Friday, December 22, 2006 8:08 AM

Hand Evaluation - Goren Q Bids

PITBULLS:

Back in the Goren days , a Q bid of the opponents suit did not mean “limit raise or better” , or asking for a stopper or Michaels. The Q bid meant , I had a hand in the demand two bid range. Over the years Q bidding of the opponents suit developed more sophisticated meanings & the Goren style Q bids became virtually extinct.

Not quite extinct though. I recover the Goren Q bids in three instances. After pre-empts at the 3 level or higher, a distributional demand two after they open & finally in the balancing spot. These are the Bridge situations where very strong single suiters or two suiters are almost impossible to describe. In fact , Goren Q bids help define T/O doubles in these scenarios. If the opponents pre-empt at the 3 level or above , a double can never be a single suited hand or a distributional demand two. You would jump ( never pre-empt over a pre-empt ) or make a Goren style Q bid to describe demand two’s. This understanding helps with equal level conversion understandings in pre-emptive or balancing double situations. This Q bid understanding also prevents penalty conversion disasters. You just do not double with a single suited hand , period. A T/O double now means two or more suits. Partner is allowed to convert for penalty but it is impossible to convert a Q bid for penalty J.

Over pre-empts , always double with a huge balanced hand ( do not Q bid no matter how strong). If partner bids at the 4 level , 4NT is not KCB or the minors but a huge balanced hand. Direct 3NT overcalls are not made with huge balanced hands but playability or a “get lost partner” type of hand. You always double with HCP strength as that leaves partner more options. Doubling first & then bidding NT distinguishes between the two types of NT auctions.

Equal level conversion usually just applies after T/O doubles. However , playing Goren style Q bids they apply here also. They open 3♣ , you have ♠AKQxxx ♥x ♦AKQJ10 ♣x so you bid 4♣ . Partner bids 4♥ so you make a conversion to 4♠. It begs the question why did you not just leap to 4♠ over 3♣ initially. Answer is that you have a demand two with two suits.

In the balancing spot , there are many strong distributional one suiters or two suiters where you do not want partner converting the double. Enter the Goren style Q bid. A weak Michaels hand can be handled by overcalling and an intermediate Michaels hand can be handled by doubling. Of course , the strong Michaels hands are covered by the Goren Q bid & not the Michaels Q bid. This Q bid is not ambiguous as to strength.

OK lets bid a hand. They open 3♥ , you hold ♠AKQJxxx ♥void ♦AJ10x ♣KJ so avoid a T/O double or a leap to game. This hand was built for the Goren Q bid. You bid 4♥ , partner leaps to 6♦ ! You bid 6♠ , partner trusts your Q bid & on to the grand slam with ♠xxx ♥xx ♦KQxxx ♣AQx . Partner just has to apply “strong two’s” type of thinking in these auction to visualize partner’s hand. The Goren Q bid gave a good reference point for the hand type. Would you have opened a demand two bid or very close ?

The trouble with playing non Goren two bids over 3 level pre-empts as that you must bid again to show your strong hand. Say you held ♠AKQxx ♥KQ1098x ♦xx ♣void , they open 3♣. Playing Goren Q bids this is easy as you bid 4♣. You now brought partner into the picture so you can safely pass 4♥. What if you do not have this understanding , so you bid 5♣ as a slam try. Unlucky as they cash the ♦AK & the heart Ace for one down. Ambiguity at the 4 level is not a good idea.

Do not let Michaels Q bids get in the way of showing your demand two bid. Michaels bids are defined as distribution weak two suiters or very strong two suiters. Use the “very strong” aspect of Michaels to show a demand two bid also. Doug Hawrelak had a monster 7-5 in the reds which he would have opened 2♣ but I opened 1♠ . He bids Michaels to get the auction off to the best start possible for his side. He can clarify the nature of his Michaels later by aggressive action on his part. Doubles tend to show defensive hands but Q bids tend to show offensive hand types. A 7-5 is as offensive a hand type as you can get.

Pre-empts & light openers were designed to impede you from your best spot. Goren Q bids used in pre-emptive & balancing situations are a way of fighting back. These Q bid understandings are highly recommended. One thought though , I still play Michaels Q bids over pre-empts on the terrorist vulnerability. I find another way to show my demand two on this one vulnerability.