G N

I Defending against D D I B

E artificial systems V I S N

E Part III F E

D Frances Hinden As long as the opening might be a Examples normal opening bid with that suit, treat it IN the first two articles I discussed how to as if it were natural. That is, double is take- defend against artificial pre-emptive open - out of the suit bid but with extra emphasis ´ A Q 5 2 ´ K J 7 6 ings. In this last one I shall look at stronger on the majors. Bidding the suit opened ™ A 7 5 3 N ™ 6 4 W E artificial openings and responses. directly, or in response to partner's t Q J 7 S t A 10 5 2 overcall, is a cue-bid. With length in the ® 7 2 ® K Q 6 Transfer openings and suit opened pass first then bid it later. responses Artificial strong openings West North East South You may meet a pair playing transfer at the one or two level 1t1 Dbl 2 1™ openings (such as a 1 t opening showing 2™ Pass 2´ Pass hearts). You are more likely to come across Most of us are used to seeing a strong 1 ® 4´ All Pass transfer responses to a 1 ® opening, which opening (Precision or Blue Club), but 1 Four or more hearts, opening bid values. are becoming popular in some circles. For there are other possibilities, such as the 2 Take-out of hearts. simplicity, I recommend the same defence ‘Romex’ 1NT (showing any 18+), a strong against both opening and responding 1t or of course the traditional Acol or transfers: Benjaminised 2 ® opening. As it is by far ´ 10 6 2 ´ A 3 Double: take-out of the suit or suits the most common, you might play a ™ A Q J 10 4 N ™ 9 8 2 W E they have shown. special defence to a strong 1 ®, but agains t t 8 6 S t A 10 9 5 All others: as if they have opened or all the rest you won’t go far wrong playing ® Q 10 3 ® A J 9 2 responded in their suit. as follows: For example, over a 1 ´ opening showing hearts, 2 ™ is the same as a 2 ™ cue-bid over Double: Both majors. West North East South a 1 ™ opening (probably some form of No-trump bids at the lowest level: 1® Pass 1t1 two-suited hand), and 2 ´ is natural. 1NT Both minors. 1™2 1´ 2®3 2´ is about 15-18 with hearts stopped and All others: Natural; jumps weak. Pass 4 Pass 4™ All Pass double is take-out of hearts. 1 Four or more hearts. If the transfer bid is below the suit There are plenty of more complicated 2 Natural. shown (e.g. a 1 t opening or response methods around, including several where 3 A good hand, tell me more. showing hearts) you also have the one- the overcaller doesn’t show a specific suit 4 Nothing extra. level ‘cue-bid’ available, which you can (‘suction’, CRASH etc). The advantage of play as natural – this is particularly useful the simple method above is that the against four-card major openings! So over defence is exactly the same whatever the ´ A J 5 4 2 ´ K 10 8 6 3 1t showing at least four hearts, 1 ™ is opening bid actually is. ™ K Q 9 2 N ™ A 10 7 5 W E natural and 2 ™ is a cue-bid showing a One difficulty is when you hold a strong t 9 7 5 S t 3 two-suiter. hand in fourth seat, and partner bids over ® 9 ® 8 5 2 a strong opening. You usually assume that Artificial one-of-a-minor you are just trying to disrupt the opponents, openings but occasionally you might have a game West North East South your way, and you need a way to inves ti - 1NT 1 Dbl 2 Pass Here I am referring not to strong opening gate. Bid no-trumps at the lowest level as 2NT 3 3t 3´ Pass bids such as a Precision Club, but bids artificial and forcing, asking for a further 4´ 5® Pass Pass such as the ‘Polish’ Club (either natural, a description of partner’s hand. It’s far more 5´ All Pass weak no-trump or any 17+) or a Precision likely that you have a game based on 1 18+, any distribution. 1t opening which is either clubs or distribution and fit, than you need to 2 Both majors. diamonds. show a balanced hand. 3 Tell me more about your hand. r

42 English Bridge August 2009 www.ebu.co.uk