BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

IF YOU were to ask an average logical person, with an understanding of bridge, what sort of hand he or she would expect a 1nT bid to describe, you’d hear something like: ‘It’s a hand with balanced values and distribution, which is better equipped to play without trumps, than in a suit contract.’

This might imply, therefore, that each suit was guarded, but of course, it would not take any account of partner’s hand.

our ‘consultant’ would look at these two hands and be able to confirm that hand (a) fitted the no Trump criteria perfectly, whereas hand (b) only half-fulfilled the requirements. He’d, therefore, bid 1nT and 1 ♦ respectively.

How do you then explain to him why he is ‘wrong’ on both counts — that (b) is the 1nT hand and that hand (a) should be opened 1 ♥ ?

Believe it or not, that’s exactly what you’d be taught in most bridge classes up and down the country today. Bridge, like any other game, is evolving all the time, and bidding methods have always been a main focus for change. Technology has totally transformed the world of bridge over the past 20 years, and a whole new generation of players have taken up competitions as a social pastime.

Home computers, bridge holidays, even 24-hour clubs on the internet are all contributing to an appetite for learning the game quickly.

(Continued tomorrow).