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Bidder's Remorse Both Vul IMPs Dealer: South seymon K Q 10 6 4 3 J 4 3 K 5 4 2 Lead:3 kasey J K 4 3 A J 10 8 7 5 J 10 3 Scott-1 9 7 5 2 A Q 9 8 5 2 6 2 6   Gerard A 8 10 7 6 K Q 9 A Q 9 8 7 Result: Down 4 Score: -400 Points: -13.71 West (kasey) 1 3 Pass North (seymon) 1 4 Pass East (Scott-1) 2 Pass Pass South (Gerard) 1 2NT 4NT Today's hand illustrates an important but frequently overlooked point in bidding theory: don't be in a hurry to bid notrump. You can always bid it later. Gee sits South. With a 2-3-3-5 hand, 15 points, good spots, and tenaces in the minors, the STCP™ might open 1NT. Gee knows there'll be plenty of time to bid notrump later and opens 1C instead. West overcalls 1D, North shows his 5+ spades, East bids 2H, and it's back to our hero. A good spot for a Western cuebid of 3H, asking for a heart stopper? Not so fast. Gee shrewdly opts for 2NT. Bon, who sent me this beauty, theorizes that this is a case of "bidder's remorse": Gee regrets not having opened 1NT and is trying to compensate. She underestimates our hero. 2NT is tactical. Sure, 10xx isn't much of a heart stopper, but the 2NT bid ought to discourage West from leading hearts: after all, only a moron would bid notrump in that position without a heart stopper, right? Besides, the Western cue would force North to bid notrump first. This would automatically wrong-side the hand, because Gee would not be playing it. West raises to 3H and North, who figures his partner is showing a balanced hand with extras, reasonably bids the spade game. This is passed to our hero, who goes into the tank and emerges with...4NT! Is it Blackwood? To play? Minor suit takeout? Experienced as I am in the Master's Way I still don't have the faintest idea. North reasons that Gee must hold a stiff spade with 1NT values -- otherwise he'd open 1NT, right? -- and passes, as the least of the evils. And I sympathize: I really do. As Rommel could have told you even the best tactics don't always succeed. West leads a heart despite Gee's strict instructions to the contrary, and the smoke clears seven tricks later. The churlish may notice that if Gee opens 1NT North transfers to spades at the 4-level and, even with some static from E/W, they likely play 4S, making 5. But where's the pedagogical value in that? Comments Gee shouldn't bid 3h. First of all this should SHOW a heart stop (or a huge balanced raise to 4sp if he bids 4sp at his next turn). It is standard expert practice that when 2 suits have been bid by the opponents, the one you cuebid SHOWS a stopper. So if he cuebids he should bid 3d. But why is everyone so against the pass card? Gee has no known fit, his diamond cards look a little precarious (the ace has to be off) and he only has 15 points. A cuebid promises a rebid if partner bids something below game, so do you really want to force to game? that would be a gross overbid. Surely a pass is right, if partner cant balance with 3cl or double, you aren't missing much at all (in fact he would probably have short hearts or a very weak hand to pass). Sure he would pass with a 5-3-3-2 nine count, but then where are your tricks in 3NT? hearts are badly placed, diamonds are badly placed, and you have no source of tricks and only 24 (with no fit, not enough for game)...Just my opinion. justinl 8.27.02 5:45 PM EST [Hand Archive] © 2002-2003 by Aaron Haspel. All rights reserved.

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