Joan Butts presenting
Joan Butts presenting

If you missed Joan's workshop on Modern Competitive Bidding on Saturday 9 September, then you missed out. It was excellent and there was so much chatter afterwards with people saying how much they had enjoyed it and how much they had learnt.

Her morning workshop on “Modern Competitive Bidding” was well attended even though it clashed with compulsory voting for council elections. Those members present certainly got value for their $12 as well as justification for giving up a valuable Saturday morning. I spoke to several attendees and they were unanimous in saying it was very worthwhile.

Joan is a gifted teacher in bridge – no wonder she is the ABF Teaching Coordinator – as she can communicate to all levels of players. Her logical explanations, her empathy with the attendees, her anecdotes and quotes, reinforces the principles she is teaching. You can see a you-tube video version of her presentation.

Some of her quotes:

  • “If you and your partner fully understand the basics of bridge you would win a world championship.
  • “You are not going to win in bridge unless you bid.”
  • “How far you bid is how good your trumps are.”
  • “Value for length always through the bidding”

Joan stressed the importance of hand evaluation. High card points are just the starter - relying on them won’t give you the true worth of your hand. Hand evaluation is the abmajor step in improving your bidding success. Positive considerations include:

  • shape - hands with long suits and short suits have far more potential than balanced hands
  • long suits
  • shortages
  • tens and nines – especially in your long suit.
  • Aces and Kings rather than Queens and Jacks
  • Honours in long suit.

Modern bridge has become more and more competitive with both sides actively bidding for the contract. Joan highlighted some techniques/factors to improve your competitive bidding:

  • Pre-empts when not vulnerable are under utilised.
  • Overcalls – specifically as lead directing for partner, rather than to win the contract
  • Your position at the table whether in 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th seat.
  • The "rule of 15" for 4th seat after 3 passes
  • Opener is the "describer", responder is the "decider"
  • Responder raises are either constructive or obstructive

Overall a very well spent Saturday morning.