40 English Bridge April 2013 www.ebu.co.uk

by Andrew Kambites Bidding Judgment

Judgment in Slam Bidding

PAB = BAM = 2-0-1A New Way to Play Teams Bridge

GET READY to enjoy a different way to play teams! The second Friday at the BrightonCongress will feature a Point-a-Board (PAB) event – what they call BAM (Board-a-Match) in the United States, where it is extremely popular.The format is also known as ‘2-0-1’ from its scoring: on each board, only two

points are at stake – you gain 2 if your score is higher then the opponents’ (even byonly 10 points if, say, you are in 1NT making for +90 and your opponents were in1´ making for +80). If you score less than your opponents, you get zero, and if yourscore is the same as theirs you get 1 point each.The result is that, although you are playing teams, the tactics are a lot closer to

pairs, which adds interest to the game.In the next issue, David Gold (who is a distinguished supporter of this format) will

tell us more about what it takes to do well in a PAB event.

THE SECRET of bidding good suit slamsis less counting points and more theability to diagnose fitting cards in thebidding. Consider Layout A:

Layout A´ 3 2 ´ A 7 6 5™ A K 8 6 5 ™ Q J 2t K t A 8 2® A J 8 6 2 ® K Q 3

West East1™ 1´

2® 2t3® 3™

4® 4NT5® 5NT6t 7™ (or 7NT)

2t is fourth suit forcing. Any bid at thethree level after fourth suit should be gameforcing, so 3® is game forcing, showing 5-5shape. After 3® East has every right to beexcited about his hand. He has fillinghonours in partner’s suits and aces inspades and diamonds, opposite shortage.This is just the sort of deal where slam can

be made with relatively few points. Eastavoids confusion by agreeing trumps with3™, hears a 4® cue-bid and then usesRoman Key-Card Blackwood. 5® shows 0or 3 key cards (clearly three, the ™A-K andthe ®A). 5NT asks for specific side-suitkings and 6t shows the king of diamonds.East can now count thirteen tricks.The point of this deal is that the tQ-Jand ´K-Q-J are missing and it doesn’tmatter!Now contrast Layout B:

Layout B´ 2 ´ K Q J 8™ A K 8 6 5 ™ Q J 2t 3 2 t Q J 6® A J 8 6 2 ® K Q 3

West East1™ 1´

2® 2t3® 3™

4® 4™

There may be other ways to bid the Easthand but East certainly should not venturebeyond 4™.

Principle: If partner is known to beshort in a suit, the ace is a good card.Queens and jacks are likely to beuseless. Even the king could have novalue if opposite a singleton.

The ability to hold a dialogue with partner(as opposed to a monologue) is key todelicate slam bidding. Suppose South opens1´ and North jumps to 3´ (East-Westsilent). For many players there are onlythree possibilities: Pass, 4´ and 4NT. Eachof these bids is unilateral; for example,4NT says: ‘I am taking control. Tell mehow many aces or key cards you have andI will decide.’ More subtle players involvepartner with cue-bidding, Often they useit to find out about a specific card andthen take control; for instance, con siderLayout C:

Layout C´ A K 9 8 6 5 ´ Q J 10 2™ Void ™ Q 9 6t 6 5 t A 8 7 2® A K 10 7 2 ® Q 6

West East1´ 3´

4® 4t6´

West checks up to see that there are nottwo top diamond losers, then settles forthe unbeatable slam.However, Layout D shows a moresophisticated version of cue-bidding:

Layout D´ A K 8 7 5 4 ´ Q 9 3 2™ A 7 ™ Q 9 4t 7 4 t A Q 5® A Q 7 ® J 3 2

NW E

S

NW E

S

NW E

S

NW E

S

41April 2013 English Bridgewww.ebu.co.uk

West East1´ 3´

4® 4t4™ 4´

West starts a cue-bidding sequence with 4®and the next two bids establish that everyside suit is controlled. East now must judgehis hand. He knows that West will not bebalanced (even a 19 point 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2 hand does not justify a slam try after theauction starts 1´ – 3´). East is looking foruseful cards within the context of the 10-12points he has already shown. Some of hisqueens and jacks are likely to be wastedopposite shortage, so he indicates noenthusiasm with 4´. West has had enoughalso. 4® was no more than a mild slam try;if East isn’t interested, West will feel he hasdone enough.

Tip: When considering a slam, try toinvolve partner’s judgement.

I end this article with a well bid slam,calling for good judgement from bothplayers:

Layout E´ K Q 5 4 ´ A 10 6 3 2™ A K 7 6 5 ™ Q 10 8t A 4 t 5 3 2® 7 5 ® A 6

West East1™ 1´

3´ 4®

4t 4´

4NT 5™

6´

East knows that the partnership has onlyroughly 26-27 points but his values areexcellent, particularly a holding of™Q-10-8 in West’s suit. East is using thecue-bid of 4® as a mild slam try as well asshowing first-round club control. Westcouldn’t be better! Immediately he hears4®West envisages a slam, but 4NT wouldbe premature: 4t allows for the pos sibilityof partner taking control and bidding agrand slam. East bids 4´ to show that 4®was only a mild slam try, but now there isno stopping West. Note that if you swapped East’s red-suitholdings, he would have no reason tosuggest a slam. A simple 4´ over 3´ wouldend the auction. r

NW E

S

When did you start playing bridge?I played whist from about 5, so was usedto cards at an early age. I learnt the rulesof bridge at 15 but didn’t really startplaying until I went to university atCanterbury.

How often / where do you play?I used to play very rarely during theweek, maybe a couple of times a year. Istarted playing with my 16-year-olddaughter Ellie recently and we have beenplaying more regularly at local clubs.I don’t play many congresses but asthe children are getting older I expect toturn out a bit more often.

Do you always play with the samepartners / team-mates? What do youexpect of them?I am currently taking a break fromnational bridge but hope to be back play-ing in the autumn. Generally I tend toplay teams with regular partners but I en -joy pairs with a variety of different part-ners. Recently I have played most majorevents on the Allfrey team; the post-mortems and inevitable ribbing that goesalong with it all add to the enjoyment aswell as being instructive. I think it is im -portant to have supportive team-mateswhen inevitably I do something stupid.

What do you do for a living?I work three days a week as FinanceDirector of a city Fund Manage mentcom pany and one day a week as FinanceDirector for a new startup PR company inClapham as well as doing occasional con-sultancy work. I am very fortunate thateverybody I work for is very flexible withmy bridge demands.

Top Table Peter CrouchPETER CROUCH has won most of themajor national competitions more thanonce, and was in the Open team thatfinished fourth at the European TeamsChampionships last June. In 1993 he alsoacted as coach to both the Open andWomen’s Eng land teams. In 2012 Peterfinished runner-up in the Spring Four -somes, won Crockfords, came second inthe Premier League and won his fourthGold Cup.

What are your favourite bridge books?I read a lot of bridge books and maga-zines, and I would say that the most use-ful and entertaining are reports of highclass matches, especially those by EricKokish and Edgar Kaplan, and the WorldChampionship books edited by BrianSenior. I also enjoy bridge humour andbooks that bring something new to bid-ding theory, from Norman Squire toAndrew Robson and Oliver Segal.

What are your hobbies?I love to play most sports; I am a keengolfer, used to play five-a-side footballuntil recently when I cracked a rib, andplay badminton and tennis when I can fitit in. I enjoy watching most sports as well.

What do you like and what would youchange in bridge?I would start congresses earlier and playstraight through with small breaks,maybe 11am to 7pm, then go out and eatand go through the hands. What I think isvery good about the game is that there areso many different levels at which to com-pete: there is really something for every-one – from the pleasure my Mother getsfrom bidding and making a slam in afriendly competitive environment to win-ning the major competitions.

What’s the bridge success (so far)closest to your heart?I can’t point to any one in particular.I suppose winning a close match when Ihave been behind is a great feeling, butI also enjoy the thrill my daughter getswhen we win a local duplicate. I tend toremember my losses rather than mywins.