Thursday, January 18, 2007 7:04 AM

Defense - The Translation Process

PITBULLS:

In a previous article , we discussed the basic translation process for defenders. The basics are when you translate the trump holding into patterns and the opening lead suit into patterns . These two basic translations are mandatory or you will always be labeled a “weak” defender throughout your Bridge playing career. Lead conventions , showing out of a suit , signaling ( showing count), bidding are all designed to assist defenders to apply patterns & discover the “lie of the land” for those two important basic suits.

Expert defenders go a step further. They refuse to make a lead until they use the bidding to translate the unknown hands into patterns. This is why experts ask for a complete explanation of your bidding. They are not just impressed with your system , they want to apply tentative patterns before they make their opening lead. Opening leads are bidding dependent. With no bidding to guide you , there are 4^th best rules , sequence rules etc but these are guidelines when there has been no bidding. Bidding overrides everything.

Bridge patterns assist you during the bidding & for declarer play. For defense & opening leads , they are the basis for Bridge thinking. When experts are going into the “tank” , they are translating the Bridge information of discards , signals , showing out of a suit & the bidding to apply patterns. Based on their finding , they plan a defense. The translation process always comes first or you really do not have a sound plan. Your plan is based on a series of guesses whereas patterns will make your plan bullet proof.

Patterns are a gift from the Bridge gods to assist you in the difficult defensive aspect of the game of Bridge. Use them !!! Get with the game ! The dummy is exposed so that you are half way there for translating suits into patterns. Look in your hand , look at the dummy and fill in the blanks from there . The translation process is complete !! Now you can proceed with defending.