Mat Pt P • Tt, Caaa

Text © 2 0 15 Mik e La wren ceCover im a ge © DNY5 9/ Get ty Im a ges

All r igh ts res erved . It is illega l to rep rodu ce a n y por t ion of th is m a ter ia l, excep t b y s p ecia l a r ra n gem en t with th e pu b lis h er. Re-p rodu ct ion of th is m a ter ia l with ou t a u th oriza t ion , by a n y du p li-ca t ion p roces s wh a ts oever, is a viola t ion of copyr igh t .

Ma s ter Poin t Pres s3 31 Dou gla s Ave.Toron to, On ta r io, Ca n a d aM5M 1H2 (41 6 )78 1 -0 35 1Em a il: in fo@m a s terp oin tp res s .comWebs ites : www.m a s terp oin tp res s .com www.tea ch b rid ge.com www.b r idgeb loggin g.com www.ebooks br id ge.com

Libra ry a n d Ar c h ive s Ca n a d a Ca t a lo gu in g in Pu blic a t io n

La wren ce, Mike, 1 94 0-, a u th or

Tips on b idd in g / Mike La wren ce.

(Mike La wren ce b r id ge t ip s )

Is s u ed in p r in t a n d electron ic for m a ts .

ISBN 97 8-1 -77 14 0-0 20 -6 (pb k .).--ISBN 97 8-1 -55 49 4-6 12 -9 (pd f).--

ISBN 97 8-1 -55 49 4-6 57 -0 (epu b ).--ISBN 9 78 -1-7 71 40 -80 6-6 (m obi)

1 . Con t ra ct b r idge--Bidd in g. I. Tit le. II. Ser ies : La wren ce,

Mik e, 19 40 - . Mik e La wren ce br idge t ips .

GV1 28 2.4 .L39 5 2 01 5 7 95 .41 ’5 2 C20 15 -90 02 59 -1

C2 01 5-9 00 26 0-5

Ed itor Ra y LeeCop y ed it / In ter ior for m a t Sa lly Sp a r rowCover a n d in ter ior des ign Olen a S . Su lliva n / New Med ia t r ix

Publ isher’s Foreword

Wh en Mik e La wren ce Àrs t s u gges ted u pd a t in g h is ‘Topics ’ s er ies a n d r ep u b lis h in g it , m y Àrs t r ea ct ion wa s to s ea r ch th e b ook s h elf to s ee h ow m a n y of th e books I cou ld get m y h a n d s on . Th e a n s wer wa s Àve ou t of th e or igin a l th ir ty-odd . Even Mik e d id n ’t rea lly h a ve a fu ll s et , bu t even tu a lly h e wa s a b le to s crou n ge th e la s t few from a fr ien d . Th e d igita l Àles , wh ere th ey exis ted , were in p r et ty b a d s h a p e, s o th e n ext s tep wa s s ca n n in g a n d reviewin g — a n d Àn a lly, we were in a p os it ion to s ta r t th e p roject .

Mu ch of th e a d vice wa s a s fr es h a s it wa s wh en Àrs t writ ten over twen ty yea rs a go. Bu t b r idge h a s ch a n ged , a n d even s om e of Mike’s own views h a ve ch a n ged . As well, th er e were top ics th a t were in ten d ed to b e in clu d ed in th e or igin a l s er ies bu t th a t s om eh ow n ever got wr it ten . Th ere were a ls o s om e obviou s ga p s — for exa m ple, pa s s ed h a n d b idd in g a n d Dru ry — a con ven tion on wh ich Mik e h a s s om e n ew a n d u s efu l id ea s .

Orga n iza t ion of th e top ics in to b ook s wa s a n oth er p rob lem , s in ce th ey h a d b een in ten d ed a s s ta n d -a lon e booklets . Mik e a n d I even tu a lly decid ed on th ree book s , b roa d ly d ivid ed in to th e th em es of con s tru ct ive b id d in g, com p et it ive b id d in g, a n d p la y a n d defen s e. (I s a y ‘b roa d ly’, b eca u s e, a s you ’ll s ee, th e top ics d idn ’t a r ra n ge th em s elves qu ite a s n ea t ly a s th is .)

Trea t ea ch ch a p ter in th is b ook a s th ou gh you were ta k in g a les s on from Mik e — in p a r t icu la r, s tu d y th e exa m p les , a n d wh eth er or n ot you com e u p with th e s a m e a n s wer a s th e a u th or, s tu d y h is rea s on in g. No on e wr ites m ore clea r ly th a n Mike La wren ce, a n d th a t m a k es it very ea s y to u n d ers ta n d wh a t h e is t ryin g to get a cros s .

If you ju s t p ick u p on e key id ea from ea ch ch a p ter, a n d rem em ber to a pp ly it wh en you ’re a t th e ta b le, you r res u lts will im p rove n ot icea b ly.

Ra y LeeMa s ter Poin t Pres s

J a n u a ry, 2 0 15

In m em ory of Pa t Golden .

You b rou gh t m e in to th e world of com p u ters wh en th ey h a d s cr een s th e s ize of a toa s ter.

Th a n k you , m y fr ien d .

Contents | 5

ConTenTs

1. Avoiding CoMMon errors 7

2. How Long is PArTner’s suiT? 47

3. THe THree-CArd rAise 67

4. reverses 81

5. THe sPLinTer Bid 125

6. Bidding AfTer An oPPonenT’s TAkeouT douBLe 145

7. weAk Two-Bids 165

8. PreeMPTs 205

9. drury 231

10. PAssed HAnd Bidding 249

11. THe fine ArT of HAnging PArTner 267

1. Avoiding Common Errors | 7

1. Avoiding CoMMon errors

All of th e er rors s h own in th is ch a p ter a re va lid . I wis h I were in n ocen t of com m it t in g th em .

noT ACHieving Your goALsTh is on e is s im p licity it s elf. I won ’t s pen d m u ch t im e on th is top -ic. I will, h owever, em p h a s ize it a s s t ron gly a s pos s ib le. Br id ge is a ga m e. Look it u p in th e d ict ion a ry. Bu t it is on e of th e m os t in ten s e ga m es you will ever p la y. It is a ls o on e of th e m os t com -p lex ga m es you will ever p la y. We k n ow in tellectu a lly th a t we wa n t to h a ve a good t im e, bu t in ou r h ea r ts , we a ls o wa n t to win . Set t in g 4� dou b led for +8 0 0 poin ts feels good . Ma kin g 3 NT b y s win d lin g s om eon e you es pecia lly en joy b ea t in g cou ld b e a s tu n -n in g h igh ligh t to th e a fter n oon .

Bu t a r e th es e s in gle t r iu m p h s wh a t you a r e look in g for? Do you s t r ive for s pecta cu la r res u lts or do you wa n t to be a s olid p la yer in th e lon g ru n ? Th e fa ct th a t you a re rea d in g th is im plies you wa n t to im prove you r ga m e a n d b e a lon g-ter m win n er. You ca n u n d er ta k e a ll th e tech n ica l lea r n in g you wis h , you ca n lea r n every n u a n ce of du m m y p la y a n d d efen s e, a n d you ca n s tu dy a ll th e con ven t ion s in th e wor ld . S t ill, t ech n ica l p er fect ion will lea ve you s h ort of b ein g a win n er if you fa il in a n y of th e ‘ph ilos op h i-ca l’ a s pects of th e ga m e. Here is a lis t of th es e a r ea s . You h a ve rea d a bou t th em a n d you h a ve p rob a b ly h ea rd a b ou t th em from you r p a r tn er. You m a y even h a ve p rea ch ed s om e of th em to you r p a r tn er. Are you gu ilty of a n y of th es e?

1 . Fa ilu r e to pa y a t ten t ion . Do you ever Àn d you rs elf won -d er in g wh a t ca rd you r pa r tn er p la yed th ree tr ick s a go? If I a s k ed you a t Tr ick 1 0 h ow th e b id d in g wen t , wou ld you k n ow?

8 | Tips on Bidding

2 . Wh en you r pa r tn ers h ip h a s a d is a s ter, do you a ccep t th a t you m igh t h a ve been pa r t ia lly res pon s ib le or d o you Àn d a wa y to b la m e p a r tn er?

3 . Wh en you get a ba d res u lt , do you dwell on it for h a lf a n h ou r or do you a d dres s th e n ew h a n d in fron t of you ?

kp y t abt y tm a ba tmTh e followin g a r t icle en ca p s u la tes a ll of th e p oin ts a bove. It is b a s ed on a rea l s tory wh ich is fa m ilia r to everyon e. Th e n a m e of th e a r t icle is “Ecs ta s y”. It en com pa s s es a ll k in d s of em ot ion s you will experien ce a t th e ta b le.

In 1 9 91 , I wa s a s ked to write a t ip for th e BOLS con tes t , a com p et it ion wh ich fea tu red s h or t a r t icles on b r id ge th a t h a d a con cis e p oin t to m a k e. Th e ru les were s im ple: m a k e th e a r t icle n o lon ger th a n 8 0 0 word s .

If you h a ve ever writ ten s om eth in g with a d ea d lin e, you kn ow th e p r es s u res . Wr it in g s om eth in g with a d ea d lin e a n d with a lim it on h ow lon g it ca n b e is d ou b ly d ifÀcu lt .

Th e top ic wa s ea s y to com e u p with . It is on e of m y fa vor ites . I k n ow from experien ce th a t th e top ic is per t in en t to everyon e, a view th a t I expect you to s h a re with m e a fter rea d in g th is .

My or igin a l d ra ft ca m e in a t a b ou t 1 10 0 words . Bein g wa r n ed th a t th e len gth ru le wa s goin g to b e a dh ered to, I u n d er took th e a rdu ou s ch ore of rem ovin g words , on e a t a t im e. Tru ly a pa in fu l ta s k a s a n yon e wh o h a s wr it ten a n ote, let a lon e a n a r t icle, ca n rela te to. Fin a lly, a fter m a n y Àts a n d s ta r t s , th e word tota l ca m e to th e requ ired 8 00 .

Wh en I received a copy of th e oth er a r t icles , p r ior to h ea r in g of th e vot in g, I wa s s u rpr is ed to s ee th a t th e a vera ge len gth wa s clos e to 1 50 0 word s , s om e of th e a r t icles rea ch in g a s m a n y a s 3 00 0 word s . Th ey were a ll good a r t icles , lea vin g m e to won d er h ow m y or igin a l 11 0 0 words wou ld h a ve fa red by com p a r is on .

Bu t it wa s a ll m oot . Th e ju d ges ra ted th is th e b es t of th e en t r ies in s p ite of it s h a vin g been t r im m ed to s ize. S in ce I b e-lieved th en th a t th is a r t icle is a n im por ta n t on e, I ca n offer it to you n ow with th e s a m e s a t is fa ct ion th a t I h a d wh en th e con tes t wa s h eld .

1. Avoiding Common Errors | 9

eCsTAsYAlm os t everyon e I k n ow will a dm it to th e followin g m is h a p . You a r e d ecla r in g, s a y, 3 NT, a n d du e to u n for tu n a te cir cu m s ta n ces , th e d efen d ers a re ru n n in g th eir Àve-ca rd s u it s o you a r e goin g d own a t lea s t on e. Bein g depres s ed a b ou t th e b id d in g, you d is -ca rd p oor ly th u s m es s in g u p you r en t r ies . Su dd en ly, you r eigh t rem a in in g t r ick s b ecom e on ly s ix wh en th e op pon en ts ta k e a d -va n ta ge of you r s lop py ca rd in g. Th ree down . It ’s b a d en ou gh you ’re get t in g a zero, bu t even with you r h ea d h u n g h a lf-wa y to th e Áoor, you ca tch a glim p s e of p a r tn er wh is per in g to h is k i-b itzer. Sou n d fa m ilia r?

Ba d n ews is in fect iou s . It b r in gs with it em ot ion s ra n gin g from d is a pp oin tm en t to s a d n es s to d ep res s ion , a n y on e of wh ich ca n d is t ra ct a n d ca u s e m u d dled th in k in g.

Mos t p la yers kn ow th a t it is im p or ta n t to k eep you r wits wh en th in gs go s ou r. Th e t r ick is to recogn ize wh en you r con -cen tra t ion is fa ilin g a n d to get you r th ou gh ts ba ck togeth er.

Th e tou gh p la yer does th is a u tom a t ica lly. Th e good p la yer s t ru ggles , b u t u s u a lly s u cceed s a n d th e res t of th e wor ld d oes it occa s ion a lly, b u t n ot rou tin ely.

You s a y, “I kn ow th a t”? I a gree th a t you p rob a b ly d o k n ow ‘th a t ’, bu t d o you r ea lly k n ow it on a u s a b le con s ciou s level?

St ron g n ega t ive em ot ion s . Th ey d o ob s t ru ct ou r th ou gh ts . Is th ere a n yth in g wors e for ou r em ot ion s th a n ba d n ews ? Try th is :

Th e b id d in g goes 1NT - pa s s - 3 NT. You lea d fou r th b es t from �KJ 86 4 2 . Du m m y h a s two s m a ll s p a d es a n d 1 2 HCP.

Ha ve you led in to th e �AQ? No. Pa r tn er p la ys th e a ce a n d s ta r t s to th in k . Does h e h a ve a n oth er s p a d e? Is h e th in k in g of s witch in g? Pa r tn er, lea d a s p a d e! Plea s e! Pa r tn er lea d s … th e �1 0 . You a re n ow in ch a rge, with s ix ru n n in g s p a d es wh ich you p roceed to ta k e. Ea ch on e a lit t le Àr m er th a n th e on e b efore, you p ou n d ou t you r rem a in in g s p a d es , th e la s t on e bein g es p ecia lly s a t is fyin g beca u s e it is get t in g you +2 0 0 . You ’re feelin g a lit t le ecs ta s y m ixed with a lit t le power a s you tu r n th e Àn a l s p a d e. Feels good , d oes n ’t it?

10 | Tips on Bidding

Now wh a t? Cu tt in g th rou gh a eu p h or ic glow, you recon -s t ru ct th e la s t fou r t r icks . Let ’s s ee n ow. Pa r tn er d is ca rd ed th e.… Wh a t d id h e d is ca rd ? I k n ow h is la s t ca rd wa s th e �7 . Bu t th e on e b efor e th a t , a n d th e on e b efore th a t .... Com e to th in k of it , wh a t d id du m m y d is ca rd , or for th a t m a tter, d ecla rer?

Do you th in k you ’re goin g to get it r igh t? Wh a t if p a r tn er h a s a n oth er a ce a n d you d on ’t get it? Ca n you s ta n d to s ee pa r tn er ta lk in g to th a t k ib itzer a ga in ?

Ecs ta s y p la ys n o fa vor ites . It m u d dles you r b idd in g ju d g-m en t, you r decla r er p la y, a n d you r d efen s ive a wa ren es s with equ a l fa cility.

West N or th East South

1�

pass 2� pass 2NT

pass 3� pass 3NT

all pass

� 9 5

� K Q 6 2

� A 10

� A J 9 6 3

� Q J 8

� J 9 5

� K Q 7 3

� K Q 4

Wes t lea d s th e �6 to Ea s t’s a ce. Th is is you r ba s ic du ll con t ra ct wh ich look s like a rou tin e n in e t r icks . Perh a ps you h a ve b een u n lu cky to get a s pa de lea d . For in s ta n ce, if North h a d n ’t b id 3�, you m igh t h a ve got a h ea r t lea d , a llowin g you ten t r icks . Th ere-for e, wh en Ea s t r etu r n s a s p a d e, d u cked b y Wes t , you h a ve to con s id er wh eth er to Àn es s e th e �1 0 in ord er to t ry for ten tr ick s .

Fir s t , ju s t to p u t you r m in d a t ea s e, you ca s h th e �K. Wes t p itch es th e �3 .

Eigh t fa s t t r ick s . Not n in e. So wh ere is th e n in th com in g from ? You h a ve two pos s ib le p la ys .

1. Avoiding Common Errors | 11

1 . Pla y on h ea r ts a n d h op e s p a d es a re 4 -4 .2 . Fin es s e th e �10 .

Wh ich p la y is r igh t?Th e a n s wer d ep en d s on you r op in ion of th e s p a d es . If Ea s t

retu r n ed th e two, th e s u it ra tes to be 4 -4 , in wh ich ca s e you s h ou ld p la y on h ea r ts . If Ea s t retu r n ed a h igh er s p a d e, th en s p a d es a re lik ely to be 5 -3 , in wh ich ca s e you h a ve to h op e for th e d ia m on d Àn es s e.

Th e is s u e h ere is very s im ple. E ith er you pa id a t ten t ion to th e s p a d e s p ots a n d m a d e a n ed u ca ted decis ion or you d id n ’t p a y a t ten t ion to th e s pa de s p ots a n d th erefor e h a d to m a k e a n u n ed u ca ted gu es s . If you a llowed th e com fort of n in e a p pa ren t t r icks to clou d you r vis ion , you ’re in t r ou b le. Con vers ely, if you ign ored em ot ion a l in tru s ion s a n d pa id a t ten t ion to th e ca rd s , th en you were a b le to d eter m in e ra th er th a n to gu es s th e corr ect p la y.

My BOLS TIP is : An y t im e you feel you rs elf s u ccu m b in g to a n em ot ion , wh eth er s a d n es s , d ep res s ion , ir r ita t ion , COMFOR T, ELATION, or ECSTASY, you s h ou ld Àgh t it off. STOP AND PAY ATTENTION!

12 | Tips on Bidding

fAiLing To rAise PArTner’s one-LeveL resPonse wiTH THree TruMPsAn yon e wh o h a s followed m y writ in gs kn ows h ow s t ron gly I feel a b ou t th is . Wh en you open a n d p a r tn er b id s a m a jor s u it a t th e on e-level, you s h ou ld con s id er ra is in g pa r tn er ’s m a jor with th ree-ca rd s u pp ort if you h a ve th e corr ect va lu es for th e ra is e. (You ca n Àn d m u ch m ore on th is top ic in th e ch a p ter on ra is in g with th ree t ru m p s a n d in m y Workbook on th e Tw o Over On e Sys tem.) Here a re s om e exa m ple h a n ds . You op en 1� a n d p a r t -n er res pon d s 1�. Wh a t is you r r eb id?

� A 9 7 � K J 3 � 7 2 � K Q 10 7 3

Ra is e to 2�. Do n ot reb id 2� or 1 NT. You r s ide wa n ts to Àn d a Àt. Reb id d in g 2� is n ot a s tep in th is d ir ect ion . Reb id d in g 1NT gets n ot ru m p p la yed from you r s id e, wh ich you d on ’t wa n t to d o.

� 8 3 2 � A Q 8 � 9 4 2 � A Q J 6

Ra is e to 2�! If p a r tn er h a s a good h a n d , h e will b id a ga in . If n otru m p is th e r igh t p la ce to p la y, you wa n t pa r tn er to decla r e it . You h a ve two u n s top ped s u its . Do you wa n t to s ee Wes t lea d th e �Q or th e �J ? Wh y b e a n otru m p h og?

� A 10 7 3 � Q J 4 � 8 2 � A K 9 5

Reb id 1�. You will r a is e p a r tn er’s m a jor s u it on 6 5% of th e h a n d s th a t h a ve th ree-ca rd s u p p or t a n d 1 3 -1 5 s u p por t p oin ts . Th is h a n d h a s fou r s pa des , wh ich h a ve a h igh er p r ior ity. Pa r t -n er cou ld h a ve 4 -4 in th e m a jors .

� J 8 3 � A Q 6 � Q 7 2 � K Q 10 4

Reb id 1 NT. With ba la n ced h a n ds you ra is e wh en you h a ve good s u p por t a n d a re worr ied a bou t th e u n b id s u its . On th is h a n d you h a ve good s u pp ort bu t you d o h a ve s om eth in g in s p a d es a n d d ia m on d s .

1. Avoiding Common Errors | 13

You op en 1� a n d p a r tn er r es p on ds 1�. Wh a t do you reb id?

� K 8 3 � Q 9 6 � A K Q 6 � 6 4 2

Reb id 1 NT. Th is h a n d is ra th er clos e. Th e rea s on I a m p u tt in g th is h a n d h ere is to s h ow you th e ra n ge of th in gs you h a ve to th in k a bou t . You h a ve 4 -3-3-3 s h a pe. Th a t s u gges ts you reb id 1 NT. You r h ea r t s u p p or t is on ly fa ir. It d oes n ’t s u gges t 1NT or 2�. You r clu b s a re ter r ib le, th ou gh . Th ey s crea m for a 2� r eb id . Ta k in g a ll th e fa ctors in to con s id era t ion , you h a ve a ch oice of reb id s .

My exp er ien ce is th a t th is d is tr ib u t ion s u gges ts n ot ru m p p ret ty s tron gly. Bidd in g 1NT gets m y vote.

Note wh a t h a p pen s if you m a ke s om e s m a ll ch a n ges . Sa y th a t you r �K were th e �K in s tea d (bu t k eep in g th e s a m e d is t r i-b u t ion ). It wou ld b e clea r to ra is e to 2�. Sa y th a t you r �K were th e �K in s tea d (bu t k eep in g th e s a m e d is t r ibu t ion ). In th a t ca s e, it wou ld b e clea r to reb id 1 NT.

In m y op in ion , you r pa r tn ers h ip s h ou ld look very s er iou s ly a t th e idea of ra is in g with th ree-ca rd s u pp ort if you a re n ot a l-rea d y d oin g s o.

� 4 � A Q J � A J 8 6 3 � K 10 9 4

Th is is a n im p orta n t h a n d . Wh a t s h ou ld you reb id ? In s u p p or t of h ea r ts , you h a ve 1 7 poin ts . I wou ld cou n t it a s 18 poin ts if I h a d a fou rth h ea r t . 3� is a pos s ib le r eb id b u t it viola tes on e of th e m os t s a cred b r id ge ru les , wh ich s a ys you d on ’t m a k e ju m p ra is es with ou t fou r t ru m ps . 2� is a ls o a pos s ib ility bu t it is very con s erva t ive. A b et ter wa y to b id th is h a n d is to reb id 2�. You h ope p a r tn er won ’t p a s s 2� bu t if h e d oes , it won ’t a u tom a ti-ca lly be a b a d s p ot . You r in ten tion is to ra is e h ea r ts on th e n ext rou n d . Sa y pa r tn er p referen ces you to 2�. Now you will b id 2�. Th is is a n a u ct ion you n eed to d is cu s s with you r p a r tn er. You s h ou ld p la y th a t th is s equ en ce s h ows 16 or 1 7 p oin ts with th ree-ca rd h ea r t s u p por t . If you h a d fou r -ca rd s u pp ort , you wou ld h a ve ra is ed d irect ly to 3� a n d if you h a d 13 -1 5 s u pp ort poin ts with th ree-ca rd s u p p or t , you wou ld h a ve ra is ed to 2� th e rou n d ea r lier. Lea r n to r ecogn ize th is s equ en ce. It is a u s efu l t r ick .

14 | Tips on Bidding

reBidding errors AfTer PArTner MAkes A Two-over-one resPonseTh ere a re th r ee com m on er rors m a d e b y th e open er wh en reb id -d in g a fter p a r tn er h a s m a d e a two-over -on e res pon s e. Note th a t th is d is cu s s ion a pp lies a fter a ma jor-s u it op en in g b id . Th is is th e b idd in g in th e followin g exa m p les .

West N or th East South

1�

pass 2� pass ?

Wh a t s h ou ld op en er reb id ?

Error 1It is wron g for op en er to r eb id 2 NT with ou t a s topp er or a t lea s t a n ea r s topp er in a ll s u it s .

� A J 6 5 2 � 7 6 2 � K 9 � K Q 7

Reb id 2�. Reb idd in g 2� does n ot p rom is e a s ix-ca rd s u it . Th is is t ru e even if you p la y Àve-ca rd m a jors . It does n ’t even p rom is e a good s u it . Bid d in g 2 NT gets th e h a n d p la yed from th e wron g s id e. Th a t is poten t ia lly a wfu l.

Error 2It is wron g for op en er to reb id 2NT with a s in gleton in p a r tn er’s s u it .

� Q 9 8 7 3 � A Q 6 � 6 � K Q 6 3

Reb id 2�. If you reb id 2 NT, p a r tn er will a s s u m e you h a ve a d ou b leton d ia m on d a t lea s t a n d will b id a ccord in gly. On ce in a wh ile you ca n b rea k th is ru le if you r s in gleton d ia m on d is a n h on or a n d you r s p a d e s u it is ter r ib le.

Error 3It is wron g for op en er to reb id a n ew s u it a t th e th ree-level with -ou t a good h a n d .

1. Avoiding Common Errors | 15

� K J 8 7 3 � A Q � 6 � Q 10 8 7 3

Reb id 2�. Wh eth er p la yin g Sta n d a rd or wh eth er p la yin g Two Over On e, 3� s h ows a n a ce m ore th a n a m in im u m .

oth p tTh ere a re p la yers wh o d is a gree with th e a bove. Som e p la yers b elieve th a t if you reb id you r m a jor, you p rom is e s ix of th em , a n d th ey a re a d a m a n t a b ou t it . So, in th e in ter es ts of fa ir n es s , I r es ea rch ed h a n d s from im p orta n t even ts wh ere excellen t p la yers were in volved . I fou n d th a t wa y m ore of th em followed th e gu ide-lin es a b ove th a n n ot . Of p a r t icu la r in teres t is th e fa ct th a t th ere were very few exa m ples of p la yers b rea k in g th es e gu idelin es . I p u t a ll of th es e exa m p les I cou ld Àn d in to a n a r t icle in th e ACBL Bu lletin . Here is on e:

W est East

1� 2�

?

� 5 3 � A Q 7 6 4 � 7 � K Q 7 6 4

Ha lf a d ozen exp er t p la yers h eld th is a pp roxim a te h a n d a n d th ey r eb id 2�. You ca n Àn d fu ller d eta ils in th a t a r t icle. If you h a ve old Bulletins you ca n Àn d two a r t icles in th e Feb ru a ry a n d Ma rch 2 0 13 is s u es d is cu s s in g reb id d in g a Àve-ca rd s u it a fter a two-over -on e r es p on s e wh en u s in g th e Two Over On e s ys tem . Perh a p s you ca n Àn d th em on lin e on th e ACBL s ite.

Misusing MiCHAeLs And THe unusuAL noTruMPTh ere a r e two a rea s of con fu s ion a s s ocia ted with th es e con ven -t ion s . Th e Àrs t a rea is on e of va lu es .

what th mmm a a Mchal b a al 2nT b?My s u gges t ion is th a t if n ot vu ln era b le, you n eed a rea s on a b le 8 p oin ts for a Mich a els b id , with m os t of you r va lu es in th e m a jor

16 | Tips on Bidding

s u it s . For a n u n u s u a l n ot ru m p b id , you n eed a bou t 1 0 HCP, with m os t of th em in th e m in ors . Rem em b er th a t a Mich a els b id on ly com m its you to th e two-level. An u n u s u a l n otru m p b id com m its you to th e th ree-level.

M-ma aIs you r p a r tn ers h ip a llowed to m a k e on e of th es e b id s with a n y ra n ge of p oin ts (with a n eye to th e vu ln era b ility) or do you p la y m in i-m a xi ra n ges ?

Min i-m a xi m ea n s th a t wh en you m a ke a Mich a els b id or a n u n u s u a l n ot ru m p b id , you s h ow a lower ra n ge a n d a n u pp er ra n ge. Th ere is a m idd le ra n ge in wh ich you a re d irected to s ta r t b idd in g you r s u it s . For in s ta n ce, if n ot vu ln era b le, you m igh t p la y th a t you u s e Mich a els wh en you h a ve 7 -1 2 HCP or wh en you h a ve 1 5 or m ore HCP. With 13 or 1 4 HCP you a r e d irected to overca ll in s p a d es a n d th en b id h ea r ts . Differen t p la yers h a ve d ifferen t ra n ges for th is t rea tm en t .

Mos t p la yers u s e Mich a els on a n y h a n d th a t is s tr on g en ou gh for a m in im u m ra n ge Mich a els .

Wh ich a greem en t d oes you r pa r tn ers h ip u s e?Th is is m y op in ion . I th in k th a t you s h ou ld u s e Mich a els or

th e u n u s u a l n ot ru m p on a n y s t ren gth h a n d th a t is s u ita b le a t th e given vu ln era b ility. I d o th is beca u s e I get m y s h a p e a cros s qu ick ly a n d I give th e op p on en ts m ore p rob lem s . My op in ion is n ot u n ivers a l. Som e p la yers u s e th e d ivided ra n ge for th es e b ids . Th ey feel th a t th e d ivid ed ra n ge will a llow pa r tn er to m a ke b et ter d ecis ion s . I a gr ee th a t th is m a y be u s efu l bu t th er e a re good rea s on s n ot to u s e th is d ivid ed ra n ge.

• I give th e opp on en ts m ore p rob lem s beca u s e I a m u s in g Mich a els or th e u n u s u a l n ot ru m p on m a n y m ore h a n d s .

• If I h a ve a 1 4 -p oin t h a n d , I will a lwa ys get to s h ow m y s u it s by u s in g th e a pp rop ria te con ven t ion . If I overca ll, it m a y n ot be s a fe to s h ow m y s econ d s u it la ter.

• If I h a ve a 1 3 - or 14 -p oin t h a n d a n d b id s pa des a n d la ter b id h ea r ts , m y p a r tn er won ’t kn ow for s u re th a t I h a ve 5 -5 in s p a d es a n d h ea r ts . It is rea s on a b le for m e to b id th is wa y with Àve s p a d es a n d fou r h ea r ts . Us in g Mich a els tells pa r tn er th a t I h a ve 5 -5 s h a pe.

CoMing JuLY 2015

froM MAsTer PoinT Press

Th e s econ d volu m e in a th ree-book s er ies ba s ed on Mike La wren ce’s Topics on Brid ge s er ies for in ter m ed ia te p la yers Àrs t p u b lis h ed twen ty yea rs a go. All th e m a ter ia l h a s been com p letely revis ed a n d u p d a ted . Top ics in clu d e Fou r -ca rd Overca lls , Bidd in g over Preem p ts , Ba la n cin g a n d Ta keou t Dou b les .

CoMing noveMBer 2015

froM MAsTer PoinT Press

Th e th ird volu m e in a th ree-b ook s er ies ba s ed on Mik e La wren ce’s Topics on Brid ge s er ies for in ter m ed ia te p la yers Àrs t p u b lis h ed twen ty yea rs a go. All th e m a ter ia l h a s been com pletely revis ed a n d u p da ted . Topics covered a re Defen s e — in clu d in g op en in g lea ds , s ign a lin g a n d th ird h a n d p la y — Decla rer Pla y — in clu d in g en d p la ys , s im ple s qu eezes , los er on los er p la ys a n d t im in g — a n d a ls o a gen era l d is cu s s ion of th e m is ta k es we a ll m a k e in ca rd p la y b u t n eed to a void .

Twenty years ago, Mike Lawrence published a series of short booklets

enƟtled Topics on Bridge, oī ering Ɵps on various aspects of cardplay and

bidding for intermediate players. Now this material is being republished

as a three-book series — revised, updated, and with new topics added.

Included in this volume:

◊ Avoiding Common Errors

◊ How Long is Partner’s Suit?

◊ The Three-card Raise

◊ Reverses

◊ The Splinter Bid

◊ Bidding aŌer an Opponent’s Takeout Double

◊ Weak Two-bids

◊ Preempts

◊ Drury

◊ Passed Hand Bidding

◊ The Fine Art of Hanging Partner

T i p s f o r BeT T e r

B i d d i n g

INTERMEDIATE

MASTER POINT PRESS

MIKE LAWRENCE (Tennessee) has Hall of Fame credentials both as

a player and a writer. An original member of the Dallas Aces, he has

won three world t it les and eighteen national t it les. Several of his

books are widely regarded as classics of the game.