Be a More Difficult Opponent
BE A MORE DIFFICULT OPPONENT
and get better results
By Tom Kiss
The choice of bids and the selection of cards you play can make playing against you easy or difficult. Choosing bids that inhibit interposes should be given priority, especially against good opponents, who are more likely to interpose and push you too high.
Generally speaking 5 card major opponents are more difficult opponents. In the 4 card or 5 card major “which is better” controversy, an important point is often overlooked. Playing 4 card majors, responder with 3 card major support often bids 1NT, allowing his LHO (left hand opponent) to bid 2♣, 2♦ or even 2♥. Raising partner’s major with 3 cards blocks low level interposes and prevents opponents finding a fit.
SUPPORT RESPONDER’S MAJOR WITH 3 CARDS OFTEN.
The same principle of raising partner’s opening applies when partner has responded a major.
♠ Q104 In a recent duplicate a player opened
♥ Q53 1♦, pass on his left, 1♥ by partner
♦ AKJ98 and instead of bidding 2♥, he
♣32 bid 1NT. On his left 2♣ was bid and raised to 3♣, pushing them to 3♥ one off.
Not so easy to come in at the 3 level over 2♥.
What happens in the above hand if South doubles the 1♥ response? A “Support Redouble” showing 3 card support allows North to bid 1♠ (4-7pts), 1NT (8-11 pts), 2♣, 2 cue bids, or jump to 2♠ with 8-11 pts. Support redoubles that do not show extra points are of dubious value when a simple 2♥ raise obstructs six information exchanging bids.
SUPPORT MINOR MORE OFTEN
On the same theme, that a simple raise in a major makes it difficult for your opponent to come in, so does a minor suit raise. You should be able to raise your partner’s minor whenever possible; if your partnership uses ‘inverted minor raises’ then they should be OFF in competition. When your partner’s 1♦ has been overcalled or doubled you must be able to raise to 2♦ with weak hands, even if 1♦ is better minor. Holding the following you should bid 2♦ after your partner’s 1♦ is doubled.
♠ 96 Firstly this simple raise stops LHO from
♥ 752 bidding 1NT or 2♣, and secondly
♦.KQ65 imagine LHO has a 4 card major
♣ J742 and 8-11 points with which an easy jump to the 2 level over your pass can be made. Even
the expert is reluctant to jump to the 3 level with a 4 card suit. A simple raise can keep
opponents out of game. Note if you had a fifth ♦ you should jump to 3♦ with weak hands
whether playing inverted minors or not.
♠ 975 Your partner opens 1♣ pass by
♥ J RHO. Do not respond 1♦, allowing
♦ QJ1032 1♥, 1♠ or a 2♦ cue bid —bid 2♣.
♣ A964
WALSH OR WESTERN SCIENTIFIC RESPONSES TO 1♣
When responder is too weak to force to game diamond suits are bypassed in favour of major suits, regardless of the length of the diamond suit. Adopting this style is advantageous because you find your major suit fits quickly, and you become more difficult to play against.
♠ 9753 Your partner opens 1♣ pass by RHO
♥ J Walsh style is to respond 1♠ and only to respond 1♦
♦ QJ1032 with opening values 12+ points.
♣ A96
Keeping the bidding low is not much of an argument for responding 1♦ to 1♣; it is very easy for the opponents to come in with 1♥ or 1♠.
GIVE PRIORITY TO BIDS THAT BLOCK LOW LEVEL INTERPOSES
♠ 83 Your partner opens 1♦, RHO doubles.
♥ 754 If you pass or your LHO has an easy 1♥ or
♦ J43 1♠ bid. Bidding 2♣ bid makes it difficult
♣ AK642 for LHO with at most 7 pts to do anything but pass.
You may be saving yourself a decision over 2♠.
♠ J74 Your partner opens 1♣, pass by RHO,
♥ 875 you should bid 1NT (with 8 -10 pts)
♦ AK97 not 1♦. Block the potential 1 level
♣ 973 major bid. You may buy the contract, saving yourself a decision over their 2♥ or 2♠.
♠ KJ53 Your partner opens 1♥, pass by RHO,
♥ 972 you should bid 2♥ not 1♠. Block the
♦ K3 potential 2 level minor bid. You may
♣ 9842 buy the contract in 2♥.It is very difficult for them to come in at the 3 level with only a 5
card minor.
♠ J42 Your partner opens 1♣, 1♦ by RHO,
♥ 85 you should bid 1NT, don’t pass
♦ AJ953 hoping for a penalty X of 1♦. Block the
♣ Q82 1♥ or 1♠ bid. recently I saw 1NT bid and made with this hand while the opponents were
cold for 3♠.
AND AT HIGH LEVELS
♠ 3 Your partner opens 1♦, pass by RHO, you should bid 4♥
♥ KQJ1054 not 1♥. You may buy it there and over opponents 4♠,
♦ KJ43 5♦ describes your hand. In the long run the blocking bid will
♣ 76 render good results. Occasionally you may miss slam.
CUE RAISES AND FIT SHOWING JUMPS
The modern style after say 1♥ – (1♠) – ? is to bid 2♠ to show a limit raise or better in hearts; a jump to 3♥
is pre-emptive and weak (this bid is alertable) and jump to 3♣ or 3♦ can be a fit showing jump (a typical hand might be ♠98 ♥ K65 ♦854 ♣ AQJ76.
Even when your partner interposes, depending on vulnerability you can jump with weak hands and 4 card support; you become a something of a ‘pain’ even to the best opposition. Concerning fit jumps, especially if you keep finding successful sacrifices – you are a difficult opponent.
BERGEN RAISES
Bergen raises are difficult to play against. Those who play Bergen jump to 3♣ over their partner’s major opening, when hitherto would raise to 2♠, allowing a simple double by opponents to show shortage and 3♣ as a natural bid. How many players have discussed whether the double over a Bergen 3♣ bid is lead directing or shows the other major? Even if opponents have discussed a defence, they lose either a natural bid or a takeout double, and that’s reason enough to play Bergen raises, even by a passed hand.
CONCEAL CARDS
As declarer, always win the trick with the HIGHEST of TOUCHING HONOURS, for example, playing in 3NT with K Q x in hand, when a low card is led and RHO plays the J, win with the King. LHO won’t know who has the Q and when in may continue the suit rather than risk a switch. If you win the J with the Q, LHO will know you have the K, as his partner would have gone up with the K from K J x. The same rule applies if you have Q J x or A Q J win the 10 with the Q, always the highest of touching honours. Luckily this is a very simple rule, as declarer you should always do it. You will become a more difficult opponent.
Ed Tom Kiss is a Sydney player, presently a Silver Grand Master, an enthusiast who studies bridge even after 45 years of playing .
