Bridge gole

SHRIRAMKRISHNAY NAMAH. Total Pages 3.
BRIDGE: PARTNER LET US FOLLOW THESE.
By Laxman Gole, Mob. 9869359976. Date 10-02-10.

(1) Stayman : 2 Cl on 1 NT is Styaman. He must have at least one 4 carded majors. Replies are :- 2 Dm-No 4 card major, 2 H- Only 4 Carded Hearts, 2 Sp- Only 4 carded Spades, 2 NT- Both 4 carded majors.
Similarly 3 Cl on 2 NT be replied.
Additionally for Precision 1 NT- 2 Dm is strong Stayman (holding 12+ HCP)
Same way 2 H-Only Hearts, 2 Sp-Only Spades & 2 NT- Both 4 carded majors.
What if none of the 4 carded majors? Bid 4 carded minor at 3 level . After all, your side holds 25-26 HCP for game, mostly now 3 NT is the proper bid..
(2) Doubles :- Doubles of any call up to 2 level and preempt suit at 3 level is always for Take Out. .Partner may convert it into penalty doubles by passing. Doubles of call of 3 or up level(NT or suit) is always for penalties. Partner may convert it into take out doubles and bid further with strong reasons.
(3) Leading from suit headed by Ace and King : -Many players open King. But partner cannot understand whether you hold Ace or Queen. Therefore open Ace first. (i.e. top of sequence/near sequence) Partner knows you hold AKQ or AKJ. You generally avoid leading Ace to peter (high-low) for a ruff unless in partner’s suit.
(4) When partner has bid a suit and you don’t, open with highest card in this suit. Further, play cards to lowest side. (Some players choose lowest card to show honour).
(5) When you have bid and partner is silent, and you choose this suit to open, then normal card be led (top of sequence/near sequence, 4th best etc).
(6) When you and partner have bid suits, open with highest card in partner’s suit and then lower cards in that order, whenever possible. Against NT ,if your suit is strong with a side suit entry, you may open as (5) above. Also hurridly cash
Honours against suit contract.
(7) As against (4), (5) and (6), you may open anything else with strong reasons. Otherwise be ready to criticism from partner.
(8) Defender’s First Discard (Very Important) : This is a point of debate. Some players discard from the interested suit (any card/higher card). But this may loose a vital trick, e.g. Holding A K 10 6, and you discard 6, then you have already lost that 4th vital trick in this suit. THEREFORE FOLOW AS UNDER :-
(a) You may announce before start of match/game/round, that your first discard is a negative discard.
(b) Some, one of the defenders will have to make first discard. This first discard is considered MOST IMPORTANT and is used in this method. Other discards are immaterial.
(c) Both partners must be alert and watchful for this discard. Whoever defender is first required to discard, he must be very alert and watchful for making this first discard.
(d) This First Discard is chosen from a suit of relatively least interested suit, as for as possible. So to say, he/she has discarded that suit.
(e) Higher card shows great interest in higher of the remaining two suits.
Lower card may (or may not) show interest in lower of the remaining two suits. After all, he/she has to discard something. But certainly he/she has no great interest in the higher of the remaining two suits.
(f) Discarder’s partner must try to preserve the length and strength in this discarded suit.
(g) At every opportunity, (say leading, following (or even discarding himself !)), he must play from highest to lowest cards, in that order.
(h) At least on 80 % to 90 % boards, you will get top score/result.
(i) If you act anything else, it must have a very strong reason, otherwise partner may become angry.
(j) Proper changes may be made if required and agreed by both defenders/players.
(k) When this procedure is fully swallowed other partner’s first discard may also be thought of.
(9) As a defender, be very reluctant to part with Key Cards in declarer’s or dummy’s
Long Suits say triumph suit/side suit.
(10) Holding an Honour as a defender, sitting over dummy, holding a lower Honour;
T ry to keep your honour to grab/cover dummy’s that honour.
(11) Refer Best Book/Winning Pairs Technique/By Jannersten and Wolhen.
(a) Introduction : - In Pairs event, your real opponents are players who play
the board as your own direction. Outscoring them is necessary. Even a
small score is decisive (3 NT- 400, 4 H/Sp – 420, 3 NT making 10 tricks -
430). Hence, action at all stages (bidding/playing/defending) is essential.
You may be declarer or defender. Spare 10 seconds after dummy is
spread to think what could be the contract on other tables? Is it cold or
shaky ? Would have your side bid any other contract ? And so on
. Modify your thoughts as the play progresses.
(b) Bidding :- This has to be aggressive to strike major suit (especially
spades) as soon as possible, ahead of opponents. This enables your side
to buy the contract and/or greatly obstruct opponents bidding. It has
something like pre-empt bidding effect. For this, and just as a guide, ADD
FOLLOWING to your HCP and then bid. With 4+Spades add 2 and
With 4+ Hearts add 1.
e.g. Holding AQ84, 732,Q54 ,Q93, open Spades in any position OR
overcall in Spades in any position. Holding AQ842,732,J103,84, respond
in Spades. Of course, be alert to reach game/slam as you normally do.
REMEMBER that it is nothing to do with your bidding system.
(c) As a general guide, WHEN YOU HOLD 3+ SUPPORT IN MAJOR,
Immediately raise your partner’s that major suit. Do not show your any
other long suit if any. That will be automatically helpful. Thereafter you
may further try for game/slam.
(d) Declarer’s Play : - When dummy is spread, ask yourself a standard
question, as to what would be contract at most of the tables? If you have bid the same, (first make sure of your contract), and then try for overtrick, even at some risk. Actually making the contract or going down makes no vital difference. Making your overtrick, you gain a top score on that board. If you have bid a contract, which might not have been reached at many tables, then play safest to fulfill it. Avoid any risk for any overtrick
(e) Defender’s Play : _ When dummy is spread, spare 10 seconds to review.
What may happen at the other tables? Take help of bidding and 26 cards you see. Modify your thoughts as play proceeds. If declarer seems to have a cold contract, do not risk putting it down. Just play to avoid overtrick. If the contract seems to be shaky, sharpen your play to break it. On many tables this may happen. Therefore, if required, risk to assume certain distribution (against overtrick). Allowing the declarer making contract, or allowing an overtrick makes no vital difference.
(e) Please refer page 37 of the Book. If you choose a long suit to lead,
with no sequence/near sequence in it , usually you lead 4th best and use
rule of 11. Instead, try to consider leading 5th best with 5 or more cards
with use of rule of 10 and lead 3rd best with 4 carded suit and use rule of
12. This gives exact idea of cards held by the opening leader.

It is not at all claimed that this discussion is the best. But it is certain that both partners must agree and strictly follow SOME POINTS FOR BEST RESULTS. This procedure puts forward some points to start with. Once you experience this procedure, you may modify some, but again both partners must adhere to them. GOOD LUCK AND GOOD BYE.
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CUE BIDDING (CONTRACT BRIDGE)
BY SMT. SHOBHANA GORE, SANGLI.
EX VICE PRESIDENT, MAHARASHTRA BRIDGE ASSOCIATION. 18-02-2010.
(Mob. 9011012721, 9822320720)

The author has consulted many books and found interesting meanings of Cue Biddding and hence has given them below.

What is CUE ?
Long back, bidding the enemy suit was called as cue bid. e.g. Opener – 1 Spade,
In second position bid of 2 Spades is a cue bid AND IT PROMISES A FIRST ROUND CONTROL OF THAT SUIT. In some methods, it promised no looser in enemy suit.
This case being rare, players found it useful to use the bid of the opposition suit for multitude of purposes.
(1) As a general force to game.
(2) Looking for a stopper for No Trumps.
(3) As a natural bid.
(4) Replacing the loss of Stayman of 2 Cl, when there is interference over 1 NT.
(5) Asking partner to choose one of the unbid suits.
(6) As a strong action without forcing to game.
(7) Various other conventional meanings, according to partners understanding.

Cue Bidding for Slam Bidding :-
Once the suit is agreed, cue bid takes the place only in the suits outside of trumps.
(1) Cue bid the first round control- the cheapest and not the lowest.
e.g. 1 H- 3 H With Cl and Dim. Aces, bid Club Ace.
(2) e.g. 1 H- 3 H, With Sp and Cl Aces, bid Spade Ace..
(3) Cue bid second stopper.
(4) Cue bid third stopper.

Summary of Cue Bidding Principles :-
(1) After a major suit has been agreed, a new suit bid of 3 Sp or higher is a cue bid.
(2) First round controls are first shown, then the second round controls are shown and then the third round controls are shown.
(3) In showing controls, “THE CHEAPEST FIRST”, principle applies. By passing a suit in the in the cue bidding denies the control in the suit by passed.
(4) After cue bidding, 4 NT Blackwood for Aces, may still be used.
(5) The Ace, King and Queen of the trumps, are not shown by the cue bid, but may be ascertained by the 5 NT trump ask.
(6) Reverting to the trump suit at any stage in a cue bidding auction is not showing a bid, but denying bid. It indicates the unwillingness or inability to bid any higher.
(7) The use of 5 NT ask presupposes, there are no loosers outside trumps.
(8) A cue bid higher than five of the agreed trump suit guarantees there are no First
Round loosers outside trumps.



Page 2//2
Miechal’s Cue Bids (MCB)
(1) MCB on a minor opening at one level. e.g. (N) 1 Cl / (W) 2 Cl..
Requirements of MCB.
(1) 8 to 11 HCP, (2) Min. 5-5 distribution in majors. (3) Not more than one defensive trick. (4) Good texture of the suits.

Responses to MCB :-
(1) W N E S
1 Cl 2 Cl P 2 NT } Response of 2 NT by S is Relay, asking
P 3 Dm P ? } for count range of Cue bidder.
With a minimum, cue bidder will bid 3 Cl .With 13-14 HCP bid 3 Dm
With super 15, bid 3 Hearts.
Cue Bidder bids after 2 NT response.
Non-Vulnerable Vulnerable
3 Cl - 8-11 HCP 3 Cl - 9-12 HCP
3 Dm- 12-13 HCP 3 Dm- 13-14 HCP
3 Hr- 14 & more HCP 3 Ht - 15 & more HCP.
(2) Normal Response Bid : Major with 2 or 3 cards. If the responder has a good
hand (11-12 HCP) bid 2 NT.

(2) Michael’s Cue Bid on one level Major.
Requirements for MCB :-
(1) 7-11 HCP, (2) 5-5 distribution in unbid major & one of two minors.
Responses to MCB
. (1) Simple bid in the partner’s major suit shown. (2) 2 NT asking for minor
(3) Cue bid in opener’s suit shows good support for partner’s major- Slam Try.

WESTERN CUE BID (JUMP CUE BID)
The bid in the major suit at one level in the direct position, shows a long minor
suit asking partner to bid 3 NT, if he has a control in opponent’s suit. If he has no
control, he bids 4 Clubs, which is conventional, cue bidder can correct it.
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SHRIRAM.
BRIDGE – REVOKE.
By: L.G. Gole, Sangli. Mob. 9869359976. Dated 06-04-2010. Pages: Two.

The bridge players are not sufficiently aware of Revoke. Many of them seem to have misunderstanding about Revoke. A humble attempt is made here to explain Revoke and procedure thereafter.

When a player, following a trick plays a card of another suit, even if he holds card/s of the suit laid; Revoke is said to have been made. It is an offence and is liable to penalty. It is suggested that even in ordinary game /matches , strictly follow the rules so that every one sufficiently gets conversant with the procedure on Revoke.

(1) Any player at the table (including dummy, but no viewers) can and may inquire, if a player has made a Revoke when that person does not follow suit. But it is not compulsory for any player to do so. And the Revoke is to be penalized.

(2) When declarer makes such a wrong play of Revoke from dummy, it should just simply be corrected, by replacing the wrong card played with any card from the suit led, and there is no further penalty. Rest all the three players are liable to penalty.

(3) Correcting Revoke : In play any player can ask on such occasion, if the Revoke has been made. If that is the case, or if that player noticed it himself, the offending player must play any card of the suit led replacing one already played. If it is declarer, there is no further penalty. On the contrary, he has given information to the defenders. But the Offender-Defender is subject to penalty. He must keep that wrong card as a penalty card and must be played at the very first legal opportunity, as per those rules. In that, whenever he is to lead for next trick, or following the suit led, or discarding or if that is the trump, he must ruff with that penalty card (even partner’s Ace). There is no further penalty. This is known as correcting the Revoke. But it must be made immediately.

(4) “Immediately” – “Immediately” means till the offender or his partner (dummy if offender is declarer), plays to the immediate next trick. Till then Revoke can be corrected without any further penalty.

(5) Once the offender or his partner plays to the immediate next trick, Revoke no longer can be corrected. It is now termed as “The Revoke has been established”. And it is subject to further penalty. When any player at the table (including dummy, but not the viewers), during the play, further, notices that the Revoke has been committed, he points it accordingly. When it is agreed, a simple note is taken of the fact and the play continues to the thirteenth trick, as if nothing had happened .Penalty is decided just thereafter.

(6) The Revoke at the eleventh trick or thereafter cannot be established. It is simply corrected by replacing the wrong card with any card of the suit laid, and there is no further penalty.
Page :- 2

(7) It is absolutely necessary to count thirteen cards taken just in hand from the board. It is equally desirable to count cards just before placing them back in the board.

(8) If it is noticed any time during the play, that, some player held less cards, the Revoke has taken place or will automatically take place. This will be checked up during or just at the end of play. Penalty will be decided thereafter. On the contrary, a player holding more cards cannot be adequately penalized.


(9) PENALTY ON REVOKE (Equally applicable to all the three players)
This is decided just after the thirteenth trick is completed.

(A) There is no penalty of any tricks on the offending side on the tricks they have won just before the Revoke trick.
(B) If the Revoke trick has been won by the offending side, this trick is transferred to the non offending side. If this trick has not won by the offending side, there is no penalty on this account.
(C) If the offending side has won one or more tricks after the Revoke trick, ONLY one trick is transferred to the non offending side. .If the offending side has not won any tricks after the Revoke trick, there is no penalty on this account.
(D) This means that no trick is required to be transferred if offending side has not won the Revoke trick or any tricks thereafter.

(10) It goes without saying, that if a player makes Revoke (intentionally or otherwise), the non offender side cannot say that, “Well, we would have made that/those trick/s or we would have changed our playing plan“, and so on. The penalty as per the laws and rules will become applicable on the offending side. In most of the cases non-offending side is sufficiently (or even more) compensated.
. .