Board-a-match bidding quiz

      By Karen Walker  (Originally published in the Las Vegas NABC Daily Bulletin)

Many players consider board-a-match (BAM) scoring to be the toughest form of the game. It’s a team event that's similar to the head-to-head competition of IMPs, but each board is scored like matchpoints with a top of 1. You either win (1), lose (0) or tie (1/2) the opposing team, and the smallest scoring increment makes a difference.

The second qualifying session of the Mixed Board-a-Match Teams event at the Las Vegas NABC featured several bidding decisions that are particularly interesting at this form of scoring. Try these problems:

1.  None vulnerable.                                 

    * (denies 3-card spade support)

What is your call as South holding: AK932   A108   83   Q87 ?

2.  NS vulnerable.                                 

What is your call as South holding: J932   J42   Q943   54 ?

3.  EW vulnerable.                         

What is your call as South holding: K5   AK86   J10985   75 ?

4.  Both vulnerable.                            

What is your call as South holding:  KQJ1093   K953   7   96 ?

5.  Both vulnerable.                      

What is your call as South holding: A842   AJ10   642   965 ?

The analysis:

(1)   If you play support doubles, you already know there’s no future in spades, so the task is to get your side to 3NT. A 3D cuebid is the most straightforward way to force to game and ask partner for a diamond stopper, but the greedy BAM player is always looking for a bigger score. Try for it by reopening with a double. Partner will appreciate the opportunity to pass, as he holds:

    Q   Q43   Q1095   AK1092

3NT would have made at least 10 tricks for plus 430. 2D doubled, however, goes down three or four tricks for plus 500 or 800.

(2)   The overly optimistic might try 4S, but a 4D bid seems the safest retreat. You need plus scores at BAM, though, and with this hand, you can be fairly certain you won’t be getting one on offense. Partner has a strong hand for his high-level double, so pass and hope he has enough quick tricks to scrape up a set. Partner held:

    K76   AK85   A10765   K

4D will go down one, two or three, depending on how partner guesses the layout, and 4C goes down one or two.

(3)   At IMPs, you might consider a 5H bid as “insurance” -- you’re willing to go minus 100 or even minus 300 to avoid a possible minus 620 for defending their vulnerable game. That type of compromise offers no benefit at BAM, though, because any negative point differential – whether it’s 10 points or 1000 -- will still be a zero. Essentially, you need to guess right now whether you can set 4S and whether a bigger plus score might be available if you declare 5H.

The red-vs.-not opponents seem pretty happy with their 4S contract, and it’s sounding like both sides have a big double fit. When in doubt at BAM, it’s often wise to put on the pressure, so try 5H. Maybe the opponents will be so anxious to declare that they’ll bid 5S, or maybe 5H will make.

The bad news is that 4S was going down because partner held wasted spade cards:

    QJ6   Q10972    AQ43   2

The good news is that he had the diamond fit you were expecting and the diamond king was onside, so you score up 11 tricks, losing only the two black aces.

(4)   Open 2S. Yes, you have that side four-card major, and you’re vulnerable in second seat (the worst position for a preempt). Even those who are fanatical about their weak two-bid requirements, though, usually loosen up at BAM. If you open 2S, your LHO will double and partner will bid 4S with:

    A742   AJ62   Q63   73

The opponents will probably double and you’ll score up plus 790. If you instead pass at your first turn and try to describe this hand later, you may give East-West room to find their double fit in the minors and take a 5C or 5D sacrifice, which goes down just one.

(5)   Some would call your notrump response a “BAM hog bid,” but RHO’s takeout double and your flat distribution make 1NT an attractive alternative to 1S. Should you suggest more notrump now, or do you think you’ve done enough? The typical BAM player will stand on his head to avoid playing in a minor if he thinks a notrump contract might be available, so try 2NT (“when in Rome ...”). Partner will raise to 3NT with:

    73   K9   1053   AKQ873

You’ll make 10 tricks with a heart lead, nine with a spade or diamond lead.