Tuesday, January 31, 2006 5:26 AM
Hand Evaluation – ELC ( Hearts
& Diamonds )
PITBULLS:
We have written articles that the lowly
club suit does not
have rights that other suits have.
If you have bought into the “equal level
conversion” philosophy , you know that clubs are not needed for a T/O double.
Being the lowest ranking suit in the deck , you
convert clubs to another suit at the same
level so you show the other two
suits. Let’s discuss hearts & diamonds specifically.
They open 1♠ , you have ♠xx ♥AKJx ♦AJxxxx x so do you
overcall 2♦ ? When you do & they bid a number of spades ,
you have for all intents & purposes lost
the heart suit. Partner holds ♠xxx ♥Qxxxx ♦x
♣Axxx so is she supposed to respond to a 2♦ overcall ? She passes so +620 in hearts goes out the window.
What about ♠xx ♥AKxx ♦AKxxx ♣xx , a spade opener
? Do you overcall 2♦ & miss your heart fit ? Both these hands , playing equal level conversion , you can get away
with a T/O double.
They open a weak 2♠ , you have ♠xxx ♥AQ109 ♦AKJxx ♣x again equal level conversion
applies at the 3 level also. You have good enough cards to double & pull
partners 3♣ bid to 3♦ at the same level. Also since you have good
defense ,
a double describes your hand bettor. If partner converts the double for penalty, you will be happy or if partner bids 3NT that is fine also.
An overcall normally describes a single suited hand. You overcall 2♠ with 3♦ so the last thing partner expects is a heart suit .
What if the red suits were reversed
in length ? ♠xxx
♥AKJxx ♦AQ109
♣x , they open a weak 2♠ . What are the pro’s & cons of a double rather than overcalling hearts ? I think playing equal level conversion
, you can get away with a double also.
You are not going to lose the
heart suit as your double of spades pretty well shows hearts. Partner bids 3♣
& you can convert to 3♥ which at the same level shows the 5th
heart .
Since you bypassed diamonds but again does not show a rock. I think this sequence
should show a heart overcall with diamonds. I held this hand with Dora tonight
& got a bad result. I chose to overcall 3♥ & Dora held
♠xx ♥Q ♦Jxxxxx ♣Kxxx . She passed , with a 5-1 heart break I went
one down in 3♥. Meanwhile our 6-4 diamond fit
makes many diamonds L . Change her hand to ♠x ♥Q ♦Jxxxxx ♣Axxxx , we may be on
for 6♦ so the heart overcall has destroyed the auction.
With equal level conversion
, you do not have to convert to the cheapest
suit. When you convert to the higher ranking suit, you are showing extra length. ♠Axxxx ♥AKJx ♦xxx
♣x & they open 1♦ . Playing equal
level conversion has the advantage of preventing a 1♠ overcall with this hand. You double &d partner holds ♠x ♥Qxxxx ♦xx
♣Axxxx so you get to your +650 in hearts instead of going one down in one spade !! What if partner bids 2♣.
I think you can get away with a 2♠ bid. It is an equal level
conversion but you are showing the 5th card. Partner has ♠Kxx ♥xx ♦xxx
♣Jxxxx so you have landed
on your feet. Equal level conversion should be thought of as a scramble to the best spot not showing extra
values.
You play Michael’s Q bids as either weak or very strong.
A Tormentee held this hand ♠x ♥KJxxx ♦AQJ10x
♣Ax & they opened 1♠ too her right. This hand has quick tricks &
is in the intermediate range so does not qualify for a Michael’s bid. You play
equal level conversion so you start with a double. Partner bids 2♣ so you
bypass 2♦ & bid 2♥ to show extra length or a stronger hand in the reds as you force
partner to the 3 level in diamonds. Partner has ♠xxxx ♥AQ10 ♦xx ♣Kxxx & you may get to your 50 % +1430 heart slam !.
Equal level conversion is a scramble to combat
“Bridge is a bidders game” by doubling more . With the frequency of weak two’s increasing
, you need more & more off shape doubles in the direct &
balancing spot. This is to catch them speeding or scramble to
your best spot. Equal level
conversion. Do not leave
home without it !!