I wasn’t planning to write about this event at all. My trip to the European Championship got cut short, and this wasn’t exactly meant to be a big deal. But after 4 straight losses, we stormed back with slam after slam, grabbing 3rd place by just 0.12 VPs. That kind of drama… hard not to write about it 🤣.
The Super Collegiate Cup is a new event, only in its second year. Teams are formed by alumni from the same university, bringing back many old friends who had stepped away from bridge. This year also added a "mixed schools" division, shout-out to my amazing teammates who agreed to switch categories just for me 🙏. They even topped the prelims and made the finals, so I didn’t fly all the way back from Philly just to play the consolation 🤣.
Speaking of Philly, I was still playing at the Summer NABC just 3 days ago. Now I’m back home, squeezing in the Collegiate Cup finals as a warm-up before flying to Denmark for the World Championships next week 🤣. With such a tight schedule, any chance to practice with my partner (aka husband), Eric, is priceless 🥹.
Anyway, let’s dive into the slams from these 2 days!
🧨Slam Ahead
－－The Strategy of Taking Initiative
💫Board Highlight ①:
4 Small Trumps, Bold Planning,
Fearless Execution, Masterclass Performance!
When was the last time you tried for a slam with just 4 small trumps and only 8 total trumps & at most 28 HCPs between you? 🤔
After the 2♠ bid, my first instinct was to simply sign off in 4♠. With only 4 small trumps, I usually have no business exploring slam, especially when we have, at best, 28 HCPs.
From these two examples, we can summarize the key elements for a successful slam:
So, the next question is: how do we figure this out through the auction?
❓ Slowly cue-bidding from 3-level — can it show strength in ♣ or quality in trumps?
4♦ Splinter is the most straightforward bid. It shows shortness, which is often crucial in slam trials. However, with 4 small trumps, the quality is far below expectations. If partner holds any two honors — AJxx, KJxx, QJxx, even AQxx or KQxx — it could be a disaster. The odds of making a slam are poor.
Cue-bidding slowly at the 3-level demands a higher level of partnership understanding:
• If you cue-bid all suits without going past 4♠, it signals concern — likely about trump quality.
After careful thought, I decided to start with 3♣. Even if the later 4♦ didn't confirm shortness, the 3♣ bid clearly indicated the value of ♣K/Q. The sequence of cue-bids, without pushing beyond, allowed partner to recognize the concern about trump quality. This approach maximized our chances of getting the slam decision right.
We reached a small slam with nearly 70% chance to make — and sure enough, we gained 11 IMPs, the only pair among 8 tables to bid and make 6♠! (This whole post was written just for this hand!!! 🤪)
🃏Qrious’ Quick Tip Corner ①：Hand Projection
There are many tools for evaluating hand strength, but hand projection is undoubtedly the most precise. When used effectively, it becomes a crucial weapon in slam bidding. Here's a quick guide:
1. Identify the honors needed for a slam, primarily AKQ.
2. Project partner’s representative hands: MIN, MAX, and dream scenarios.
3. If most projected hands reach slam with MIN, be proactive.
If slam requires MAX, stay cautious.
💫Board Highlight ②：
Strong Club Start, Eyeing 7！
Holding [♠J ♥AQ2 ♦A953 ♣AQ982], I was about to open 1♣ (16+ any strong hand) in our Precision system, when my partner unexpectedly had already done so! That opening bid alone told us we had at least 33+ HCPs combined. The key question was whether we could correctly reach the grand slam.
After East bid 2♥, it became clear that ♥ would likely be our trump suit. Although a Splinter usually shows a 9-card fit, setting our sights on a grand slam means shortness is extremely important. Even with a minimum like [♠Axx ♥KJxxx ♦KQx ♣Kx] or [♠AKxx ♥KJxxx ♦KQx ♣x], failing to reveal shortness early would make counting to 13 tricks much harder. Also, holding the ♥Q helps cover half a missing trump.
Sure enough, partner later responded 5♠ to show 2 keycards plus the ♥Q. Since a Splinter usually promises a 9-card fit, a 10-card fit gives an 80% chance to pick up the ♥Q. Therefore, we should assume it is there. If you choose to SPL with only an 8-card fit, the trump Q must be included. Without it, a grand slam with hands like [Axx - Kxxxxx] would only succeed around 40% of the time.
Despite previously showing weakness with 3N and 4♥, East, Eric saw me continuing with RKCB and king ask. He recognized that he actually held more than he had shown. In addition to an extra trump, ♠K, ♦Q, and even the ♣J, which became crucial in setting up clubs. Without hesitation, he bid 7♥.
It was only while writing this that I realized 7♥ was slightly imperfect. Under our agreements, the cuebid of the strong hand's first suit guarantees at least 2 of the AKQ. East knew that my 4♣ showed ♣AQ. ♠AK+6♥+♦A+4♣ = 13, we had a clear 13 tricks. That makes 7N the truly perfect contract 💯. A single extra ♣ in South’s hand would have spelled the difference between triumph and disaster, 7♥-1 vs. 7N=. 😱
Reaching a grand slam with 34 HCP and a 9-card fit is not difficult. 6 out of 8 tables got there. However, no one chose 7N. To reach the highest peak, it takes more than just strength. It requires true precision.
💫Board Highlight ③：
A Slam in One Stroke！
Holding [♠AJ8xxx ♥KJTxx ♦Void ♣Kx]], I faced opponents who, like us, played Precision, so their 1♦ opening didn’t promise length. To my surprise, partner overcalled 1♥. With such a powerful fit, I had several options:
．2N: Mixed raise 4+♥
．3♦: INV+ 4+♥
．4♦: SPL
．5♦: EKB
A slam seemed potentially within reach, but partner would have a hard time evaluating the true value of ♠K/Q. If the lead was a ♦ and declarer might discard two losing ♣, the slam would succeed. On the other hand, jumping to 4♦ or 5♦ to show the short might prompt a ♣ lead, which would reduce the chances of making the contract. As for a grand slam, even if EKB revealed 2 Aces, it would not uncover the ♠ short. And even if the ♠ short were known, there would still be no way to guard against a 5-1 split.
At the other table, North-South opened a weak 1N and East-West stopped at 4♥. Our 6♥ contract, bid with just 20 HCP, gained 11 IMPs and was the only small slam among the 8 tables. Perhaps this shows that aiming for a “perfect slam” is not always necessary.
🃏Qrious’ Quick Tip Corner ②：Perfect slam
“Perfect slam” usually refers to a low-expectation contract that requires maximum values, a specific shape, flawless fit, no wasted honors, and a touch of luck. Trying to explore such a slam often misleads partner and leads to overbidding. Therefore, it is generally recommended to follow percentages and avoid chasing an ideal but unlikely fit.
💫Board Highlight ④：
Smooth Sailing to Slam
💫Board Highlight ⑤：
The Phantom No Trump
— Off-Shape Opening Pays Off！
Special thanks to commentator Mr. Yang, who credited West for the successful slam. But looking from another perspective, once East opened 1N showing 14–16, West already knew the hands held 27 to 29 HCPs and 9 to 10 trumps. As long as there was little waste in the short suit, slam was well within reach. (Not sure why? Check out Qrious’ Quick Tip Corner ① for a quick brush-up on hand projection.)
Compared to a natural opening like [1♣-1♠; 2♠], where East shows only 11 to 14 HCPs, the expected value is lower. Having a way to reveal shortness in partner’s opening suit becomes a critical factor. The challenge is not comparable.
Only 3 out of 8 tables reached slam. Our team gained 13 IMPs from this board alone, and the real credit goes to Eric, East’s off-shape yet precisely judged 1N opening.
🃏Qrious’ Quick Tip Corner ③：The Phantom 1N
Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about opening 1N with 5M/6m hands or even hands with a singleton honor. After competing around the world, I’ve become even more aware of how Taiwan’s bidding style differs from today’s global standards.
In modern bridge, these openings are no longer considered “bold” or “unusual” — they’re simply standard. 30 or 50 years ago, opening 1N with 5M332, 5422, or 6m322 might have been frowned upon, but nowadays, it’s as natural as the sun rising in the east. Even off-shape 1N with a singleton honor has been widely accepted for at least 5–10 years.
Here are a few reasons why the modern 1N opening has become so popular:
-
◽️ A 1444 hand with a singleton ♠ honor and 15 HCP. After [1m–1♠], there’s no good rebid. 1N is now a widely accepted solution.
-
◽️ A 5431 shape with a weak main suit and 15–16 HCP, such as:• [♠K ♥AQxx ♦KQx ♣Jxxxx]• [♠AJx ♥AQxx ♦QJxxx ♣Q]Repeating a weak minor feels awkward, and bidding a new major is often an overbid. 1N is a cleaner solution.
💫Board Highlight ⑥：
Qrious Meets the Confused Pup 🤪
| |||||
Sitting West, I found our ♥ fit at 3♥ and had to decide how to continue. According to our agreements, a jump to 4♠ here is a splinter, not an Exclusion Keycard Blackwood. It seemed to match my hand well, and would be a way to “try” slam rather than "drive" into keycard asking too quickly.
But I had a more subtle plan. I had already shown 11+ HCP, and this hand was really just a good 11. I couldn’t call it a MAX hand. What if I first showed a MIN, then bid over 4♥? That would strongly imply a void, wouldn’t it? After all, what other kind of hand avoids cue-bidding but still insists on going past game?
Unfortunately, my dear husband didn’t pick up the telepathic signal. After my 4♠ bid, I could see the giant ❓❓❓ popping up above his head. Instead of signing off in 5♥ like he would have after a direct 4♠ splinter, he just kept cue-bidding 5♣. And that random curiosity accidentally struck gold.
We ended up landing in 6♥ that makes only if everything works, with a success rate of less than 40%. Out of 8 tables, only 2 reached slam, and we picked up 13 IMPs. To our poor opponents: sincere apologies for the lucky hit. 😅
🍃Slam Control
－－The Strategy of Knowing Limits
If I want to brag about how accurately we bid our slams 🤪, then I’d better also include the ones we missed or deliberately stopped short of. Only by presenting both sides can we show the true difference between judgment and luck. This is not about cherry-picking the good ones. After all, if you bid every borderline slam whether it makes or not, that’s just bidding a lot, not bidding well.
Let’s now take a look at the borderline slam hands from this event:
💫Board Highlight ⑦：
System Flaws and a Slam Got Away
4441 hands are, in some ways, a systemic blind spot for us. If North opens 1♣ (16+), there’s no good rebid after responder shows 0–7 with 1♦. The sequence [1♣–1♦; 1N] shows 17–18, so any hand that’s “just” 16 has to be artificially inflated. On the other hand, if we start with 1♦ (11–15), then hands like AAAKJ—way too sharp for 15—may overshoot partner’s expectations, and after [1♦–1♠], we still face rebid trouble. (See also Qrious’ Quick Tip Corner ③ on how a phantom 1N opening can solve follow-up bidding issues! 😉)
Only 2 tables managed to reach the excellent 6♦ contract, and thankfully, not our opponents, so this board was flat.
💫Board Highlight ⑧：
Which Way Does Lady Luck Smile？
Only 2 tables reached the slam, with one making 6♥. Fortunately, our teammates found the killing ♣ lead, netting us 11 IMPs.
💫Board Highlight ⑨：
Soldiers on the Frontline, I Reap the Glory
My partner bid it right, my teammate found the perfect ♥A lead.
And I just sat back and enjoyed the points.
East, Eric had several options after my 2N rebid:
Both partner and teammate made the best decisions. Even though I declared this hand after a short 1♦ opening, none of the key calls were mine. It felt like sitting in the VIP lounge, collecting a free 10 IMPs.
1 table overbid to 7♦, 3 reached 6♦, and only 1 failed to make it. Thanks to a killing ♥A lead. Clearly, most defenders know the golden rule against slams: cash your Aces!
💫Board Highlight ⑩：
The Final Board, the Winning Blow！
This board was decided thanks to our North–South teammates, Ktk and Xpin, whose aggressive 3♦–5♦ preemptive bidding shut down the opponents’ auction and caused a critical misjudgment. As a result, we gained 11 IMPs on the very last board of the match — just enough to sneak into the top 3 by a mere 0.12 VPs after starting the finals with 4 straight losses!
It’s also worth noting what we covered earlier in Qrious’ Quick Tip Corner ③ about the advantage of "Tight ranges." Once East clearly showed a balanced 10–13 hand early on, West was unlikely to get carried away toward slam even under pressure, and calmly placed the contract in 5♦x — a perfect decision, worth a 13-IMP swing.
P.S. Wondering why West had zero slam interest? Take a peek back at Qrious’ Quick Tip Corner ① and brush up on your hand projection skills! (Have I written too many teaching reports lately? 😅 Well, this one’s on the house!)
💫Board Highlight ⑪：
A Perfect Balance
— Bidding, Play, and Defense Aligned！
Writing about 11 boards is exhausting 🫠. Though this board had several interesting technical points — especially South’s opening lead decisions against 5♥, 6♥, and even 7♥ — let’s wrap things up on a lighter note with some humorous table talk.
Dialogue ①
Junior: Could you find the ♦ lead without Dbl?
Qrious: That’s a pretty insulting question, don’t you think? 😒
Dialogue ②
Qrious: How did you know to shift a ♣ right away for my ruff?
Eric: Wasn’t it totally open-book? 😒
🎥Live Coverage by HOPsports
沒有留言:
張貼留言
非常感謝您的留言，請盡量不要使用匿名，我很樂意回覆您