Saturday, November 04, 2006 2:10 AM

Hand Evaluation – HCPs ( Quantitative )

PITBULLS:

Normally , we do not like bidding via totaling HCP’s. Quantitative auctions are a Bridge exception though. HCPS work well with NT contracts. The early greats had no problem with suit contracts as quick tricks worked fine along with their knowledge of hand patterns & suit length. 2 1/2 quick tricks ex ♠AQxxx ♥AJxxx ♦xx ♣x opposite 2 ½ quick tricks ♠Kxxx ♥xx ♦Axxx ♣Axx made game . 2 ½ quick tricks opposite 2 ½ quick trick equated to the more modern notion of 13 HCP’s opposite 13 HCP’s. Goren even though he was trying to sell his HCP idea to the masses, kept the notion of quick tricks for opening bids as well as the “new” HCP’s. These two HCP concepts are not mutually exclusive . NT hands gave the early greats problems though as the concept of HCP’s was not invented yet & totaling HCPs work remarkably well for NT contracts.

KCB is an insurance policy against getting to slam off the required controls. When the 40 HCP in the deck rule is in effect , do not use the KCB bid though. When the auction tells you that you have 33-34 HCP , the odds that you are off two Aces is impossible . There is just no room to be off two Aces. You do not need an Ace asking tool. Take this hand for instance ♠AQJxx ♥x ♦KQJ10x ♣Qx , partner opens 1♣. You respond 1♠ , partner reverses to 2♥ & you bid 3♦. Partner bids 3♠ so now what ? Partner has around 18 HCPs on average for this sequence , you have 15 HCP’s . You bid 4NT , partner bids 5♥ showing only two Aces . Do you sign off in 5♠ ? No , this is silly in that the odds that you are off two Aces are astronomical , when you have 32 HCP’s indicated on the auction . You bid 6NT as you are probably off the diamond Ace & the spade King. You probably have 12 tricks without the spade suit !! Partner has ♠10xx ♥AKQJ ♦x ♣AKJ10x so 6NT from your side has more than enough tricks.

Do not bother with Aces in quantitative auctions. Some players play that once they accept a quantitative invite , they bid Aces. This is just paranoia plain & simple. The odds are so far against you being off two aces so it is a waste of time. My partners & I play Baron when we accept a quantitative slam try. This is far more practical. In the rare case that you may be off two Aces , I have seen contracts made. When the opponents fail to cash both & with your 32 HCP , one Ace disappears off the radar screen. Ray Grace would approve J.

You have a flat 10 HCP , partner opens 2♣ followed by showing 26-28 HCP with a balanced hand. Quantitative auctions are usually bid with skip bid warnings & not KCB. I would just bid 7NT as I have heard enough. KCB which is unnecessary in these auctions , have a bad side effect. Opponents double for the best lead. Blind leads make more slams than finesses do . Keep KCB for those hands that you really need to take out an insurance policy.

Maurice had 14 HCP with a 5 card suit so his hand evaluates to 15 HCP . Susan showed a hand in the 22-24 HCP range. Why bid 4NT as Ace asking ? You are in the 37 HCP range . Just bid what you think you can make before the vultures make lead directing doubles or partnership confusion sets in. 4NT by Maurice was interpreted as quantitative rather than KCB , so a simple 7NT was missed as well as a small slam. You are allowed to bid slams without asking for Aces. The rules of Bridge permit that course of action when you translate your sides bidding into HCP’s.

HCP’s as designed by Milton Work are quite accurate for NT contracts. Quantitative auctions & HCP’s in NT auctions are a good mix. Walter the Walrus is great with NT contracts but he along with HCP’s fall a little short in suit contracts. Walter approves of quantitative NT auctions. So do I actually J