2008-04-17 12:10
Hand Evaluation – DBLS ( HCPS )
PITBULLS:
Hand evaluation quite often involves a concept ,
once mastered , can be generalized to all bidding sequences. Try this one on for size. Doubles
equate to HCP’s measured in quick tricks when minimum
or a vast number of HCP’s, jumping the bidding or overcalling or Q
bidding does not. When you double , partner will ask
herself why did you not just bid instead. Jumping usually shows a
long suit or distribution whereas doubling usually shows HCP’s with controls. When you do not have sufficient quality HCP’s ( quick tricks ) for a
double , you may use a toy , Q bid , bid or jump bid to show partner the type of HCP’s you hold ( offensive hands ) . You do not have to
commit the modern sin of passing , just choose the correct call based on the quality of your HCP’s. When you have the correct
shape for a double but no defense , you pass. When you are close to an opening
bid in HCP ‘s but no defense ( quick tricks ) you
pass. That’s what a pass means
in Bridge. A pass means you lack HCP’s or quality HCP’s to make a call. The type of HCP’s ( quick
tricks ) you hold will be a repetitive theme in all aspects of Bridge bidding not just the opening bid.
The modern notion advocated by some that competing is the essence of Bridge & with the notion of garbage openers , overcalls & bad
bidding in general gives potential
for good scores never before seen in the
game of Bridge. Established partnerships will reap the rewards by the art
of defending . It logically
follows that your Bridge strategy should
be in line with the Bridge scoring
system. Sets are rewarded quite
highly 200 , 500 , 800 ,1100 & even non vul it hurts them more than the offensive rewards of your game or slam quite often. Playing the
hand should not be your sole goal in the game of Bridge as there are other ways
of getting a plus by defending. Yes , I know Bergen & Cohen are attempting to brain
wash you to thinking that you must
play each & every hand , but it is simply not true. As hockey coaches say , you must
pay attention to the defensive
responsibilities of the game also. Your opening bids should provide for the possible defensive eventualities
. Offensive super stars still must back check as one dimensional players drag
the hockey team down. Those who say who in the F… needs quick tricks to open should be sent
to the minors until they smarten up. Arrogant offensive super stars are a pain
to a hockey team or a Bridge partnership.
Osama psyched a strong NT against two Tormentees
in an IMP game & was successful. The Tormentees
eventually rested in 5♣ making 7 instead of 7NT making 7. The culprit was
ambiguity as neither Tormentee was even
remotely aware of the combined assets of the partnership. One Tormentte held ♠10xx ♥AK109x ♦AKQx ♣x & decided that a pass adequately described this hand to
partner after Osama opened 1NT . Just 16 HCP’s rich in
controls & concentrated HCP’s in suits . As Osama
has an honest face , he is to be believed , correct
?
LHO opponent bid 2♣ now more ambiguity takes
place. You have ♠AKx ♥x ♦10xx ♣AKQJ109 so you leap to 4♣. Partner now visualizes
a pre-emptive hand like ♠xxx ♥x ♦x ♣KQJ109xxx or the like so has no idea of the strength of your
hand. Bridge bidding is defined as painting an accurate picture of your
hand to partner. Back up & double 2♣ first & see what happens. A
double is a universal
tool to show strength & you have 4 quick tricks & 17 HCP’s. A double is also a tool to expose psyches .
If the opponents run from 2♣, you
now can bid 3♣ which partner now reads as strength as well as a
good club suit ( why did you not just bid 3♣ initially inference) . Partner realizing that you
now have a good hand , takes the 40 HCP in the deck
rule into effect & the psyche is
exposed. You will now get to slam easily.
Bridge bidding , like any language cannot have ambiguity. You cannot
respond 2♠ to a 1♠ opener with ♠xxx ♥x ♦Axxxx ♣Kxxx as opposed to ♠xxxxx
♥x ♦Axxx
♣Kxx or ♠xxxx
♥x ♦Axxxx ♣Kxx as these 3 hand are vastly different. Although they have 7 HCP in controls
, one has only 3 trump , one has 5 trump & the last has 4 trump. You
have introduced ambiguity as you have described 3 different
strength playing hands with the same bid. This ambiguity results in
–12 IMPS repeatedly for your
side. The same ambiguity applies with
bidding or jumping . How is partner to
resolve the ambiguity that one time jumping shows length & distribution & the other time strength
,measured in HCP’s ? The answer , of course is
that she cannot. Always double first , to show your strength when they have bid NT & show your distribution later. A NT bid is a HCP
showing bid ,
so a double clarifies your bids in
these NT based auctions.
A double is not just for
penalty or T/O in Bridge bidding. A
double has a 3rd meaning
as just a way of describing a strong hand
to partner. Partner assumes T/O initially until
she hears differently but even T/O promises
defense for the option of converting. There is a huge negative inference
with a double. Partner will infer that when you did not double initially , you cannot be strong in the HCP or quick trick sense. You must be bidding on distribution or
your HCP’s are only in the intermediate range or you lack quick tricks when minimum. Doubles are a nice tool to allow partner to have the optimum advantage to do
something intelligent. Use the red card more often & Bridge
will become more of a partnership game. A double is like an opening
bid as both bids promise defense
measured in quick tricks. Both doubles & opening bids are not
merely an offensive tool like
modern terrorists would have you believe L. Terrorists want doubles
just
to mean I have some places to play
the hand without defense or just
to keep the opponents guessing. Sound
familiar ? They want no quick trick restrictions
to allow more freedom to make everybody
guess including partner. A pass is a great
competitive tool also when it is right !! A pass shows no defense to take auction or
stacked in their suit.
I have written in many articles how to handle psyches (
learned from my extensive rubber Bridge experience + 30 years ) . I cautioned against “fighting
fire with fire” but rather being even more
disciplined in these situations. Defending against garbage openers also
needs doubling discipline. What do I mean by that term ? In a perfect world , where
the opponents have full values for
their bids , you could theoretically base your
bidding on theirs. Once they have opened & responded they have the
majority of HCP’s ,so your double can just be based solely on distribution (
shapely ) so penalty conversions
would not be allowed except in the
rare ( impossible ? ) situations where you have them beat two tricks in your
own hand. Advocates of garbage openers have a religious
experience when they open their garbage
& responder just barely has enough for a response. They total
14-15 between them so the opponents have 25-26 HCP (
game range ) . Shapely T/O doubles breaks down against these players as
they cannot be trusted.
Playing against forcing club players ,
it is important to have “double discipline” to counter their garbage openers. You must remove
ambiguity for your side. Shapely T/O or balancing doubles without defense are a no/no when you do
not trust the opponents for their
values. Your doubles must have defense measured in quick tricks plus a reasonable HCP total or anarchy prevails.
Partner needs to trust you when playing against garbage openers because
things do not add up. Partner can convert for penalty or bid game at her discretion. All
garbage openers by the opponents do for the most part is give your
side more options . You bid your normal game or if the
vulnerability is right the 500 , 800 , 1100 scoring
rules come into effect. Remember doubles are more than demanding bid a suit partner. They promise defense also. Same concept as
for opening bids . You do not subscribe to “garbage doubles” either. Both garbage concepts make no logical or Bridge sense. Discipline
is a must , especially playing against those who have
bought into the terrorist religion. Somebody must be believed
, may as well be your side.