Stratford-upon-Avon Bridge Club

Welcome to the 39th of our now, lockdown 2.0 continuing Tier 3 newsletters.

Stratford Online Club News:- ​

********************************************************************************** Next week,

Tuesday 22nd December - 1:30pm

Thursday 24th December - 10:00am **********************************************************************************

When playing, please try to bid/play in , so that everyone can enjoy the game.

Alan Patel says that he is happy to help players make up pairs, by taking emails, calls, if members don’t wish to use our website partnering system.

No need to let me know if you have already let me have your BBOid. If not then email details to [email protected]. ​ ​

I have been busy in my inspiration isolation station and found the following:-

Today is

National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day and ​ ● National Roast Suckling Pig Day

Steven Spielberg’s birthday, born in 1946 and Brad Pitt, born in 1963

The Bid of 2♣

We all know what this bid means in every circumstance, don’t we?

Here are 12 quiz questions to check – they are not all as easy as you may think! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to match the meaning with the auction. The options will include:

Strong/Artificial, Stayman, Michaels Cuebid, , Natural , Natural Rebid, New ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Minor Forcing, Natural Response, Drury, Artificial Overcall, Other Artificial Meaning, Other ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Meaning

But, thankfully, not all of these are possible answers to every question. You are always South.

Question 1. What does South's 2♣ mean in this auction?

West North East South

2♣

Choose One:

Weak 2-bid in clubs; Strong, artificial and GF; Strong, artificial but not GF; Strong and Natural

Question 2. What does South's 2♣ mean in this auction? ​ West North East South

1♣ 2♣

Choose One:

Natural, Strong takeout;5-5 or longer in the Majors (Michaels );5-5 or longer in Spades and Diamonds (Ghestem); Other Meaning; Requires partnership agreement

Question 3. What does South's 2♣ mean in this auction?

West North East South

1♦ ​ Pass 1NT Pass 2♣

Choose One:

Stayman; New Minor Forcing; Both minors, forcing; Both minors, not forcing; Other

Question 4 What does South's 2♣ mean in this auction? West North East South ​ ​ 1♣

Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣

Choose One:

5 or more clubs, minimum; 6 or more clubs, might have a 4-card major; minimum, 6 or more clubs, no 4-card major, minimum; Other meaning Question 5 What does South's 2♣ mean in this auction?

West North East South

1NT Pass 2♣

Choose One:

Natural; Stayman, at least 2 clubs; Stayman, says nothing about clubs; Other meaning

Question 6 What does South's 2♠ mean in this auction?

West North East South

1♦ Pass 1♠ ​ Pass 1NT Pass 2♠

Choose One:

Stayman; Natural; New Minor Forcing; Requires Partnership Agreement

Question 7 What does South's 2♠ mean in this auction?

West North East South

Pass

Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣

Choose One:

Natural, GF; Natural not GF; Drury; New Minor; Requires Partnership Agreement

Question 8 What does South's 2♠ mean in this auction?

West North East South

1♠ Pass 2♣

Choose One:

Stayman; New Minor; Other Artificial bid; Natural, 6-10; Natural; 6+Natural, 10+; Natural, GF; Requires Partnership Agreement

Question 9 What does South's 2♠ mean in this auction?

West North East South

1♠ Pass 2♠

Choose One: Stayman; Game Forcing, Artificial; Natural, 6-9; Natural,10+; Requires Partnership Agreement

Question 10 What does South's 2♣ mean in this auction?

West North East South

1♥ 2♣ ​ Choose One:

Natural, 9+; Natural, roughly opening bid values; Other

Question 11 What does South's 2♣ mean in this auction?

West North East South

1♥ 1♠ Pass 2♣ ​ Choose One:

Natural, forcing; Natural, not forcing; Requires partnership agreement

Question 12 What does South's 2♣ mean in this auction?

West North East South

1NT 2♣

Choose One:

Natural; Majors; Clubs and another suit; One-suited hand; Requires Partnership Agreement

The 2♣ Quiz

I hope this wasn’t too easy!

Question 1 The answer is: Strong, artificial and not game-forcing. It is possible for the auction to subside in 2NT. I suppose that, if you are playing Benji or a , you may be able to select a different answer but this quiz is for more normal folk!

Question 2 I think the answer is: Requires partnership agreement. Generally the answer will be Michaels Cue Bid or Ghestem but do you play the same style with all your partners? Anyone who learned their bridge in the days of Culbertson (Google him!) would take this bid to be an enormously powerful hand. If you selected Natural, please think again.

Question 3 The answer for all of us should be: Both minors, non-forcing. Typically, the ​ ​ ​ hand would be 5/4 but it is possible that it might be 4/4 if the opening hand contains a singleton and three 4-card suits. The strength of the hand is very wide-ranging and could be as weak as 11 hcp or even as strong as 18 hcp. Life can be tough sometimes.

Question 4 There may be some disagreement here. The correct answer for those playing a Weak NT style is 5 or more clubs in a minimum strength hand. For those playing a Strong NT style, the answer is 6 or more clubs in a minimum strength hand. Why the difference? Well, with a weak hand containing a singleton spade, the Strong NT-ers would be able rebid 1NT when holding a singleton spade so would certainly have 6 or more clubs in this sequence.

Question 5 I can’t think there can be any disagreement with this one. The only possible answer is Stayman, saying nothing about the club suit.

Question 6 Requires partnership agreement -- but most experts use this artificially (so choice of “new minor forcing” can also accepted as correct). It can be considered "new minor forcing" or "checkback" or just "artificial." There are many forms of this convention and the partnership would need to agree.

Question 7 Requires Partnership Agreement. Don't feel badly if you voted for Drury (also accepted as a correct answer). That is the way most experienced partnerships use it (and what I recommend). However, this is a convention that both partners often forget. Many of you might choose to remember the “Rule of 14” to guide you when this is a natural bid.

Question 8 Requires Partnership Agreement - but Natural Game Forcing is the modern way if you are playing 5-card majors with a Strong NT style (and the way I recommend in that style) and can also be marked as a correct answer.

Question 9 Requires Partnership Agreement. Most experts use it as . This would mean it is a , to 3♣, at least but it could be the first step on a very strong hand. Note that it would deny a 4-card major. For traditionalist, it’s just a simple raise.

Question 10 Natural, roughly opening bid values. A 2-level overcall shows a decent hand and suit. You can use the Suit Quality Overcall Test to help you here. I think this almost certainly guarantees a 6-card suit, especially when you are vulnerable.

Question 11 Requires Partnership Agreement. I suggest your partnership treats it as forcing for one round (and natural). It denies the ability to make an Unassuming Cue Bid in support of partner’s suit.

Question 12 Requires Partnership Agreement. There are many possible conventions here (DONT, Cappelletti, Landy and tons of others). Even natural is possible.

So many of the answers suggested that Partnership Agreement was the correct answer. ​ ​ Time to sit down with (or e-mail or some other electronic communicate with) your partner.

And just to keep you all alert:-

My wood burning stove is connected to the internet , I logged on last night.

I heard that there will be a round of applause for delivery drivers tomorrow, it could be anytime between 9am and 5pm.

In Fishing news.... For the past three years the local competition has been won by Cecil Jones. This year however, keeping it in the family, it was won by his daughter Jane, who, as a secret weapon, used a baker’s raising agent as bait, on the recommendation of her brother Steve.

When she won, the local paper printed the headline,

‘Good thing when Cec’s lass hooked trout. On the yeast of Stephen’

With that - Keep safe and a merry Christmas to all members and looking forward to a new year.

There will be a break next week from the newsletter, as the editor will be drinking from breakfast onwards, as is traditional at this time of year.