The Snow Leopard by Foxymoron

There is a saying that "The leopard cannot change its spots" which has some applicability to bridge. It is a bit of a myth, however, as the Snow Leopard has, over the years, developed its spots to blend in with the mountain side. It is a powerful predator, and has no animal threats, only humans. See if you can spot it in the picture below (no pun intended).

The original phrase is Biblical: Jeremiah 13:23, where the Hebrew prophet had originally said: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard its spots?”

Its relevance to bridge is that once you have shown a particular hand type, then further calls do not change that hand type. They might refine your values or controls, but that is all. A hand from the Woodberry yesterday shows this well.

The field seemed to have had a problem with this hand, as 4C-1 was a complete average, which, with 26 points between the two hands, suggests that one was left on the course. At almost all tables, South opened 1S (one South without a pulse passed), and West usually overcalled 2H. North passed and the spotlight turned on East.  There is no way to show both minors. 3D was chosen by many, and now I think it is right for West to bid 3NT and for East to pass that. At one table, East, not unreasonably, continued with 4C and I think West should then bid a firm 4NT, saying "I told you last turn that I have a solid spade stop, partner. I still have". 

The leopard here cannot change its spots, and 4NT makes in some comfort. Indeed the defence has to cash both spades after the ace of clubs is knocked out, or declarer will make 11 as happened at one table, resulting in a top for EW. The top for NS was 4H-5, with North sensibly not doubling. A correction to 4NT would have punished his greed.

Kickback by Foxymoron

The expression "kickback" arose from the automotive industry as a reaction from an engine, and is also the build up of pressure in a wellhead. With the growth of the Mafia in the early twentieth century it became used for an illegal bribe or an undisclosed rake-off from collected revenue. The great film Bugsy featured Warren Beatty as the gangster getting a kickback from money due for the mob and this led to his execution. About a $2,000,000 kickback. Which was "a lot of money in 1947" as they say.

As you may know, Warren Beatty married his co-star Annette Bening, who played Victoria Hill, and they are still married today. And it wasn't for the $2 million!

Kickback in bridge refers to a bid above the agreed trump suit as an ace-asking bid. You need to know when it is kickback and when it is natural or disaster will beckon. And you need to agree when it applies and when it is just a cue-bid. Stefanie and I would have benefited from such an agreement on the following hand yesterday. We were guessing and I guessed wrong.

We started normally with (Pass)-1C-(1S)-2S-(3S). 2S was a good raise to 3C, about 10+, usually with five clubs. Now it would have been good to find out about West's keycards, but 4C by East would be non-forcing, and not Minorwood which we do play. I made the poor bid of 5C, and I think I should have bid 4D, a cue for clubs. West would bid 4H and I might then bid 6C, which is an excellent contract. I was reluctant to bid 3NT on the East hand, as we are likely to only have a single spade stop, and I did not want to bid RKCB as the response of 5D would force me to bid slam. 4D, kickback, which we have now agreed when 4C is non-forcing, would have found out about the two key cards and the queen of clubs. A good suggestion of Stefanie's.

Five Clubs and Six Clubs are interesting contracts. In the former, I played my best line for 13 tricks of playing a diamond to the king and a diamond to the jack, which worked well and scored +440. At least I beat the two pairs that cashed out in 3NT for +430. Six Clubs is a different kettle of fish. You will get a big score if you make it, so don't worry about the overtrick. Now you should cash the ace and king of diamonds and lead low to the jack, making your contract unless South has QTxx in diamonds. 

The origin of "kettle of fish" is interesting. The earliest use as "something very different" seems to be the London Mercury of 1923: