august.indd

English 53 South is squeezed in the minors. Or maybe the position was like this? ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ J - KT9 - ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 7 9 AJ - ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ A4 - 8 5 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ T - Q7 Q In this case, there is no squeeze. Spades have been 3-3 all along. Discarding a spade means going down in a cold contract, which even the most incompetent declarer would have made easily. What would you have done in an important team match, with a place at the world championship at stake? On one hand, North's club shortness makes it likely that he started with four spades; on the other hand, if you elect to play for the squeeze, you may have to explain to your teammates later how you went down in a slam with 12 top tricks… Gromoeller discarded a club… but the original deal turned out to be ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ JT86 8632 K96 J8 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ KQ7 AKQT9 AJ2 94 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ A542 J5 854 AK53 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 93 74 QT73 QT762 Yet another missed brilliancy… If you bid 2 ♣ after the double, you have a 4432 distribution and one of your 4-card suits is clubs. Partner will Pass with 3 or more clubs. Otherwise he will bid 2 ♦ to play in your other suit (or bid 2 of a major with a 5-card suit). After this response you usually play at the 2-level in a 4-4 or 4-3 fi t. Again, the fi nal contract may be undoubled. West North East South 1NT Dbl 2 ♣ * Pass * Weak hand, 4 clubs + another 4-card suit. If you bid 2 ♦ after the double, you showed 4 diamonds + 4 of a major. Partner may Pass 2 ♦ or bid 2 ♥ , asking you to Pass with hearts or correct to 2 ♠ with spades. Once again you will play at worst in a 4-3 fi t, and the fi nal contract may be undoubled. West North East South 1NT Dbl 2 ♦ ** Pass ** Weak hand, 4 diamonds + a 4-card major. If you bid 2 ♥ after the double, you showed both majors. Partner will either Pass or correct to 2 ♠ . West North East South 1NT Dbl 2 ♥ *** Pass *** Weak hand, at least 4 cards in both majors. I have played this system for many years, and it works especially well when I don't forget the responses. If you try it out, please don't play it against me. ☺ I don't want my results to be any worse than they are already. 55 מעמוד המשך