Monday, November 25, 2002 10:15 PM

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( No response )

PITBULLS:

When partner fails to respond , openers rebids take on a new meaning . Jump bids are still invitational but instead of the 16 HCP range they are even stronger . In rubber bridge , Lorna held ♠AKQJx ♥Kxxx ♦xx ♣AK and opened 1♠ . Peter Jones doubled , partner passed & RHO bid 2♥ . Now what ? There is no right bid so Lorna chose 3♠ . This is not your normal 3♠ bid as partner has passed so could hold absolutely nothing . If you had a normal 3 spade bid , you would just make a free bid of 2♠ . There is no reason to bid 3♠ just with your invitational range hand opposite a passing partner. A double of 2♥ should be a strong hand with shortness in hearts. A Q bid is ambiguous so will get clarified later by partner. In lieu of not making a double, the Q bid should be very distributional .

A jump shift will be very heavy opposite a passed hand also . Bottom range jump shifts will probably just be described by bidding your second suit . On favourable vulnerability , you can operate & not have your values with 2 suited hands but your intention is a tactical bid.

Bids of 2NT and 3NT should never be made on just HCP values opposite a passing partner . They will always be based on “playability” i.e. some sort of semi-solid or solid minor . If you have your flat 19 HCP just double . Bidding 2NT could be suicide vul opposite nothing as your dummy .

Same theory when the opponents overcall & partner passes . You have a flat 18 HCP with values in the opponents suit . You open a minor , LHO bids 1♠ and around to you . 1NT describes your hand & 2NT is again bid on “playability” . Partner will raise to 3NT with a trick .

With negative doubles you bend over backwards to double with good hands when the overcall gets around to you . So what do jump bids mean ? These are distributional one suiters or two suiters not suitable to play a one level contract doubled if partner is so inclined. Say the auction went

1♥

1♣ pass

? pass

♠KQ1098 ♥void ♦xx ♣AKJ1098 Although I have only 13 HCP I would reopen with a jump to 2♠ . Why ?

We have a 2♥ bid available for even a stronger 2 suiter & a 1♠ bid for a weak 2 suiter so these type of hands should be shown by jumping. Partner is highly likely to be on a good hand with a heart trap so if there is any chance for slam , you have to make some encouraging noise.

As I have mentioned previously , we hate Michaels bids in the balancing spot . Opposite passing partners or a “trapped” partner , we prefer the Q bid to show a good distributional hand that is unsuitable for partners conversion to a penalty pass. You double with your distributional monster , partner passes so its too late to get your bid back . Sure you beat 1♦ doubled for 300 but you also make 1430 in your major . Do not give your partner a chance to screw up with those hands . With Michaels hands , you can choose one suit & bid it . If it is a strong Michaels , the Q bid works well anyway .