Friday, October 29, 2010

Hand Evaluation – Dbls ( Single Handed Nonsense )

PITBULLS:

        The great destroyer in a partnership game like Bridge is single handed nonsense. Taking partner out of the equation is insulting her but more than that it is often Bridge fatal . The following auction which happens every day in weak club games actually happened at the World Championship level .

1♥-1♠-2♥-P

P-2♠-P-P

3♥-3♠-P-P

4♥-4♠-P-P

X-P-P-P   result -790        This is nonsense as partner heard you single handedly compete to the 3 level so now is captain of the auction. She chose to let them buy the contract in 3♠ , so you should respect her wishes. Bidding 4♥ is actually insulting partner as has already heard your intentions. Partner now has a better perspective of the auction than you do.

        Pushing opponents into game comes with the territory of single handed nonsense bidding . ♠Kx ♥Axx ♦Kxxx ♣Axxx   you open 1♣ you’re your 14 HCPs ( as advertised ) everyone vul & they overcall 1♥. Partner bids 2♠ ( weak ) on ♠J109xxx ♥J ♦QJ10x ♣xx & they bid 3♥. When partner has a maximum 2♠ bid , 3 ♠ may have a shot. However when she does not , you risk pushing them into game. You pass & LHO passes as happened at many tables. Partner with a maximum 2♠ bid  & a stiff heart ( marked on the bidding ) should re-open with an action double ♥x ♠AQJ10xx ♦109xx ♣xx. You can now bid 3♠ or even try 4♠ ! . Bidding 3♠ directly is bidding partners hand for her. You are guessing a maximum hand for partner or pretty close. When they are pushed into 4♥ doubling them for -990 ( they made 5) is a well deserved single handed -13 IMP loss.

        The most single handed bid in Bridge in my mind is the penalty double. You are being the enforcer & bidding partners hand for her.

1♦-X-XX-1♠

P-P-2♠-P

3♣-X-3♥-P

3♠-X-3NT-P

P-X-P-P                    This was -950 for another 10 IMPS thrown away. The doubler exclaimed that I did not have anything which was true. She bid my hand for me by guessing that I have HCP's. On this auction when I held HCP's ( I heard the bidding also ) I would have doubled. I am captain of this auction as I am privy to a lot of information on this auction. She does not know my hand but I have a good idea of hers. Doubling 3NT is violating captaincy & insulting partner. When 3NT needs to be doubled , partner should be doing the doubling. Master minding is a Bridge evil which experts do not tolerate.

        In order to improve your game , look for instances where you have eliminated partner from the auction. Time after time it will be found on your score card with the -12 IMPs  in the next column :( Playing hero or being a solo artist puts a strain on Bridge partnerships as well as Bridge results. Look for ways to invite partner to join the party. This is how Bridge is played for optimum results. You will be amazed how well partnership Bridge works !!