2003 Year Book (News-Sheets)

Introduction

The Pattaya bridge Club was founded back in 1995 by Barry Kenyon. I took over the club in 1998 when Barry said that his other activities - British consulate representative, golf, running the quiz nights etc etc left him short of time.

The first couple of news-sheets were produced in 2002, mainly to lay down the ground rules for one or two unruly elements; but a more normal news sheet, featuring interesting hands etc soon developed. This book is a compilation of the first 60+ news sheets, I have retained the early news-sheets to maintain completeness and for historical interest, they may give you an insight of what a club director has to put up with.

The Setting

Pattaya Bridge Club is fairly unique in that it comprises a large number of tourists and transients - a number of members spend the summer in Europe/USA and the winter in Thailand. This factor, together with the tourists means that the numbers swell in the peak season (Winter). We have around 3-4 tables in the low season and up to 11 in the high season.

Of course we have some residents, and a some who turn up for a month of so on a regular basis. One notable member of this latter set is Chuck (an A-flight player from the USA). Clive, John Gavens and Gerry are three experienced players who are regular visitors from UK. And there are numerous other fine visitors from other countries.

The standard at the club is very mixed, with probably more resident beginners than experienced players. One regular visitor/resident is Hans, another fine player from Holland. Hans and myself, however, have differing opinions on many (most) aspects of bidding; you will meet many examples throughout this book.

Level

The news sheets, and thus this book, are mainly aimed at the average level of our club’s players. Thus beginner to average club player, plus the odd player who thinks he is a budding expert.

Content

I have mainly concentrated on bidding aspects, with Acol (weak NT) and Standard American being covered. Occasionally I will diverge into the play of the hand.

I have also produced a number of additional booklets throughout the year, three of which are included as appendices: -

Appendix A Scoring at Bridge

Appendix B Hand Evaluation

Appendix C Lebensohl

Index

The nature of this book (a collection of news-sheets) does not lend itself to an index. There are, however, a number of interesting articles that you may wish to refer to and so I give a list of the most important. A more complete index is given separately on the web-site (www.pattayabridge.com).

News-sheet No.

2 Responses to a Strong (15-17) NT (Stayman and Transfers).

3 Psychic bidding (and what’s allowed at our club).

4 Requirements for Slam

5 Game tries and all that Jazz

6 No Trump Bids and Rebids.

The Double of 1NT (and when partner of the doubler should bid).

9 Negative (Sputnick) Doubles

12 Opening 1NT with a 5 card major?

13 Roman Key Card Blackwood

15 Multi Landy - A Defence to 1NT

16 The Reverse (and Lebensohl after partner’s reverse)

17 Doubles – Penalty or Take-out?

18 Take-Out Doubles and Responses to Partner’s take-out Double.

The No-trump rebid - avoid it with a singleton (or void!) in partner’s suit.

Hans’ 1NT rebid that Terry says is appalling.

19 Your 2nd bid having transferred

Specific Types of Doubles

20 The 1NT Response – a response of 1NT to partner’s opening

Raising Partner’s 1NT response – the sequence 1any - 1NT - 2NT

21 Definitions – clarification of some of my terminology

22 RKCB – Asking about the trump Queen.

The 2¨ Opening – the various options for this opening bid.

Support Doubles

23 Denying a Four Card Major?

When opponents double our transfer

24 The Rule of 20 – 1st and 2nd seat openings

The Rule of 15 – 4th seat openings

Leading Against NT

NT rebids after a Two-level Response.

28 Denying a Four Card Major?

How Do You Expect Suits to Split?

30 The Jump Rebid, Jump Shift and Reverse

Eight Ever, Nine Never

31 The Law of Total Tricks

Ace-ask - When is it Blackwood or Gerber

33 Bidding Stayman When 5-4 (or 4-5) in the Majors, Smolen

Top or Bottom from sequences? – depends if you are leading or following

34 Alerts, rules and etiquette

The Jump Shift (Jump Response in English).

35 DOPI (Double 0 Pass 1)

Denying a 4 card major

36 A New Suit at the three Level

4NT after partner’s 3NT, Blackwood or Quantitive?

38 Responding 1NT to partner’s 1§ opening

39 Pre-empt in 4th seat?

40 Skip a 4 Card Major and bid it later?

42 The sheet Chuck tore up

Mickey and Donald return to Disneyland

43 Super Acceptance (Breaking) of a Transfer

44 Low Level Penalty Doubles

45 The 2NT and 3NT rebids

47 When Do You Need 5 Cards to Bid a Major?

48 Is It Forcing? – Reverses, jump responses and rebids etc

49 Discards in Defence - Lavinthal (aka McKenney)

50 How Many Points for Stayman?

51 1¨ - 1© - 2¨ - 2©? weak or forcing?

59 Bidding after RHO makes a take out double of partner’s opening.

60 Strip and Throw-in.

That Law again

61 The 2§ opening

Strong Jump Overcalls

The following topics are covered in the appendices: -

Appendix A The rule of two and three (and four) for pre-empting.

Appendix C Playing Tricks
§ ¨ Club News Sheet – No. 1 16/9/2002 © ª

Welcome to Pattaya Bridge Club! There are two Bridge Clubs in Pattaya: -

The original club meets on Monday afternoon at 2.00 p.m. sharp (please arrive early). The venue is the coffee shop at Pattaya Beach Tower, Soi 4 in North Pattaya. Visitors (with or without partners) are welcome. The playing fee is 50 bht and the session goes on till about 5.30 p.m. I can usually arrange a partner for anybody who does not have one, but please arrive early. This Monday meet is a smoking session.

The second club meets on Friday morning, 10.00 a.m. at the Red Baron Bar in the Amari Orchid Resort. This session tends to attract less people (guess they’re tired after a strenuous night out?). Anyway, this session is non-smoking; the playing fee is just 20 bht and the session finishes before 1.00 pm. However, the Amari does not charge for the room, so players are expected to buy something to drink (a coffee with biscuits is 60 Bht). Also, this resort is one of the better ones in Pattaya, so decent attire please. Reasonable shorts and a shirt are acceptable – string vests etc are not (the same applies to the Monday session).

Tesco-Lotus

Naklua Playing Conditions

We have a very mixed standard, varying

from excellent to virtual beginners, so

come along whatever your standard is -

If you have no partner, I can usually

arrange one of a comparable standard.

Need lessons? Have a word with me.

Big C

Dolphin

Roundabout No 2 Rd

Amari

Dusit Orchid

Resort Pattaya

Beach South Pattaya

Tower

______Beach Road

In addition to the two regular clubs, some players also meet informally at other times. This generally depends on the time of year and how many players there are around. In the high season (Nov-Feb) we often get 10 or more tables on Mondays and up to 7 on Fridays.

In the low season it’s down to about 4 on Mondays and 2 on Fridays.

If you are part of a group of players and want to play more often, then let me know and I can arrange it. We sometimes have additional sessions at Soi 4 in the high season.
§ ¨ Club News Sheet – No. 2 9/11/2002 © ª

Manners and Etiquette at our Bridge Club.

I am sure that most members are appalled at the lack of manners shown by various individuals over the last few weeks. I, myself, find it quite amazing that I have to do something like write this note, but here goes: -

First of all, play starts promptly at 2.00 pm. Since I usually have no idea how many tables there will be and I often have to find suitable partners for individuals, it makes life very difficult for me if people arrive bang on time (or even late!). So please be early, especially if you have not arranged a partner.

Secondly, attire. Entering the Soi 4 club (or the Amari!) wearing a string vest or similar attire really is unacceptable. I realise that it makes scratching your armpits easier … but really! If anyone cannot afford a shirt I can probably arrange a collection. The Monday club is a smoking club. The Friday morning Amari club is non-smoking. Full stop. I am fed up with people who want to change either. Luckily, Thai law has stepped in so that I no longer have problems at the Amari. As far as the Monday club is concerned, I will try to accommodate a non-smoker who has asma etc by seating him/her outside, but if this is inconvenient (for the movement or whatever) then tough luck – come to the Friday session.

Now about discussing hands and criticising partner (or opponents). Please keep running commentary to a bare minimum. ‘Well played partner’ or ‘bad luck’ are usually quite adequate. Unless you are a well established partnership or you know that your partner would appreciate your comments, then keep it zipped. Criticising opponents is a no-no. I realise that not everybody plays as (good?) Americans do. Just because people don’t bid the American way, there is no need to criticise them. At our club I am the Dictator – I mean Director. You may bid as you like (within reason), regardless of what an ‘expert’ American says. Just as an aside, isn’t it interesting that 3 out of the top 10 best selling novels in France have an anti-American theme! I wonder why?

There are a couple of members who insist upon talking about every hand. Of course they both believe that they are superior bridge players. Unfortunately, one of them talks garbage 90% of the time and the other 50% of the time. On the one occasion that they partnered each other, the partnership lasted 3 hands before one walked out (the mathematics are such that they are both talking garbage after 3 or so hands). This is really rather pathetic for two ‘adults’. So only comment if you know what you are talking about and even then saying nothing is often better. Chuck and Jeff please note.

Cards (and bidding cards) should be placed on the table and not slapped down in an apparent show of anger (Thorlief). This is cheating (when showing displeasure at some action of partner’s). If two opponents (even if one is American) had asked you not to do this the previous week, then I can only assume that the offender is stupid or wants to cause problems. If his English is not up to reading this note (one reason why we have bidding boxes), then perhaps Alex will translate. Although Alex, always the gentleman (as opposed to those referred to in this note), may choose to tone down my opinions!

If a disagreement occurs at the table or if there is incessant chatter, then call the director and I will try to sort it out amicably. I will no longer tolerate people shouting out insults at one another. Opinions such as ‘you are a rude pig’ may or may not be true, but really should not be shouted out (please, Ian). Any repeat of this appalling behaviour and offending parties will be requested to leave. My patience has run out. A few people (all 4 who seem to be involved in many of the above ‘incidents’) are now ‘on notice’. One such individual (Thorlief) has been involved in a loud argument three weeks running (with 3 different opponents!). Any further digression and offenders will be asked to stand in the corner. More serious offenders will have to stand outside the headmaster’s classroom.

Please take special note if you are Belgian, American, Australian or Norwegian and ‘know’ that I am referring to you. (Editor’s note – Jeff, Chuck, Ian and Thorlief).

Anyway, how about some bridge: -

Responses to a Strong (15-17) NT.

I have been asked to describe Stayma and Jacoby transfers. Here is a very simplistic guideline for strong NT players: -

2§ - Stayman – when you have one (or two) 4 card majors. 4 card Major

You usually need invitational values to bid Stayman – so 8+ points

So after 1NT, 2§ promises a 4 card major and asks opener to bid a 4 card major

After 1NT - 2§ - 2¨ = no 4 card major

When opener has replied to Stayman, responder either bids game,

invites or sometimes goes slamming. Examples: -

1NT - 2§ - 2¨ - 2NT = 8 pts, invitational

1NT - 2§ - 2¨ - 3NT = 9+ pts

You can transfer on any strength (even no points)

(even if he has just a doubleton) and responder continues as follows: -

With 0-7 points, pass

With 8 points, invite

With 9+ points, force to game

With 16+ points, look for slam Examples: -