Tuesday, October 17, 2006 8:03 AM

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( Improving Partials )

PITBULLS:

In IMPS , it is good strategy not to improve partials. When you take another bid , you have extra. Games are the goal in IMPs , not partials. Do not improve 1NT partials after a minor opening from a position of weakness. When you opened a balanced or semi-balanced dog , pass partners 1NT . When you have a weak distributional one suited minor , jump in that suit. When you have a weak 1♦ opener with clubs , jump in clubs. This understanding is in effect whether partner responded 1NT directly or after a T/O double. Do not improve the 1NT partial. Jump bid to keep out the balancers ( alertable ).

Why ? this treatment means that when you do bid , you show invitational values. You may get to a vulnerable game. Quite a concept , a pass shows weakness & bidding again shows extra. Do not confuse the issue by bidding again with weakness just to improve the partial. A simple rebid of your minor can show all the 5-4-3-1 hands with invitational hands just under a reverse. A simple rebid in your suit could also show the Goren jump rebid hand . When you have a running 6 card suit , leap to 3NT. A 2NT rebid is not invitational , it shows 18-19 HCP. This is obviously a game force but we allow an escape to 3 of either minor. Bidding 3NT pre-empts partner so it should be a picture bid. This understanding assumes you are playing strong NT’s where all invitational hands have already been opened 1NT. All reverses are game forcing & natural except for the 2♥ reverse. My partner introduced this bid as a relay to 2♠ so all subsequent bids are game forcing & natural.

♠x ♥Kx ♦AKQxx ♣AQJ10x

1♦-P-1NT-P

2♥-P-2♠-P

3♣

Reviewing World championship results , many cold 3NT games were missed because partnerships do not have this simple & sound understanding. Here is Norway in the Bermuda Bowl.

♠10xx ♥KQJ10 ♦10 ♣AKQxx opened 1♣ & partner bid 1NT . He felt he was not quite strong enough to reverse so he bid 2♣. They play light opening bids so partner thought he was bailing out of 1NT to improve the 1NT partial. Partner passed with his maximum so Norway lost the Bermuda Bowl as the American made an easy +630 at the other table.

By having 2♣ or 2♦ as invitational after a 1NT response to a minor, you have the best of both worlds. When partner has a dog 1NT response, your side plays it in a nice safe partial. When partner has a maximum response , she can bid 2NT , 3NT or raise clubs. If the opponents balance over your 2 of a minor bid , they could be in big trouble as your side owns most of the HCP’s . A double would be penalty on this auction as the assumed invitational values says we own this auction. This 1NT response structure is “fast arrival” based . The less you have, the faster you bid it. When you have values , you keep the bidding low. Balancing becomes rather precarious for the opponents with this partnership understanding.