The Unusual No-Trump
There are select few conventions that appear at all levels of the game, giving lie to the belief that the yearning for complication is solely a vice of the expert. I'm thinking of Stayman, Blackwood, the unusual no-trump… You would have thought that you could simply 'check the box' and you'd be done. Not so. Playing with a pickup partner, if you select 'Stayman' you'll have to discuss what happens after. Two spades over a two heart response? But those are comparatively easy compared to the shades of strength and distribution that can be hidden when you just go along with something like the unusual no-trump. This was a hand from a summer teams-of-eight match between Ipswich & Kesgrave and Felixstowe.
| Love All Dealer North | ♠ QJ762 | |||
| ♥ AK7 | ||||
| ♦ 852 | ||||
| ♣ Q7 | ||||
| ♠ AK105 | ♠ 98 | |||
| ♥ 964 | ♥ --- | |||
| ♦ A9 | ♦ KQ7643 | |||
| ♣ J842 | ♣ AK1063 | |||
| ♠ 43 | ||||
| ♥ QJ108532 | ||||
| ♦ J10 | ||||
| ♣ 95 | ||||
| West | North | East | South | |
| I&K | Felix. | I&K | Felix. | |
| 1♠ | 2NT* | Pass | ||
| 3♣ | Pass | Pass | 3♥ | |
| 4♣ | 4♥ | Pass | Pass | |
| 5♣ | Pass | Pass | 5♥ | |
| X | All Pass | |||
The defence wasn't taxed to take two tricks in each plain suit to register a hardly deserved +800. As East, I thought I was middling to good for an 'unusual' adventure but I was clearly on a different wavelength to my partner. At another table this auction was duplicated as far as 4♣ but there North and South thought better of it and registered a pleasing -190. Another 800 was collected from North South but it required their help again for East-West to reach game at the fourth table where the auction was:
| West | North | East | South | |
| I&K | Felix. | I&K | Felix. | |
| 1NT | 2NT* | 3♥ | ||
| 4♣ | 4♥ | Pass | Pass | |
| 5♣ | All Pass | |||
Here I have more sympathy for West who, as 2NT doesn't categorically show the minors in this sequence, was not sure even of the suits; East owes another bid after 4♣.
So why the clear divergence of opinion? Well once upon a time two suited overcalls used to scare the opposition and could be made on a wing and a prayer. Money bridge players scoffed, claiming that knowledge of the distribution in the play cost those who lightly used them dear. Well, it may be another sign of age, but that's the view I uphold. If the auction pans out well I can bid both suits, so I'll often start with a simple overcall. Only if there is significant distribution will I try the unusual no-trump (or its kin) – I want a good chance of our side declaring before I show my hand.
Of course this is not so important; if you and you partner like to fool around with two five card suits headed by KQ, KJ, QJ or – perish the thought – even weaker, then at least you know what to expect. You'll have to make adjustments - and you'll have to check there's not some spoilsport opposite.
Published Saturday 29.Jul.2006