Sunday, May 24, 2007

Hand Evaluation – Fast Arrival ( Competition )

PITBULLS:

Fast arrival is a bidding concept that is based on pre-emption. When you pre-empt partner from useful bidding space, you are weak & distributional. Fast arrival is meant as a “stop sign’ in the game of Bridge. Charles Goren had it all wrong with leaps to game to show strength ( in my opinion ) . When partner responds a major & you leap to game in her major , fast arrival dictates that the bid should be based on distribution even in competition or maybe especially so. I think a jump raise to the 3 level should be stronger in HCP’s than a jump to game as we leave room for the serious 3NT or Q bidding. My partner had such a hand tonight. He opened 1♥ on ♠KQxx ♥QJ1098x ♦x ♣Ax , partner responded 1♠ . His RHO bid 2♦ so is this a 4♠ bid or a 3♠ bid ? Partner judged that the stiff diamond was the deciding factor to show the stronger of the two bids. If he had a doubleton diamond , he probably would have bid 4♠ rather than 3♠ he did.

The main reason we play the multi purpose 3♣ SJS is so “fast arrival” can apply with regard to jumps to game. In the era of splinters , we do not need a jump to game as strong. We do not need a jump to game to be strong with flat hands also as there is no law that says you cannot bid 2NT with a major fit & soft values.

1♦-P-1♠-P

4♠ is a distributional hand too weak to encourage partner by splintering. You jam partner & the opponents because you are weak & distributional.

There is nowhere that it is more important to apply “fast arrival” than after a 2/1 in a major in competition . We all know that “serious 3NT” theory applies in 2/1 auctions without interference , but in competition “fast arrival’ is alive and well . In competition with a 2/1 , once you have found a major fit , you are committed to game. Let’s repeat that. A 2/1 in competition + a major fit equals game. You cannot stop in 3 of a major , impossible. Therefore , opener must use fast arrival with a fit to show minimums in competition.

A Tormentee held this hand . ♠x ♥xxx ♦AJxx ♣AQJxx & opened 1♣ vul. They overcalled 1♠ & I bid 2♥ vul with 2♠ to your right so what do you bid ? You have a heart fit , so let’s bid our game as we have a minimum. What if you held ? ♠x ♥Jxx ♦AJxx ♣AKxxx . This hand is too strong for fast arrival . Partner holds ♠Axxx ♥AKQ109x ♦x ♣xx & 7♥ is more than odds on. You bid 3♥ & leave room for grand slam investigation. However , the big difference is “fast arrival” will slow partner down in slam aspirations & bidding slowly will accelerate slam bidding.

Perry had a hand that uses “fast arrival” to prevent a needless Q bid to show a so called “forcing raise”. Perry opened 1♣ with a nice 17 HCP

♠Ax ♥Axx ♦Kxx ♣AQxxx & a spade overcall to his left. I bid 2♥ so Perry has a 3♥ bid which is forcing ( fast arrival applies ) . What this understanding does is leave the Q bid for even stronger hands. ♠Ax ♥Axx ♦KQx ♣AQxxx is a 2♠ Q bid showing a rock 3♥ raise. A simple raise ( fit ) is forcing to game in competition therefore the bid shows extra already. When you do decide to Q bid with the first hand , you better slow partner down afterwards.

Even when you have not bought into Meckwells “Serious 3NT “ theory , you should not pre-empt partner with a leap to game opposite an unlimited hand .When you have something useful to say with controls , slow down. Pre-empting an unlimited hand with a game bid in a 2/1 or Jacoby 2NT forcing to game auction is just bad Bridge plain & simple. Take it slowly when there could be bigger & better things & use fast arrival for a pre-emptive purpose.

A minor is a different animal. When opener raises partner’s minor after a 2/1 in competition it is not forcing ! You must use a Q bid to force in these auctions. A major has status in these auctions that a minor does not have. With a minor , you are usually trying to reach 3NT & 11 tricks for a game in a minor is pretty high. A 10 trick game in a major takes a lot less effort so therein lies the difference.