22/10/2025
Alison's top tip for October:
TIP FOR 4TH POSITION: DO I OPEN OR NOT?
The bidding
has gone Pass - Pass – Pass, so it’s now up to you whether or not this
board gets passed in. You have a marginal, will I or won’t I? sort of
hand. The PEARSON COUNT helps us here, also known as the rule of 15:
Add your high card points to the number of spades in your hand. If this
comes to 15 or more you should open the bidding. If it is less than 15
you should pass.
The logic: When the points are evenly divided between opposing pairs it
is probable that the pair with a spade suit will prevail at the one or two
level.
Say you have: ♠764, ❤ AJ2, ♦ KQ985, JT .
Pearson count is 11 + 3 = 14 so you should pass. By passing you prevent
them coming in with a makeable spade overcall.
But with: ♠ JT976, ❤A6, ♦KJ8, Q75,
Pearson count is 11+ 5 = 16 so open 1 spade.
Alison Beer
