Sunday, December 07, 2003
Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( Prevent Defense )
PITBULLS:
The term "prevent defense" is taken from the world of sports . Football , Basketball
& Hockey are the most common sports that use the concept . It is a style of
play that you think defensively to prevent a disaster like a late
touchdown or goal from occurring . It is like a safety
play in Bridge by a declarer where you think of how to prevent
something bad from happening . It can be bidding like
a terrorist but with a purpose in mind.
Partner must be on board though.
In Bridge , a
good partnership also has a "prevent defense" in bidding
. The four most common disasters in Bridge is (1) opponents
making a game or slam that could have been beaten by the correct opening lead (2)
opponents having a "free ride" to their contract without you making life difficult for them by
taking bidding room away from them (3)
not reaching a nice sacrifice &
allowing the vul game/slam to be played instead (4)
the double partial/game/slam swings .
Good partnerships realize when they are in
a "prevent defense"
auction so give each other leeway which they would not
otherwise get . The partnership will not punish each other by leaping to
game or doubling the opponents when the situation demands
that partner might be bidding "defensively" . Normally these auctions would
occur when the opponents have stated that they own the auction .
Examples would be a 2 Club opener , a Q bid showing a limit raise or better
, a 2/1 , an inverted minor , a Jacoby
2NT etc . Playing the vulnerability
& partner being a passed hand are more ingredients for “prevent defense “.
I will give a number of recent examples where a "prevent defense"
would be applicable .
First example was a Pitbull
playing with Maurice . The auction went 1♥ P
2NT ( Jacoby) by vulnerable opponents , you are not vulnerable
& hold ♠AKxx
♥x ♦QJ109xx
♣xx . I would bid 3♦
or double or do something to interfere with their auction . As it
turned out Susan/Pat
had a good "serious 3NT" auction to know they were off
the AK spades & stopped in 5 hearts . The opponents at Ms Fung’s table bid badly
so reached 6♥ vulnerable & made it
because she did find the spade lead . A disaster could
have been prevented by bidding
diamonds & doubling 6♥ for a non
diamond lead . As the opponents had bid clubs in the auction , the spade would have been automatic . If Maurice had decided to
"bid defensively" by doubling 2NT , a
spade lead would also have been automatic
. Partner should realize that when the opponents own the auction ,
tread lightly & give leeway when partner doubles .
Another auction of a "prevent defense" was Mr. Jones & I
playing on a Thursday nite against the Vinnies .
I held ♠xxx ♥KQJ109 ♦xxx ♣xx and heard the auction go
2♣
1♦ 3♣ the opponents were vulnerable so
you were not so it was an obvious "prevent defense" time . What are the two worst things that could happen in
this auction ? One is they make a vulnerable 3NT which
could have been beaten by a heart lead &
the other is that you have a nv heart sacrifice
against their vul game . You should bid 3♥ . Partner will not
punish you as he has heard the auction so know it is
their hand .
He will not leap to 4♥ thinking that you
own the hand & give the opponents an option to double you unless he is
making an obvious "advance sacrifice" .This is not a matter of "trusting
the opponents" instead of partner
, because it is an obvious defensive bidding situation
when they show a limit raise or better !
Another auction is
a 2/1 by the opponents . You hear the auction go 1♥ , pass by partner 2♣ & you
hold ♠KQJ10xx ♥x ♦xxx ♣xxx . You do not have to
pre-empt to tell partner you are weak . Bid 2♠ as partner knows it
is a "prevent defensive" type of bid as she is at the table also. Even vul with a good
spade suit like AKQxxx you should bid 2 spades
to prevent them from bidding 3NT with partner not leading a spade
. Good partners have discussed "defensive bidding" over
an opponents 2/1
so know what a Q bid means , as opposed to a double as opposed to an
unusual NT . Klimo has a stack of understandings for
these type of defensive bids.
Another auction
came from Regina . Again the opponents are vulnerable
against nv , own the hand as
the auction went 1♣ P 2♣ . I glanced at their card and they
play inverted minors forcing to game . Well now
it is time for "prevent defense" , I held ♠KJ1098 ♥J9876 ♦1098
♣void . I fleetingly though of a Michaels bid but that might help the
opponents rather than hinder them . I decided that the
worst disaster in this hand is that the auction went a 2NT rebid P 3NT & they made it off the first
5 spade tricks. The next disaster is with my void in clubs we have a nice NV
sacrifice instead of -600 in 5 clubs . Anyway , I bid 2♠ knowing that my partner realizes that
they own the hand so I am bidding "defensively" . Partner will not
punish me by leaping to 4♠
expecting me to make it or double 5♣ based on values for a
"real" non defensive bid . Partner will also
be very careful not to "push" them to 5 Clubs if the inverted minor
is not forcing to game . He might try a 4♠ bid to tactically
get them to 5♣ with ♠AQxx ♥xxxx ♦x ♣KQJx . The double of 5 clubs will prevent partner from any other
action if your sneaky ruse worked !!
Partners hand could be ♠Axxx ♥xx ♦KQ109 ♣xxx so who would blame him for
leading a diamond against 3NT ? The 2♠ bid prevented a 12 imp disaster from occurring . Alternatively partner could have held ♠Axxx ♥Axxx ♦x ♣xxxx sothere is a double game
swing with 5♠
doubled making our way & 5♣ making their way for a 18 imp disaster ?
Remember - do not punish partner when
the opponents own the hand !! Think defensively
& bid accordingly in leeway giving situations ...