The Fantastic Nine

Over the past year or so we have been discussing common conventions. Lately we have diverged from that path.

I was able to ask Bill Wisdom, a local championship bridge player, what conventions we should be using. First he said that he uses very few but follows them through. It’s important to understand the full conventions and remain constant using them. The conventions recommended to know well, in order are: 1. Stayman, 2. Transfers, 3. Blackwood, 4. Negative Doubles, 5. Drury, 6. Jacoby 2NT, 7. Michaels, 8. Unusual 2NT, and 9. Splinter Bids.

If you learn and follow these few conventions you should be able to play a reasonably good game without other gimmicks. Just be sure you and partner are following the same rules to stay out of trouble.

The Drury bid, simply put, is this. If you or partner open in third or fourth seat, this opening could be weak (as few as 11 points). How does partner know if this is the case?  A response to opener of 2 clubs asks if opener has fewer than normal opening count. Opener’s response of 2 diamonds indicates a low count. Any other response indicates a full opening. Now the partnership can place the contract more carefully.

We had no Evergreen game on Friday, April 3.

Winners at the Women’s Club Tuesday, April 7 game were: First, Judy Hurder and Wayne Pegram; second, Georgia Sorensen and John McLaughlin; third, Fern Albracht and Carol Bachl; fourth, Dick Brisbin and Pat Featherston.

Our hand was board #14 from Tuesday’s game     No one vulnerable    East Dealer

NORTH:

S  K J

H  A 5

D  A T 9 8

C  A J T 8 6

WEST:              EAST:

S  Q 7 6 5 4 3     S  A T 8 2

H  Q J 6 4 2       H T 9 8

D  6 5                  D  J 4

C —                      C  K Q 9 3

SOUTH:

S  9

H  K 7 3

D  K Q 7 3 2

C  7 5 4 2

David and Anna Goff had the best N/S score bidding and making 3NN* while Pat Macon and Myrnie McLaughlin had the best E/W score setting 3CN 1 trick.

We wish Gloria Bryant a happy birthday. She has been very ill but is on the mend. Get well soon, sweet lady, we miss you. We can have a party later.