Thursday, November 17, 2005 9:59 AM
D.S.I.P. – Single Handed Bidding
PITBULLS:
My
bidding philosophy is “shape before strength’
whenever possible. I bid my shape and later on in the auction I bid my strength
with a D.S.I.P. double. This action allows partner who has heard the bidding
& is in a better position to make the decision , to place the final contract. It prevents
two horrible Bridge faults . Bidding your
hand again and pseudo sacrifices.
The following two hands demonstrates the power
of the D.S.I.P. double.
IMPS nobody vul and in 3rd
seat you open 1♦ with x x AQ10xxx
AQ10xx and LHO overcalls 1♠ . Partner bids 2♥ and the opponent bids a pre-emptive 3♠ . You bid 4♣ and they bid 4♠ and around to you again. Playing with Tom & BJ
this a simple decision. I have described my
shape and I have 1 ½ + 1 ½ = 3 defensive tricks so I double saying I
would like to bid again. Partner has bid my
stiff at the two level so she is in a way better position to place
the final contract. The double being the most flexible bid in Bridge transfers
the decision ( blame) to partner. This is a Bridge World problem & 15 of
the so called expert panel bid 5♣. This is a silly single handed bid which is
in effect bidding the same distribution and values that you have shown the
table. 4♠X could go
for a terrible number as can 5 of a minor. Partner could hold 6♥ & 4♠ !! Why guess ?
Another hand which shows the single handed pseudo
sacrifice. IMPS you NV and they are vul. Partner opens 1♦ and the vul opponents double. You bid 2♣ with x xx QJx A10987xx and they bid 2♠ & 4♠ respectively so around to you again. Again an easy
bid for me playing with BJ & Tom . I have a maximum for my nonforcing 2♣ bid so I double saying I want
to bid again. Turns out partner has a penalty double of 4♠ but thought I might have virtually nothing for nv 2♣
bid. She happily passes and we pick up +500. The expert Bridge World panel bid
4NT saying pick a sacrifice ! Again a horrible single handed pseudo sacrifice.
The wrong side of the table making the decision. Trusting the opponents all the
time to make your decisions is not a winning proposition.
I am convinced that the penalty double is the most
single – handed Bridge bid ever devised.
Catering to that bid also causes single handed actions. Take this example from
the Bridge World. IMPS and you are vul and they are not. x xx AJxxxx AJ10x . They open 1♠ and partner vul overcalls 2♥ and they bid 4♠. Playing with my partners I make a D.S.I.P. double
as I can not have a trump stack on this auction. The Bridge World panel bid 4NT
for the minors ! This is silly as 5♥ or 4♠X
may be the best spot. Preserving the double to be absolutely penalty makes them
do silly single handed actions. It is worth it ?
D.S.I.P. doubles do not leave home without them !!