Sunday, October 19, 2003 8:11 PM

Hand Evaluation – ( Partnership ) Exposing Psyches

 

PITBULLS:

 

            How do you expose psyches in the game of Bridge ? the best method is to use the fact that Bridge is a partnership game. Let the partner of the pyscher get them into trouble. Do not double forcing bids to expose a psyche. The pass is the weapon to expose a psyche. When the opponents pass forcing bids  , followed by doubling means penalty & nothing else. Use your Bridge discipline to expose psyches. When something does not add up in the bidding , it is them !    Give partner leeway only on the terrorist vulnerability ! Trapping first & pouncing later in the auction when the situation is clarified spells trouble for the psychers.

 

One of the more common “tactical” psyches is players responding 2NT over a weak two with no values . The Polish Club players also psyche over their 2♣ bid &  some players will psyche a major over a pre-empt at the 3 level.  How do you let partner in on the fact that they psyched ? I think it comes down to playing the vulnerability again which determines how you bid .The first bid to their forcing bid is always a pass though. If the opponents are vul , you are not , you would double 2NT with a minimum  4-4-4-1 hand hoping to setup a sacrifice or make life more difficult for them . With equal vulnerability , you would need a better hand with a  4-4-4-1 to double their 2NT response . O.K. they have psyched the 2NT vul , you have a huge hand with their suit . 2NT is a forcing bid ,so you should pass one round . You do this to prevent partner from rescuing them inadvertently. Always pass their forcing bids & double later to expose a psyche.

 

            Kiz had a flat 20 HCP with AJ9 of hearts , the vulnerable opponents opened 2♥. Responder psyched 2NT & Kiz passed . The weak 2♥ bidder made her systemic call & the psycher bid 3♥ which Kiz now doubled . 3♥x goes for 1100 with best defense. Why not double 2NT immediately with the 20 HCP ? When opponents psyche forcing bids  , you will always get another chance to double them. The trouble with the initial double is that if the 2♥ bidder passes over the double, partner will rescue them by bidding so nobody knows what is going on . Any points partner may have , will be mentally placed in the 2NT bidders hand !! This is because the psyche is not clearly exposed. The points could be 6 by the weak 2 , 14 for responder so you have the remaining 20 . I had 8 points on this auction , so if Kiz doubled initially & I bid 3♣ , should she take me for 8 or zero HCP’s ?  Pass first to expose the psyche, followed by a double . I have no trouble passing 3♥ X with my 8 HCP’s so the psycher gets clobbered.

 

            It is an axiom when exposing psyches , do not double forcing bids as the double normally has a different meaning . The double is takeout so if you have a flat defensive “moose” just pass , then start doubling. This is not a balancing auction even when the 2NT is legitimate . They made a game try , signed off so balancing with a double is reckless at best . Therefore , a belated double always has to be interpreted as exposing a psyche. It’s an impossible bid otherwise . Always double the 2NT response originally for takeout – not to expose a psyche. If you bid their suit directly , Tom & I play that as bid 3NT with a stopper . We jump in our minors to show the Michaels hands. Do not let a 2NT psyche change your system.

 

            This preferred treatment when they psyche responses is the same action as exposing any psyche . Pass , let them get into trouble with their forcing bids & start doubling or bidding later in the auction . The worst liability to a psycher is their own partner . Remember that ! If the auction sounds a little strange, suspect a psyche their way . Especially the common situation for psyches i.e. 2NT over a weak two , a bid over a 3 level preempt or responding over a takeout double. Pass is the weapon to expose psyches . Passing , backing in by bidding their suit is natural , especially when they have returned to their partners pre-empt suit. 

 

            Exposing psyches over your 2♣ opener is standard stuff. Responder’s double is penalty even when you play controls ( 1st step ) . If the 2♣ opener bids their suit , it is natural. If the 2♣ opener jumps in their suit , the bid is natural. If the 2♣ opener doubles that shows the NT family of hands. Like the forcing 1♣ opener , anticipate tactical bids by the opponents over your 2♣ especially on the terrorist vulnerability.

 

            Playing against exponents of the garbage opening bid is easy. Garbage opening bids do not work for the same reason as a psyche does not work. Bridge is a partnership game ! They simply do not trust each other for penalty doubles in competitive situations & they give each other far too much leeway for not having what they announced in other auctions.  This lack of trust backfires when they do have a legitimate opener. In Montreal , Peter Jones & I got away with murder against a forcing club team who played garbage openers . We balanced virtually in all their non club auctions and were only doubled twice ( both times making ! ) . They let us get away with risky balances as they did not trust each other. Responder was afraid to double with 10 HCPs as he may have more than the opener bidder !  Peter & I had a competitive advantage with their garbage openers. Just the opposite of what garbage openers’ bidders are trying to sell for this silly Bridge tactic ! Garbage openers just erode partnership discipline & trust which is essential for good established partnerships. Garbage opener bids assist the opponents to play the hand , judge auctions correctly themselves & cause partner to make wrong decisions. Absolutely nothing going for this tactic against expert defenders .  @##$%$^^%$ Bergen & Cohen.