| A. Spades Quiz -- The Results and Analysis
Look at these four hands. Each has the following shape: five Spades, two Hearts, five Diamonds, and one Club. The Hearts and Clubs are identical; the trump and Diamonds represent the classic "5-5" layout. However, each hand has a different placement of high cards in these suits. | |
| The scenario: the score in each case is tied at 255-255. You have first bid with each of the hands. What is your call for each hand, and why?
Once again, I received many responses to this quiz. There are plenty of Spades experts out there -- that is for sure. It became quite obvious from the gitgo that each of these questions had one logical answer, and one borderline or acceptable answer. The actual play of each hand would be dependent on partner's bid, as well as the total table bid. The aforementioned hands called for a first-bidding scenario. Some players had correct answers for one or two of the hands, and incorrect answers for the other hands. An early entry (from "dweihuang") was the first and most accurate submission received, as it had either the preferred or second-best calls for each hand. Then again, it must be noted that a lot of these decisions are based on judgment.
Hand “A” -- Bid One. You can't Nil with five Spades.
Note: I would not object to a bid of Two; however, the Spades suit here is weak and vulnerable to attack. Very aggressive players will go for the 2-bid, as the shape of the hand is ideal for ruffing. The lack of a good side suit is a real liability for this hand. (Compare with Hand "C".) Go with a comfortable 1-bid.
Hand "B" -- Bid 4 (or 5). Keep in mind that your partner might Nil, and your 5-bid is now in jeopardy. The correct bid here is 4.
Note: The call of 4 is best and safest. There is no guarantee the Spade Queen will drop Doubleton, or that partner holds it. If partner does bid Nil, you may need to burn some trump in order to ruff Club or Heart suit winners in pard's hand (assuming that pard is not set early in either of these suits!).
Hand "C" -- Bid 3 (or 4) -- This one is tougher. If you bid 3, it's very conservative, and you might get a few bags. A bid of 4 is aggressive, especially if an opponent has a long Spade suit, but you can't win without being aggressive in the game of Spades.
Note: I lean toward the call of 4, as I would expect to win two Diamond tricks and two Spade tricks. If a Diamond is ruffed on the second round, then I am forced to win three Spades. I do not object to the safer call of 3.
Hand "D" -- Bid 6 (or 7) -- A call of 7 is also aggressive. If one of the opponents has the Spade Queen guarded, it will be difficult to make 7. At this point in the game, the call of 6 is the right bid.
Note: If you had the bid in third or fourth seat, the path would be much easier. The Classic "5-5" hand is usually a power-bidding situation. However, the weak Hearts and Club suits may prematurely force trump from your hand. And a Nil bid from pard may complicate matters. In spite of it all, I like the call of 7. This will be beaten only by bad breaks in BOTH the trump and Diamond suits.
Congratulations, "dweihuang," and thanks to all of you who took the time to send in your solutions! | |
| B. Strategies and Techniques -- Signals for Nil Bids, Part 1
This month, we will begin a discussion about discards and signals for Nil bids. You are the Nil bidder. The score is tied at 247 all. You are sitting South with this hand, with last bid. | |
| The bidding proceeds from your left: 5, 3, 3. Your call of Nil is quite justified. West opens with the 4 of Clubs. Partner inserts the Queen. You drop the Jack. Partner now shifts to the King of Hearts, which wins. Now he plays the Queen of Hearts, as your right-hand opponent follows. What is your discard under the King of Hearts, and what is your discard under the Queen of Hearts?
More to come on this next month. No, this is NOT an e-mail contest! | |
