Rules of 19

More rules in BridgeCast this week from Level 3. BridgeCast is Andrew's monthly subscription service, join him as he presents a daily deal. To find out more click here. It is also Rule thirteen, in Andrew's "Rules, Acronyms and Ditties" book which is, providing the inspiration, for his current series of Level 3 daily videos on BridgeCast.

The Rule of 19: Nineteen is the normal maximum point-count for a one-level opener.

If you have nineteen points and partner responds to your opening bid, a game contract should be reached. Indeed the logic of the six-point responding guideline is precisely that it gives a 19-point opener the chance to reach game.

Exercise: You open 1 ♥ and partner responds 1 ♠. What should you rebid with these 19-point hands?

(i). Traditionally, this was a jump to 3 NT. However, even though game-values are likely present, it pays to jump to 2 NT (not quite forcing, showing 18-19), enabling the partnership to conduct a Three-level dialogue.
(ii). 3 ♦. Natural and (being a jump in a new suit by opener) game-forcing. Take away even ♣ J and you’d bid just 2 ♦, which is nearly (but not quite) forcing.
(iii). 3 ♥. Tricky – for 1 ♥-1 ♠-3 ♥ is not forcing. But short of fabricating a jump to 3 ♣ on your three-card suit, there is no easy way to force partner to bid again. The jump to 3 ♥ shows 16+ points (and six+ hearts) and partner will strain to bid. Yes – he might pass and yes – game might be missed. That’s life.

On our deal the best game contract of 3 NT was reached, West leading ♣ 10 to ♣ 2, ♣ Q and ♣ A. At trick two declarer led ♦ 2 towards ♦ J, hoping for West to hold ♦ Q in front of ♦ J (as here) or, failing that, a 3-3 split.

West rose with ♦ Q and continued with ♣ 9, declarer winning in hand with ♣ J. He was now up to eight tricks. Rejecting the make-or-break ♠ 3 to ♠ K, declarer elected to duck a heart, ♥ 2 won by West’s ♥ 7 and ♣ 6 led to dummy’s ♣ K [♠ J – to ♠ K and ♠ A – works no better as declarer can use ♠ 109 as equals against ♠ Q].

Declarer cashed dummy’s ♦ J, crossed to ♦ AK (East throwing ♠ 75), then cashed ♥ AK – ♥ QJ could fall. They did not but, placing East with greater spade length (fewer diamonds) and therefore more likely to own ♠ A, declarer found the key play of exiting with a fourth heart. East won ♥ J but had to lead from ♠ AQ around to dummy’s ♠ K. Nine tricks – game made.