Handbook - International Bridge Press Association

If the opening leader has, say, Q-9-x-x in both red
suits he has to guess, since the bidding would be
identical if opener's red-suit holdings were reversed. In
standard methods, there would be no guess.
OPENER RESPONDER
♠ A x x x ♠ K x x x
Q J x K 10 x
K J x Q x x x
♣ A J 10 ♣ Q x
Opener Responder
1NT 2♣
2 2
2♠ 3NT
Pass
Responder can suggest notrump after showing his
four-card spade suit, and opener can make the final
decision. In standard methods, responder would have
to make the decision by himself.
OPENER RESPONDER
♠ Q 10 x ♠ K J x x
J x x x x K Q x
A Q x x
♣ A K ♣ J x x x
Opener Responder
1NT 2♣
2 4
Pass
Most players would probably open one notrump, after
which the superior four-heart contract would not be
reached in standard methods.
OPENER RESPONDER
♠ x x ♠ K x x
Q J x K x x x
A Q 10 x x K x x
♣ K Q J ♣ 10 x x
Opener Responder
1NT 2♣
2 2♠
3 Pass
A deal like this came up in the LM Men's Pairs on the
very first board we played this method. I held the
opening hand and was concerned about the spade
weakness since Steve didn't have four spades, so I
tried three diamonds. Steve wisely passed, and + 110
was worth 23 out of 25 match points.
OPENER RESPONDER
♠ A x ♠ x x
A K J Q 10 x x
K J x Q 10 x x x
♣ 10 x x x x ♣ A x
Opener Responder
1NT 2♣
2 2♠
2NT 3
4 Pass
After responder's three-diamond rebid (natural, nonforcing),
opener has a good picture of the hand and
can gamble out a four-heart call or take a more conservative
course. At any rate, a bad notrump contract
is avoided.
THE 1978 PRECISION AWARD
Jeff Rubens (USA)
THE PRECISION AWARD is for the best article or
series on a system or convention. C.C. Wei, inventor
of the Precision System, endows it. This years judges
were Terence Reese, P.S. Gupta and Alec Traub.
THE WINNER for the second time is Jeff Rubens of
New York. His winning article, ‘The Two-Step’ was
published in. 'The Bridge World', September 1978.
Rubens previously won the Precision Award for an
article, 'Three-Level Transfer Responses', published in
'The Bridge World' in December 1976.
The Two-Step
By Jeff Rubens
W
ith neither side vulnerable there are two passes
to you and you hold:
♠ K Q x x x A J x x x x x ♣ x.
As almost anyone would, you open one spade: partner
responds two notrump. According to most textbooks,
you should now be well placed. Partner has
made a limit bid, which reputedly cures many bidding
deceases single-handedly. In fact, partner has specified
both his point count (11 to a bad 12) and his
distribution (balanced or nearly balanced) within a very
narrow range.
In terms of knowledge, you are indeed very well
placed. You can give good odds that the best contract
is a part-score in hearts. Unfortunately, in terms of
getting to the best contract, or even to a reasonable
contract, you are in terrible shape. If you bid three
hearts, that is forcing – so much for a heart part-score.
You can choose between passing two notrump (possible
survival, but an outrage against common sense)
IBPA Handbook 2010 111