Bidding problems with big hands.
Bridge Column for April 22, 2005, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
Neither side vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: 8 6              
                              H: 10 9 8 7 6  
                              D: J 8      
                              C: K 10 3 2
            West                             East
            S: K Q J 3 2                     S: 10 9 5 4 
            H: Q 3 2                         H: J 4        
            D: J 10 9                        D: Q 4               
            C: 9 4                           C: J 8 7 6 5   
                              South                         
                              S: A 7  
                              H: A K 5      
                              D: A K 7 6 3 2 
                              C: A Q      
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   2C      Pass     2D      Pass
                   3NT     Pass     Pass    Pass
     West led the king of spades and declarer, with 24 high card
points was able to make only seven tricks.  This is a situation
that comes up often enough to deserve a little discussion.  
     With a hand that is stronger than the requirements for a two
no trump opening, the current style is to open a "strong" two
clubs and then rebid the appropriate numer of no trump to
indicate the number of high card points.  Normally, two no trump
would show 22 to 23 points and three no trump shows 24 to 26. 
Partnerships may deviate from this scale - it is by no means
etched in stone.  
     The problem with this approach is that most partnerships
play all of their "No trump gadgets" after a two no trump rebid,
but not after three.  So what does North do after a three no
trump rebid?  Well, he hopes that his hand will be of some use
and he passes.  
     I suggest that South rebid two no trump with any hand that
has more than 21 points,  North can transfer to hearts, then
offer South the choice of playing three no trump or four hearts. 
With ace-king-small of hearts, South will bid the heart game and
with careful play, make one or two overtricks.  Quite a
difference.
     The only time that opener should rebid three no trump after
a two club opener is when he has nine top tricks after any
opening lead.  If partner has a zero count, he is still getting a
plus score.

     The Spring North American Bridge Championships were held in
Pittsburgh, PA from March 10 - 20.  Congratulations to all of the
area players who enjoyed success at this tournament.  Other
results appeared previously.  More will be listed in future
columns.
     March 13.  Jan Assini of Aurora, Lauie Kranyak of Bay
Village,  Sandra Fleischman of Beachwood and Linda McGarry of
Stuart, FL (previously of Cleveland) were 1st in the Flight A
Swiss teams.  Jerome Rolnick of Lyndhurst and Frank Aquila of
Fairlawn were tied for 1st in Stratum A of the fast open pairs. 
Donald and Katy Moyer of Silver Lake were 4th in Stratum B of the
afternoon side game.  Sue Pisanelli of Parma and her partner were
2nd in Stratum C of the morning 299er pairs and 4th in Stratum C
of the afternoon 299er pairs.  Hao Ge of Cleveland was a member
of the team that finished 4th in bracket 2 of the compact
knockout teams.  
     March 14.  Martin Baff and Brian Ellis of Beachwood were
14th and James Zimmerman of Shaker Heights and Richard Early of
Cuyahoga Falls were 21st in the silver ribbon pairs.  Arthur
Obreck of Shaker Heights and his partner were 4th in Stratum B in
the B/C/D pairs.  Jan Assini of Aurora and her partner were 1st
in Stratum A of the evening side game.  Hao Ge of Cleveland was a
member of the team that finished 2nd in Bracket 4 of the compact
knockout teams.  Susan Conrad of Madison, Philip Macfarlane of
Parma, Lesley Green of Lakewood, and Angela Strainic of Mentor
were 1st in Bracket 9 of the same event.  Robert Werner of
Chagrin Falls and his partner were 1st and Judith Rolnicki of
Brunswick and her partner were 3rd in the evening 299er pairs.  
In the compact knockout teams consolation, Patrick Spooner of
Brunswick was a member of the team that was 2nd in Bracket 4;
Julia Allen of Willoughby was a member of the team that was 3rd
in Bracket 6;  John Viola of North Ridgeville, Constance Bogan of
Strongsville, Lawrence and Carol Wise of Chagrin Falls were 3rd
in Bracket 9;  William Cashbaugh of Moreland Hills, Carol
Cashbaugh of Chagrin Falls, Eileen Hoicowitz and Beverly Nagy of
Cleveland were 1st in Bracket 10.  
___________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. 
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb19@adelphia.net