Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Hand Evaluation – Fast Arrival ( Mindset )

PITBULLS :

“Fast Arrival” is a hand evaluation concept which is more modern than the Goren ideas taught decades ago. It is a mindset which contradicts much of Goren’s philosophy with jumps , leaps to game & Q bids. The concept is used when you identify an unlimited hand during the auction. It is a way of thinking bidding that is slightly different from what you were taught as a beginner. You must be very aware of “unlimited” hands in your auctions as your bidding understandings change.

Playing with partner in Penticton who because he was ashamed of his hand , made the grave error of ignoring courtesy Q bid concepts. Opposite an unlimited hand , Q bids are courtesy as long as the auction remains under game opposite an unlimited hand. Partner does not expect you to have extra but counts on you to do “your duty” The unlimited hand knows this , so your Q bids default to "obligatory" . The old fashioned "fast arrival" opposite an unlimited hand has gone via the way of the dinosaur. Pre-empting partner who has an unlimited hand is no longer an acceptable bidding style.

He held ♠AJxx ♥KQJxx ♦x ♣Jxx , opened 1 ♥ so I responded 2♣ . He bid 2♠ so I introduced the "unlimited hand" concept by bidding 3♥. He bid 3♠ as a "courtesy" so I bid 4♣ . He now thought he had bid enough with his minimum opener so he did not Q bid 4♦ but signed off in game. I passed holding ♠Kxx ♥A10x ♦Qx ♣AKQxx so a baby +1430 was missed. See how "fast arrival " initially would have screwed up this auction . A bid of 4♥ initially to show a "minimum" means that responder would have to guess with a doubleton diamond to take control by bid 4NT & guess again with the KCB response. 2 ♦ tricks could easily be cashable on that auction.

Same player , a few hands later held ♠A ♥QJ109x ♦xx ♣AQJ10x & opened 1♥ . They overcalled 1♠ & I doubled for the minors. I could hold an unlimited hand with both minors. With some hands , you might be even forced to bid a 3 card minor. This is an obvious jump to 3♣ to show your distribution rather than your 14 HCP. The jump is not forcing but invitational & describes this hand nicely. I would jump to 3♣ virtually with any minimum HCP holding 5 in partner’s possible minor. Anyway our player rebid 2♣ & I now showed the unlimited nature of my hand my Q bidding 2♠. Instead of describing his hand pattern to an unlimited hand , he choose 2NT & I carried on to 3NT . My hand was ♠Kxx ♥Kx ♦A1098 ♣Kxxx so of course +1370 in clubs is lay down.

Your bidding does change opposite an unlimited hand. You become more subservient & show your hand pattern or controls as the unlimited hand is captain of the auction via “might is right” . Responding after a 2♣ opener is another example. Quite often you Q bid not because your hand is great but to provide information to the unlimited hand. You must tune into the mindset that there is an unlimited hand in this auction & bid accordingly. Do not get carried away with the concept . Q bids show extra when an unlimited hand has not been identified otherwise Q bidding anarchy would occur. Fast arrival is still permitted when the bidding has devalued your hand to less than partner would reasonably expect based on the bidding.