Tuesday, July 25, 2006 6:41 PM

Courtesy Bids

PITBULLS:

Serious 3NT theory is based on the concept of “unlimited hands”. Since one or both hands can be unlimited , Q bidding is done as a courtesy to the unlimited hand and does not show extra. A double may be an unlimited so courtesy bidding applies. BJ & I had such an auction recently. I opened 1♥ on ♠Kxx ♥Qxxxx ♦AKxx ♣x and BJ responded 1♠. They bid 3♣ and even with a spade fit , I did not think my 12 HCP was worth crawling in at the 3 level so I passed. BJ re-opened with a double which may be unlimited so I decided to go to game with a courtesy 4♣ bid. This has to show shortness and a 3 card spade fit as I never bid 3♠ freely which I would have done with 4 card spade support initially.

BJ holds ♠AQxxx ♥x ♦QJxx ♣Axx and hears his RHO double the 4♣ bid. He redoubles and we Q bid 4♦ and get to our cold 6♠ with 12 HCP opposite 13 HCP. The courtesy Q bid was the key bid. Change BJ’s double to ♠AQxx ♥xxx ♦Qxxx ♣Ax and he now knows opposite a partner that can not even bid at the 3 level , there can not be a slam so he just bids 4♥. A courtesy Q bid can not all of a sudden change a passed hand into a slam going monster.

Serious 3NT conflicts with the old style Edmonton splinter theory where 3NT showed duplication of value. This was an understanding made popular by Lee Barton back in the 1970’s. BJ held ♠AK ♥Kxxx ♦10xx ♣xxxx and I opened 1♥ and they overcalled 1♠. BJ bid 2♠ as a limit raise or better and I bid 3♠ and with BJ’s spade holding must be a singleton. My bid obliterated BJ’s hand so he bids 4♥ and that ends the auction. What is a 3NT bid by BJ ? This is the serious 3NT Q bid saying that I have the better of the “limit raise or better” and I am clarifying my Q bid as a serious slam try. The auction now turns into a contest to get to a grand slam. The Barton understanding was made extinct by serious 3NT theory.

Bridge discipline is being courteous to partner . By adhering to partnership terrorism understandings you have your bid on 3 of the 4 vulnerabilities. The opponents are NV and you are vul so do you have a spade overcall in the sandwich position with ♠Axxxx ♥xx ♦Jxxx ♣Jx ? Of course not , as this is horrific undisciplined bidding. Reverse the vulnerability by all means go ahead. Why , because partner is conditioned on this one vulnerability to give you leeway.

Bridge courtesy is being disciplined and not making singlehanded decisions that leave partner out of the process. You are vul vrs vul and hold ♠Kxx ♥x ♦K10xxx ♣Q9xx and here partner open 1♦ vul. Your RHO bids 2♦ also vul so what do you bid ? The stiff heart and the location of the spade king has turned your hand into a good limit raise. The lower ranking Q bid shows this hand so you bid 2♥ . Partner has the spade Ace , 100 honours in hearts and the AJ of clubs but weak diamonds. As you have got your bid off your chest, you have transferred the decision making to side that may have only 3 diamonds and possibly 4-4 in the majors. Leaping to 5♦ with this hand is insulting to any partner as you have left her out of the picture and assumed the situation around the table when you could have described your hand to partner. Perry did this to me 3 times recently and I am still fuming. Sometimes people forget that Bridge is a partnership game.