Lesson 3S by Richard Pavlicek
Lesson 3S by Richard Pavlicek
This lesson explains the concept of “duplication” which allows you to diagnose the degree of fit with partner and consequently make better slam decisions. On Page 2 is an explanation of a helpful slam tool: bidding five in a major suit.
Duplication
| The king, queen or jack (or any combination thereof) opposite shortness |
| Shortness opposite shortness |
For example, if you count 3 points for the king and partner counts 3 points (as dummy) for a singleton in the same suit, the combined value is not worth 6 points — in fact it is closer to 3 points because one of the values is usually worthless.
Similarly, if you and partner are both short in the same suit, the real value is much less than the combined point total because you may not be able to ruff anything.
To increase bidding accuracy, I recommend the following method of evaluation for suit slams:
| If you find there is no duplication, the requirement for slam is only 30 points. |
| If duplication exists, still use 30 points as your goal, but do not count wasted honors or wasted shortness in the duplicated suit. |
| If you cannot determine whether duplication exists, figure on 33 points. This allows for an average amount of duplication. |
1. 
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 K J 10 4 J 8 2 A K 8 5 4 3 | ![[W - E]](t.gif) | A Q 5 A 10 7 6 3 3 2 K Q 8 |
| West 1 1 3 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 1 2 NT 4 | South Pass Pass |
West indicates short clubs by bidding the other three suits, so East does not count the K-Q and settles for game.
2.
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| K J 10 4 J 8 2 A K 8 5 4 3 | | A Q 5 K Q 10 7 3 3 2 A 8 6 |
| West 1 1 3 4 | North Pass Pass Pass Pass | East 1 2 NT 4 6 | South Pass Pass Pass |
Now East expects no duplication (note the perfect club holding) so his 16 points plus West’s likely 14+ should make slam.
Yup, I think I see it now.
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| A Q 8 6 4 3 K J 10 9 3 2 3 | | K 5 A 8 6 K Q 8 4 Q J 7 4 |
| West 1 3 4 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 2 NT 3 NT Pass | South Pass Pass |
West has shown extreme length in the majors so East’s secondary values in the minors are likely to be worthless.
4.
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| A Q 8 6 4 3 K J 10 9 3 2 3 | | K 5 Q 8 6 A 9 8 4 A 10 7 4 |
| West 1 3 4 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 2 NT 3 NT 6 | South Pass Pass |
Now every card in East’s hand is golden. He has 14 points and it is reasonable to assume West’s hand will revalue to at least 16 points. The stab at slam is justified.
5.
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| 4 3 2 2 A K 10 4 A J 9 7 6 | | A Q 9 5 5 Q 9 8 2 K Q 10 4 |
| West Dbl | North 3 | East Dbl | South 5 |
West must decide whether to bid a slam or double for penalty. The key consideration is that East is likely to be short in the same suit (hearts) so West takes his profit.
6.
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| 2 4 3 2 A K 10 4 A J 9 7 6 | | A Q 9 5 5 Q 9 8 2 K Q 10 4 |
| West 6 | North 3 | East Dbl | South 5 |
Now West can see that the partnership’s shortness will be in different suits so he takes the aggressive option to bid a slam.
Bidding Five in a MajorOne of these lesser known slam bidding tools is the bid of five in a major suit. Remember this the next time you want to bid 4 NT.
| The most important slam bidding tool is the control-bid, which is covered in my Lesson 3M (Suit Slam Bidding). |
| If your side has bid all but one suit, it asks for control in the unbid suit. |
7.
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| 3 A K J 10 7 6 3 Q 3 K J 9 | | A K 9 4 Q 4 8 7 2 A Q 8 2 |
| West 1 3 4 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 1 4 5 | South Pass Pass |
Responder goes out of his way to bid clubs so the unbid suit is diamonds, then 5 delivers the perfect message. Lacking diamond control, opener should pass.
8.
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| A K J 2 10 6 K 2 K Q 10 9 8 | | Q 10 9 8 5 4 A J 8 3 A 4 2 |
| West 1 3 5 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 1 4 6 | South Pass Pass |
After responder makes a slam try with 4 , opener jumps to 5 to show a fine hand without heart control. Responder’s singleton heart is the key to the slam.
| If the enemy has bid, it asks for control in the enemy suit. |
9.
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| A K 8 2 K J 9 7 5 2 4 9 5 | | 3 A Q 10 8 J 2 A K J 8 7 2 |
| West 1 6 | North 3 | East 5 | South Pass |
The main concern for slam is the danger of two diamond losers (the chance of being off two aces is negligible in comparison). Opener bids the slam with a singleton.
| Holding the guarded king in the concerned suit, you should bid 5 NT to suggest 6 NT. |
10.
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| A K 9 6 5 4 A K K J 7 4 3 | | Q J 8 2 J 2 A Q 10 8 K 9 2 |
| West 1 5 6 NT | North Pass Pass | East 3 5 NT | South 4 Pass |
Opener asks for club control, and responder shows at least K-x. Opener then is happy to be the dummy in 6 NT. Note how foolish it would be to play in 6 .
| With first-round control in the concerned suit, you may make a control-bid as a grand-slam try. |
11.
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| A Q 8 2 A K J 5 4 3 4 3 K | | K 3 Q 9 7 2 A 5 2 A 8 4 3 |
| West 1 3 5 7 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 3 4 5 | South Pass Pass Pass |
By bidding 5 , responder guarantees two things: first-round diamond control and second-round spade control, which is just what opener needs to bid seven.
| If a single suit cannot be pinpointed, it asks for good trumps relative to the previous bidding. |
12.
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| 3 K 7 3 2 K Q J 4 2 A Q 3 | | A K Q 2 J 9 6 5 4 A 5 3 2 |
| West 1 3 | North Pass Pass | East 1 5 | South Pass |
After the jump raise, responder bids 5 to indicate that trump quality is his main concern, and opener should pass with such mediocre support.
13.
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| K Q J 9 8 7 6 5 4 6 5 4 3 | | 2 A 10 3 2 A K 3 2 A K Q 2 |
| West 3 6 | North Pass | East 5 | South Pass |
Responder has enough side tricks to bid a slam, but the danger is that two trump tricks may be lost. With a broken suit (e.g., K-J-10-x-x-x-x) opener should pass.
14.
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| 3 10 9 8 5 A 7 2 K 9 7 5 2 | | J 4 2 A Q J 7 6 4 2 4 3 3 |
| West 5 | North 1 Pass | East 3 Pass | South Pass |
Because of the enemy bid, the raise to 5 is not a slam try but an attempt to shutout the opponents. Note that they can make at least 4 , probably more.
Copyright © 2010 Richard Pavlicek. All rights reserved.