Big Slam Magazine - Flipbook - Page 30
With double fits, both sides will want to bid at the
5-level. Since 5} will make on the club guess, it's
reasonable for West or East to bid 5-of-a-major.
What should happen in 5[?
North should overtake the }K lead to switch to a
club. I have a list of those who didn't.
5] is worse because there is no discard but
again North-South need to be careful. If North
ducks the }K lead, South needs cash the ace of
trumps. If not, declarer can make by cashing one
heart before playing a trump. Paul Dalley found
that line for +650.
What system should you play?
You can let the 24 pairs in the Open Interstate
guide you. Pairs are required to have pre-lodged
a system card for other teams to peruse.
One ACT pair plays a strong pass system, with
a 1} fert opening, which shows 0-8 points, any
shape. Let's look at the other 23 …
Three pairs play Precision, so a 16+ 1{ and a
weak-ish 1NT opening.
Everyone else plays a strong notrump, usually
15-17. (So no Acol pairs this time, with Phil
Markey not in the South Australian team.)
One ACT pair plays Polish Club, where 1{ is
nebulous and forcing, could be a 12-count.
20 pairs play 5-card majors. The exceptions are
the three Northern Territory pairs, who open
4-card suits – Goren-style – with McGladder
twists, whatever they are. I suspect a Courtney
influence.
That leaves 16 "Standard" Pairs, of which 14 play
some version of 2-over-1 Game Force.
With 2/1, responder's new suit at the 2-level is
forcing to game. With 11-12 points, responder
does something else, such as a forcing 1NT response.
Of these 14, seven play transfer responses to
1{, so 1{ – 1[ = 4+ spades. They open 1{ a lot,
typically on any 12-14 balanced without a 5-card
major, partly to maximise transfer sequences.
]AJ5 [QT4 }AJ654 {T3,
In that style, this is a 1{ opoening.