By Jon Shuster North Can Lead the Singleton , Knowing ♥ ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ and Overcalls (TOPO) When in with the ♠A, North Can Reach -Aqxxxxx -Xx -Axx, and Bid 5 Over 4
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North holds: 2. Bid 3♦ as a lead director for ♥s. Your defensive Transfers Opposite Preempts ♠-Ax ♥-AQJxxx ♦-x ♣-KQ10x plan is to gain the lead on the first ♥, and ♦ push ♣s. On the actual plan, partner has ♠-x By Jon Shuster North can lead the singleton , knowing ♥ ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ and Overcalls (TOPO) when in with the ♠A, North can reach -AQxxxxx -xx -Axx, and bid 5 over 4 . When the opponents went on to 5♠, it took a hand, or lack of a long South in ♥s. Had South bid 3♥, denying Several local players have asked me for a new ♥ ♣ low ♥ lead to your K and the ♣Q shift to beat self sufficient suit. the K, North would lead a high (K or Q ♠ ♥ ♥ article on this convention, which I wrote up depending on your lead agreements). 5 . The A lead fails as s are 3-1. You will for the Bidding Lab in the April and May 2009 6. 3NT is to play find yourself being more aggressive both on ACBL Bulletins (Then called TOO, Transfers 7. Transferring into your opponents’ Here is a quiz all at matchpoints. overcalls and in supporting these overcalls Opposite Overcalls). Having played it in two agreed suit is a cue bid if you bid 1. With neither vul, Dealer East, South holds: with possible lead directing bids in between. regular partnerships, Ron Law and Evelyn again (rare). ♠-J943 ♥-843 ♦-AQ72 ♣-85 It makes defending all that much easier. Kleinsasser, for close to three years, I can say Exceptions: and the bidding went 3. Bid 3♣ (transfer to ♦s). Partner held ♠-x that this is an effective defensive weapon, and ♥-Q10xxx ♦-6 ♣-AK732, and racked up 10 A. Note that you cannot transfer into West North East South it is easy to apply, with few mix-ups. Regular the suit immediately above your partner’s, tricks on a ♠ lead, losing only the ♦-AKQ partnerships will find virtually no downside unless the opponent doubles partner’s call, - - 1♣ Pass for an absolute top. Evelyn Kleinsasser did to it. I learned the basic idea from Rahn Smith well to bid 3♦ with her singleton. Poor East in which case, a redouble is a transfer. Since 1♥ 2♠ 3♥ ? and Sharon Meng-Horton, who applied it 3NT is to play, transfers to ♣s include 1NT, claimed he wanted to lead a ♦, but was void. after interference against their weak twos, but 2NT, 3♠ (if not your partner’s suit), and 2. Non-Vul vs. Vul, Dealer West, South 4. Bid 3NT. Your ♠Q is a stopper. But if the it can have utility in other situations. It is our holds: opponent had bid 3♥, showing a ♠ raise with most frequently applied convention. 4NT. In situations where ♥s is a transfer to an unbid ♠ suit, use ♠’s not NT as a transfer ♠-974 ♥-K3 ♦-643 ♣-Q J1073 the A or K, you do not have a ♠ stopper. Here are the two major settings: to ♣, keeping NT as natural. and the bidding went Partner almost surely has a singleton ♠, so, Suppose you are South and the bidding you should bid 4♦. My opponents figured B. If your partner’s suit is ♦s, you cannot West North East South goes either transfer into ♠s when they have bid only ♣s, this one out. West North East South as ♥s is the suit above partner’s (Natural) 1♠ 2♥ 2♠ ? 5. Pass. There are no penalty doubles in TOPO. Bid or and so by extension ♠s must be natural. 3. Both Vul, Dealer West, South holds: (However, I would pass 3♥ even if the Natural Unbid majors are very high priorities, ♠-AKQ4 ♥-7 ♦-J1098753 ♣-2 meaning of double was penalty. In fact, on One of a suit Overcall Negative ? this deal, 4♦ makes.) Double and you should check the meaning of all or possible calls below your planned one to West North East South Summary see if you have it right. This all becomes 1♦ 2♥ Double(1) ? TOPO is a very constructive way to West North East South second nature very quickly. (1)Negative compete. Opportunities to use the treatment Bid or All calls by South must be alerted. Natural 4. Vul vs. not, Dealer South, South holds: come up often, and memorization is minimal. - Takeout ? Important Note: TOPO does not apply if The nuts and bolts can be explained on Preempt ♠-Q75 ♥-K2 ♦-AK8742 ♣-A3 Double the opponent passes partner’s bid. a single typewritten page, with lifetime South applies TOPO (Transfers Opposite Why use TOPO? First, it comes up often, West North East South benefits to follow. If the bidding indeed goes Preempts and Overcalls) as follows. typically several times per session. Second, One Bid-overcall-bid or double, the hand is - - - 1♦ 1. All bids, at any level, except as stated your defense will be made more accurate overwhelmingly likely to be at best a part-score ♠ below, are transfers to the next higher through positive and negative inferences 1♠ 2♦ 3 ? for your side. Most calls are therefore geared suit (Possibly lead directing with from your action or lack of action. Third, (TOPO) to improving your defensive prospects in the support for North’s suit). when the overcall is in a minor, showing or 5. Neither Vul, dealer North, South holds: likely event your opponents buy the contract. 2. Double and redouble are transfers. denying a high honor can lead to good NT ♠-9 ♥-AKJ97 ♦-A5 ♣-Q9763 The transfer also gives you the flexibility for 3. A transfer to partner’s suit shows games and avoid bad ones. partner to play in your suit (even if bid by support and is lead directing (shows Illustration: You are South West North East South the opponents as in #3) in situations where A or K). standard bidding is ambiguous. West North East South - 2♠ 3♥ ? 4. A direct raise of partner’s suit shows (1) Solutions: (These were real hands.) Thanks go toRon Schoenau of Gainesville for support but is lead inhibiting (lacks 1♠ 2♥ 2♠ 3♦ helpful suggestions and comments. A or K). 1. Bid 4♣ as lead directing in ♦s. You intend to 4♠ bid 4♠ (which is down two). If the opponents 5. Pass indicates a likely misfit, a weak South shows ♥A or ♥K go on to 5♥, only a ♦ lead sets that contract. SBNx 16 ACBL District 9 www.District9ACBL.org 17 Bridge for the Club Player DISCIPLINED DOUBLING: DESCRIBING & DECIDING (part 1 of 2) By Jack Brawner • [email protected] don’t have an extra trump, but you have a singleton AND a side suit of In my last article, I stressed five cards or longer, add a trump and compete accordingly. ((Hint: with how important it is to double two strikes against me –no singleton/void AND vulnerable, I mentally partscores at matchpoints. subtract a trump before I bid up another level.)) Letting the opponents outbid you Forget about your points. They are immaterial. If you have those precious and collect bushels of matchpoints points and really want to bid, perhaps you can… even when they don’t make their B) DOUBLE! contract is a sure way to avoid the winner’s circle. You MUST double in If you are the strong hand, double with “book”. Four tricks if the opponents are order to be successful. In this article, I hope to help you by providing you at the three level, and five tricks if they are at the two level. You are telling your with a system for intelligent doubling. Please understand in advance partner that they can safely leave the double in if they can contribute a trick. that I am only trying to help you play the odds. If you are not getting an If you are under the gun as the weak hand, double with two tricks. In theory, this could be as few as ONE point (JT9xx of the opponents’ suit.) Remember occasional minus-470 (or worse!) you are not doubling enough. your partner cannot expect more than this after you have limited your bid to 9 I need to start with some definitions. The “strong” hand will be the hand that points or so. opened or overcalled and may still be fairly good. The “weak” hand will be the Once again, forget about points. If you don’t have tricks, don’t double. If hand that made a simple raise (or bid 1NT) and has limited their high-card spades is our suit, I will double their 3H bid with xxx, Q Jx, Axx, xxxx (seven points to around 9. The hand that is “under the gun” is the hand that makes the points) but with AQx, xxx, Qxxx, Jxx (nine points) I will pass. I will NOT first decision/description at the three level. The partner of the under the gun count the King of our suit as a trick – it is too likely one of the opponents has a hand will be in the passout seat. singleton. Let’s say the auction goes 1♠ by you, 2♣ by LHO, 2♠ by partner, 3♣ by RHO. C) PASS! You are the strong hand, your partner is the weak hand, and you are the strong You will pass MOST of the time. For some of you type A personalities, this will hand under the gun – it’s your turn to bid. If the auction goes 1♥ by partner, Dbl be difficult. But if you cannot bid (which takes distribution) or double (which by RHO, 2♥ by you, Dbl by LHO, Pass by partner, 3♦ by RHO then you are still takes tricks), then make a DESCRIPTIVE pass.