Evening star., 1947-07-03
Goren on Bridge
RESPONSES TO NO-TRUMP

| bkDS.
Whereas it has been observed that
an ordinary opening bid, facing q
partner who has opened the bid-
ding, will usually produce game. An
opening one no-trump bid facing a
partner who could have opened with
one no-trump bid will usually pro-
duce a slam. This is just simple
arithmetic, for each has minimum
of l6 which assures a combined
total of at least 80. A total OF 33
should yield a reasonable chance
for slam and count OF "a makes
1t mandatory that the small slam
be attempted.
This manner OF calculation should
permit you on the first round OF
bidding to judge the approximate
range of the target, regardless OF
how many no-trump partner has
opened with. Simply add your as
sets to his announced minimum. II
partner opens with two no-trump.
for example, you know that he has
at least %. If you have IL, you
contract for six no-trump knowing
that the partnership possesses be-
tween "a and 36 points. If you have
enough to bring the total to 81 or 80,
your are ip the happy position OF
being able to utter the dramatic
words dncluding the lucky number
[ y without further ado.
But reverting from the glamorous
to the cold realities of life, let US
consider for a moment the manage
ment of those hands we all too fire.
quently hold when partner, with
hope springing high, gets of to a
bid of one no trump. With a bal
anced hand and less than eight
points 1t pays not to take any
action. But a hand containing a
five card suit with only seven points
qualities as raise. A response OF
two clubs or two diamonds is made
on an unbalanced hand, which does
not contain the point count required
for a raise and may play better at
the suit. 1t is a request to partner
not go on with the bidding.
I treat a response of two hearts
or two spades somewhat differently.
While response of two in minor
suit definitely denies point count
of eight for holding that many
points the minor suit would not be
shown but the no-trump raised
directly) a response of two In q
major may contain the necessary
count for a raise. But responder,
because his hand is somewhat un-
balanced, may believe that the hand
would possibly play better in a suit.
In this respect my methods differ
from those advocated in the Gull
pertson system in which a response
of two in a major suit is construed
at bit on the discouraging side.
Even with a five-card major suit.
| if the hand is evenly balanced. 1
would prefer to raise the no-trump
to show the suit. For example:
1. AIT VKQ1064 pK53 A9S6
2. AAQJ74 27632 NJ94 %3.
In the first example I would raise
partners opening bid of one no
trump to two, without showing the
hearts, for I believe the hand should
play Just as we'll at no-trump, and I
would prefer to reach for nine
tricks. In the second example,
though I hold the point count that
justifies a raise to two no-trump,
would prefer to respond with two
spades. This unbalanced hand may
play better in spades, particularly
if partner happens to have only a
single club stopper.
Holding long major suit and the
ability to win over the five tricks
(playing tricks not honor tricks
yourself, you should jump to four
of the major if you have no more
than 1Ea honor tricks. If you have
long major suit with at least two
honor tricks the proper response
is jump to three of that suit.
(This discussion tptH be con-
| tinued tomorrow.
| Copyright. 1947. by Charles H. Goreno