Sunday, February 15, 2004 2:02 AM

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( Inducing Pseudo Sacrifices )

PITBULLS:

The art of deception in bidding . There are situations where vulnerability considerations coupled with the fact that the opponents have a huge fit , lends itself to deception. It simply involves anticipating what the opponents will do next . Maurice had this hand against BJ & Lorna .

♠xx ♥Q109xx ♦Kxx ♣Axx . The auction went 1♦-P-1♥-1NT

2♥-2♠-? . If you bid 3♥ , you know that they will compete to 3♠ so now you have a decision to make . This is the Chess part of Bridge , anticipating the opponents moves. Why give yourself a head ache ? Leap to 4♥ immediately even though you know the odds are against you making it . This might induce a pseudo sacrifice ! It turns out that they will indeed take the bait & bid 4♠ which is a very lucky down one for them doubled . 4♥ , of course , had no play .

There are times when the non vul opponents have a huge fit & you are vul . You know that they will not let you play in your vul game or slam . So bid it & let them do their dastardly deed. Sometimes they find out that they have two cashable aces but they cannot afford to let you play your vul slam. The psychological effect of the vulnerability should be used in your favour at the game or slam level. This is another way experts “play the vulnerability”.

There is a reverse deceptive technique . It is called “sand bagging” in Poker . You hold ♠Kxx ♥void ♦AKJxxx ♣AQxx , you are vul . 1♥-dbl-4♥-? You could be cold for 7♦ on this hand but you will have zero chance to play it at that spot vul vrs the non vul opponents . So you “sand bag” by making a gross under bid of 5♦ . They make the expected 5♥ bid so you back in 6♦ . They bid 6♥ so now the real poker decision comes as you bid 7♦. With this weird auction ,you might buy it there has they may feel they have pushed you high enough !!

Playing with my partner recently vul vrs not , I held ♠K109 ♥x ♦AKxx ♣KJ10xx , he opened 3♣ & they overcalled 3♥. You are not playing in a vacuum , so the chances of you playing this hand in a vul 5♣ making is virtually nil. Discussing this hand with Maurice he says that in reality there are only two possible calls. Bid 4♣ & sand bag hoping they let you play it eventually in 5♣ or bid a direct 6♣ hoping for the maximum set in a pseudo sacrifice. Normally nv opponents take out insurance & bid 6♥. This is the option I chose even though I knew 6♣ could not possibly make.

The redouble card is a very good psychological tool in matchpoints. I held this hand playing with Maurice ♠KQxx ♥AKxxx ♦xx ♣xx & vul vrs not Maurice opened 1NT 10-12 HCP’s . I bid non forcing Stayman , LHO doubled . Maurice surprised me by bidding 2♥ , RHO bid 3♣ setting up the non vul sacrifice . I leapt to 4♥ , LHO doubled so around to me again. This is a tight double & a tight game so let’s put some pressure on the opponents & redouble . You do not expect to go down more than one & a 5♣ sacrifice will be a sure plus. The ♥’s were 2-2 and Maurice made his contract on a defensive slip. 5♣ x was a sure 500 as the cards were not well located for them !!

Perry had the ideal situation to induce a pseudo sacrifice with the off chance of making the contract. Perry was vul with ♠Kxx ♥Axx ♦Ax ♣AKxxx & opened 1♣ . Susan nv doubles & vul I bid 3♣ ( showing 5 or more clubs ) . Maurice bid 4♥ which is most likely a 5 or 6 card heart suit. What is the heart pattern around the table. The opponents have bid my stiff heart for me ! Perry can count his winners 5♣ tricks , 3 hearts ( two ruffs ) so if I have little as ♠Q10x ♥x ♦xxxx ♣xxxxx +600 is odds on. However ,it is more than that . The psychological pressure of you bidding your vul game will probably induce a sacrifice which is what happened at the other table. You know they do not have much so they are in sacrificing mode. 5♣ is a two way shot for a plus. Passing 4♥ is not a good bid. You are not “playing the vulnerability” to your advantage.