Saturday, December 07, 2002 11:48 AM


Hand Evaluation – Minors ( Bypassing 1♦ over 1♣ )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Since we have bought into the idea that NT should be rebid with all flat hands , some preparation work needs to be done after partner opens 1♣ . With weak & invitational diamond responses to a club also containing a 4 card major , we will have to bypass 1♦. Respond your 4 card major & forget about your diamond suit.  With strong responses , we just bid normally up the line starting with our diamond suit. Convention cards will have to show this partnership understanding .

 

bypass.jpg

 

 

The Frequently bypass 4+ ♦  block will have to be marked as opener will not bid her majors “ up the line” anyway when she has a flat hand . She will bid 1 or 2NT & bypass her majors . In order not to “lose” the major fit with weak or invitational hands , we will respond a major in lieu of a diamond suit when partner opens a club .

 

Partner opens 1♣  - bypass your diamond suit will all these hands & respond normally with 1♦ when you have a game forcing hand .

 

            ♠AKxx ♥xx ♦Q10xx ♣xxx

 

            ♠Kxxx ♥xx ♦Q10xxx ♣xx

 

            ♠xx ♥AKxx ♦Q10xxxx ♣x

 

When you bid 1♦, you may lose the major fit when partner rebids 1NT with her 4 card major(s) suit . With weak hands when you will only make one bid , its best to bid your major . With the 3rd hand , you can bid 1♦ if you decide that this an invitational hand .

 

            In the XYZ structure where a 1NT rebid is included , what is a reverse by responder ?

 

1♣-P-1♦-P

1♠/1NT-P-2♥        Some  argue that you should not have to bypass your 6 card diamond suit with a weak hand & a 4 card major. Over partners rebid , a “reverse” into your major shows a 6-4 but a weak hand. With a real reverse just temporize with 2♦ forcing to game & bid your major naturally later in the auction. This will show your reverse HCP’s anyway. With 5♦ & a weak hand , bid your 4 card major as you do not want to be playing in 3♦ with your 5 card suit.

 

            I do not agree , as the reverse has a basic Bridge advantage. When you reverse you are passing two pieces of information to partner. You have a game going hand & a first suit longer than the 2nd suit. With an artificial 2♦ bid , you lose the distributional aspect of the reverse which is so very important. Weak diamond hands with 6 card suits can be described by bidding 2♣ & dropping partner in the 2♦ relay playing XYZ. Keep reverses as strong & natural throughout your bidding system.

 

            Do not forget the negative inference of bypassing the ♦ suit initially. Now when responder does not bypass the ♦ suit but bids naturally you are showing invitational values or better . The auction

 

1♣-P-1♦-P

1♥-P-1♠-P       does this belong in the XYZ family ?  Technically no but we prefer it to be there. This is because we hate the jump to 2♠ as 4th suit forcing. Keeping this sequence in the XYZ class of hands allows the same nice benefits as when only 3 suits have been bid. You have the added inference that responder has invitational values as she did not bypass the ♦ suit initially.