Bridge - The Scotsman 30/11/2012

SUNDAY night at the Highland Congress is devoted to teams: Men’s Teams, won by Malcolm Copley, Derrick Peden, Jim Hay and Jon Aars; Women’s Teams won by Sheila Adamson, Fiona McQuaker, Carolyn Peploe and Veronica Guy; and Mixed Teams won by Sam Punch, Jenny Cooper, Stephen Peterkin and Tim Rees.

One reason for bridge’s continuing popularity is that there is always something new to learn. When your right hand opponent opens one of a suit it is highly unlikely that you want to overcall a natural 2NT. So a 2NT overcall is unusual, showing the two lowest unbid suits: over one of a major it shows both minors; over one of a minor it shows hearts and the other minor. One South thought she had the ideal hand for a 2NT overcall of 1D. Her thinking had two flaws.

After 1D-Pass-Pass one might ask: where are the spades? Since you do not want to hear anyone bid spades the practical bid is 4H, a contract that must have good chances no matter what partner holds. More seriously, bids traditionally have different meanings in the re-opening 
seat.

The auction often marks partner with some values, perhaps with length in the suit opened. Double becomes very wide-ranging and strong hands need to be shown with strong bids. A jump overcall is not weak, and 2NT is natural and strong, around 19-22. These were North’s methods, so he made a quantitative raise to 4NT. South, rather puzzled, showed her aces. The subsequent 6NT contract was not a success.