Saturday,
September-13-08
Hand
Evaluation – NT ( Pre-empting Partner )
PITBULLS:
Some aspects of standard bidding based on totaling HCP's
only are silly. The more HCP’s you have ,
the higher you leap
is archaic & bad bidding in my opinion. "Fast arrival" to game
with huge hands does not describe your hand well & pre-empts partner from describing her hand.
Most experts avoid these auctions like the plague so that responder has some
chance in determining the best game , slam or partial
contract. Maurice had this hand recently playing with Tom. ♠KQx ♥Kxx ♦A987
♣AQx & opened 1♦ in 4th seat. Tom Gandolfo responded 1NT so what do you bid ? Most experts follow the philosophy of "you do not
pull a 1NT response " from a position of weakness.
In other words, you do not improve the 1NT partial to play in a better partial if you are weak. Why ? because in modern bidding
when you deny the majors , the vultures are coming in with their majors. You
are not going to play a 2♦ or 2♣ partial with a weak hand , it is that simple. When you think otherwise
, you need a reality
check . Experts are resigned to passing 1NT
with any weak hand.
Improving the 1NT partial with a weak hand usually just brings in
the balancers. Passing 1NT at least casts some doubt in their minds.
Experts have the understanding when you pull a 1NT response to a minor. you
have invitational values ( a good 14 to 17 HCP's ) .This bid is obviously with distribution
or you
would have opened 1NT ( 15-17) initially. Balanced invitational hands do
not exist in these sequences because they have already been opened 1NT. A 2NT rebid is
in effect idle ,
so experts define the bid to mean a good balanced 17-19 &
virtually game forcing unless you have psyched a response. This prevents the
Goren stupidity of jumping to 3NT to show these hands & pre-empting partner
to the 4 level to describe her response.
Investigation for the best game/slam/partial starting at the 4 level , beyond 3NT ? Absurd.
Maurice plays standard Bridge so as Goren would have done, he bid 3NT. This contract was doubled for a diamond
lead. Tom had ♠10xx ♥AQx ♦x ♣J109xxx so did not like the smell of a
diamond lead against 3NTX so he pulled 3NT to 4♣ (
doubt showing XX anyone ? ) .
Maurice passed but 6♣ makes which would have been the end
result of a 5♣ contract doubled. Tom would not have
psyched a response with both opponents being passed hands & partner opening in
4th seat. The culprit in this auction is the 3NT bid which pre-empted Tom . A 2NT bid after a 1NT response must show 18 HCP's. Tom would never pass 2NT
unless that is the limit of the two hands. Bidding 2NT leaves partner some room
to describe his
response. Tom would have bid 3♣ & with the nice club fit , Maurice would have bid 3NT. Now when the double comes , Tom can pass as he has described his hand. Maurice
looking at nothing wasted in diamonds is in a win -win situation. I would leap
to 5♣ which makes even if the club King is
off side. 3NT X makes also but needs the ♣K onside. They might get -800 in 3NTX
if there is a solid 6 card diamond suit around with the club king. 5♣ is a far superior contract when the
opponents announce for
you that partner is unlikely to have diamond cards . No diamond
duplication of value for a 5♣
contract. You are in effect using the opponent’s silly double to get to your best contract.
Good players play one of a major
- forcing 1NT followed by 2NT as 18-19 & virtually forcing to game also for
the same reasons as above. You just do not
need an invitational
2NT given the opening 1NT inference. Other horrible Goren
sequences are 1 of a major followed by a forcing NT & a jump to game in your major with a huge hand . Look at all the
bidding room you have wasted to "show" your 20
HCP's. Experts use a bid of convenience the 3♣
strong jump shift to avoid this atrocious bidding. Partner
opens & responder bids a major. Jumping to 4 of a major with a huge hand is
also silly. Experts bid 2NT if balanced or find another bid.
Jumps to game are "fast arrival" & show distribution. You take it
slowly with big
hands to allow bidding room. Most players play
some degree of “fast arrival” but the concept should be extended to all
auctions. There is no need to jump to
game to show a strong hand.
Standard bidding systems were built for the masses so their Bridge judgment
was “totaling HCP’s “. In parts , a very theoretically weak
system to cater to newer or average Bridge players. Experts look for ways to improve
standard rather than bending over backwards to play standard methods. Pitfalls
of standard bidding were recognized by the experts of their day in the 1950's
& 1960's . These standard bidding shortcomings
spawned forcing club
systems to get around this idea of pre-empting
partner to show strength. When you do
not play a forcing club system , you
need a way of fixing gaping holes in standard bidding. Experts
invented "fast arrival" which contradicts archaic standard bidding.
Jumping to game is a "picture bid" so it does not pre-empt partner.
1♦-P-1NT-P
3NT
is a picture bid showing a gambling long diamond suit with outside cards . With a good 17 to 19 balanced , a simple 2NT will suffice. Goren would not approve but
we certainly do. Responder should be captain of these
auctions not the balanced 18-19 count.