Sunday, May 25, 2003 11:30 PM

Hand Evaluation - Pseudo Sacrifices

PITBULLS:

Do not set partner up for bad competitive decisions ! If you have a stack in the opponents suit do not encourage partner by bidding . I was playing with Stan against Klino and Nick, the auction went I♣ by Klimo nv & I overcalled a heart vul & Nick bid 2♦ . Stan bid 2♥ and Klimo had this hand

x	Q	K	A
x	J	10	K
	9	x	x
	x		x

Klimo bid 3♦ which I feel is a horrible bid . I leapt to 4♥ vul and Nick encouraged by the vulnerability & partners trump support sacrificed to 5♦ . Stan doubled & we were plus 300 instead of –500 in 4♥ X where Judy and Gordon played it . It this Nicks fault ? No , when you have a trump stack in their suit – stay out of the auction partner !!

x	A	Q	x
x	Q	x	x
	9	x	x
	7
	x

I♥ vul to your left , partner makes a nv 2♦ bid with a negative double to your right . Do you bid 3♦ ? 3♦ is an atrocious bid with a trump stack in hearts . You are just setting partner up for a wrong competitive decision later. There is an opening bid to your left with a negative double to your right so partner does not have an 18 HCP overcall . Even if both vul opponents do not have their bid , partner can double with extra values .

So you pass so they eventually get to 4♥ . You double so its obviously penalty as you did not support partner . If you did support partner , your double can not show hearts. It is D.S.I.P. with values giving partner an option of bidding 5♦ or leaving the double in with defensive values as you were actively competing. Probably 9 HCP with the AK of a side suit as defense.

Bidding & supporting partner with opponents trump stacks is the primary cause of pseudo sacrifices & incorrect competitive decisions. If they get to 3NT , you can double for a diamond lead & maybe they will run to 4♥ !

Delicate co-operative doubles imply partner has the self discipline to stay out of the auction with a trump stack in the opponents suit . Say if Pat had a 7-4 or similar distributional hand - she , Nick , Bob and every expert in the world would sacrifice directly to 5♦ . Partner gave the green light by raising her suit . A simple raise does not show 5 to the AQxxx in the opponents suit.

Say you are on the terrorist vul with partner a passed hand. Do not setup partner by bidding with their suit even in these situations. It goes 1♠ & you hold ♠Qxxxx ♥Qxx ♦Kxxxx ♣void. It this the time to muddy the waters on the terrorist vulnerasbility ? No , not with their suit as there is always the pseudo sacrifice lurking. Bidding on nothing is fine in these situation but 5 of their suit is not nothing.