Monday, May 14, 2007 4:24 AM

Hand Evaluation - Transferable Values

PITBULLS:

A D.S.I.P. double is defined in a competitive auction as showing no duplication of value in their suits , defense measured in quick tricks & wanting to compete more. You are asking permission to compete again in part for the simple reason that Bridge is played in a clockwise direction. Partner may not want to compete at all as she has their trump . Not playing D.S.I.P. doubles , you bid “in front of her” much to her dismay. Pseudo sacrifices , bad games & bad competitive decisions are the norm as partner is not part of the decision making process to compete.

Single handed competing if you will. D.S.I.P. theory brings partner into the decision making . A double is the only medium that allows this dual decision. The double informs partner of the intent & lack of duplication of value in their suit & transfers the decision to partner who now is in a position to know better.

What if you have a good hand with duplication of value in their suit but still want to compete ? Making a D.S.I.P. double is silly as partner will never convert for penalty as you have their suit . In addition, you do not want to encourage her to put full weight on a stiff in their suit for her to compete again. You have two options when you have wastage in their suit with a good hand. You can just bid , hope to push them up a bit so luck out if partner has enough defense to make a D.S.I.P. double. The 2^nd option is just pass & take your small profit if partner can not bid again with a double. This is one of the fixes or costs of playing D.S.I.P. theory . You can not make a single handed trump stack penalty double i.e. wastage in their suit. Experience shows this is not a bad thing.

There is one instance where you can make a D.S.I.P. double with values in their suit. This is where you hold “transferable values” in their suit. This is an Eric Kokish term , which means values that are good on defense as well as offense. I think you have to be careful with that one. If you have a 15 HCP hand with the AQJ of their suit , 50 % of your hand is tied up with values in their suit. We all know how well that plays opposite partners stiff. Your HCP’s are supposed to be elsewhere , so partner can use hand evaluation similar to splinter theory. In my opinion , an Ace in their suit is the only transferable value & even that can be wastage opposite a void. KQ , KJ10 , QJ . AQ in their suit is just what partner does not want.

We invented D.S.I.P. theory in part since Bridge is played in a clockwise direction, partner becomes part of the decision to compete & to convert for penalty from either partner to catch modern bidders who are speeding. Duplication of value is a hand evaluation concept, so the D.S.I.P. double arms partner with that information. The D.S.I.P. double is measured in quick tricks which is another hand evaluation concept. A D.S.I.P. double by the primary bidder ( not responder ) is within a ½ quick trick of booking their contract.

Competing without D.S.I.P. double theory becomes singlehanded shooting dice. You just bid & if partner has duplication of value in their suit you are “unlucky” . If you do not bid with partner not having duplication of value in their suit , again you are unlucky as they stole the contract. With the craziness of modern bidders , two heads are better than one to make a competitive decision. You need a bid that informs partner that your side has the balance of power & a defensive hand. You need a bid in competitive auctions that does not rescue “modern bidders” that should be punished. This is where D.S.I.P. theory comes in & why it was invented.