Small Targets

A number of recent discussions have featured situations which, though quite different in bridge detail, resolve to the same broader principle; when considering what to do, decide in favour of the option that has more ways to win. Putting it another way, don't aim for small targets.

A recent enquiry from two independent correspondents concerned, in a world of red-suit transfers (two diamonds shows five-plus hearts, two hearts five-plus spades) how best to use a two spade response to partner's one no-trump opener.

Arriving mushroom-like – mysteriously, without provenance – a common treatment at club-level is to use the sequence (opposite 12-14 no-trump) to show 11 HCP, preserving a 2NT response to show 12 HCP. The idea is to help out opener; with 12 HCP both invitations are declined, with 14 both are accepted and with 13 accept the stronger, decline the weaker.

Surely that is a good thing… It is only when you consider that for the treatment to gain, all these circumstances would have to be true.

And that is a tiny target. Once you add in the other disadvantages (even in no-trumps raw point-count is only an indication of trick-taking, an artificial two spades can attract a lead-directing double, etc.) it is clear why no bridge-teacher endorses the convention.

More often the idea of avoiding small targets informs bidding and play decisions; I kibitzed this deal from match play.

EW Vul.
Dealer East
  • J3
  • 32
  • QJ1087532
  • 6
  • 542
  • 107
  • 964
  • QJ932
N
W
E
S
  • K105
  • AQ9864
  • K
  • K75
  • AQ987
  • KJ5
  • A
  • A1084
West
North
East
South
—
—
1
X
Pass
3
Pass
3NT
All Pass

I am no fan of doubling with the South cards and in the other room South made a simple overcall and settled in a spade part-score. North has a tricky advance of a double. He must have been suspicious that, with West passing and only 4 HCP himself, that South had a good hand. Two diamonds, an underbid, might have been more prudent whatever the partnership style but it would be hard to say he was wrong to bid higher.

Three no-trump would surely need the diamonds to come in. And that would require South to have either a super holding (a consideration which makes the two diamond underbid look better) or great luck with the lie. We have all hoped to sneak by in three no-trump with a long suit but here, if diamonds come in, surely five diamonds had play. Here diamonds did oblige – for twelve tricks no less – but only if they were trumps.

Published Saturday 22.Feb.2014