Saturday, April 07, 2007 1:26 AM

Obvious Shift Principle II

PITBULLS:

Some writers are making an issue of the “obvious shift principle” as it applies to signaling. This is nothing new as far as I am concerned , as I have been signaling that way for 40 years. Another name for this kind of signaling is called “baby sitting” partner. Protecting partner from making a disasterous “obvious switch” .

Here are a few hands to make my point.

♠	Q	J	x
♥	x	x	x	x
♦	A	x
♣	K	J	10	x

Partner leads the ♦queen against 4♠ Declarer wins the Ace so do you encourage ? The obvious switch is hearts from partners perspective and not clubs. You do not want a heart switch so you encourage in diamonds . Partner gets in with the spade king and continues diamonds. You just avoided a disaster by being aware of the “obvious switch “ suit. .

♠	K	x
♥	K	J	x
♦	Q	J	10	x	x
♣	x	x	x

Your hand

♠	x	x
♥	x	x	x	x
♦	9	8	2
♣	A	Q	9	X

♠	A	10	9	x	x	x
♥	A	Q
♦	K	x	x
♣	x	x

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

♠	Q	J	x	x
♥	A	Q	9
♦	x	x	x	x
♣	K	Q

This time partner leads the ♦Queen against their 4♠ contract. You have nice diamonds but you want partner to make the obvious switch to hearts so you discourage in diamonds. Declarer lets partner hold the diamond but she switches to a small heart. You now avoid the strip & endplay and defeat the contract !

♠	x
♥	J	x	x
♦	Q	J	9
♣	J	x	x	x	x	x

Your hand

♠	A	x
♥	K	10	x	x
♦	K	10	8	2
♣	x	x	x

♠	K	10	9	x	x	x
♥	x	x	x
♦	A	x
♣	A	x

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

♠	K	x	x
♥	A	Q	10
♦	Q	J	x
♣	K	Q	J	9

Again a 4♠ contract & partner leads the ♦king. With your hand you want to discourage any “obvious switch” so you encourage in diamonds. Partner continues 3 round of diamonds and declarer wins the ♦Queen and leads a trump. Partner wins the spade Ace and returns the 13^th♦ and you beat the contract via an uppercut !

♠	A	x
♥	x	x	x	x
♦	A	K	x	x
♣	x	x	x

♠	J	x
♥	x	x	x	x
♦	x	x	x
♣	x	x	x	x

♠	Q	10	x	x	x	x
♥	K	J
♦	x	x	x
♣	A	x

Signaling should be done with the context of the entire hand not just one suit. The obvious switch should be considered or even built into signaling. Its that important.