Saturday, April 22, 2006 4:36 AM

Hand Evaluation – Overcalls ( Negative Free Bids )

PITBULLS:

D.S.I.P. competitive doubles are obviously forcing bids unless the contract gets converted holding the opponents trump. I have never liked “negative free bids” directly after an opening bid as it complicates the 2/1 structure & negative double theory. However , when we overcall at the one , two & three level & they interfere , we should play negative free bids . We can make a D.S.I.P. competitive double with all good hands that you do not want to Q bid ( show a fit ). This is one of the advantages of D.S.I.P. competitive double theory . You do not need free bids to be forcing one round when you have a D.S.I.P. competitive double available , so you are allowed to compete, setup sacrifices or just get in a lead director . The D.S.I.P. double or Q bid does the rest. You do not need 3 forcing bids in competitive auctions where you have a D.S.I.P. double , a Q bid or a bid in a new suit all forcing . This is overkill. The new suit forcing is not needed. Penalty doubles in these types of competitive situations are of course for beginners .

When RHO does not interfere , this eliminates your D.S.I.P. double so a new suit is a one round force. Let’s take some example hands where partner overcalls their weak two with RHO interfering The definition of a negative free bid is that your bid is simply not forcing .

2♦-2♠-3♦-?

♠5
♥K J 10 7 6 5
♦9 8 6
♣K 3 2

♠5 2
♥A K J 8 4
♦7 6
♣K Q 5 2

♠9 7
♥K Q 4
♦8 7 5
♣A J 7 6 3

♠4 2
♥Q J 4
♦8
♣A J 10 9 7 6 4

This is the classic “negative free bid” . You paid your card fees so bid 3♥ non forcing

Since 3♥ is a negative free bid , you must make a D.S.I.P. competitive double . Partners has ♠AKJ10x ♦xx ♦KQx ♣xxx so you catch them speeding +800.

Classic D.S.I.P. double , I have cards & do not know what to do. Do something intelligent partner & may the force be with you J.

Negative free bids apply at the 4 level also . 4♣ is not forcing but not suicidal either.

At the one level , your D.S.I.P. double tends to be “snap dragon” or just HCP’s . A free bid at the one level is negative and not even forcing one round.  This treatment is required because you lack a forcing 1NT in competition. A 2/1 is just a suit & not forcing. At the 3 or 4 level , same rules apply. When you have a D.S.I.P. competitive double available, none of your “free bids” are forcing not even one round.

3♣-3♦-3♥-3♠ ♠AQ109xx ♥xx ♦xx ♣xxx Why not bid 3♠ , it’s not forcing. With a stronger hand double first & bid spades.

I play negative free bids by responder to a one level overcall . This allows for the freedom of overcalling with 5-4 in the majors while not missing your heart game or partial. Negative free bids buys into “Bridge is a bidders game” to allow you to compete more effectively. Perry held this hand last night. ♠x ♥Kxx ♦xx ♣A1098xxx . They opened 1♠ , I overcalled 2♦ , they bid 2♠. It is usually the hand that is short in the opponents suit which must keep the bidding alive. This is the perfect non forcing 3♣ free bid . In fact , I would bid 3♣ forcing one round with this hand not playing this particular understanding. Controls , a 7 card suit , shortness in their suit opposite a vulnerable 2 level overcall . Surely playing this hand in 4♣ or 4♦ would not be a disaster. Anyway 5♣ is cold with this hand reached by some in a local club game. 30 HCP deck with a fit makes 5 level games easy sometimes.