Tuesday,
December 10, 2002 9:07 AM
Pseudo Sacrifices - Defensive Doubles
PITBULLS:
Sacrifices are
a necessary part of bridge . Applied correctly they win imps , force opponents
to make wrong decisions and in rare cases actually make for a double game swing
.On the other hand , we all know how destructive pseudo sacrifices are . There
are cliches that describe them - "5 level belongs to the opponents"
and when in doubt don't" . There are truisms to follow such as by
"advance sacrificing" do not push opponents into games or slams that
they might not otherwise bid . When both sides have 2 suited fits then
sacrifice etc . Sacrificing is an art form that takes trust in the opponents
bidding and discipline in your own bidding .
The horrible
habit of pre-empting at the 3 or 4 level with outside stuff is a deterrent to
sacrificing . Sacrificng with Osama must be a nightmare as his undisciplined
pre-empt might be no suit and defense on the outside. Sacrificing with
Gartaganis style weak 2's is also very difficult as the suit could be
xxxxxx and 10 solid points in defense on the outside . Playing that style of
weak 2's , sacrificing is a roll of the dice concept . Disciplined weak jump
overcalls are necessary for proper sacrifices . If you make a weak jump
overcall with Jxxxxx and 8 pts on the outside , the sacrifice will not only be
pseudo but go for a large number ! Penalty doubles are also a guessing game as
well as opening leads with undisciplined weak 2's and jump overcalls .
Anyway , the
best way to prevent pseudo sacrifices is by your choice of bids at a low level . Do not encourage partner to
sacrifice by making a frivolous raise or overcall .
nv
2♣
Ex (vul ) 1♥ 2♥
You have K10 QJ109 xxxx J10x
Do not encourage partner by bidding 3 clubs - the next two
bids might be 4♥ and 5♣ respectively.
Also avoid overcalling with trump stacks in
their suit . Why encourage partner to make a pseudo sacrifice. Another weapon
to prevent pseudo sacrifices is still another competitive double called the defensive double . This is a bid designed
to narrowly define your support for partner . It prevents pseudo sacrifices by
distinguishing between defensive and offensive raises of partners bid . Rather
then having the double showing values or other suits , it's all anchored
on support for partner . Lead directing bids are common and they are gold .
Avoid Q bidding if you have a lead directing bid instead ( show where you live
) . Q bids show HCP but they are ambiguous in making decisions later on . Try
to find a good alternative bid before the Q bid . If your overcall style is very light
you need some structure. If it is not Q bidding the opponents suit will
suffice to show limit raise or better.
Here is a write up on that bid :
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2NT |
Scattered values, supporting Diamonds. |
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3♣ |
Lead-directing, supporting Diamonds. |
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3♦ |
Offensive support for Diamonds |
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3♥ |
5+ Hearts. No Diamond support suggested. |
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DBL |
Defensive raise |
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Q bid |
Offensive limit raise or better |
Note : purple is the overcaller and light blue
is partner .
Any raise, including a single direct raise,
shows an offensively oriented hand. If the opponents bounce to game, Advancer's
vote is deemed to suggest a sacrifice.
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Overcaller should feel
free to bid 4♠ here, knowing that
this is Advancer's preference.
Any suit bid below Overcaller's
is lead-directing, but shows good defensive strength--no interest in
sacrificing if the opponents stumble into game.
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By promising 2+ Spades
and asking for a Heart lead, the 2♥ call sets up
the defence against 3NT while warning partner not to sacrifice in 4♠.
Any no trump bid below
Overcaller's shows "scattered but significant defensive values"--no
interest in sacrificing against any game contract.
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West does not have any
compelling reason to call for a any particular lead. West's 1NT call, then, helps East find a pass and a Heart lead here.
Any double shows defensive
strength (no interest in sacrificing against a game contract), often with no
room to make the appropriate lead directing or "scattered values"
free bid.
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Advancer cannot afford
2♠ here, and so contents themself
with a double so as to advise East
not to sacrifice at the game level.
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Because Advancer had
the option of encouraging a lead in any non-Heart suit (e.g. 2♣ here) or no particular suit (i.e. 1NT
here), double here has a
"Rosenkrantz" overtone, suggesting an honour in Overcaller's suit.
A redouble of a
negative double is also defensive, suggesting the Ace or King of Overcaller's
suit--especially at the 1-level. Assuming the opponents are playing negative doubles
at the one level on this hand:
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East may have been reluctant
to lead hir own suit, Diamonds.
Pseudo sacrifices are bad , very bad
. I recommend defensive doubles to make your overcall structure more accurate
and preventing such disasters.