17th May – Board 4. Game All.
Dealer West.
I’m not a fan of
traditional Benji Acol because the ‘big’ bid of 2D quite often gets the auction
to start at an awkward level. The hand below is a case in point.
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North:
S 10 6 3
H Q 5
D 10 8 6 5 2
C 10 9 2
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West:
S K Q 8 7
H A K J 10 2
D A K Q
C 6
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East:
S 5 2
H 7 4
D J 9 4 3
C A J 8 7 5
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South:
S A J 9 4
H 9 8 6
3
D 7
C K Q 4 3
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West
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North
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East
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South
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2D
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No
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2H
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No
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3H
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No
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???
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See
what I mean? If East now bids 4C the auction is at the 4-level without any fit
forthcoming and the alternative of 3NT is just a leap in the dark. Much better
to play the old traditional way when the bidding would go 2C-2D-2H-3C-3S-3NT.
Although both 3NT and 4H make the former is by far the easier and on a normal
low diamond lead declarer will plonk down the two top hearts and come to an
easy eleven tricks.
At last I hear it from someone! Strong 2s are very rare, and yet so many people insist on having two bids to describe two very similar types of very rare hands!
ReplyDeleteNick from Southampton
The problem here is having to rebid hearts at the 3 level. There's something to be said for telling a small lie and opening 2C instead, when you get a nice cheap rebid of 2H. Alternatively, it can make sense to adopt a "South African Texas" type approach and use 2C/2D to show the anchor major rather than different strengths.
ReplyDeleteIan from Totton
I think it's better to play Benji 2D as an unconditional game force, so I would open this unbalanced hand with a Benji 2C.
ReplyDelete