The Gee Chronicles

Both Vul
IMPs
Dealer: East
Lead: Q

	salcee K Q J 4 3 2 A K 4 A Q A 3
cindym 10 9 8 7 10 9 6 3 3 Q 6 5 2		gosia A 6 Q J 8 5 K 9 8 5 2 J 10
	Maestro 5 7 2 J 10 7 6 4 K 9 8 7 4

West Pass Pass Pass Pass

North 2 3 6

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

South Pass 3 4 Pass

What does it take to respond positively to a forcing 2C opener? Let’s hear from three distinguished experts on the subject. First, Max Hardy: “When responder has a good suit, the immediate showing of it may allow opener to evaluate fitting cards and determine trick taking potential. Responder will show a suit if it is at least five cards long and contains two of the top three honors by bidding it directly in response to the two club opening bid.”

OK. Now Marty Bergen: “How much strength is needed for a positive response [to 2C]? The general standard is roughly 1 1/2 quick tricks or 8+ HCP.” He goes on to say you bid a suit at the two- or three-level “with a decent suit and a decent hand.”

Finally, Gerard Cohen: “For the other team, altogether, the minimum for the opposing team has a point spread of 19 to 40 minus whatever each opponent counts in his own hand. I’ll let you figure the mathematics of it.”

That last quote may have nothing to do with responding to a 2C opener, but then again it may. In any case, we can get some idea of what Gee thinks he needs from today’s hand. Apparently a four-count with two junky five-card minors suffices.

North, alas, appears to be closer to the Bergen-Hardy school. He rebids 3S and jumps to the spade slam when Gee follows up 3D with a forcing bid in a new suit. 6S rolls home if spades break 3-3, hearts are 5-3 or better and the DK is onside, provided trump are not led. Unluckily, this is not the layout, although East manages to hold the defense to down 1 by winning the SA and leading into declarer’s diamond tenace.

North and South’s bad fortune is our good, as Gee is dummy, giving him plenty of time to discuss bidding theory with the specs.

Spec #1: gerard what was 3d pls?
G: positive response, 5+ diamonds
Spec #2: G, they dont understand 3d… i dont get it, 3d is automatic guys
Spec #2: it shows 5 diamonds and a game force since 2d would be waiting, duh
Spec #3: with respect i think 2d waiting was better
Spec #4: yep 2d was the bid
G (to Spec #3): no, I do not have a 2d bid there
Spec #1 (to Spec #2): are you hopped up on somethin?
S Spec #2: naa, he had to show 5 diamonds, he has a 3D bid
S Spec #5: lol
Spec #3: ok what do you bid with bad hands?
Spec #5: Spec #2 heading the G fan club

As Gee leaves spec the recriminations fly.

Spec #2: oh btw specs, i was being sarcastic
Spec #1: spec #2 is the chief bosun and bser lol
Spec #2: i like to humor G
Spec #3 (to Spec #2): so what does g bid with poor hands like that?
Spec #6: 1 more story for aaron
Spec #7: no, you were kissin up
Spec #5: Spec #2 doing his best not to get booted from G spec land
Spec #2: you dont understand my “special” relationship with G
Spec #8: Spec #2 was trying not to commit pamicide*
Spec #2: i am his #1 fan :)
G (playing now, but still calling up from the table): but I did not make a reverse after 3D… would have been better 4S and hope I would continue
Spec #1 (to Spec #2): dont you see you’re creating a monster?
Spec #7: ah he failed to reverse… that explains it:>
Spec #6: reverse after 2c opening? New word in theory

*Named for pama, who mentioned the Bones Principle while Gee was in spec and thus assured herself of a spot on the honor roll.

E/W Vul
IMPs
Dealer: East
Lead: A

	oguz 8 7 3 A K J 2 K Q 8 7 6 4
gandolfo A K J 6 2 K 8 6 5 2 7 A J		Maestro 10 9 5 4 3 A Q J 9 3 10 9 2
	tony111 Q 7 10 9 4 Q 10 8 6 5 4 5 3

West 2 Pass Pass

North 1 3 4

East Pass 3 Pass

South 1 Pass Pass

Today’s auction is interesting, in the sense of that Chinese curse about interesting times. After North’s 1C opener and Gee’s pass, South begins the frivolity with a 1D response. 2D seems to me an apter description of the South hand, especially at favorable vulnerability, but a few months of writing this column have shown me that all I know, like Socrates, is that I know nothing.

West bids 2D, Michaels, to show his strong 5-5 hand. This looks best. Doubling, which is also possible, would not convey the distribution as well, while a sandwich 1NT or unusual 2NT would imply less high card strength.

The sequence of bids that follow 2D is disturbing. If you have a weak stomach, turn away now: go read the Honor Roll or Dr. Robert or something. First North’s 3D. Now if South had bid 2D, as he should, then North would have an easy raise to five at the vulnerability. He should probably bid 5D even so; it’s clear on the auction that E/W have an immense major-suit fit somewhere. However, he contents himself with 3D, and back we come to our hero.

Some players excite themselves at the prospect of a ten-card fit with an eight-carder on the side, but Gee keeps a cool head. After all, if the West hand is KJxxx Kxxxx xx x, then no game can make. Although West, with such a hand, has no business forcing his passed partner to bid with both unlimited at unfavorable vulnerability, experts like Gee can’t afford to depend on their partners to bid correctly. Sure, game is cold if West has anything like what he says has, and even slam makes on some West hands (like, for instance, the actual one); but why take a chance? Gee chooses a judicious 3S and awaits developments.

South’s pass is remarkable in its own right. His partner has shown nine or more cards in the minors. The opponents must have at least a nine-card spade fit. He has no defense and a known ten-card diamond fit. The vulnerability is favorable. If you won’t sac now, then when, O Lord?

West, in his turn, declines to bid, vulnerable at IMPs, what has to be at least a 50% spade game. And now Gee’s decision to wait pays off, as North gives him another chance by not passing out 3S. And not bidding 5C, giving his partner a choice of minor suit games. And not even bidding 5D. No, North bids 4D.

Gee finds the only way to cap this bidding sequence, by passing.

Down 1 for 50 won’t stack up too well at IMPs against a vulnerable slam, but why stop there? West opens the SA, and Gee carefully discourages with the 3. With a stiff in dummy the S10 would ask for a heart shift, but sometimes even great players forget that their lesser partners need help to read the cards as well as they do. West should probably find the heart anyway, but instead he shifts to the CA, then a trump, and sayonara. Making 5 for 150.

“I bid, did not I?” Gee asks after the hand. His partner does not reply.

Let’s play along with the experts. At favorable vulnerability, you hold Q K J 10 9 6 Q 7 5 K 9 7 6. RHO opens 1D in first seat. You venture a 1H overcall, and lefty bids 1S. Your partner passes, righty raises to 2S, and lefty raises to game. Two passes to you. Your call.

You passed? Nice try. The winning action is to double! Sure, it looks like you hold, opposite a mute partner, one defensive trick, maybe one and a half. But that fails to account for the stiff trump queen, which is a potent weapon opposite partner’s K109xx. You think it’s impossible for partner to hold five spades when the opponents have shown at least eight and you have one yourself? Think again, hombre: it’s called table feel. These are the actual hands.

N/S Vul
MPs
Dealer: South
Lead: 8

	kash A J 4 3 A Q 7 5 10 6 3 5 2
Maestro Q K J 10 9 6 Q 7 5 K 9 7 6		shyuhy K 10 9 5 2 8 2 K 9 8 J 8 3
	a-yummy 8 7 6 4 3 A J 4 2 A Q 10 4

West 1 Pass Dbl

North 1 4 Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

South 1 2 Pass Pass

500 of course wins all of the matchpoints. The STCP™ can complain all he likes that North’s bid shows five spades, not four, that South’s opener is dubious in the first place, that North’s raise to game is also questionable, that if either North or South has her bid the spade game is cold, and that if both of them have it there are probably overtricks. There is no substitute for expert psychological insight. Shyuhy, at least, understands the fundamental truth, that the good bid is the bid that produces a good result. “Nice double,” he says to Gee after the hand. “Thanks,” replies Gee modestly.