No-trump Preempts

One of the features that I like about the weak notrump, whether 10-11, 10-12, 12-14 (I've played them all at one time or another) is the preemptive aspect. Especially at "green" (not-vul vs. vul). It's very much harder for the opponents to come in and conduct a sensible constructive auction starting at the two-level, vulnerable because the opening bid is so well-defined and responder will know just when to apply the chopper.

But opportunities to preempt the opponents in no-trump don't begin and end with the opening bid. Take this hand from a recent team game at the club: ♠– ♥Q754 ♦QT2 ♣AJT843 (third seat at favorable vulnerability). Partner deals and opens 1NT (12-14) and the next player doubles. The opponents have at least a 9-card fit in spades and 17-19 hcp. Moreover, partner's values are going to be sitting under the opponents' strength. So, my hand might take a few tricks but partner will probably only score aces, assuming that the other hand can get the lead a couple of times.

In other words, there's just a little too much danger, in my opinion, of them making 620. I therefore raised partner to 3NT. This was followed by two passes and then double. Should I pull to 4♣? No, I decided to stand my ground (I had the feeling that the next player might take the double out). And so it proved. It went 4♥ on my left followed by two passes. Was I tempted to double? No way! That would have ruined the whole plan. The contract drifted off only one trick after I underled my ♣A at one point, allowing declarer to score her kingleton. But the damage was done. Our teammates were +620 at the other table giving us a 13 IMP swing.

As it happens, we could have made 3NT, at least with careful play and a peek (or an avoidance play) by felling that same club kingleton. Or we could have made 5♣ with the same peek (though there would be no particular reason for the avoidance play at a suit contract).

It takes a bit of a nerve to pull this kind of thing off. And you have to be ready with an apology to the rest of the team when it backfires. But the satisfaction of bringing off this sort of coup can turn an otherwise forgettable evening into something to smile about.

The Downhill Notrump

A few months ago Bruce Downing asked me if I'd be available to play at the Sturbridge regional.  I said I would, with great enthusiasm, and here I am.

The last time we played must have been three or four years ago but we still had a card and were pretty much compatible with most of our system.  What to do about notrump openings, though?  During a pub lunch on Wednesday, we put together a system which we thought we'd like to try.  Later, Bruce came up with the name "The Downhill" notrump -- I expect you can see whence the name derives.

Here are the basics: 2/1 with a (slightly) variable notrump:

This is how we show balanced hands below 18 hcp:

Vulnerable versus not:

• 15-17: 1NT with the usual systems, including four-suit transfers, Lebensohl, etc.;
• 12-14: as standard (one of a suit with a rebid of 1NT)

All other situations:

• 10-11: 1NT with the following responses:

• 2-level bids are all to play (yes, including 2♣);
• 3-level bids are forcing and natural;
• 2NT is a modified form of "Muppet" (3♣ both majors, 3♦ one major, 3♥ no four-or-five card major, 3♠ five spades, 3NT five hearts)
• 4-level bids are Gerber, Texas and Jabbour (a kind of minor-suit-Stayman).

• 12-14: 1♦ followed by a rebid of 1NT
• 15-17: 1♣ followed by a rebid of 1NT.

Now, you should realize that we aren't suggesting that this system is the perfect way of playing bridge.  But it was simple and easy and fitted our way of thinking.  We expected some fireworks and we got them!

Here's an example from the pairs we entered to get the kinks out: you pick up ♠9842 ♥AJ83 ♦KT3 ♣Q6 as dealer with none vulnerable.  You open 1NT and after two passes, RHO decides to double.  LHO bids 2♣ and partner now doubles showing values.  RHO bids 2♥ and you double.  It turns out that we can make 4♥ on a Moyesian fit with 22 hcp -- but of course nobody is in it.  We don't take our ten tricks on defense, but we do take eight which is enough for a top (500). 

The second hand of the set is not so good.  At that point, we hadn't talked about the dreaded red on white situation, which is especially bad when in third seat.  This time our hand is ♠754 ♥6543 ♦KT5 ♣T42.  When RHO pulls out the red card, I have nowhere to go and the result is a bottom (-500).  Since then, we have decided to play normal strong notrumps when  red on white!

But, that one hand has been our only disaster.  On every other hand when we got to open 1NT, we have either ended up with the normal result, or we have ended up with a good pickup.

It's all downhill from here.