Blum on Bridge Bypassing a Diamond
	I BY-PASSED A DIAMOND IN LAS VEGAS: Once a year Connie and I spend a week in June increasing our wealth in Lost Wages, Nev. June is our month because it coincides with an annual ACBL regional where I can take short breathers away from the dice table. Though I made short appearances every day of the regional, with the exception of one single session event, I kibitzed the experts. It was only due to unusual circumstances that I got to play at all. Paul Soloway, playing on a team good enough to win a world championship, was upset and knocked out of an event in the first round. As a result he had a free day and asked me to play. I told him Connie had an evening date with the blackjack dealer and I had a similar one at the same time with the pit boss at the crap table. However, my afternoon was free so we decided to compete in a session of the continuous pairs. Now I must tell you, the continuous pairs are not too much more than a very competitive club game. There are a few experts that you will come across, but most are playing in the more competitive two-session events. With Paul, the world's leading masterpoint holder, we were expected to win and did. Of course later, as I made my way to the casino, I kept saying, "It takes two to tango." Yeah, right! However, Paul did give me a few pointers that I feel inclined to pass on to you guys. But before I do, I want to tell you about one laugher. I picked up AJxxx-K-Axxx-xxx and my partner opened one diamond to which I responded one spade. Paul bid one no-trump and I bid two clubs. In our system the two-club bid is artificial and forcing asking partner if he has 3 of my major. As you know my first spade bid guarantees no more than 4 in the suit. Soloway bid two diamonds denying 3 spades but showing a decent diamond suit. For some reason I thought Paul was short in hearts, my singleton, so I reluctantly passed. In truth I should have bid three diamonds with my 12 points and given Paul a chance to bid three no-trump. At any rate, after an opening lead I can't remember, I tabled my cards. Expressionless, Paul looked up and said, "A bit conservative, but I'll try to handle it." He made five. In the early '50s the great Al Roth invented up-the-line bidding where both the opener and responder each bid their four-card suits beginning with the lowest ranking suit. This series of bids, still quite common today, might go something like this. Opener holds Akx-Qxxx-Kx-Qxxx while responder has Jxxx-Axx-Kxxx-xx. Opener 1clb. -responder 1 dmd. -opener 1ht.responder 1 spd. -opener 1NT- responder pass. Most experts - and many of the better players today - when responding, by-pass their four-card diamond suit if they also hold either one or both four-card majors. Paul's explanation made it clear to me why this is a better way to handle these type hands. "If the four-card major is bid directly by the responder, the defenders are not sure whether or not he holds a four-card diamond suit. On the other hand if he responds 1 dmd., the opener can bid 1NT directly holding either one or both four-card majors because he knows responder does not have a four-card major thereby precluding a fit in either major suit. This also confuses the defense as they do not know whether or not the opener has a four-card major." Ah, you ask, what if I have a five-card diamond suit? The answer, "Bid it." When the opener rebids 1NT, if you have less than an opening bid "pass." Partner's second call of 1NT indicates a hand between 12-14 hcps. So you are probably in the best contract under game. Should you as responder hold a hand you would have opened, bid your four-card major at the two level after the opener's 1NT rebid. You hold xx-kxxx-KQxxx-Qx. Over partner's opening bid of one club, you bid one diamond. Partner assumes you have no four-card major and rebids 1NT. You must pass with less than about 12 points. Change your hand slightly to xx-Kxxx-Akxxx-Qx. Again you bid one diamond but when partner rebids 1NT you bid your four-card heart suit at the two level. This is forcing on partner and not only informs him of your four-card heart suit, but also lets him know of your five-card diamond suit plus a full opener.