Tuesday, June 13, 2006 10:23 PM
 
 Hand Evaluation  –  Dbls ( Violating Captaincy )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Captaincy in Bridge is defined as who is “captain” of the auction. This captaincy concept  is quite easy as it is the partner who is in the better position to know. The partner opposite the 1NT opener , or opposite the pre-empter or opposite the person who made a limit bid. Here is a hand from the World Championship and commented upon by Edgar Kaplan.

 

                       

 

             ♠ void

            ♥ AJx

            ♦ J10xxx

            ♣ J1098x

 

 

                                                           

         ♠ A109653

            ♥ 1098

            ♦  K

            ♣ Q54

                                   ♥ 53

                                   ♠ 742

                                   ♦  Q9xxx

                                   ♣ Axx

 

                                               

                                     

                                    ♠ KQJ8

                                   ♥ KQxxx

                                   ♦  A10

                                    ♣ Kx

 

 

 

 

N    E    S    W

P    P   1♥  1♠              Vul none

2♥  2♠  4♥  4♠

5♥  P   P    P               

 

Edgar Kaplan “ North whose hand is so much better offensively , had his hand improve on the auction. He violated captaincy by bidding 5♥ which went down. 4♠X  goes for a mere 800 or 1100 depending on the defense. “

 

            I have noticed many many swing hands written up in the Bridge World where D.S.I.P.  competitive double theory would have saved the day. The leap to 4♥ does not turn on forcing passes , captaincy rules the day.  Playing D.S.I.P.  theory , you are allowed to “ violate captaincy” but with only one bid – a double . North’s hand has improved on the auction so he doubles saying he wants to bid 5♥. Partner nixes his request.

 

            Alex Fowlie held ♠J109xx ♥AQxxxx ♦void ♣Jx nv vrs vul . Ray Grace opened 1♣ , Alex bid 2♣ with Gary Karst bidding 2♦. I jumped to 4♠ & this went around to Gary who doubled. Ray bid 5♦ so Alex’s hand improved on the bidding. Hand evaluation is the order of the day. All Alex’s defensive values are in hearts not spades. Therefore, he has defense. However ,he would like to bid & violate captaincy. He doubles 5♦ , I convert with my stiff heart & ♦K10xx & they go for -800 . 4♠ makes but not 5♠. What if Alex’s majors were reversed ? ♠AQ10xxx ♥J109xx ♦void ♣Jx so nobody would blame him for a 5♠ bid.

 

            You can violate captaincy even with a pre-empt or a 1NT opener as long as it is with a double.  A double is a flexible call which still allows partner’s input into the final decision. All Bridge experts should play D.S.I.P. competitive theory . It is that good.