North Penn Bridge News

Greetings to the

North Penn Bridge Community!

Week of 11/08/2021

Director Appreciation Month

Mitch Snyder first dabbled with bridge in the late 60’s and early 70’s with friends that included Mike Carver and his brother Neil. Although he didn’t catch the ‘bridge bug’ at that time, he maintained an interest in the game, reading the newspaper column every day and playing socially.

In 1975 he got his first job as a programmer and shortly thereafter joined a lunchtime bridge game. The organizer, and his first mentor, was Bob Green. After a few months of practice Bob took the group to a Sunday Swiss. In those days the event was played as a qualifier in the afternoon and a final in the evening. There was no stratification. They didn’t qualify for the final but won the consolation. Mitch was hooked. Maybe this is why he likes Swiss teams so much.

Bob and Mitch went to the 1980 Lancaster Nationals. They drove out after work, played a side game then drove home.

For the next few years Mitch played regularly on Tuesday evenings at the Lansdale YMCA where North Penn held its games before moving to the Moose Lodge at 3^rd and Walnut. By the mid 80’s he was playing as much as possible and decided to become a director to help fund his bridge habit. Mitch thanks Walter Hall, who directed Tuesday evenings, for helping him along that path. After co-directing a few times under Walter’s guidance, he was ready for the next step…his own game…Thursday evenings at the Moose.

Mitch introduced the first Swiss team event at North Penn on a Thursday evening before there was computer scoring. He drew a grid on a piece of posterboard and used sticky notes to post the scores and table assignments in order to emulate the way Swiss Teams were run at tournaments.

When the club moved to Line Street, he decided to try a new game, again. Friday evenings this time. This is where he really got into it with mini-lessons, monthly Swiss teams and fresh pineapple. Line Street had 14 tables and was crowded. There was a Tuesday evening holiday party one year that drew 17 tables. Everybody got in and had a great time. There was no social distancing that evening 😊.

After retirement Mitch got involved in daytime bridge and the start of limited masterpoint games at the club. It started out small, 2-4 tables, and gradually grew. The first time it hit seven tables, he ran the ‘perfect’ movement, 7 rounds of 3 boards. He was walking on air!

Mitch was Club Manager in 2013 when the club moved to its current location. He continues to serve the North Penn bridge community as a Director and Board member.

From the Club Manager

Dave Dodgson

Claims. Be careful about claims when there are trumps out. If you are not specific about your line of play, the director has to assume you forgot about them and you may find you get an unexpected ruff imposed.

Weekly Emails. Did you miss one of our Weekly Bridge Emails? As of October 26, the North Penn DBC Website provides a link to past issues under the “Newsletter” tab.

Proof of vaccination and face masks will remain a requirement at our F2F games until further notice.

Schedule:

Non-Life Master December Sectional

(0-750 Stratified Pairs)

There will be a Non-Life Master sectional at the King of Prussia bridge club on Saturday, December 4, 2021.

See the flyer for this event here.

Education

Shuffle & Deal for Newer Players. Thursday evenings beginning November 4 at 7:00 pm. Learn as you play. Drop ins welcome - no partner needed. A mentor will be available to answer whatever questions might arise as you play. $5 per person per session. No scoring, no pressure!

Deb reports the first Shuffle and Deal was a big hit! There were four full tables! Mitch Snyder took the two intermediate tables, and Deb took the two tables of beginners. They answered lots of bidding and playing questions which the players said were enormously helpful. They will continue S & D on Thursday evenings as long as there are enough players.

Last four Beginner Lessons: Wednesday November 10 and 17; December 8 and 15 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.

Facebook

Be sure to check out our Facebook page. It’s a great way to stay in touch with all the happenings at North Penn.

Tidbits

“What do third seat weak two-bids look like?”

“This is one of those moments where you can throw caution to the winds. You know your partner doesn’t have an opening bid and if you find yourself with a weak hand, you know the hand belongs to the opponents. Players today open weak two-bids in third seat with very little. Since opening weak twos is a proven way to irritate the opponents’ bidding, players go to great lengths to do so. Many weak two-bids today are made on five-card suits. I guess that in the hands of an aggressive player, 50% or more of them will be made on just five cards.”

From Bridge Tips

by Mike Lawrence

Deal of the Week

by Mitch Snyder

Mixed Bag

Today’s deal was played in a face-to-face game.

The bidding:

After East passes, South is very close to an opening bid. Some Souths would apply the ‘rule of 20’ which is: add the lengths of your two longest suits to your hcps and if the total is 20 or more, open the hand. This hand only comes to 19, (5+3+11). Many players would open this hand anyway. When asked at a Q&A session about what constitutes an opening hand, a prominent expert answered something to the effect that if it looks like an opening hand, open it. Another consideration on close hands is, if you have a good second bid after partner makes the likely response. Here you can bid 1NT over the expected 1S.

If South opens 1H, North also has a close call. Does he have enough to force to game? Despite the 13 hcps, the 3 jacks and flat shape slightly reduce the value of the hand. Once again you can use your judgment here as to whether to invite or force to game. Let’s say you decide to force to game and bid a Jacoby 2NT. The bid promises 4 card support, an opening hand and is forcing to game.

(South should not accept an invitation).

Some possible auctions if South opens are:

P 1H P 2NT P; 4H P P P
The jump to 4H shows a minimum. You would bid 3H (or 3NT) with a non-minimum or conventionally respond to 2NT showing shortness or a second suit.
P 1H P 3H; P P P
3H limit raise.
P 1H P 3D; P 3H P P P
3D is a Bergen limit raise often used in 2/1 systems.

If South chooses to pass most Norths will open 1C and East will overcall 1S. Not to worry that you only have 8 hcps, partner already knows you don’t have an opening hand and you really want a spade lead if South declares. Also, 1S is somewhat preemptive as it takes the rest of the 1 level away from NS.

South has plenty to bid 2H, West has an easy spade raise and North an easy heart raise.

The auction so far: P P P 1C 1S; 2H 2S 3H

East may or may not compete to 3S now. On the positive side, the vulnerability is favorable and an offensive bid here might help partner decide if a 4S sacrifice is in order or it may buy the contract, 3H will almost certainly make. South will likely bid 4H whether East bids 3S or not.

The auction so far: P P P 1C; 1S 2H 2S 3H; 3S/P 4H

For many a 4S sacrifice is nearly automatic in this situation. East’s 3S bid at least says that he thinks 3Sx only goes down 1 for -100; better than the opponents making +140.

If West bids 4S, since N/S have bid freely to game a situation now exists where N/S cannot allow to E/W to play 4S undoubled, they must double or bid 5H. Since North does not have a great offensive hand but does have good defensive cards (the kings) he should double to let partner know his preference. If North passes, South must double or bid 5H.

4Sx is down 2 or 3 and is a good score if 4H is making.

The play in 4H:

At the tables where E/W competed, a spade lead should be automatic. Lead the spade deuce. Partner already knows you have 3 or more spades, lead low to show that you have an honor. Lead high (8 from 854 for example) to deny having an honor.

South ruffs the third spade and sees that he will have to find the club Q to make 4H. Declarer should pull the trump and drive out the A of diamonds. West needs to take the first or second diamond and exit with a diamond, to not be forced to break the clubs.

East has shown 8 hcps so far and 6 for West. From that perspective either opponent could hold the Q. How about distribution? You know East started with 5 spades 2 hearts and at least 3 diamonds, therefore only 2-3 clubs. So, West has 4 or 5 clubs, you should finesse through West. Just for kicks, cash a trump before starting clubs, if East pitches a diamond you now have the complete count. It doesn’t change anything, but it’s a good habit to develop.

At tables where E/W didn’t compete, West does not have a clear lead. N/S don’t seem to have much extra, so a passive lead might be best. I’d lead a trump. Leading low from an unsupported honor in this case is a big risk.

The results: