Saturday, September 16, 2006 9:56 PM


Hand Evaluation – Fast Arrival ( Picture Bids )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            When 2/1 theory first came out , the concept of “fast arrival” came into vogue. This meant every time you were forced to game from either side holding a minimum, you leapt to game to show your minimum. Over time , this proved not to be a good idea. Unlimited hands were pre-empted by their own partner ! This forced slam investigation to the 5 level which had dire consequences. Even though you had a minimum , your cards were still useful for slam investigation. Q bids opposite an unlimited hand became courtesy Q bids in case partner needed to know.  Over time , “fast arrival” opposite an unlimited hand was replaced by “picture bids”.

 

            What are “picture bids” ? These bids are still  “fast arrival” but so specific as to paint a picture of your hand to partner. These bids state that you have what you announced , but concentrated in your suit or partners suit with no outside controls. Picture bids are more important for what they do not say than what they do. If you had outside controls , you would have bid them as a courtesy. These picture bids are not just limited to 2/1 but show up in other places like Jacoby 2NT or splinter auctions.

 

1♠-P-2NT-P 4♠ is a picture bid with most of her values in the spade suit and no outside controls.

 

1♠-P-2NT-P

 3♥-P-4♠  minimum limit raise with heart duplication.

 

            Lets review some other “picture bids” .       1♠-P-2♣

                                                                                      2♠-P-4♠      clubs & spades but no outside controls

 

1♠-P-2♦-P

2♥-P-3♠-P   this shows very good diamonds & a 4th spade

 

How about the double fit hands ? They are picture bids also.    1♠-P-2♥-P

                                                                                                                3♥-P-4♠-P     This shows a minimum with no outside controls & all your values in spades & hearts.

 

 

            Jumps in partner’s major are never splinters. Why ? This is because playing 5 card majors the odds of duplication are just overwhelming. You must give up something to play jumps in partner’s suit as a splinter but the odds say it is just not worth it. Opening 3 card minors to the queen or jack is a different matter. Having a splinter defined in partner’s minor is probably a good idea. “Auto-splinters” work on that principle.

 

1♦-p-1♥-P

                                    1NT-P-4♦-P   is a stiff diamond with a slam try in hearts. This is the auction that I am aware of that you can splinter in partners suit.

 

            Unusual jumps are splinters for the most part. What if you make an unusual jump but it is impossible to have a splinter ? You open 1NT with ♠AKQ10 ♥J10x ♦AJxx ♣Qx  , partner bids Stayman followed by showing diamonds. To confirm the diamond fit , you could jump to 4♠. This is a picture bid saying you like diamonds but do not have any outside controls other than in the spade suit. All your values outside of the trump suit should be concentrated in spades. Partner is now warned that there could be cashable losers in hearts & clubs. If not , we are off to the races thanks to your “picture bid”.

 

            Partnerships can define “picture bids” of their own. You just need an unusual jump to game defined. You hold ♠xx  ♥AKQJxx ♦void ♣Q1098x , respond 1♥ to partners 1♦ opener. Partner bids 1♠ so you bid 2♣ followed by 2NT by partner. You bid your distribution by bidding 3♣ so partner Q bids 3♦. What is a 4♥ picture bid ? This bid should be defined as no controls to show but the bulk of your HCP’s in the 6 card suit of the 6-5 you have shown.