Wednesday, June 28, 2006 2:26 AM

Hand Evaluation - Equal Level Conversion ( levels )

PITBULLS:

In my mind , an overcall shows a one suited hand especially at the two level & higher.. You have a multitude of toys to show all kinds of two suiters , of course 3 suiters are handled by a T/O double. Overcalls should be defined as showing a one suited hand. Rules are made to be broken so with the wrong combination of suits , you can overcall at the one level with two suits . Normally done though when you do not have too much defense. If they open a minor , a double shows at least both majors . If they opened a major , a double shows at least the unbid major and other suit (s). Equal level conversion handles the non shape T/O doubles. Bring back the double as opposed to the ambiguous overcall which hides 2^nd suits.

Equal level conversion is more than that though. It is a style of Bridge where converting to another suit at any level up to & including the 7 level denies your suit & promises the bid suit & one higher ranking. The bid at the same level is not an advanced Q bid with a fit in your suit. That just does not happen playing an equal level conversion style at any level. Equal level conversion defines your overcalls as a hand with one suit & not much defense. The concept defines your doubles as defensive in nature with more than one suit. Ambiguity is reduced.

Say you had this hand ♠KJxxx ♥xx ♦Ax .♣AKxx , they open 1♦ . You have two suits but a 1♠ overcall is just a better bid than a T/O double at the one level. What if they open 3♦ ? I would now choose a double as it is more flexible & I have equal level conversion to protect me. If partner bids 3♥ , I will bid 3♠ . Since we are at the same level , it does not show extra but shows spades & clubs. This sequence gives partner an option to bid 3NT with a little extra. Overcalling 3♠ could be a disaster resulting in a huge set or partner might pass 3♠ with ♠x ♥Axxx ♦xx ♣Qxxxxx & other hands where 5♣ makes but 3♠ goes down. Bidding 5 card suits at the 3 level & passing should not be an option with this hand. Partner might even convert your double for penalty !! Still another advantage a double has over an overcall ! An overcall with a 5 card suit at the 3 levll is so final & does not describe your true hand.

What about even higher levels where the opponents have pre-empted ?. Here is where I feel an overcall must show a one suited hand. The pre-empt has done its dirty work so you can not have shape T/O doubles all the time. Equal level conversion goes hand in hand with pre-emptive auctions from the two level up to the four level. Double with defense with two suits and allow equal level conversion to sort things out. You bring penalty conversion into the picture & bring your 2^nd suit out of the closet.

Here is Tom Gandolfo in action tonight. ♠KJxxx ♥AKJ ♦Ax ♣ AKx ,RHO opens 3♦ nv vrs vul. A double is obvious so partner bids 3♥ . Bidding 4♥ is a mild underbid so it would be nice to have the 4^th heart for a 4♦ slam try. A Q bid must imply a fit & be a slam try on these auctions. A double followed by 3NT would show the rock but not just a single stopper normally . You do not have a perfect bid so I would try 3NT. At least I have shown my balanced hand in the 2NT HCP range.

One bid you can not make is 3♠ as that is equal level conversion so is not forcing. The old fashioned notion of doubling and bidding a suit to show a rock is extinct playing equal level conversion at any level. As Kiz Fung says “big hands can take care of themselves” . With Toms hand , he had many options to show a moose so he does not need the 3♠ bid as strong. It is all the intermediate two suiters and 5-4’s that need help with equal level conversion.

Equal level conversion is not level dependent. The approach just means “equal level” not low level. Some Q bids rather than doubles are equal level conversion. You Q bid , partner chooses a suit & you convert at the same level. This means you have that suit & one higher. You do not have partner’s suit. No more ambiguity.