Monday, August 18, 2003 6:36 PM

HCP's

 

PITBULLS:

 

          High Card Points were invented just for a guide in bidding . Evaluating controls , duplication of value , 4 card fit , suit length and quality , two suited fits , distribution such singletons and voids are far more important in bidding then HCP’s.

 

           Having said that , “quantitative bidding” with HCP’s works very well in NT contracts .This is where you bring out your abacas and count beans. Defending against NT contracts it is imperative that you count points. As each high card point is played by declarer , keep a running total . When they are near what the bid shows you have cards placed around the table and you can defend accordingly. In declarer play same thing. If they have bid NT , count their points and all of a sudden finesses are easier and the correct line of play emerges.

 

          If they open a NT and you have a choice of bids , HCP’s are your guide. If you are not rich in HCP’s but have distribution you overcall. Even if you have distribution but you have lots of HCP’s you double . Why ? For two reasons : one is that 1NT X results in some pretty juicy penalties and the other is that it allows partner to bid “quantitatively” . Partner can add her points to the points that you have shown and make good competitive decisions. Partner has negative inferences also . If you chose to bid when you had a chance to double you do not have HCP’s. Jump bids can not be strong as you had a chance to double a NT contract. Everything revolves around the fact that you double with HCP’s.

 

          If someone opens 1NT , responds 1NT or rebids 1NT ,  a double should never be for takeout. The double should show HCP’s and be penalty orientated . There are always other bids you can use as a takeout to the majors or to compete with two suits but the double should suggest penalty. This is even more important when the opponents are bidding weak NT’s . Here is an example of what not to do.  The player held vul against not vul

 

Q

A

A

A

10

K

K

J

x

x

 

10

 

x

 

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

    It went a weak NT to you left and 2♠ to your right . The NT is 11-14 and the 2♠ bidder can have as little as zero HCP . It is important in these auctions not to be single handed and let partner in the picture . This is because the opponents may be in a precarious position and penalty doubles will start flying . The last thing you want to do is misrepresent your hand to partner and effectively bar her from the bidding . A double in a NT auction is universal as it just announces to the table that you have HCP’s. It is not penalty , it is not takeout - it just means I have a hand rich in HCPs . I better make that announcement first and describe my shape later. In overcall theory , it is shape before strength. Announce your distribution first and your strength later. When a NT has been bid it is just the opposite. You double to announce your strength and show your distribution later.

 

          The player in question made a simple overcall of 3♥ with this defensive 21 HCP ! This effectively blows partner out of the water for bidding a vulnerable game or slam or make a competitive decision . Opening a NT especially a weak NT introduces an element of risk . By not doubling when you have the opportunity for a set effectively rescues the opponents. In this case , the 2♠ bidder opposite an 11 HCP hand could have held xxxxx xx xxx xxx and the 3♥ bid just saved them from an +1100 to obtaining a +170 . How can partner ever read the bidder for a flat 21 HCP ? Partner will pass with any number of hands that 4♥ to 6♥ might make. There is still room for a distributional 8 HCP’s in partners hand.  If the opponents compete in spades , partner is at a total loss on what to do . Remember when NT has been bid at the table announce your points first !! . 

 

          We play Bridge as an intellectual pursuit. Experienced Bridge players have the capacity to be an “HCP odometer”. We play so much Bridge and are honed into HCP’s so much , all it needs to keep track of HCP’s on an ongoing basis is practice. Do not be a negative defeatist and say that it is beyond you. The task becomes trivial with practice and it is very important on your road to expert Bridge. Declarers in NT contracts unwittingly “flash” their HCP’s by cashing their Aces & Kings before making a key play.  Take advantage of it , by making a mental note. All of it sudden it becomes clear that declarer can not hold that key honour card due to the bidding and partner must hold it. It eliminates guessing and defense & declarer play simplifies . Try it !!

 

          Here is a hand where an experienced player ( moi ) feel asleep and did not count HCP’s.  I opened 1♠ with QJ9xxx xx Ax A109 and BJ bid 1NT with RHO overcalling 2♦. I passed , LHO bid 2NT and BJ doubled which became the final contract. BJ lead his 5th best club and the board hit with x AKxx KJ109xxx x . I won my club Ace and continued clubs and it went queen King and BJ now played his jack. BJ now started to run his 6 card club suit. On the 4th club , I discarded a small heart and the 5th club I discarded a high diamond. On the last club what do I discard ? Lets count HCP’s . BJ doubled the opponents into game and he has only showed up with the KJ of clubs. The QJ of hearts is not enough to double them into game. BJ must hold the Ace or King of spades and it should be the Ace as he would have lead a spade holding the King. BJ’s hand must be Ax(x) Jxx x KJxxxx. Therefore I let my last heart go and keep all my spades. BJ now switches to a diamond and I lead a spade and declarer with Kx of spades goes up King. +2000 as we take all 13 tricks. Unfortunately I did not count HCP’s and tried for the dummy lock for +500 and they escaped for –300.