2007-10-30 03:05

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( Stoppers )

PITBULLS:

If you play a weak NT , the bid shows a balanced hand with 12-14 HCP. The NT bid shows a balanced hand with that HCP range , it does not say that I have all the suits stopped . If you play a strong NT , the bid shows 15-17 & a balanced hand ♠AKxx ♥Jxx ♦AKxx ♣Jx you may have two suits unstopped. Bridge bidding is based on logic but it can only do so much. The bid is giving partner two valuable pieces of information , the balanced hand & the HCP range. Isn’t that enough ?

The 1NT rebid in Standard bidding is that systems “weak nt” . You rebid 1NT to show your distribution & HCP range. It does not mean that you have 3 of the 4 suits stopped. That is overkill. You hold ♠xxx ♥Axxx ♦AKJ10 ♣xx a flat weak NT opener. You open 1♦ & partner bids 1♠. You describe your weak NT hand by rebidding 1NT . Partner bids 3NT & that makes so on to the next hand.

Natural bidding works best because it is natural . A basic natural bidding rule is that you bid your longest suit first unless you lack the HCP strength to do so This means if you bid another suit next , partner has some idea of your hand pattern. A diamond life master held this hand opposite the above hand ♠AJxx ♥xxx ♦x ♣AKJxx . To the diamond opener he has an obvious 2♣ bid to force to game. He is not going to lose the 4-4 spade fit as partner can bid spades or you will get a chance to bid spades yourself. However , for some bizarre reason he decided to distort a natural bidding system & play canapé . He responded a spade & partner bid 2♠ because he did not have a ♣ stopper. He leaped to 4♠ , the spades were 5-1 so he went down 2 cold for game in NT. Unlucky or atrocious bidding ?

Say he bid 2♣ ( long suit ) , so is the opener supposed to bid 2♥ with his balanced weak NT hand because he does not have a spade stopper ? Of course not , so he bids 2NT the either or bid ( 12 –14 or 18-19 ) . You now bid 3♠ & you have described your hand , a 5-4 in the blacks with 13 + HCP. Partner hears you & bids 3NT . Kokish , one of the best Bridge theorists around, also thinks bidding stoppers is silly in these 2/1 auctions. He forbids partner bidding 2♥ with a balanced 12-14 in these 1♦/2♣ auctions so systemically opener must bid 2NT . Describing all flat balanced hands with a NT bid is the best starting point in any auction. You can find your 4-4 major fits or get to your minor slams later. Natural bidding actually works .

Here is a silly auction brought about by the bizarre notion that you must distort your bidding to get the 4 card major in first. ♠x ♥Axx ♦AKxxxx ♣Qxx , opener bid 1♦. Partner responds 1♠ so that does not improve this hand so you bid 2♦. Partner bids 3♣ so you bid 3NT to show you ♥ stopper. Partners hand ♠Axxx ♥xx ♦xx ♣AKJ10x so he passes 3NT hoping the club suit is good for getting up to 9 tricks. Yes , he has 9 tricks for 3NT. Unfortunately the opponents bid 2♣ over 1♦ & got to their cold slam in clubs. Yes , but you got your 4 card major in at the one level .J