2008-02-18
23:09
Hand Evaluation – ELC ( Rank of Suits )
PITBULLS:
The rank of suits in Bridge , define equal
level conversion. The ranks of the remaining suits must be such that
there is a choice of suits at the same level.
Hence the name , equal level conversion.
1♥-X-P-2♣
P-2♠ is not equal level conversion as you did not give partner a
choice of two suits at the same level.
This sequence shows a strong hand with a 5 card ♠ suit.
1♥-X-P-2♣
P-2♦ is equal level conversion
as partner can now choose spades & diamonds at the two level.
This is why equal level conversion
does not work with the lowly club suit. Due to the rank of that suit , you cannot offer partner a choice between
two suits at the same level.
Whenever partner makes a jump bid after his T/O double
, equal level conversion no longer applies. You just pass the invitational bid when you have a weak hand with the
two other suits. Therefore , if partner makes any bid
after a jump bid , a game force is on. My partner had this hand ♠Kxx ♥AKQxxx ♦xx
♣Ax & they opened 1♣.
She felt this hand was too strong
for a mere heart overcall , so she doubled . She also
has support for the other major which probably influenced her decision to
double. Anyway ,
I responded two spades to her T/O double so now what ? A 3♥ bid describes
her hand nicely showing a strong heart overcall type of single suited
hand. I bid 3NT so partner has a choice
of passing or returning to 4♠. 3NT is cold on a club lead & 4♠
has a chance with favourable breaks. 4♥ does not make as
my hand was ♠Q10xx ♥void ♦AJ9xx ♣Q98x . 3NT is simple as I win the expected ♣ lead & lead a spade.
If they jump with the spade Ace , they give me 3
spades so along with my two clubs , ♦A & 3♥’s that is 9
tricks. If they duck the spade Ace , I establish the
hearts & take 2♣ , 5♥ , 1♠ & 1♦ for 9 tricks .
The worst bid you can make is 4♥ as that is just
guessing my hand & unilaterally placing the contract. This sequence demands a
pass which I would do if I held 5 spades or even 6 ,
as partner may have a spade void
for all I know. Also 3NT is taken out of the mix when your heart suit could be
a source of tricks for that
contract. 4♥ has a nice pre-emptive effect
on partner so the bid should be based on solid
hearts .
You preserve useful bidding space
to find the best contract & invite partner’s
opinion on determining the final contract. Nowhere during this
auction did responder say he had any sort of heart
tolerance.
Equal level conversion might confuse
T/O doubles on what is forcing & what is not. It should not though , as you let the rank
of suits decide that issue. Any bid
after an invitational bid is game forcing
though as you are not trying to improve a partial in IMPS. When partner jumps a
level to a new suit after a making a T/O Double ,this
is an intermediate two suiter. We have other ways to
show two suited hands of varying strength also.