Monday, December 25, 2006 3:31 AM

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( The Other Minor )

PITBULLS:

One of the skills associated with hand evaluation is spotting a weakness for NT purposes. This skill is applicable whether you are considering an opening lead or trying to reach the best game yourself. When partner opens a minor , the bid should mean something. When values in your minor are non existent , open a 4 card major or cheat a point & open 1NT ! When you have a choice of minors , pick the one in which you live & not the “lead inhibiter “ suit. Quite often when partner opens a minor & you respond a major , the Archilles heal for NT is the other minor.

Here is a hand to illustrate . ♠Kxx ♥AQxx ♦Qx ♣J9xx , partner opens 1♣ . You bid 1♥ , partner rebids 1NT . You have enough to invite to 3NT but how ? The Qx in the other minor is a glaring weakness for NT as partner chose to open 1♣. Playing 2 way NMF , I would invite this way. I would bid 2♣ as a relay to 2♦ & follow up with a 3♣ bid. Partner will reason that I did not bid 2NT so I must have a NT flaw somewhere. Partner has ♠QJxx ♥J10x ♦Kx ♣AKxx & even though a maximum , might get the picture that diamonds are a weak spot so pass 3♣. She reasons that partner may have 9 of her 13 cards in hearts & clubs for her bidding so there is not enough room for diamonds. She may risk a 4♣ partial by bidding 3♠ so that if partner does have diamonds , 3NT is reached.

Same idea with inverted minors. When you have a flaw in the other minor , make it a habit to show where you live ! Partner opens 1♣ , you hold ♠AKx ♥Jxx ♦xx ♣AQ10xx so bid 2♣. Partner bids 2NT so what do you do ? Some would argue that you have a clear cut 3NT bid. However, take a look at your other minor. The minor which partner chose not to open. Why not “show where you live” along the way to 3NT . I bid 3♠ & partner bids 4♠ ! Partner has ♠QJxx ♥AKxx ♦xx ♣Kxx so you chalk up +650 instead –100 in 3NT.

When you have 3NT on your mind , grope for 3NT when you can . Bid NT to describe your balanced hand followed by groping for stoppers. Do not bid stoppers immediately like the Mike Lawrence school of bidders. It is important to describe your balanced hand pattern first. All things in good time. Try to identify the weakness for NT before the opponents do , with their opening lead. Sometimes you end up in a Moysean major game or 5 of a minor but do not assume that the opponents will not find the lead. Sometimes they have a number of chances to get it right after they have led.

The other major is quite often an automatic lead. Listen to the bidding & you should realize the other minor should be an automatic lead also. The simple fact that they chose one minor over the other is something to go on.