Thursday, June 12, 2003 8:24 PM

Hand Evaluation – Overcalls ( Negative Free Bids )

PITBULLS:

Negative free bids for 2/1 in competition after an opening bid do not make much sense to me as written . The responder can have a good hand quite often so the negative double with forcing good hands just complicates matters. However , there is a place in Bridge for negative free bids . After an overcall by partner & an intervening bid , a non forcing free bid would be very useful for lead directing , competing or sacrifice purposes. We can get away with negative free bids in this situations for two reasons. One , with so much bidding going on a forcing free bid is less likely & the fact that you play D.S.I.P. competitive doubles allows you the freedom to make non forcing calls.

Negative free bids complement fit showing jumps in competition after an overcall . When you do have your own suit & a fit with partner, jump in that suit . Snapdragon doubles are also used to show a suit with a fit. Otherwise your suit bid is a non forcing free bid denying a fit .

K	x	x	x
Q		x	x
J		x	x
10
9
8

1♥ & partner overcalls 2♣ , RHO bids 2♦ . This is a negative free bid of 2♠. There is so much bidding that a rock 2♠ bid is very unlikely to exist . If by some chance you have one, you can make a snapdragon double showing the unbid suit & tolerance for partners suit. Later on, bid spades to show your strength. There is so much bidding going around , I would rather play introducing a suit as a “negative free bid” not even forcing one round. This is both lead directing , finding a sacrifice or making a nuisance of yourself all in one negative free bid . When you do not play negative free bids , you have to bid 3 spades with this hand. Splinter addicts can not even do that.

K	x	A	x
Q	x	x
J	x	x
10		x
x

This time 1♥-2♦-2♥-? but this time you bid 3♠ as a fit showing jump or a snapdragon double , when you play the bid after overcalls ( recommended ) . Normally a new suit would imply a fit with partner & a one round force . With negative free bids it does not , so we use the fit showing jump or snapdragon double. We do not play splinters in competition , so a jump can be a weak jump shift or a fit showing jump. When you go the “negative free bid” route you can play fit showing jumps with overcalls. My partners & I only play fit showing jumps as a passed hand but when we buy into “negative free bids” , it opens the door for the bid after overcalls.

K	x	x	K
J	x	x	x
10	x		x
9
x

With the same auction as above , it would be nice to stick your nose in with a negative free bid of 2♠. If you have a “real” 2♠ bid which you want to be forcing one round you are forced to double ( cards ) as per negative free bid theory.

The concept of negative free bids appeals to me when there is lots of bidding going on. . Getting in there with your suit without forcing values makes a lot of competitive sense. The contortions with negative doubles for the good hands make the bid not worth it though, with 2/1 auctions . Overcalls are a different matter though just due to the low frequency with partner having a positive free bid . Negative free bids now make sense. Negative free bids & D.S.I.P. doubles go together. When you would double with cards , you do not need bidding a suit as a one round force.

I play 2/1 negative free bids by responder to a one level overcall . The age old problem whether to make a T/O or an overcall with 5-4 in the majors is answered with negative 2/1 free bids to an overcall. ♠AKxxx ♥AQxx ♦Q10x ♣x . They open 1♣ so do you overcall or double. Not playing 2/1 to a one level overcall as a non forcing negative free bid , I would double with this hand as an overcall may bury the heart suit. I now overcall with this hand as partner will bid 2♥ non forcing when we have a heart game. Slightly stronger hand so a 4-4 ♥ fit would make game , I double.