Sunday, August 04, 2002 3:24 AM

Tactical Bids - Weak NT's

PITBULLS:

The weak NT can do a lot of damage . The opponents can get some lucky 13 opposite 10 point games that make and your partners will be in their partial . To compensate for these type of "accidents" , the partnership must pick up some lucrative sets once in a while . To do this you need to close some of their escape hatches by good partnership understandings.  You should play your normal systemic toys over their weak NT but the double and ensuing bids should be clearly defined. The opponents had about 4 positive  results for 10 IMPS with their weak NT yet they went for no doubled sets against our two teams at the CNTC finals in Edmonton. Actually there is no reason you can not have the same understandings after strong NT’s.

The penalty double of 1NT should always setup forcing passes on the partnership thru the 2 level . i.e. if the opponents are running out with their systemic sequences or bidding a suit over the double , the doubler assumes that partner has some values . The opponents can not buy the hand at the 2 level undoubled re forcing pass theory. After a penalty double of 1NT , the first subsequent double by the partnership shows values and shortness in the bid suit .  This D.S.I.P. treatment applies to natural suits only . If the suit is artificial , the double shows values and that suit . A pass of an artificial bid is still forcing as is a pass of the natural bid . The NT bidder must bid again with a double after they convert the artificial bid and hit her suit. If she does not have the suit , her pass is forcing.

Of course if they do not run , partners pass is punitive. If partner can not stand the heat , she bails to 2♣ or her long suit.

The purpose of this treatment is so they can not wiggle out if either partner has a penalty double .

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

KQJ10 xx Q10xx  AKx

                          DBL  pass

ex    1NT                                 2♠   ( natural )              Final contract of 2♠ doubled for them is not

pretty

                         DBL ( shortness )       

xx AKxx Kxxx xxx

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

DBL DBL         xx KQxx AKxx Kxx

ex     1NT 2♠

                         Pass

KQJ10 Axx xxx xxx

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

DBL    3♥ xx AKxx Axxx KQx

ex        1NT                        2♠

                              DBL    4♥                                    Neither side wants to punish 2♠ so 620 in

hearts

xx Q10xx Kxxx    Axx

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

DBL   3NT    Kx AJx Kx AQxxx

ex         1NT  2♠                    2♦  ( alerted as majors )

DBL      xx xx Axxxx KJxx  DBL shows diamonds

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

                              DBL DBL   double is for takeout since at the 3 level.

ex           1NT                        3♣    ( systemic weak hand in clubs )

                               P

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

    Quoting Gordon Campbell , the reason his 10-12 NT bid gets good results is that most partnerships have not discussed how to handle them . This treatment is a good framework ( not perfect ) to build on .The reason it is not perfect is that we assume since they are running its our hand and forcing pass theory applies. What if the wiley opponents “run” with a good hand. We are trapped rather then them. Given the remote probability of that , we just assume when they run , we do own the auction.