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TH asked: When a responder changes suit, it is forcing on opener to rebid. However what happens if opener’s rebid changes the suit again? Is this forcing on responder to bid again?
An opener's change to a new suit that is not a jump bid or higher ranking than their first bid (eg 1H - 1S - 2C) is not normally forcing when the responder has changed suit at the one level. It may indicate a two-suited minimum or medium range opening hand (13-18 points) and a responder with minimum (6-7) points may pass with a better fit in the second suit.
Who can use the library?
All members of the Peninsula Bridge Club have access to the bridge library books and other resources. Follow this guide to read some great bridge books.
How to borrow a book?
1 Select your book from the glass cupboard.
2 Write it up in the Red hard-covered diary.
3 Enjoy the book.
4 Return the book to the library chute below the Suggestion Box in the Library area.
5 Write up the date you returned the book in the Red hard-covered diary.
The 2017 Laws of Duplicate Bridge are now available for reading. The Library has acquired the 2017 edition of the Laws of Bridge 2017 from the World Bridge Federation for you to read. If you are interested, you can Google these changes to look at what has been reviewed and altered. For many of us it is just good to know we have the most up-to-date information available at our Club!
Also we have the latest 2017 edition of Director is Called by John Mcilrath. This publication discusses the most frequent instances when a Director is called and how directors might handle the issues according to the Laws. Recently modified to reflect the new 2017 Laws of Duplicate Bridge. Available in the library now.
Extra copies of popular titles were recently purchased for the Library.
If you are starting out on your bridge journey, Joan Butts Absolute Beginners and Beginners’ Play by Derrick Browne gives simple, clear information.
Play Bridge 2 by Joan Butts looks at card play and how to count your winners and losers. Intermediate Bridge Play Problems by Tina Zines will provide you with more skills and challenges.
TH asked: To open the bidding, you can add length points to your HCPs to get to 12+ . Length points are 1 point for a five card suit, 2 for a six card suit and 3 for a seven card suit etc. Isn’t this misleading responder because he/she expects you as opener to have 12+ HCPs - whereas in reality you may have only 10 HCP as the other 2 points came from length points? If responder had 13 HCPs and his partner opened, then responder would assume a minimum of 12 HCPs – add the two together to get 25 and therefore you bid to game – however in reality the total is only 23 HCP and you fail your game contract.
TH asked: If you open with 1C – and you play 1C as showing minimum of two clubs – how many clubs does responder need to bid 2 clubs?
Cath W answered: Peninsula's Standard System is to open “Better Minor”, in which case 1C would promise a minimum of 3 (and a “fit” is 8 so you can do the math). Responder's priority is to bid four card suits “up the line” (but with a minimum one bid hand, responder should bypass diamonds and show a four card major).
David F added: Even though an opening 1C may only promise 2 clubs (if playing a "short club" or 3 if playing "better minor") opener will quite often have four. So on some hands responders may choose to bid 2C without the certainty of an eight card fit, if there is no other good bid.
Terry H asked: When assessing your hand to open, you need 12+ opening points to open one of a suit, provided you have 5 or more cards in a major suit, or less for minors. Opening points are a combination of HCPs and length points. Length points are one point for a 5 card suit, two points for a 6 card suit etc. Then, when you find a fit with partner you can include shortage points (1 for a doubleton, 3 for a singleton and 5 for a void).
This raises 4 questions on points:
Have you have surfaced from learning the basics of bridge? Do you go to the monthly bridge classes and some things are starting to make more sense? Are you playing a couple of times a week and you and your partner are keen to learn more?
You will enjoy dipping into Intermediate Bridge Play Problems by Tina Zines (edited by Derrick Browne). Copies are available now, for you to borrow, in your PBC Library.
Select a problem, bid and play. Then turn the page to see the solution and analysis for each of the 50 problems. South is always the declarer in these problems. Often you will be asked to put yourself in the declarer’s seat. Some of the time you will be defending.
