C & C Corner
22 October 2008

Greetings from "The Best L’il 999er Game in Texas!"

Back by popular Demand! We’ve had some requests to review the “front of the card” gadgets for our next series of mini-lessons. Here’s the plan:

• Drury. If you want to open light in 3rd seat, it really helps to have a way to avoid getting too high when Pard finds he has a limit raise for you. Drury does this nicely.
• New Minor Forcing. If Pard opens in a minor, you show a major (with a five-card suit), and Pard rebids One Notrump, you can use NMF to see if he has three-card support for you.
• Fourth Suit Forcing. This is first cousin to New Minor Forcing, and can help you find (a) a five-three fit in your major or (b) Notrump if Opener can stop the fourth suit.
• Puppet Stayman. We use Puppet over 2NT or 2C-2D-2NT. This Stayman variation allows for the fact that Opener may have a five-card major. It also provides a way to assure that the strong hand declares.
• Smolen.. If Pard opens 1NT and you have game-going values with 5-4 in the majors, Smolen is the gadget to use. It will find either a 4-4 fit or a 5-3 fit (if either exists) and arrange for the NT Opener to declare the hand.
• Weak Two Bids.Okay, this is Bridge 101, but the review never hurts - and we’ll amplify it with some expansion on Suit Quality Index (SQI).
• Flannery.. Here’s a way to handle the age-old problem hand - five Hearts, four Spades, and 11-15 HCP.
• Gambling 3NT. This gadget is a high-level preempt to describe a hand with a running minor suit and nothing else. It makes it possible to play 3NT if responder has the right hand - and if the opponents want to compete, they have to hunt for a suit at the four-level!
• Unusual versus Unusual/Unusual versus Michaels. This gets a bit involved, but the variety of responses available when the opponents show two suits over Pard’s one-level opener is worth the effort.

That’s a lot to cover, and it will take us into next year. But it is a good thing to review periodically

Our Board continues to bring us exciting Special events. On Saturday, 8 November, we’ll have the Veterans’ Day game. If you are a veteran of the Armed Forces and an ADBC member, you’ll play for free. Enjoy a nice potluck lunch at noon, followed by the Charity Pairs (lots of points!) at 1:00.

Saturday, 13 December, will be the annual Club Christmas Party. Lunch at noon (turkey and dressing provided by the Club; brings side dishes and desserts), game at 1:00. Members of ADBC whose dues are current will play for free. We will have an Open game and a restricted masterpoint game (limits to be determined on that day).

Don’t forget the Friday TGIF game. Every Friday evening, you can get a hot meal and a bridge game for only $7 - a bargain! Dinner at 7 PM; game at 7:30.

We’ve had a great year on Thursday evening so far, and we’ll finish it on a high note. Thanks for your faithful support of our game. Please keep coming out to play, and tell your friends about us so we can continue to grow!

See you on Thursday!

Caron & Chuck

Webmaster: Bill White
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