{"id":12874,"date":"2020-02-27T10:41:09","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T08:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/funbridge.com\/blog\/?p=4311"},"modified":"2021-02-09T14:50:22","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T12:50:22","slug":"funbridge-exclusive-tournament-milan-macura-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/funbridge.com\/blog\/en\/funbridge-exclusive-tournament-milan-macura-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding the right way to 3NT to win by Milan Macura"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every week, bridge professional player Milan Macura organises and analyses Exclusive Tournaments on the Funbridge app. Debriefing and videos included!<\/p>

MPs results<\/a>

IMPs results<\/a>

Finding the right way to 3NT to win<\/a>

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

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

I had a very good run this week scoring 82.27%<\/strong>, which was the best score on Thursday morning. Later afternoon, Klaus W\u00fcnsche (DE)<\/strong> managed to do even better and won with 84.86%. Third place went to meepO15<\/strong> with 80.49%. Altogether 757 players joined this tournament.<\/strong> Below are the top 3 players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My friends\u2019 list results are complete and the second place goes to Thomas (FR) <\/strong>with 75.79% and bronze to Steven (BE)<\/strong> with 74.91%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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General ranking <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Milan’s friends ranking <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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IMPs results <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I am presenting the results from the IMP tournament as usual after I have finished streaming the tournament live. Gog2711 (HR<\/strong>) won the tournament with +42 IMPs followed by dan28 (FR)<\/strong> with +41 IMPs and Ralf Bendix (DE)<\/strong> with +38 IMPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colin Deheeger (FR)<\/strong> was the best on my friends\u2019 list with +37 IMPs. With Christian (DK)<\/strong> and his +33 IMPs, they made it to the top list. Ivan (HR)<\/strong> got the bronze with +28 IMPs. I have finished with +17 IMPs in 114th place out of 1,089 players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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General ranking <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Milan’s friends ranking <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Finding the best way to the ideal contract to win the tournament<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In order to score over 70% on every board, you have to find the right contract,<\/strong> but often that is not enough. You have to choose the best way to reach it and to declare very carefully and precisely.<\/strong> Here is the list of my scores:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can notice once again that it was important to go NT whenever possible. Let\u2019s go through these boards in detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Board 1<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The first board is more about the bidding than card play. You have the following hand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you open a standard strong 2NT to show 20-21 HCP, partner transfers to diamonds and bids 4♠ when you accept. The Funbridge description says it shows 3 cards but in reality a new suit after a minor transfer shows a singleton.<\/strong> Also, you can always expect 6 cards after a minor transfer, not only 5 cards as the description says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At this point, you have to make a decision if you are going to a slam or not and if you do, which one. The most likely North distribution is 1363. You can count 6 diamond winners if partner holds ♦AQ<\/strong>, 2 hearts and one sure winner in each of the black suits \u2013 10 top tricks in total. How to get the extra two tricks? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partner is inviting to a slam and we counted only 6 HCP <\/strong>so far in his hand, therefore we can expect ♣K or ♣Q+♥Q and maybe even one jack. In the worst-case scenario, the slam will be based on a spade finesse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question you should ask yourself is: \u201cDo I make an extra trick if diamonds are trumps?\u201d The answer is: \u201cNO\u201d<\/strong>. You cannot ruff anything in South and you cannot use North\u2019s trumps to establish a side suit \u2013 spades. That means if you decide to bid a slam, it should be 6NT and not 6♦<\/strong>. The difference is quite significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Board 2<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Board 2 is a classic decision between 4M on a 4-4 fit and 3NT.<\/strong> In theory, a 4-4 fit produces an extra trick if you can use at least one trump to ruff a loser. North opens 1NT and you have the following hand. Should you try to find a 4-4 fit in hearts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If partner\u2019s distribution is 4432, you can make a ruff from his side but in what suit? Is he ruffing a loser? The secondary values in all suits tell you that with 25-27 HCP combined, you are missing minimum 3 top cards (Ace or King). That should be the reason to try for game bonus in 3NT instead of 4♥.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In MP, you always need to make the right decision to win a short tournament but in the long run 3NT can bring you better scores with a 4333 shape. First of all, a heart fit is not guaranteed and if you tell defenders extra information about declarer\u2019s shape<\/strong>, it will be easier for them to defend. My suggestion is to bid 3NT directly unless you have only primary values and you can get a ruff in all other suits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Board 4<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Board 4 surprised me a lot. After a 1♦ opening by West, you are balancing with the following hand: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is almost certain that HCP are split equally among the two partnerships with most of the points in the West hand. Partner didn\u2019t overcall in a Major so there is only one reasonable contract we want to play: 1NT.<\/strong> Luckily, Argine plays 1NT in a reopening position with 9-13 HCP, which describes our hand perfectly. After a spade lead and a diamond switch, there was no problem to take 8 tricks.<\/strong> Almost 93% was a pleasant surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Board 5<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Everybody reached 3NT on board 5 but not many managed to make it. What is your plan after the ♦4 lead from East?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You start with the ♦J which wins the trick. You have a chance to score extra tricks in all four suits. <\/strong>The biggest potential is in hearts. If the ♥10 drops in three rounds, you can even fight for 10 tricks. What you have to realize is which card you discard on the second heart trick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A very hard decision with a relatively simple solution: don\u2019t play the second heart.<\/strong> Lead the ♥Q on trick number two and postpone the decision. You will see what the defenders play next. If they let you win the ♥Q, start establishing clubs or spades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is\nonly the start. If you want to see the full play, watch the video on Funbridge\nYouTube channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Board 6<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The key decision on board 6 lies in the opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With 14 HCP, most people automatically open 1♣. Before the bidding starts, I always think about which contract I want to play. With 2425 and honors in short suits, I want to play either NT or hearts. I should declare to protect honors on the first round.<\/strong> The extra club makes the hand strong enough for a 1NT opening. With a simple bidding 1NT – 3 NT, it is often very difficult to find the proper defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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West made a standard spade lead, which gives you enough time to try for extra tricks. The best way is to play a small heart from South to dummy\u2019s ♥Q.<\/strong> If West has the ♥K, he is very likely to play it now and you have 3 heart winners. If you lose the ♥Q to East\u2019s ♥K, the fourth heart in South is a potential threat. When East won the ♥K, he returned a heart to break the communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, I put him in a pseudo-squeeze by cashing all black winners. Because he had all the HCP, he expected maximum 1 HCP in West and he threw away one heart and kept the ♦K8. The ♥3 was the twelfth trick and extra 40%.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Board 7<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On board 7, the majority of players reached 3NT but only 90 of them managed to win<\/strong> it<\/strong>. Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The key decision is to find the best rebid after the 1♦ opening and partner\u2019s 1♠ response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is obvious that you have to end in 3NT with 7 top winners and a potential club trick.<\/strong> You should find out how partner can declare 3NT to guard his heart honors or if there is a way to prevent the heart lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have decided to rebid 2♥, which should show 5♦ and 4♥. If you don\u2019t have your bid, you have to be ready to play hearts on a 4-3 fit if partner has 5♠4♥. Recently, I wrote an article about conditions in which to play in a 4-3 fit. We fulfill them all: if you will be forced to ruff, it has to be from the short side, you need a source of tricks in a minor suit and you should be able to draw trumps in 3-4 rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you find a heart lead after this bidding? Or a club lead and partner finds the heart switch? Argine led a spade and the game was over\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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