A lot has been written on the delicate subtleties of bridge which include the technical set up of squeeze, end plays, trump coups and other such final line adoption, which call for the scissors coups, the ducking play, loser on loser play etc. But bridge is like a pyramid wherein at the apex lies its opportunity to show brilliance in dummy play or defence but the base of the pyramid is its most important component.
In bridge it is bidding sequence which establishes the base and on it rest the whole pyramid reaching its apex at the final making or breaking of the contract. Bidding has its own norms, sets of conventions, basic systems, finer points of compatibility, delicately woven rules and regulations along with a great deal of understanding and rapport between partners who cover almost all conditionalities occurring at different points in bridge play and defence. Of course it is the system and its rigid following, which establishes a good partnership understanding leading to a bridge bidding sequence that in the end optimises the level of contract possible and is definitely placed in the superior category of fine bidding.
Bridge boasts of some well known systems. Amongst them, the standard American, the British basic acol, and the various big club systems inclusive of precision, super precision, power precision, the blue club etc are quite well known. Of course there are even more weird systems existing, which are as confusing as can be possible like the Europeans who play at times with pass showing an opening hand and other such weird follow ups in bidding.
One of the systems, which was developed on the basic acol was the Pakistani stone age acol with Pakistani preempts developed by Pakistan's star player, Munir Attaullah, who partnering Jane Alam Fazli, played this system in almost all international appearances representing Pakistan at the world bridge forums.
Today's illustration of the hand highlights, the bidding in bridge, which can reach its optimum level with its brilliance in comprehending the partners hand to supply the required cards for the bid contract. Of course grand slam bidding has its own fascination and although it is bid on almost a 100% certainty barring of course an unusual lie of card distribution that can upset the bidding card adopted shaking the partners in a surprising way, but more often then not, bidding small or grand slam rests on how the bidders judges the lie of the key cards. In the 1981 World Championship Final, Pakistan was for the first time pitted against the awesome Bridge World Champions -the USA. This deal came up in the first half of the first session.
North was the dealer both sides vulnerable and at the first table in the open room where the Americans were north-south, the biding went as under: The opening lead was spade king pinked by the ace, heart finesse taken with 5 diamonds running, leaving only a spade loser to make 12 tricks.
It appeared a normal bidding sequence based on 22 HCP betwixt with a normal 4H par contract in bidding. But look what comprehension of the hand, players can visualise in their bid to optimise the level of bidding. The Pakistani pair of Fazli and Muneer Attaullah were simply brilliant in their bidding, which as under:
The beauty of the bid is based on sound logic. Assuming a spade lead, if the heart finesse fails, 6D will fail too. But if the finesse succeeds, grand slam is cold. So it was sheer brilliance in bidding logic and visualisation. For it was one of those Shakespearean Dilemma of: 'To be or Not to be'. Either 7D or 5D - the Pakistanis succeeded in their game of five or seven.
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North West East South
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A85 KQJ43 762 109
QJ10732 8 K64 A95
KQ53 82 J9 A10764
J10973 AK852 Q64
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South West North East
(Arnold) (Masood) (Solodar) (Zia)
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- - 1H Pass
1NT (forcing) Pass 2C Pass
3H Pass 4H All Pass
Pass
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