HOLLYWOOD BRIDGE CLUB

   I received e-mails last week about the 17 tricks to be made on the deal I gave as an example.                             

 - Some were asking what I meant by 17 total tricks; 

 - a few explained how they were making the 17 tricks;     

 - The majority were asking how 17 tricks could be made on that deal.

Let's start by answering the first question as briefly as possible.

On any given deal, the total of the tricks the two sides can make with their respective longest fit as trumps, equals the total of trumps both sides have.

In other words, if NS have an 8 card fit in Hearts and EW have an 8 card fit in Spades,

                                total trumps = 8H+8S = 16 = total tricks

These tricks might be divided between the two pairs as 10 to 6, 9 to 7,  8 to 8  or 12 to 4 but the total will always be 16.

If NS have a 9 card fit and EW have an 8 card fit, total tricks will be equal to 9+8=17.

Most of you have heard of this principle called "the Law of total tricks". It is not a law because it has too many unexplained exceptions, but it is true often enough to be a very good guideline.

The rule of 3 over 3 is based on this principle.

Now, for the ones who succeded to make the 17 total tricks, I have to tell them that those tricks have to be made against perfect defense. I couldn't find a way of making more than 16 tricks. This answers the 2nd and the 3rd question of my readers. This hand is an exception to "The Law" of total tricks. There is a total of 9 spades and 8 hearts so the deal should produce 17 total tricks, but it does not. Each side can only make 8 tricks. This, in my opinion is the beauty of Bridge. It is not an exact science. You cannot be 100% sure of the outcome. If you were, there would be no challenge, no excitement. There is always a surprise waiting around the corner. You can only play the percentages. Regularly apply the 3 over 3 rule your percentage of success will be higher than your percentage of failure. But there will be accidents once in a while. Don't be discouraged, keep applying the rule, you'll win in the long run.

Here is another bidding exercise:

                        1)                                                        ♠  AK732                          Dealer: W

                                                                                    ♥  K2                                                       Vul: All

                                                                                    ♦  7642

                                                                                    ♣  K8

                                         ♠  104                                                                        ♠  95

                                         ♥  AJ74                                                                       ♥  Q965

                                         ♦  QJ83                                                                       ♦  K109

                                         ♣  QJ4                                                                        ♣  A1092

                                                                                     ♠  QJ82

                                                                                     ♥  1083

                                                                                     ♦  A5

                                                                                     ♣  8753

                    2)                                         ♠  AK732

                                                                ♥  82

                                                                ♦  A764

                                                                ♣  K8

                                 ♠  104                                                      ♠  95

                                 ♥  AJ74                                                    ♥  Q965

                                 ♦  QJ83                                                    ♦  K109

                                 ♣  QJ4                                                     ♣  A1092

                                                                 ♠  QJ82

                                                                 ♥  K103

                                                                 ♦  52

                                                                 ♣  8753

The only difference between (1) and (2) is that the ♥K  and ♦A have changed hands. This doesn't affect the bidding which will be the same in both cases:

                                        WEST                NORTH                EAST                SOUTH

                                              P                           1S                           P                           2S

                                              P                            P                            X                            P

                                             3H                          P                            P                           3S

                                              P                            P                            P

North opens the bidding with 1S, South raises to 2S, North having a minimum opening passes, now East has to apply the 3 over 2 rule. As he doesn't have a 5 card suit and has 4 cards in the unbid major he doubles. West bids 3H. For North to bid 3S he has to know that one of the pairs has a 9 card fit. As he doesn't have such information, he passes. South who knows that they have a 9 card spade fit will apply the 3 over 3 rule and bid 3S which will become the final contract.

In hand (1) N-S can make 3 Spades and E-W can make 2 Hearts. 9+8=17 total tricks

In hand (2) N-S can make 2 Spades and E-W can make 3 Hearts. 8+9=17 total tricks

You can score these hands in each case and you'll see that applying the 2 rules works to your advantage.

Try also exchanging ♠2 and ♦3 between South and West. Now N-S have only 8 Spades and E-W have the same 8 Hearts. Applying the rule of 3 over 3 South shouldn't bid 3S this time and the final contract will be 3H. Score the two hands with this final contract and see how the rules work. 

Waiting for your QUESTIONS and COMMENTS.

09/27/2009

To read the previous SIMON SAYS pages please click here:

           - competitive bidding 4

           - competitive bidding 3

           - competitive bidding 2

           - competitive bidding 1