Important article . Understanding this  & your Bridge skill will jump a level.

 

Monday, October 06, 2008

 Hand Evaluation -  HCPS ( Nature of HCP’s )

 PITBULLS:

            Experts use hand evaluation concepts to evaluate a Bridge hand , last of which are HCP’s.  Totaling HCP’s are just a guide & nothing more. Bidding is more than just totaling HCP’s.  Experts evaluate HCP’s .  We advised that all HCP’s are not created equal. Controls ( quick tricks ) should be upgraded over queens & jacks. Quick trick combinations should be upgraded as opposed to unsupported kings , queens & jacks. We propose that Bridge bidding should be sophisticated enough to inform partner of the nature of the HCP’s in your hand , not just how many. Experts classify their HCP’s as either being “soft” or “prime”. Soft values are “quacks” queens & jacks . Prime cards are quick trick combinations.

            Let’s start off with the opening bid. An opening bid should be a standard to show partner the nature of your HCP’s. An opening bid should show controls at least 2 ½ quick tricks on the average so that you are informing partner of your trick taking potential both for offense & defense. With soft values under 14 HCP’s & not enough quick tricks ,  a pass describes that hand nicely. Garbage hands are described with a pass. A T/O , competitive , balancing or penalty double should also describe the nature of your HCP’s. These bids inform partner that you hold controls ( quick tricks ) rather than values soft for defense. When you have soft values , choose a NT bid or an overcall or a systemic toy. Do not give partner a chance to go wrong by converting your double for penalty. Equate all doubles ( competitive , T/O , penalty or power ) with defense measured in quick tricks.

              OK , the focus of Goren standard bidding is totaling HCP’s not differentiating them between soft values & controls. It does not have to be that way. Evaluate your hand by zooming in on the quick tricks ( controls ) contained therein & make a different bid in an attempt to describe these HCP’s. A very bad standard bid is leaping to 4 of responder’ major with a balanced hand in the 18-19 HCP range. Here is where you should bid the type of HCP’s you hold , not just how many HCP’s you hold. You have ♠AKxx ♥Ax ♦AJ10x ♣Kxx & partner responds 1♠ to your opening 1♦ bid. Bidding 4♠ is ludicrous bidding as you just pre-empting partner ( 4 ½ quick tricks ) . We would bid 3♣ with this hand & when partner bids 3♦ ( forced ) , you now bid 4♠. This is a picture bid showing a balanced 18-19 HCP, 4 trump but with controls.

Change the hand to softer values  & 4 trump ♠QJxx ♥KQx ♦AQJx ♣Kx  & you bid 2NT instead of 3♣. When partner is distributional , she will make another bid otherwise you should play 3NT as a contract if responder bids it ! Many times with flat hand opposite flat hand & with soft values , 9 tricks are easier than 10 . Quite often the number of tricks available are the same in both contracts ! The only difference is that you are +600 in 3NT & -100 in 4♠ J If partner does not like 3NT , leap to 4♠ to show the 4 trump. Partner now knows you have a flat hand , soft values in the 18-19 HCP range & 4 of her trump. We showed the nature of our HCP’s as well as the total . Take that Charles Goren !!

            Soft values (queens & jacks ) & combinations thereof are more suitable for NT. In fact , this is another way of classifying hand types ( soft ) in Bridge. With some bidding sequences you should be bidding the nature of your HCP’s not just totaling them. When you have soft values , stretch to bid NT as that bid is associated with soft values. This particular  HCP classification is still another advantage of playing the godfather 2NT as an alternative to 4^th suit forcing with balanced hands. The godfather 2NT can show the softer value hands with a fit for partners minor & the 4^th suit can show a more control orientated hand . A new inference for 4^th suit forcing with a fit has appeared.  4^th suit forcing now shows controls when you have a fit for partner as opposed to soft values suitable for NT.

           I was playing with a Calgary player who held ♠Kxxx ♥J10 ♦KQx ♣A10xx . I opened 1♣ with ♠AJ10x ♥Ax ♦109x ♣KQxx & he replied 3NT . Anything wrong with that bid ? No , for the major suit purists out there , bypassing the ♠ suit is not the sin. The nature of his HCP’s were not described with a 3NT bid !!. We went down in 3NT & 4♠ is easy because both hands had controls. Change his hand to soft values ♠Qxxx ♥QJx ♦KQx ♣KJxx & if he feels like bidding 3NT , go for it. This time I hold ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Jx ♣Axxx & I would rather be in 3NT than 4♠ !!

            Here is a hand that shows this advantage of playing the godfather 2NT as a ”new suit” , forcing one round.   ♠Jx ♥10x ♦AKxxx ♣AJ9x    opposite ♠A10xx ♥Axx ♦xx ♣KQ10x . Partner opens 1♦ , you respond a spade. Partner rebids 2♣ so now what ? This is the wrong hand to bid the godfather 2NT as a “new suit”. You are all controls so when partner has Qxx of hearts , it is better that she bid the NT. I would bid 2♥ as a 4^th suit. Partner can not bid NT so you end up in 5♣ for +600 when 3NT has only 8 tricks !! This is because you bid the type of HCP’s you held , rather than just the HCP total.

            Same opening hand & auction but this time give you ♠KJxx ♥KJ10 ♦xx ♣KQ10x so this time you bid 2NT. With the first hand , partner bids 3NT so this time 3NT makes & 5♣ fails. Note the advantage of controls ( quick tricks )  vrs soft HCP’s as the determining factor in these auctions. Now for the ultimate advantage of the godfather 2NT , minor suit slams. Give the opener ♠x ♥Axx ♦AKxxx ♣AJ9x so over 2NT she “patterns out” by bidding 3♥. Responder now knows there is zero duplication of value in spades & that she has extra. 7♣ has chances but 6♣ is virtually untouchable.

            I was reviewing some Bridge Worlds from the 1960’s . In those days,  2NT by responder was a game force. In the 1970’s , with the introduction of the dreaded 4^th suit forcing ,  2NT by responder became invitational. In the modern era , the godfather 2NT is treated as a new suit & is only  forcing one round . A compromise between those two old treatments. Playing the godfather 2NT as a one round force is obviously the best treatment for IMPS. Stopping in 2NT on a dime in IMPS is a bigger gamble than carrying on to 3NT ! The godfather 2NT structure forces you to tight 3NT contracts as 2NT cannot be passed.

            In general , bidding  NT should be a “death response” for tight slams as you are advertising soft values. Do not bid NT, when your hand is all controls. You are giving partner the wrong impression of the type of HCP’s you hold. Do not just bid the total of your HCP’s , announce to partner the type of HCP’s you hold by your choice of bids. More informed & better Bridge decisions will follow.