Bernard Marcoux a gagné le Prix BOLS Bridge Press en 1996 pour cet article.
Il n'y a pas d'enfant-prodige au bridge. Pourquoi? Parce que ce jeu exige certaines qualités caractéristiques de l'adulte, à tout le moins une qualité: celle de penser globalement, de colliger toutes les informations pertinentes et de les traiter de façon exhaustive afin d'obtenir une réponse qui prévoit toutes les possibilités, absolument toutes les possibilités.
On raconte que le grand John Crawford s'est retrouvé un jour au volant d'un grand chelem avec une couleur d'atout ARD10xxx devant un singleton et aucune perdante dans les autres couleurs. Pendant qu'il faisait son plan de jeu, il remarqua que les kibitzers ne bougeaient pas: personne ne semblait vouloir partir. Crawford en déduisit que, si personne ne quittait, ce contrat contenait un piège; en effet, si les gens avaient pu compter 13 levées de tête, ils auraient manifesté leur perte d’intérêt d'une façon ou d'une autre. Crawford, notant leur attention soutenue, et constatant aussi qu'il n'avait aucune perdante dans les autres couleurs, conclut qu'il y avait sans doute un problème à l'atout. Il présuma donc le Valet quatrième à sa droite et joua atout vers son 10 pour la réussite du grand chelem, son flanc droit ayant effectivement Vxxx. Voilà ce qui s'appelle colliger et traiter toutes les informations.
Vous connaissez l'expression «homme du monde», qui signifie «personne sachant se comporter en société, courtoise et polie jusqu'au bout des ongles». Paul Valéry, poète et écrivain français, aimait justement distinguer les hommes du monde, superficiels et fats, des «hommes d'univers», sagaces, perspicaces, intelligents, visionnaires et humbles. Valéry disait aussi que les événements quotidiens (dont s'occupent les gens du monde) ne sont que l'écume à la surface de l'océan; les vrais événements se passent en profondeur et il faut un visionnaire, un poète, un homme d'univers, pour les déceler.
Vous ouvrez 1♥ en quatrième position et jouez éventuellement 4♥, sans intervention adverse. Ouest entame de l'As de trèfle.
Fred Gitelman, de Toronto, démontre ici toutes les qualités d'un «homme d'univers», d'un vrai joueur de bridge. Après l'As de trèfle, Ouest est revenu Dame de pique. Fred a esquiché; petit pique vers le Roi d'Est que Fred a pris de l'As. As de coeur et coeur vers la Dame; trèfle coupé pour voir si quelque chose d'intéressant se produit. Rien. Ou plutôt beaucoup, pour un homme d'univers.
Suivons la pensée d'un vrai joueur de bridge et, si la beauté saisissante de ce voyage ne vous grise pas jusqu'au fond de l'âme, vous passez à côté de la vie.
Ouest a passé d'entrée (premier facteur technique) et on lui connaît 10 points: AR de trèfle et DV de pique (deuxième facteur). Il n'a donc vraisemblablement pas la Dame de carreau, car il aurait ouvert (troisième facteur). Si la Dame de carreau se trouve en Est, la chute est assurée (quatrième facteur). Pourtant, pour faire 10 levées, il faut réussir trois levées à carreau, sans perdre à la Dame (cinquième facteur).
Fred conclut donc avec raison que, pour faire 10 levées, la Dame de carreau devait être deuxième. Tout bon technicien aurait fait le même raisonnement. Mais Fred, homme d'univers, poète profond, vit plus loin, beaucoup plus loin, et c'est ici que le bridge touche à la poésie.
Voyez-vous une impasse possible à carreau (sixième facteur)? Vous avez bien lu: voyez-vous une impasse possible à carreau alors que vous savez que la Dame est derrière ARV7? Comment peut-on faire une impasse que l'on sait perdante et penser gagner quand même? La majorité des bridgeurs, hommes du monde, n'auraient pas vu plus loin que leur nez, auraient pris l'impasse quand même et se seraient ensuite plaints de leur malchance; ils n'auraient jamais vu que ce contrat est sur table.
Fred cueillit le dernier atout et joua AR de carreau (septième facteur). La Dame tomba deuxième à droite, comme il le fallait, mais sur AR, Fred débloqua le 10 et le 8 (huitième facteur, niveau supérieur réservé aux hommes d'univers, aux poètes, aux vrais joueurs de bridge). Fred coupa trèfle pour revenir en main et joua le précieux 2 de carreau vers le très précieux 7 (neuvième facteur) pour +450.
Rejoindre 4♥ méritait déjà une note supérieure; plus un se traduisit par 99% des matchpoints. Pourquoi n'obtient-on pas 100% lorsqu'on joue à la perfection? Même Fred vous dira que 99% est bien suffisant, car, comme tous les hommes d'univers le savent, le 1% restant nous rappelle simplement que le bridge est toujours plus grand que les joueurs.
Connaissez-vous un plus beau jeu, un jeu qui démontre aussi clairement l'incommensurable puissance de l'esprit humain?
Monday, April 1, 2013
XYZ, the convention
In this article (quite long, sorry about that - but I promise it is worth it), we will examine a convention that is called XYZ. Many top players play that convention. My partner and I have been playing this for a great number of years and we have worked a lot to develop and refine it.
Why xyz? What does that mean?
1x 1y
1z
meaning
1any 1any
1any
The only important thing is that opener’s rebid is at the one level, either a suit or NT.
So, when the bidding goes that way, a 2♣ rebid by responder is artificial, forcing opener to bid 2♦.
ALERT! If they ask, you say: partner orders me to bid 2♦ (or, if you have to self-alert, artificial, forces 2♦ by opener)
This relay generally initiates INVITATIONAL sequences. Responder can show a number of hands with invitational strength. But this relay can also be used for this:
The 2♣ forces opener to bid 2♦and responder then passes.
A direct 2♦ rebid by responder is artificial and Game Forcing, even if opener’s first bid was 1♦:
ALERT! If they ask, you say: Artificial, Game Forcing.
So if you want to play 2♦, as responder, you cannot bid 2♦directly. You have to use 2♣ and pass over the forced 2♦rebid by opener.
The general structure is this:
Quick studies will have noticed that we have now 2 ways to invite by 2nt:
If you go through 2♣, then rebid 2nt (slow way), you still have 11-12 points, but deny 4 cards in opener’s minor. Opener with AKxxx, knowing a 4 card fit in his suit or Qxx, can better evaluate the trick taking potential.
What do you do if you have 5+ cards in opener’s minor?
You go through the relay and then support.
Same thing if the opening bid was 1♣.
So what do you do with this hand:
The jump to 3♣ at second turn by responder is weak, preemptive. Remember: after xyz, you cannot play 2♣.
Let’s see this sequence now:
What is responder showing? He is showing an invitational hand with 5+ hearts. The advantage is that responder will play 2♥instead of 3, as it would have happened if he were using standard methods. If he had 6 good hearts, responder would go like this.
If you have this hand:
Using standard methods, you have to jump to 3♠, showing invitational values. With xyz, you can show the limit raise and still play at the 2 level.
Very economical, no? Everybody will be in 3♠, struggling, while you will play a cool and relaxed 2♠.
Opener opens 1♥.
The case with the 1♥ opening bid is interesting.
Responder still has 2 ways to invite in no trump: directly and indirectly. So we have defined this agreement: direct way (Lebensohl fast shows) shows a helpful doubleton in hearts, Hx or at least J10.
Knowing that, opener can now count tricks (instead of points) if his heart suit is AQJxx (responder shows the K, so 5 tricks there) or KQxxx (responder shows Ax or J10, so at least 4 sure tricks there).
If you go through the relay, you still have 11-12 points, but no useful cards in opener’s suit.
Let's see a few example hands:
Responder's 3♣ says "partner, I have 11-12, 5 hearts and 5 clubs".
Responder's 3♥ says "partner, I have 11-12, 5 spades and 5 hearts".
Now 2♥ says "partner, I have 11-12, 5 spades and 4+ hearts".
As always with xyz, if opener is minimum, you will play at 2nd level instead of 3rd level with standard methods. Big advantage.
The 2♣ relay initiates invitational sequences, but we can use it also for this type of hand:
In standard methods, you have probably only one bid: 4nt quantitative. But why play 4nt when you can play 3nt?
Opener will decide.
Let’s start by saying that any jump rebid by responder (except 3♣ preemptive) is Game Forcing and shows a good suit. By any jump rebid, we mean:
The jump to 3♠ is game forcing and shows very good spades.
The jump to 3♠, this time in opener's suit, is game forcing and shows very good spades (at least 2 top honors)
The jump to 3♥shows a two-suited hand with both majors 5-5, good spades and hearts
What do you do if your suit is not that good?
In this case, responder can use the artificial 2♦ to set the game force, then continue to describe the hand.
Examples:
The jump to 3♠ shows a game forcing hand with 6 spades with some holes. Opener with Kx in spades can then simply bid game with a minimum or cue-bid with a maximum.
I will end this looong article with a fun hand we played in a live competition:
I know, this jump to 7♠ is majestic, but my partner likes those jumps. We have also defined this rule: after a major suit fit is found, we NEVER play 3NT. So 3NT becomes available for a new meaning, and it says: I have slam aspirations, but I don’t have the Ace of clubs. Please tell me if you have it.
Notice that with the void, RKC is not efficient. The jump to 3♠, promising 2 top honors, clarifies everything for opener, guaranteeing that the trump suit is solid.
It would be too long to examine all sequences, but the bridge playing readers can appreciate this basic structure and develop their own refinements.
One last thing: in competition, xyz is always ON, except when opener doesn't make a bid, meaning if he passes. If he bids something, even a double, xyz is on.
Hope you liked this article and that you will adopt xyz, a simple and fun convention to play.
Why xyz? What does that mean?
1x 1y
1z
meaning
1any 1any
1any
The only important thing is that opener’s rebid is at the one level, either a suit or NT.
So, when the bidding goes that way, a 2♣ rebid by responder is artificial, forcing opener to bid 2♦.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♣ | 1♥ |
| 1♠/1nt | 2♣! |
ALERT! If they ask, you say: partner orders me to bid 2♦ (or, if you have to self-alert, artificial, forces 2♦ by opener)
This relay generally initiates INVITATIONAL sequences. Responder can show a number of hands with invitational strength. But this relay can also be used for this:
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♦ | 1y |
| 1z | 2♣ |
| 2♦ | Pass |
The 2♣ forces opener to bid 2♦and responder then passes.
A direct 2♦ rebid by responder is artificial and Game Forcing, even if opener’s first bid was 1♦:
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♣/1♦ | 1♥ |
| 1♠/1nt | 2♦! |
ALERT! If they ask, you say: Artificial, Game Forcing.
So if you want to play 2♦, as responder, you cannot bid 2♦directly. You have to use 2♣ and pass over the forced 2♦rebid by opener.
The general structure is this:
- A 2♣ rebid by responder is artificial and asks opener to bid 2♦. Responder will then pass or show different invitational hands.
- A 2♦rebid by responder is artificial, game-forcing, and asks opener to describe his hand.
1. Invitational sequences
| Opener | Responder |
| 1m | 1y |
| 1nt | ? |
Quick studies will have noticed that we have now 2 ways to invite by 2nt:
- we can bid it directly after the 1nt, or
- go through the artificial 2♣, forcing 2♦ by opener, and then rebid 2nt.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♦ | 1M |
| 1nt | 2nt = partner, I have 11-12 and 4 cards in diamonds, or Hxx |
If you go through 2♣, then rebid 2nt (slow way), you still have 11-12 points, but deny 4 cards in opener’s minor. Opener with AKxxx, knowing a 4 card fit in his suit or Qxx, can better evaluate the trick taking potential.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♦ | 1M |
| 1nt | 2♣ |
| 2♦ | 2nt = partner, I have 11-12 points, but not 4 cards in your suit |
What do you do if you have 5+ cards in opener’s minor?
You go through the relay and then support.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♦ | 1M |
| 1nt | 2♣ |
| 2♦ | 3♦ = partner, I have an invitational hand with 5+ cards in your suit |
Same thing if the opening bid was 1♣.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♣ | 1M |
| 1nt | 2♣ |
| 2♦ | 3♣ = partner, I have an invitational hand with 5+ cards in your suit |
So what do you do with this hand:
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♣ | 1♠ |
| 1nt | 3♣ = weak, preemptive |
The jump to 3♣ at second turn by responder is weak, preemptive. Remember: after xyz, you cannot play 2♣.
Let’s see this sequence now:
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♣ | 1♥ |
| 1♠ | 2♣ |
| 2♦ | 2♥ |
What is responder showing? He is showing an invitational hand with 5+ hearts. The advantage is that responder will play 2♥instead of 3, as it would have happened if he were using standard methods. If he had 6 good hearts, responder would go like this.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♣ | 1♥ |
| 1♠ | 2♣ |
| 2♦ | 3♥ = I have invitational values and 6 good hearts, AQJxxx, AQ109xx |
If you have this hand:
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♦ | 1♥ |
| 1♠ | ? |
Using standard methods, you have to jump to 3♠, showing invitational values. With xyz, you can show the limit raise and still play at the 2 level.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♦ | 1♥ |
| 1♠ | 2♣ |
| 2♦ | 2♠ |
| Pass |
Very economical, no? Everybody will be in 3♠, struggling, while you will play a cool and relaxed 2♠.
Opener opens 1♥.
The case with the 1♥ opening bid is interesting.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♥ | 1♠ |
| 1nt | ? |
Responder still has 2 ways to invite in no trump: directly and indirectly. So we have defined this agreement: direct way (Lebensohl fast shows) shows a helpful doubleton in hearts, Hx or at least J10.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♥ | 1♠ |
| 1nt | 2nt = partner, I have 11-12 with Hx in hearts, or at least J10 |
Knowing that, opener can now count tricks (instead of points) if his heart suit is AQJxx (responder shows the K, so 5 tricks there) or KQxxx (responder shows Ax or J10, so at least 4 sure tricks there).
If you go through the relay, you still have 11-12 points, but no useful cards in opener’s suit.
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♥ | 1♠ |
| 1nt | 2♣ |
| 2♦ | 2nt = partner, I have 11-12, but nothing to help you in hearts |
Let's see a few example hands:
Responder's 3♣ says "partner, I have 11-12, 5 hearts and 5 clubs".
Responder's 3♥ says "partner, I have 11-12, 5 spades and 5 hearts".
Now 2♥ says "partner, I have 11-12, 5 spades and 4+ hearts".
As always with xyz, if opener is minimum, you will play at 2nd level instead of 3rd level with standard methods. Big advantage.
The 2♣ relay initiates invitational sequences, but we can use it also for this type of hand:
In standard methods, you have probably only one bid: 4nt quantitative. But why play 4nt when you can play 3nt?
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♦ | 1♠ |
| 1nt | 2♣ |
| 2♦ | 3nt = partner, I have 19 pts, an invitational hand for slam |
Opener will decide.
2. Game forcing sequences
Let’s start by saying that any jump rebid by responder (except 3♣ preemptive) is Game Forcing and shows a good suit. By any jump rebid, we mean:
- responder jumps (rebid) in his own suit;
- responder jumps (rebid) in support of opener’s suit;
- responder jumps (rebid) in a new suit.
The jump to 3♠ is game forcing and shows very good spades.
The jump to 3♠, this time in opener's suit, is game forcing and shows very good spades (at least 2 top honors)
The jump to 3♥shows a two-suited hand with both majors 5-5, good spades and hearts
What do you do if your suit is not that good?
In this case, responder can use the artificial 2♦ to set the game force, then continue to describe the hand.
Examples:
The jump to 3♠ shows a game forcing hand with 6 spades with some holes. Opener with Kx in spades can then simply bid game with a minimum or cue-bid with a maximum.
I will end this looong article with a fun hand we played in a live competition:
I know, this jump to 7♠ is majestic, but my partner likes those jumps. We have also defined this rule: after a major suit fit is found, we NEVER play 3NT. So 3NT becomes available for a new meaning, and it says: I have slam aspirations, but I don’t have the Ace of clubs. Please tell me if you have it.
Notice that with the void, RKC is not efficient. The jump to 3♠, promising 2 top honors, clarifies everything for opener, guaranteeing that the trump suit is solid.
It would be too long to examine all sequences, but the bridge playing readers can appreciate this basic structure and develop their own refinements.
One last thing: in competition, xyz is always ON, except when opener doesn't make a bid, meaning if he passes. If he bids something, even a double, xyz is on.
Hope you liked this article and that you will adopt xyz, a simple and fun convention to play.
Virtue is its own reward
Fred (Fred Gitelman)suggests to play this sequence: 1♥ 1♠
2♥ 2♠ as forcing
since there is no use arguing when there is a misfit. We have adopted this treatment and have been playing it for some years now. When that sequence arrives, it is always fun and interesting. After 2♠, opener continues like this :
2NT = 4 clubs
3♣ = 4 diamonds
3♦ = nothing to say
3♥ = spade fit
3♠ = splinter in spade, 7 hearts
3NT = 7222 max
4♣ = splinter, 7 hearts
4♦ = splinter, 7 hearts
4♥ = 7222 minimum
Here is a hand we had last Thursday, January 24, in a STAC.
I got a diamond lead. Pretty nice slam with 28 points; in fact Q of ♦is useless, as are Q of ♣ and J of ♣. So a very solid slam with 23 points.
RHO won diamond Ace and played a club back. I won the Ace played 3 rounds of spades (3-1). Now with hearts behaving, I make 12 tricks. Alas, hearts were 5-0, the 5 sitting behind dummy. Ouch ‼! In a local club game, you get a sure zero.
Only consolation: we had bid the hand with great accuracy, using Fred’s brilliant toy.
We will get them next time :)
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