Tuesday, July 25, 2006 10:36 PM

Up the Line Bidding II

PITBULLS:

One of the worst concepts in Bridge ( maybe next to 4^th suit forcing ) is bidding up the line. I think it was invented by a matchpoint player, who wanted to ensure that their weak partners would always get to a 4 of a major game. In matchpoints , major suit partials score better than NT partials so up the line bidding is a pure matchpoint concept. In IMPS , I feel up the line bidding is a losing strategy

The worst fault of “up the line” bidding is that you hide your distribution from partner. There are two main hand types in Bridge – balanced or distributional. If you have a balanced hand describe it to partner by rebidding 1NT or 2NT. This unleashes the “power of the weak NT”. You make them guess on opening lead , guess on discards and Meckwell type 3NT games are brought home. Balanced hands are more defensive and play worse than their distributional counterparts. If there is a 4-4 major fit to be found , let partner initiate the bidding. At least she will now first that a balanced awaits her.

There is an inference with natural bidding provided by not playing up the line bidding. You describe your real distribution at the one level. Now there is a thought ! You know by the one level that partner has 5 of her minor & 4 of a major rather than 3 of them and a flat hand.

The most important aspect of not playing up the line bidding is ignoring 4-4 major fits and playing the correct contract of 3NT or a minor game/slam. There are many flat hands that 9 tricks are the limit and 4 of the major plays exactly the same. The Spingold , Vanderbilt & Bermuda Bowl write ups are filled with swing hands that getting to 3NT with a 4-4 major fit was the winning bid. Sometimes even with a 5-4 major fit if you have soft values and source of tricks , 3NT is the superior contract.

Bypassing weak 4 card majors by responder is quite often the winning strategy in IMPS . You have a balanced hand and soft values so describe your hand to partner by bidding some number of NT. In matchpoints this is a no-no , as even a major suit Moysean will earn you lots of matchpoints. The longer I play this game , the more I feel bidding should show distribution first and other attributes later. Ignoring your balanced hand by bidding a major makes no Bridge sense.

Balanced hands are a detriment in Bridge re playability. Letting partner in on the secret at the earliest opportunity is the best strategy. This is before partner makes a game try or a leap to game.

1♣-P-1♥-P

1♠ & partner is 4-3-3-3 with 4 spades & 3 clubs is terrible bidding & makes no sense to me. The hand may also have soft values and need to be right sided for NT contracts. Bid NT first & ask questions later.