2007-09-18 23:07

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( Finding your Major Fit )

PITBULLS:

We play a 5 card major system where we will open a minor with a 4 card major or 4-4 in the majors. This practice allows us to lose our major fit sometimes. How ? when the opponents pre-empt you from uncovering your 4-4 major fit. One surprisingly pre-emptive bid is the 1NT overcall by the opponents. You are pre-empted from discovering your major fit. Kokish , among others, decided to do something about it. Kiz Fung taught us the basics but here is the full version. The Kokish system does not apply when you open a major.

When you open 1 of a minor & they overcall 1NT , 2♣ by responder is like Stayman but showing both majors. 2♦ directly by responder shows at least a 4 card fit for partner’s minor with a 4 card major. A jump in a minor is pre-emptive whether it is in a new minor or partners minor. 2NT is shows at least 6 of the other minor with 4 of partners minor. 2♥/♠ is natural & under the strength of a penalty double. A double is for penalty.

Here is an example hand that I held playing with Kiz against Ray Grace in the Red Deer Calcutta. Kiz opened 1♣ , Ray overcalled 1NT & I held ♠Kxxxx ♥J10xxx ♦xx ♣x & bid 2♣. They bid 3NT & Kiz doubled. When partner opens a minor, it is not a natural lead. When partner doubles 3NT after opening a minor, the double says lead my minor. I dutifully did & Kiz held ♦x ♥AKQx ♦xxx ♣Axxxx . Kiz knew 3NT was going down based on my major suit bid so she doubled to get me off the spade lead. If I had led a spade , they damn near would make 3NT. Kiz won her club Ace & we cashed our 5♥ tricks.

Another sample hand . Partner opens 1♣ with a 1NT overcall by their side. You hold ♠AJ10x ♥xxx ♦x ♣Qxxxx so you bid 2♦ which shows a fit for partners minor with a 4 card major. Partner bids 2♥ so now what ? Bid 2♠ in case partner has both 4 card majors. You have already shown your minor fit so if partner does not like spades , she retreats to clubs.

This scheme allows you to support partners’ diamonds at the two level provided you have a 4 card major on the side. ♠xx ♥AKxx ♦xxxxx ♣xx

1♦-1NT-2♦-P 1♦-1NT-2♦-P

2♥ P

Playing 2♣/♦ as natural after a 1NT overcall is a waste of time. The opposition will always outbid you in partials with the strength of their NT overcall in the equation. The only chance you have of buying the contract in a minor , is getting it up to the 3 level. Yes , there is some risk but double partial swings are expensive in IMPS as well as matchpoints. I think you need a toy after their 1NT overcall to find your major fit.