{"id":12843,"date":"2019-12-16T06:00:05","date_gmt":"2019-12-16T04:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/funbridge.com\/blog\/?p=3835"},"modified":"2025-02-05T14:55:09","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T13:55:09","slug":"funbridge-exclusive-tournament-milan-macura-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/funbridge.com\/blog\/en\/funbridge-exclusive-tournament-milan-macura-15\/","title":{"rendered":"When to play on a 7-card fit – Milan Macura\u2019s Exclusive Tournaments – December – #2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We had over 1,000 players<\/strong>: 480 players in the MP tournament and 560 players in the IMP one.<\/p>

MPs results<\/a><\/p>

IMPs results<\/a><\/p>

Analysis<\/a><\/p>

Videos<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

MPs results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With wild boards, it was possible to score both high and low if you didn\u2019t make the right decisions. This week I belong to the bad decision makers \u2013 scored only 45% due to 2 bottoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivan (HR)<\/strong> has beaten last week\u2018s highest score with 82.65%, followed by Michael (DK)<\/strong> with 77.09% and Louis (CA)<\/strong> with 76.97%. It was difficult to get on the friends’ list since all 11 top players scored above 67%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am very happy for Zuzana (CZ)<\/strong> who is a still a junior and scored 76.62%. The rest of the players are standard leaders and prove bridge is not game of luck but skills although you need some luck to win the short tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"bridge
Top 11 ranking of the MPs tournament <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"bridge
Top 11 ranking of the MPs tournament – Milan’s friends<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

IMPs results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Boards in the IMP tournament were quite flat and a lot of players made the same decisions in all the boards. I have scored plus on each board but it was not enough to get to the top 50 with +19 IMPs. Once again, I am presenting the scores when I have finished the live stream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best players with +30 IMPs (+31 at the end of the day) were Lucie (CZ)<\/strong>, Michael (DE)<\/strong>, geoxis (FR)<\/strong>, Denis (FR)<\/strong>, Tadeusz (UK)<\/strong> and Hanoi (CL)<\/strong>. The rest of the top field was only one IMP behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Top 11 ranking of the IMPs tournament – General <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Top 11 ranking of the IMPs tournament – Milan’s friends<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To win the IMP tournament you had to make the right decision on board 6<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You get the following hand. How do you evaluate it and what is your approach?<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"hand<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You have 15\nHCP, a semi-balanced hand and a 2-suiter. The standard bidding should be to\nshow both long suits and the 15-17 range and let partner decide which contract\nis the best. With only 5 losers (5 missing top honors), this hand can be\nconsidered a maximum and is more suitable to play in trumps. Here is how I\ndivide the strength of the one-level opening:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Tier 1 \u2013 minimum of opening: 12-14\nor 7 losers<\/li>
  • Tier 2 \u2013 opening + extra: 15-17 or 6\nlosers<\/li>
  • Tier 3 \u2013 maximum of opening: 18-20\nor 5 (4) losers<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    In order to\ndetermine which contract is better (NT vs. trumps) with your hand, you can do a\ntest of HCP vs. losers. If your hand, based on the above split, has more losers,\nit has a higher potential in trumps. If your hand belongs to a higher tier\nbased on HCP, it is better in NT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This hand\nis in tier 3 so I don\u2019t mind to bid reverse 1♦\u21922♥ if partner responds 1♠. Argine tends to bid reverse with stronger hands (17+ HCP), but the\nstrength is based on total points (HCP + distributional points). Be careful about\nupgrading your hand too much only based on distribution. You should be always\nready to play 3NT opposite 9 HCP if you reverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I have decided to open 1♦, but the LHO overcalls 1♥ and partner bids 1♠ to show 5 cards. RHO passes. <\/strong>What do you bid now?<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"bid<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Here are\npossible bids and Argine\u2019s description:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1NT = 12-14
    \n2NT = 18-19
    \n3NT = 16-20 with 7 diamonds
    \n2♦ = 12-16\nunbalanced
    \n3♦ = 15-17 with 6\ndiamonds
    \n2♥ = 18+<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The only\nbid which fits Argine\u2019s description is 2♦ and that is what I have chosen in the\nend. But I had the feeling that I was underbidding the hand. And, indeed, I\ndid. Partner bid 2♥ to ask for the stopper and I jumped to 3NT to show the stopper and some\nextras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"bridge<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    3NT was\neasy to make after a small club lead. West led ♣6 and your ♣J scores a trick \u2013 you have 5♦, 2♣, 1♥, and 3♠, altogether 11 tricks. 3NT +2 scored\n+1 IMP. 54 players reached 6♦ which is unbeatable with this layout. After the ♣K lead, you draw trumps and discard\nthe ♣4 on ♠Q. Then you lose the ♥A and ruff two small hearts in North hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"most<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Here are the sequences showing how you can reach 6♦.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    For making the slam, you need diamonds 2-2 or spades 4-2 if diamonds split 3-1. Based on that, you want to reach the slam. Most people reached 6♦ after a 1NT opening, but if you decide to open 1♦, it is still possible. The last example is my suggestion for an upgrade to 3♦. No player chose that option in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The next interesting board comes from the MP tournament<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You are\nholding the following hand. Do you open with these 11 HCP? If not, what do you do\nas South after the sequence below?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"hand<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    You don\u2019t\nhave a stopper in clubs to bid 3NT, you don\u2019t have a 5-card major to bid 3♥\/♠, 4♦ might not be enough and 5♦ will be based on a finesse if\npartner has two clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I chose to\nbid 3♥ but I was\nready to play 4♥ on a 7-card fit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When to play on a 7-card fit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    1. You need a good 4-card suit to be\nable to draw at least 3 rounds of trumps.<\/li>
    2. If you are going to be shortened,\nthe player with 3 trumps has to trump opponent\u2019s winners.<\/li>
    3. You need to have quick tricks after\nyou draw trumps \u2013 often you are not left with any trumps to have a control in\nopponent\u2019s suit.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Here is the\nfull board:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"bridge<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      After a diamond lead, I scored all 13 tricks. Even if opponents play 3 rounds of clubs, I will still make with an overtrick, which will be close to a top score. 4♥ +3 scored for 95.40%. After the 1♦ opening, 10 players reached a slam and West didn\u2019t lead a club to beat it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"most<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Videos of Milan Macura’s tournaments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      MPs tournament video<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Subscribe to be notified directly when my next video is online! Click on the button below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n