BRIDGE NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 29 November 1930, Page 11

BRIDGE NOTES.

HELP FOR PLAYERS AND BEGINNERS. (3pbciax.lt wairniH *O3 tee pbb3s.) (By William Shackle.) Several times recently I have seen hands, such as the following, used to raise one's partner in his "No Trump" bid, after the opponent on the right has bid say 2 Hearts. Z—l 110 Trump, A —2 Hearts. Yis holding S 10, 4, 3, HK J : 9, 8, 3, D 9, 8, C Q. 7, 4. This is surely a double of 2 Hearts and yet how often has one heard 2 No Trumps bid on it. I would suggest that my readers try out this hand, giving Z a normal 21 pt. No Trump hand, and giving A Hearts A Q, 7, 6, 5, with 1 outside trick. In practically every case A B will be down, often to the extent of 400 pts., if the double is left in by Z.

Anyway it does at least convey definite information to Z that Y is well protected in Hearts, while it still leaves the bidding open to Z to go back into No Trumps if he desires to do so. As the main idea of a bid is to give one's partner information as to one's hand, it is very much better to give such information without raising his bid if it J is possible to do it. J One should only raise one's partner i jn the above position of bidding if j one has one certain trick in opponent's J declaration plus at least two other cer- J tain tricks elsewhere. W.th a 5 card suit ifc is invariably the better plan to call into that suit, even if it means bidding 3 of it. ! Beginners. j I am again giving two further hands 1 to bid. Last week's hands. Nos. 3 and 4, J bidding and score, are shown below: —j

Z deals in both hands. No aeore. i Last Wcek'a Hands. z **° Vi~ r .. i 1 Spade No bid S Diamonds Ko Via I 2 No Trumps No bid 3 Diamonds No bid , No bid j . Y Z making their 3 Diamonds. .! As Y had no sure re-entry, he could not leave Z in No Tramps, as he might have only 2 Ir'cks for him; while if Diamonds were trumps he expected to make at least 5 tricks. No. 4 1 Heart No bid i! Diamonds No bidNo bid 3 Spades No bid No bid S Diamonds No bid No bid 3 Spades 4, Diamonds No bid No bid No bid Y is one light, but has 5 honours —mines 15 net. A Is would have made their 3 Spades—--27 pins 18 honours. . So Z are really plus 30 to the good by bidding over their hand. This is_ a point which is so often forgotten by beginners — and ethers, too.