Tuesday, January 18, 2005 1:33 AM
 
Hand Evaluation – HCP’s ( Duplication of Value )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Duplication of value is an expression used quite extensively in Bridge. What is it ? Splinter theory is based on it but the concept comes up again in many Bridge decisions. It is hand evaluation with HCP’s but also a way of “thinking Bridge”. You have a void or a stiff opposite KQx . Your 5 HCP’s are virtually wasted as partner was also pulling full weight to their void or singleton. With splinters , you find out if you have duplication of value or not. Duplication of value is a concept so you must generalize to many Bridge situations , not just splinters.

 

            The subject of duplication of value comes up again with penalty doubles. Your partner opens 1♦ & rebids diamonds . You have a scattering of points including the KQx of diamonds do you double their 3♥ partial ? Not a chance because your KQx of diamonds are horrible cards for defense as with partners length they will be “wiped out” by a singleton in the opponents hand. This is a form of “defensive” duplication of value.

 

            Length in partners suit is also “defensive” duplication of value . You hold ♠10xx ♥Qx ♦xxxx ♣AKJ10  and partner opens 1♠. Your RHO bids 4♥ and puts pressure on you. Do you double or bid ? Again your length in partners suit should deter you from a double. A double gets you –790 and 4♠ gets you –50. I played with a tormentee who doubled 3♦ with 10 HCP and KQxx after I had overcalled 2♥. Normally that would be OK except part of her 10 HCP was Kxx of my suit. Too much length & too many values in partners long suit to double. Sure enough –670 was the result with +140 in hearts makes our way.

 

            Values in the opponents suit are instant “duplication of value” . This causes wrong competitive decisions so the dreaded pseudo sacrifice. I avoid coming into the auction if the bulk of my hand is in their trump suit. Putting the green card on the table works way better. Here is a hand that involved one of the tormentees. ♠KQJxx ♥KQ9x ♦xx ♣Jx  . My partner ( both vul ) opens 2♥ so do you overcall 2♠ ? Lets force the bid on you and see what happens. LHO bids a quiet 3♥ , a male tormentee bids 4♠. This gets doubled & redoubled by the male tormentee.  Dust clears & your side must score –1600 !! ♠Axxx ♥x ♦QJ10xxx ♣Qx . The tormentee was pulling full weight to his singleton in the opponents suit which turned out to be just horrible duplication of value. Need we say more ? The entire idea of “trapping” is based on the fact that duplication of value in their suit does not play very well for your side. It is better that your HCP’s are located in your sides’ suits. Location , location & location.

 

            Here is a sample hand that shows devaluating a hand due to soft values , poor distribution & duplication of value in their suit. My partner held ♠Q10xx ♥KQJx ♦Qxx ♣xx , LHO opens 1♥ & I make a T/O dbl. OK , hand evaluation is the order of the day. You have a balanced hand 4-4-3-2 which is one strike against this hand. You have soft values with 3 queens & a jack & horrible duplication of value in their suit. If your ♥KQJx was in another suit , you have a clear 2♠ call.  My partner bids 1NT & we make a partial. If partner bids 2♠ we are in game going down one as I will accept the invite  & of course , a Q bid is absurd . You have 10 HCP’s but hand evaluation dictates that you hold far less than that. Unless of course , you are a slave to the HCP system & do not do hand evaluation. Demoting hands in bidding is just as important as promoting hands.

 

            Duplication of value is the basis for the D.S.I.P. competitive doubles that my partners & I play in competitive auctions. How many times in competitive auctions have you wanted to double the opponents because you have KQ10 in their suit. You know it’s horrible duplication of value for partner .  Only to hear partner compete one more time in our suit in front of you  & go down two when they should be doubled going down two. We play a competitive double as saying I want to compete again in our suit but I have defense , so if you want to pass instead go ahead. You have the best of both worlds. You pass with duplication of value otherwise , you pull the double. The D.S.I.P. double like a splinter ferrets outs duplication of value.

 

When partner is an unlimited hand , let her in on the duplication of value as early as possible. This prevents partner from having delusions of grandeur with slam bidding. You are vul vrs not with ♠AKJ ♥Jxx ♦xx ♣Axxxx so you open 1♣. Partner bids 2♣ which is “limit raise or better” so potentially an unlimited hand. The opponents crawl in 2♠ so what action do you take?  Since partner is unlimited , lets warn her of the extreme duplication of value right away with a 2NT bid. A pass might be interpreted as a minimum with a lack of duplication of value in their suit. If you do pass , partner gets excited & splinters with ♠x ♥Qxxx ♦AK ♣KQJ1098 & drives the hand to slam. A 2NT bid fetches a 3NT bid as partner gets discouraged with the duplication of value.

 

Again duplication of value is like “good-bad” cholesterol . The opponents bidding & applying patterns have told you that your side has no duplication of value. The opponents have told you with their bidding that they have 10 HCP wrapped up in the heart suit ( for example ) . You have 3 hearts so giving them 9 hearts partner has a singleton. This is a 30 HCP deck for offensive purposes. Applying patterns is splinter theory in action without anybody splintering !!

 

            Many other bridge concepts are based on duplication of value. Forcing pass theory is partially based on “duplication of value” in their suit. You give a green light for bidding by passing with extreme shortness in their suit or double to indicate duplication of value. Trapping initially & then bidding shows duplication of value in their suit as it begs the question on why you did not bid initially. Coming in later with a double of their 2nd suit , shows a trap in their first suit with negative double theory. Rubensohl over NT is an excellent tool for identifying duplication of value in their suit. The fact that you can “super accept” the transfer gives partner a reading on the duplication of value in their suit. This is very valuable for slam purposes or finding the correct game.

 

            Italian style Q bidding where you can Q bid 2nd round control ferrets out ill fitting hands & duplication of value. A local couple had this auction recently ♠AKxx ♥10xx ♦J ♣KQ109x , her partner opened 1♥. She bid the obvious 2♣ , partner bid 2♦ so she bid 2♥. Partner bids 2♠ so warning bells should sound as over ½ her hand is tied up in spades opposite partners known stiff. However , her hand is worth one more try to she tries 3♣. Partner now bids 3♦ so it is time for the death response to tell partner the hand is not fitting well with duplication of value in spades. She bids 3♥ & partner carries onto 4 as he was just making courtesy Q bids in case the hands fit well !

 

            Your opening bids should identify duplication of value. When you have equal length in the minors , open the better minor not just clubs. This allows partner to properly assess how the hands fit. If partner opens a major , it is a good assumption that there are values in that suit which will fit poorly with your stiff. In 3rd seat & 4th , you open “where you live” for proper leads & bidding decisions based on duplication of value. An opening bid is a bidding tool so do not abuse the bid by being cute & opening suits you do not have ( HCP’s ). Open 4 card majors , if that is where you live. Partner can assess duplication of value when you do.