interferes and you are “off the hook”:


3) When it goes 1N-p-2C-dbl and you do NOT have clubs stopped (p can redouble to “reStayman”)


4) When it goes 1N-p-2D-dbl and you have only 2 pieces in the target suit (an immediate acceptance of the transfer promises 3+ hearts, partner can always bid 2H or redouble to force the transfer)


Final thought: you and your partner need to agree on what systems are on after a penalty double of your 1N opener or overcall. Some common options are:


1) systems on – this has the advantage of being easy to remember but is not ideal – if you do this, please agree that redouble forces 2C by opener so you can get out in a minor at the two level


2) systems off – now we can bid any suit at the two level to play


3) DONT runouts – my favorite:


  • Rdbl – forces 2C and responder/advancer shows a one suited hand
  • 2C – clubs and a higher, opener/overcaller passes with a tolerance for clubs else bids 2D
  • 2D – diamonds and a higher, opener/overcaller passes with a tolerance for diamonds else bids 2H
  • 2H – both majors, opener passes or corrects to 2S
  • 2S – best to redouble with all one suited hands, maybe the opponents will rescue you (unlikely)

Ask the Expert



E/W vul. N/S not vul. East deals. The auction begins:


-E----S----W----N

1C--1D---1S---.P

2C---P---2H


Part 1


Is 2H:


  1. A choice of majors
  2. A one round force showing at least 5 spades, 4 hearts and 10 + HCP
  3. A game force with at least 5 spades and probably 4 hearts
  4. Something else


Part 2


As East what do you bid after North passes 2H with: 


S: 9 7

H: A 3

D: Q 9 4

C: A K 10 6 3 2



John Dickenson. Well we can rule out 3 and 4. If EW play Extended NMF, 2H is pass/correct and either 5-4 or 5-5 in the majors. Responder must bid 2D at her second turn to show invitational plus values. If EW are Old School, 2H is a one round force. In any case I will take a preference to 2S with my minimum hand.


Bill Bauer. Part 1. I agree with alternative “2.” Part 2. I take a preference and bid 2S.


Mitch Snyder.  2H is simply a choice of majors, maybe a 5431 shape. I'll take a preference to 2S.


Elaine Clair. Since I play Extended NMF, this would be a pass or correct situation and not invitational or forcing. Bid 2S.


Dennis O’Brien. 2H offers a choice of majors. I'm going conservative on this one and bidding 2S.




 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


Friday, Aug 15

76%

Elaine Clair & Dave Dresher

August Birthdays

Gwen Bryant

Jack Carballo

Pat Estadt

Dan Frey

Suzanne MacFadden

Jeff Rohrbeck

Mary Tassaro

Mary Tweedie

Woody Woodbury

North Penn Duplicate Bridge Club

(215) 699-4932

NorthPennBridge@gmail.com