Saturday, June 23, 2007 7:32 AM

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( The Pass )

PITBULLS:

Some people feel that being disciplined in Bridge means just using the green card. This is false. Poor players with no hand evaluation skills or Bridge judgment pass when they should be bidding & bid when they should be passing. Do not pass just to “wait & see” . This is poor strategy that allows your side to be pre-empted from the auction or misleading partner. A pass is a legal call that gives information to partner. Your pass means you do not have a T/O double or an overcall or a pre-empt so partner will judge the auction accordingly. A “trap pass” should mean severe duplication in their suit & not just a hand lacking a perfect bid. You do not trap pass vul vrs nv , so manufacture some sort of bid to get in the auction early. This is necessary so that the opponents can not use tactics to prevent you from reaching your vulnerable game.

Garazzo says “do not enter a fight that you cannot win”. When the opponents have announced the majority of the HCP’s even though you have a decent hand , partner is going to be broke. Admit that your side is beat so use the green card. When the opponents have the boss suit , it is sometimes best to pass so as not “push them into game” . Balancing is an art form where you need to read the situation by bidding when it is right & passing when it is right. Length in their suit , vulnerability , quality of suit , HCP’s , partners action & the state of the match determine when you use the green card.

A T/O double does not just mean that you have the unbid suits. You must have defense also as partner is allowed to make penalty doubles or conversions based on your bid. Passing first & coming in later should have meanings based on your lack of action initially. Most of the time it meant you have their suit or are light in HCP’s for not entering the fray initially.

Opening leads are based on partner’s non action during the auction. Partner did not take action even though she is marked with HCP’s in this auction so why ? You probably should lead their suit in these situations. Partner did not overcall in the unbid major , so lead the unbid minor. Partner probably did not want to risk an overcall at the two level vulnerable. Partner did not double a Q bid or a KCB bid or a transfer bid should have a huge factor on your opening lead decision.

Misfit auctions are where experts use the green card wisely. When the hands do not fit well it is analogous to entering a fight in which you cannot win. This is a good time for the underbid & just pass. Do not rescue the opponents by bidding when they are taking risks. A pass sometimes gives the opponents rope to hang themselves. Notice the vulnerability & go for the vul set rather than your nv game. Pass the decision to partner when there is a good chance they could get punished. Forcing pass & D.S.I.P. competitive double theory was based on not getting in partners way if they are heading for trouble.

Average players have an irrational fear of passing good hands in order for partner to make the decision . This fear often rescues the opponents from disaster. Partner will not pass the auction out when you own the auction. When the opponents interfere in your 2/1 auction or 2♣ auction , forcing pass theory automatically kicks in. The pass is the weapon of choice in combating psyches . Let their own partner expose the psyche for you by passing initially. You now are allowing them the rope to hang themselves when they have obviously distorted the auction. If you act initially , partner will not be privy to the information you have. You know they psyched , but she does not. Pass in tempo as not to give the show away.

Leave matchpoint bidding to matchpoints. It is not a disaster in IMPS if they make +130. Pass rather than take the risk of doubling them into game or you going for a substantial set. Take calculated risks in Bridge, but not silly risks. Pay attention to vulnerability & when there is no danger of you having game your way , let them buy the contract. Partner does not always put down the ideal dummy for you. Overbidding does mean you are not reaching for the green card often enough. Do not forget that partner’s pass could mean that she has absolutely nothing L

Actually passing can be a very single handed Bridge decision tantamount to “master minding”. When you pass in many auctions where partners HCP range could be quite substantial , you are not participating in partnership Bridge. You should keep the bidding open with a preference or an invitational bid. A good rule for minor slam tries is if you have a safe resting spot in 4NT , go for the slam try. Passing can be a very single handed auction so is often fatal. Get partner’s input into the final action of the partnership – the pass.

In IMPS , getting to your vul game or slam is of utmost importance. In matchpoints , missing games & slams are not a disaster. In IMPS recently , I overcalled a weak 2♦ opener vul vrs not , with 2♠. Partner held ♠xx ♥KJxx ♦Qxx ♣KQx & passed ! This is terribly single handed as I could have up to 18 HCPs for my vulnerable overcall & a 2^nd suit. ♠AKxxxx ♥xx ♦void ♣AJ10xx & we miss a vul 6♣ slam. ♠AKxxxx ♥Axxx ♦void ♣xxx so 6♥ is possible despite my 11 HCP. Passing 11 HCP opposite a vul overcall is a matchpoint bid at best & master minding the partnership at worse. Do not forget that a pass is final with no recovery.