Exercise 2U81 Main


Send In the Clowns


 by Richard Pavlicek

The circus must be in town!
On each of the these deals, West or East was a clown.

Your job is to spot the worst call made, then indicate
the proper call and the correct final contract.

1. None vul
S A Q 4
H K 8 2
D A K J 5 4
C Q 2		Table S K J 8
H A 6 5 4
D Q 10 2
C K J 4

1 NT
Pass		Pass
Pass		3 NTPass

What was the worst call made?  Enter calls like this: P 1H 2C 3N 4S 6D

What is the proper call instead? 

What is the correct final contract? 

2. Both vul
S A K 3
H K Q 4 3
D A 8 2
C J 10 2		Table S J 8 6 4 2
H 2
D 9 7 6 3
C 8 7 4

1 NT
3 S		Pass
Pass		2 S
Pass		Pass
Pass

What was the worst call made? 

What is the proper call instead? 

What is the correct final contract? 

 Quit

Top Send In the Clowns

3. E-W vul
S K J
H Q 10 8 4
D A 9 3
C K Q J 2		Table S A 8 4 3
H K J 7 2
D 2
C 9 7 5 4

1 NT
2 H
Pass		Pass
Pass
Pass		2 C
3 H		Pass
Pass

What was the worst call made? 

What is the proper call instead? 

What is the correct final contract? 

4. N-S vul
S A K 4
H A Q 8 4
D Q 9 4
C J 7 2		Table S Q 9 8
H K J 7
D J 10 2
C A K Q 4

1 NT
5 H
Pass		Pass
Pass
Pass		4 NT
6 NT		Pass
Pass

What was the worst call made? 

What is the proper call instead? 

What is the correct final contract? 

 Quit

Top Send In the Clowns

5. None vul
S J 2
H A 7 5
D A K Q 4
C Q J 10 8		Table S A K 9 7 4
H K 10 8 4
D 3
C 9 6 2

1 NT
3 NT
Pass		Pass
Pass
Pass		3 S
4 H		Pass
Pass

What was the worst call made? 

What is the proper call instead? 

What is the correct final contract? 

6. Both vul
S Q J 10 8
H A Q 7
D K Q 8
C Q 10 6		Table S K 2
H K 3 2
D 10
C A K J 9 7 4 3

1 NT
5 C
Pass		Pass
Pass
Pass		4 C
6 C		Pass
Pass

What was the worst call made? 

What is the proper call instead? 

What is the correct final contract? 

 Quit

Top Send In the Clowns

The circus is over!
The clowns have left the ring!

The proper bidding for West and East is shown below.

1. None vul
S A Q 4
H K 8 2
D A K J 5 4
C Q 2		Table S K J 8
H A 6 5 4
D Q 10 2
C K J 4

1 D
2 NT
Pass		Pass
Pass
Pass		1 H
6 NT		Pass
Pass

West is too strong for a 1 NT opening (16-18) and not strong enough for 2 NT (21-22). Hence, he must begin with 1 D and then jump to 2 NT to show 19-20 points. East can add up the combined points (19 + 14 = 33) and place the final contract.

2. Both vul
S A K 3
H K Q 4 3
D A 8 2
C J 10 2		Table S J 8 6 4 2
H 2
D 9 7 6 3
C 8 7 4

1 NT
Pass		Pass
Pass		2 SPass

Nothing complicated here. Once West opened 1 NT, he told his story. Therefore, East is the captain, and the decision to bid 2 S (as opposed to passing 1 NT) is correct. This is a “sign-off” bid and West should pass. Note that 2 S is unlikely to make, but it’s the lesser of evils; West would be worse off in 1 NT.

Study 2U81 MainTop Send In the Clowns

3. E-W vul
S K J
H Q 10 8 4
D A 9 3
C K Q J 2		Table S A 8 4 3
H K J 7 2
D 2
C 9 7 5 4

1 NT
2 H
Pass		Pass
Pass
Pass		2 C
4 H		Pass
Pass

East was not only a clown but also a chicken. Once West showed four hearts after the Stayman bid, East should count 3 points for his singleton since he will be the dummy in hearts. This makes 11 total points, which is 1 point more than needed to bid game.

4. N-S vul
S A K 4
H A Q 8 4
D Q 9 4
C J 7 2		Table S Q 9 8
H K J 7
D J 10 2
C A K Q 4

1 NT
Pass		Pass
Pass		4 NTPass

This is a common mix-up for learning players. East’s 4 NT bid is correct, but it is not Blackwood. The rule is that 4 NT over any notrump bid is a slam invitation, asking partner if he has a minimum or a maximum for his previous bidding. Here, West has a minimum (he showed 16-18 and has only 16) so he should pass.

Study 2U81 MainTop Send In the Clowns

5. None vul
S J 2
H A 7 5
D A K Q 4
C Q J 10 8		Table S A K 9 7 4
H K 10 8 4
D 3
C 9 6 2

1 NT
2 D
3 NT		Pass
Pass
Pass		2 C
3 S
Pass		Pass
Pass
Pass

Holding a four-card major, the priority is to use Stayman, even when holding a longer suit. Once West denies a four-card major with 2 D, East can rule out a heart fit. East then jumps to 3 S (forcing) to find out if West has three-card spade support. West says no with 3 NT.

6. Both vul
S Q J 10 8
H A Q 7
D K Q 8
C Q 10 6		Table S K 2
H K 3 2
D 10
C A K J 9 7 4 3

1 NT
4 H
Pass		Pass
Pass
Pass		4 C
4 NT		Pass
Pass

East’s 4 C bid may appear to show clubs, but that’s just a coincidence. Any jump to 4 C over partner’s 1 or 2 NT is Gerber. Hence, West must answer 4 H to show one ace. Alas, that’s not enough so East signs off in 4 NT. Note that East must not bid 5 C over 4 H because that would be a Gerber continuation to ask for kings.

Study 2U81 MainTop Send In the Clowns

© 2014 Richard Pavlicek