The loser that vanishes

Normally in suit contracts we count losers and in NT contracts, winners. From there agonize about how to decrease or increase that amount to our satisfaction. But it is not always so:

	♠ Q ♥ T 6 4 3 ♦ A K J 9 3 ♣ 8 7 3
♠ J T 7 6 ♥ Q 9 2 ♦ 2 ♣ K T 9 6 4		♠ K 8 4 3 ♥ J 8 7 5 ♦ Q 7 5 ♣ Q 5
	♠ A 9 5 2 ♥ A K ♦ T 8 6 4 ♣ A J 2

A small spade lead sees you longing for 3NT, until the diamonds don't break. 3NT is doomed but how are you going to make 5♦? It would appear that there are 3 losers; two in clubs and that pesky, didn't drop when it was supposed to, trump queen.

Count your winners, the two black aces, two top trumps, the top hearts and 5 ruffs is eleven!

Play it out. Win the lead, draw two trumps, cash everything that will cash, ruff everything that won't and you'll be left with two small clubs opposite Jx and 11 tricks.

This sort of thing is called a trick compression, the poor defense make their three defensive tricks in the space of two defensive tricks. Effectively you lost one trick twice!



On to the bidding challenge. You're playing matchpoints, everyone is vulnerable, partner opens 1♥, RHO passes and you are playing SAYC:

♠	A Q J 3
♥	4
♦	K T 9 7 5 2
♣	8 2

The art of not pre-empting

Pre-empts encourage bidding. When we pre-empt we're using up space and trying to talk our opponents out of bidding; the problem is they know that and tend to overbid to compensate. Convincing the opponents to overbid when holding little defensive strength is a little odd.

Take a look at this example from a recent matchpointed pairs event:

Vul: NS Dealer: South	♠ Q ♥ A T 8 5 ♦ Q T 8 5 4 3 ♣ Q 8
♠ K 8 3 ♥ 7 ♦ K 7 2 ♣ K J T 6 5 4		♠ 7 5 4 ♥ K Q 9 6 3 ♦ A 6 ♣ A 3 2
	♠ A J T 9 6 2 ♥ J 4 2 ♦ J 9 ♣ 9 7

At most tables the South player advanced a weak two which ran to East who tried 3♥. West was left in an uncomfortable but easy situation, it's at least as likely there are 9 tricks in no trumps as hearts and it scores better.

3NT is a great spot and many declarers helped themselves to an overtrick. How many East Wests would reach it unassisted however? The bidding makes it's way around to East who opens a heart. West has a 2♣ rebid which East might raise but might pass. It's difficult to get beyond 3♣.

Maybe if the West hand were a shade stronger, possibly:

♠	K Q 3
♥	7
♦	T 7 2
♣	A J T 6 5 4

It could be opened at the one level and all would be well but I suspect the existing 10 count doesn't meet most partnerships criteria.

At my table our opponents didn't open the pre-empts which set them on track for an excellent board but then stumbled at their next opportunity:

South	West	North	East
Pass	Pass	Pass	1♥
Pass	2♣	2♦	Pass
2♠	Pass	3♦	Pass
Pass	X	3♠	Pass
Pass	X	End

About to stop bidding in two of a minor our generous opponents thoughtfully offered +800.

Gazilli

I've been asked for my notes on Gazilli so here they are. Now you no longer need to weigh up whether to jump rebid on your nice 5-5 shape 15 count, it's in the system!

Gazilli makes most sense in a 2/1 system where the 1NT response to a major opening can be a wide range.

Rebid structure
After opening 1♥ and hearing 1♠ from partner opener rebids like this. The structures if partner responds 1NT to either major opening are identical:

1NT	11 — 14	balanced
2♣	Gazilli
2♦	11 — 16	3+♦
2♥	11 — 16	6+♥
2♠	14 — 16	6♥ & 5♠
2NT	14 — 16	6♥ & 4+m
3♣	14 — 16	5♥ & 5♣
3♦	14 — 16	5♥ & 5♦
3♥	14 — 16	6+♥ (great suit)

Note that all 17⁺ hands go through Gazilli.

2NT rebid
Opener has shown a 6-4 shape with a better than minimum hand. Responder can now bid 3M to play, 3♣ pass or correct or 3♦ asking for the minor.

Gazilli
Gazzilli is a 2♣ rebid after a 1 of a major opening and is either natural showing clubs or conventionally 17⁺. The responses are as follows:

1♥ — 1♠ — 2♣ — ?

2♦	8+	any
2♥	5 — 7	2+♥
2♠	5 — 7	6+♠
2NT	5 — 7	3 suited short ♥
3♣/♦	5 — 7	6+♣/♦

1♥ — 1NT — 2♣ — ?

2♦	8+	any
2♥	5 — 7	2+♥
2♠	5 — 7	3 suited short ♥
2NT	5 — 7	5+♣ 5+♦
3♣/♦	5 — 7	6+♣/♦

1♠ — 1NT — 2♣ — ?

2♦	8+	any
2♥	5 — 7	5+♥
2♠	5 — 7	2+♠
2NT	5 — 7	3 suited short ♠
3♣/♦	5 — 7	6+♣/♦

Priorities
Responder with a weak hand should first look to bid a 7⁺ suit of their own then two of openers major with 2⁺ support finally a shorter suit or three-suited hand.

Follow Up
When responder bids 2♦ opener either rebids their major showing the weak option or any other bid 17⁺ GF.

If responder makes another bid they have a tight range of hands and opener is usually well placed to pick the contract or invite.

2NT and 3NT rebids
If opener rebids 3NT after Gazilli it shows 18 — 19 balanced, 5M332. The 2NT rebid can be used in one of two ways: to show 15 — 17 balanced (if you don't like 5M332 in your 1NT) or like the immediate 2NT rebid to differentiate a sixth card in the major suit.

Examples

West	East
1♥	1♠
2♣	2♦
3♣	3♦
3NT

West shows 17⁺ points, 5⁺♥, 4⁺♣ and a diamond stop. East has shown 4⁺♠ and 8⁺ points. The auction may be over at this point or East can bid on.

West	East
1♠	1NT
2♣	2♦
2♠	3♣

West has a natural 2♣ rebid, East shows 8 — 9 points by signing off in 3♣, 2NT would have been invitational.

West	East
1♠	1NT
2NT	3♦
3♥	4♣

At 3♥ West has shown 14 — 16 points with a 6-4 shape in spades and clubs. East has agreed clubs and is waiting for a cue.

West	East
1♥	1NT
2♣	2♥
3NT	Pass

West has 18 — 19 points balanced. East has 5 — 7 with 2 or possibly 3 hearts. East has denied a long suit.

West	East
1♥	1♠
2♣	2♠
Pass

East has 5 — 7 with 6⁺ spades. West has a natural 2♣ rebid or a poorly fitting 17 count.

Lead your longest suit

For most of us as soon as our hands were large enough to hold 13 cards our parents started with gentle lessons like "when defending no trumps lead your longest suit". Such early lessons are important for without such ingrained knowledge who, in their right mind, would lead ♦65432 expecting to set it up?

South	West	North	East
1♥	Pass	1♠	Pass
1NT	Pass	2♠	Pass
2NT	Pass	3NT	End

The auction makes more sense if you know NS play a weak no trump so South is marked with 15-17 high card points. It still doesn't meet the threshold of sensible but I'm on lead and my options look like this:

	♠ K Q T 7 3 2 ♥ J 8 ♦ K 8 7 ♣ 4 2
♠ A J 4 ♥ A 5 2 ♦ 6 5 4 3 2 ♣ 8 6		♠ 9 8 6 ♥ K T 6 ♦ J T ♣ K T 9 7 5
	♠ 5 ♥ Q 9 7 4 3 ♦ A Q 9 ♣ A Q J 3

Not wanting to give partner the wrong impression I led the ♦6. Declarer won and played a spade to the King then hoping for a lonely Jack played the Queen. Bravely I continued the ♦5 which didn't win but another spade back to me allowed the suit to be cleared by the ♦4.

Some number of tricks later I came to the ♥A and delightfully my ♦32 were worth a trick each!