Bridge Notes

By Q.E.D.
A sign-off bid is a polite indication to partner that one can do no more: that if he continues to bid, he does so entirely at his own risk. It is essential therefore to have some definite means of indicating this. How is it done?
Here are some common illustrations of the point.
The game is love all. S. One Club; W No bid. N. Two Clubs.
That is the minimum bid and in the nature of a sign-off." It is called sometimes the " echo." Why is it made at all? For two reasons: first, because it is a great deal better to go two Clubs than One, if feasible; twenty below the line is generally futile; forty is a different proposition. The second reason is that it is better to keep the bidding open once at least, if you can, even on a poor card, as S may be burning to say something else. East if his hand is weak will gladly leave in the bid of One Club and stultify the hand of S. Suppose then that N holds: • x x x
V x x
• KJxx + I 10 x He makes the minimum response of Two Clubs: now if E passes and S calls two No Trumps and it comes round again to N. What does he say?
Strictly he must pass; or go three Clubs, another sign off. If he likes to risk it he May go three No Trumps; but that is a pure gamble and not really advisable.
Now take this bidding: S. One No Trump; W. No bid : N. Two Hearts : E. no bid; S. Two No Trumps. W. No bid. N. Three Hearts. That again is clearly a signoff. It says to partner : I do not think you will make even Two Trumps but I have a chance of Three Hearts; but do not go any further unless your hand is really exceptional and you can judge a trues EL
The holding of N. might be:
4161, KxxQxxxx
+ Q x x + x x N must keep on cautioning S that he does not like the idea of No Trumps at all; his one chance is in a suit—Hearts. His naming of it and repeating of it does not indicate strength; only a single inference must be built upon it—" Hearts is my only chance."
This does not mean that S can in no circumstances proceed to either Three No Trumps or Four Hearts. That depends entirely on the strength and lay-out of his original No Trumper. It might have been: • Ace K x Ace x • Kxxx + K 10 x x If the Hearts break and Clubs or Diamonds are opened, he makes Three No Trumps; again, if the Hearts break, the combined hands might make the game contract in the suit: Four Hearts. But will they break? There are five out against him. It is a moot point. N at any rate has called rightly.