What is a “weak freak”? Sounds like someone you wouldn’t want to hang with.
Actually, it’s a useful bridge bid.
Here’s how it works. Your partner has bid one of a major. You have five-card support in the suit, 0-8 high-card points, and a singleton or void in a side suit. Bid game!
Let’s say partner opens 1♠️ and your right-hand opponent passes. You hold these cards: ♠️ Q 10 9 4 3 ♥️ 5 ♦️ Q 8 6 5 2 ♣️ 9 2. Don’t waste time. Bid 4♠️.
You can see why that’s called a weak-freak raise.
There are two advantages to using this bid. First, you might make the contract. Seriously. Second, even if you go down, your opponents might have a game-going fit you pre-empt them out of bidding.
You can also make this bid after partner overcalls 1♠️ or 1♥️.
On July 1, two of my students executed a perfect weak-freak sequence at the Edgartown Bridge Club. West was dealing, with North-South vulnerable:
NORTH (Mary Wagner)
♠️ A Q 9 7 4
♥️ Q 8
♦️ 10
♣️ A K Q 10 9
WEST EAST
♠️ 6 3 ♠️ 5
♥️ A J 7 2 ♥️ 9 6 5 4 3
♦️ A Q 9 7 6 ♦️ K J 8 4 3 2
♣️ J 7 ♣️ 5
SOUTH (Diane Bodman)
♠️ K J 10 8 2
♥️ K 10
♦️ 5
♣️ 8 6 4 3 2
The bidding proceeded as follows:
West North East South
1♦️ 1♠️ 3♦️ 4♠️
All Pass
Opening lead: ♣️5
As you can see, 4♠️ makes five.
Sitting East, I was delighted to see students who have learned something from me whup me in competition. Really.
Comments
Comment policy »