Black Arts and Culture

Bridge Corner: March 2, 2017

Hello and welcome to the Tidewater Bridge Unit (TBU).

Come join us for a fun and exciting game of bridge! YOU are invited to play in the American Bridge Association’s Nationwide Game on March 1, 2017. Every participant – from the very beginner to the advanced player – wins points!!!

In bridge, the pair that opens the bidding tends to win the auction most of the time. There are several reasons to overcall: 1) overcalling allows your side to get in on the auction when the opponents have opened first, 2) the overcaller can let partner know what to lead if partner has the opening lead, and 3) overcalling can obstruct your opponents’ bidding, making it a little more difficult for them to find their correct contract. The overcaller’s partner needs to exercise some judgment. If your partner overcalls, do NOT expect him to have an opening hand (12+ high card points/hcp). You should usually pass without a fit (at least 8 cards in the same suit between the two hands) unless you have 10 or so points of your own. If you have a fit, you can give partner a raise with a minimum type hand.

How to respond. Your left-hand opponent (opp) opens 1 club (C) and your partner (part) overcalls 1 spade (S). His 1 spade bid shows at least a 5-card spade suit and 8- 16 hcp. What does your bid mean, when you respond:

OPP: 1 Club
PART: 1 Spade
OPP: Pass

YOU RESPOND
(a) 1 No Trump
(b) 2 Clubs
(c) 2 Diamonds
(d) 2 Hearts
(e) 2 Spades
(f) 2 No Trump
(g) 3 Diamonds
(h) 3 Hearts
(i) 3 Spades
(j) 3 No Trump

Answers:
(a) you have 8-11 hcp, club stopper, and your bid is not forcing;
(b) your bid is forcing (partner is forced to bid again), your que-bid (bidding opponent’s suit) is asking about the point count of your partner’s overcall and you have support for partner’s spades with 10+ points;
(c) your bid is not forcing;
(d) your bid is not forcing;
(e) your bid is a simple raise showing 3+ spades with 6- 10 points;
(f) you have 12- 14 HCP, clubs stopped, and you are inviting (invitational) partner to game if he has 12+ HCP;
(g) you have a good Diamond suit, a good hand, and your hand is highly invitational;
(h) you have a good Heart suit, a good hand, and your hand is highly invitational;
(i) you have a preemptive hand – 4 spades with 6- 9 points, including distributional points;
(j) you want to play this hand in a 3 No Trump contract – you have 14+ hcp with clubs stopped.

Winning Pairs
February 21, 2017
Section A Game

Delores J. Burney – Gloria Maddux
Harriet F. Goodrich – Delores Brown
Barbara Whitfield – Lawrence Owes
Betty L. Warren – Grace W. Setzer
Cindy Burrell-Jones – Elva N. Taylor
Rosemary Whitehurst – Oneida Lacey

Happy Birthday To Our March Babies:
Alfonso Jones – 1st
Aldis Raymond – 1st
Claytee Newby – 5th
Harold Keifer – 9th
Gillis Watson – 12th
Delores Brown – 20th
Geraldine Andrews – 21st
Wilma Horne – 23rd
Alex Lampert – 23rd
Winnifred Washington – 24th
Dorothy Lorenz – 30th