Borrowing in bidding

So what do you do when LHO opens 1S followed by 2 passes to you in the balancing seat? You have 10 points and a 5 card suit but can’t bid it because you don’t have enough points to overcall at 1 level higher.

Pat Harrington in the March Bridge Bulletin says that you can “borrow” 3 points from your partner. When an opening bid is followed by 2 passes it is assumed that partner has some points, allowing you to borrow 3 of them thus being able to overcall.

You can also “borrow” to make a takeout double if you are Short in the bid suit, have Opening count including borrowed points, and have Support for the other suits (SOS). However, partner to respond, needs to remember that you may have borrowed 3 points from him to make your bid and respond accordingly. If you can’t do either of these, Pass may be your only option.

Our Friday, March 12 Evergreen winners were: N/S tied for 1st /2nd Marie Pugh and Ruth Bowles with Andra Cozart and Jan Glover, 3rd Judy Gealy and Tom Johnson; E/W 1st Dick Brisbin and Becky Creekmore, 2nd Wade Lowder and Nancy Brandt, 3rd Margaret and Chuck Rimer.

Our featured board is #4 from this game

All vulnerable   West dealer

NORTH:

S  Q T 6 5

H  K 9 5

D  Q T 6

C  A 9 2

WEST:                 EAST:

S  8 7 4                 S  A K 2

H  A 8 2               H Q J 4 3

D  J 3                   D  K 7 4 2

C  Q J 8 5 4          C  T 6

SOUTH:

S  J 9 3

H  T 7 6

D  A 9 8 5

C  K 7 3

Andrea Cozart and Jan Glover had the best N/S score defeating 3HE 2 tricks while the McLaughlins bid and made 2NE.

The Women’s Club March 14 game winners were: 1st Shirley and Ron Jeffers, 2nd Dick Brisbin and Georgia Sorensen, 3rd Sonjia McHone and Jayne Shive, and tied for 4th/5th Pat Macon and Becky Creekmore with Marie Pugh and Loyd Hill.