Saturday, August 21, 2004 2:16 AM
D.S.I.P. Sandwich Position
PITBULLS:
With an understanding that a double of the opponents
bid in the sandwich position is support or
D.S.I.P. ( depending on auction) , it is a good idea to play a
variation of Lebensohl called “the good-bad 2NT “ . It is only defined
for the opponents bidding in the sandwich position and preventing you from
distinguishing between competitive and invitational hands. A penalty double is
still a pass in these auctions and
partner should re-open with a double. I still feel a direct
2NT should be natural though ( non sandwich position ) . This bid was made
popular by Marty Bergen . It brings back the concept
of “free bids” showing a good hand as you would have bid 2NT just to
compete. Like Lebensohl , partner
must relay to 3♣ unless he is too strong to do so . Here is a write up on the
bid from the net :
“This highly
useful concept can best be explained with an example. Say you open the bidding
with one Heart, holding:
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♠ |
xx |
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♥ |
AKxxx |
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♦ |
x |
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♣ |
KJ10xx |
Your
partner responds one No Trump and your right hand opponent bids two Spades.
Despite your mere 11 high card points you'd love to bid three Clubs. After all,
you know the opponents have at least eight Spades (partner denied four when he
bid one No Trump), so you can't leave them on the two level.
The
problem with bidding three Clubs is that you would also have to bid three Clubs
with a 17-count! How does partner know if you're just competing, or if you
really have a good hand? This kind of problem comes up all the time - you'd
love to bid, but you're afraid to mislead partner about the strength of your
hand.
We
solve this problem with Good-Bad 2NT
- a variation of the Lebensohl convention ( actually it is Lebensohl ) . It
enables us to compete to the three level in a very effective manner. Here is
the rule:
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If the
suit is Clubs, the two No Trump bidder can pass the forced three Club bid.
Bidding directly on the three level (without relaying first with two No Trump)
shows extras.
you'd
bid two No Trump, then three Diamonds after partner's forced three Clubs bid.
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West |
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North |
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East |
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South |
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1 ♥ |
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1 ♠ |
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Double |
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2 ♠ |
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? |
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An easy
two No Trump bid - partner won't play you for an 18-count when you pull his
three Clubs relay to three Hearts. If you held:
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♠ |
Kx |
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♥ |
AKJ10xxx |
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♦ |
Kxx |
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♣ |
x |
you
would bid three Hearts directly.
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West |
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North |
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East |
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South |
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1 ♦ |
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1 ♠ |
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Double |
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2 ♠ |
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In
Standard, you'd feel uncomfortable bidding a free three Hearts. But you can't leave
the opponents in their eight-card fit on the two level. Playing Good-Bad 2NT,
you bid 2 No Trump, followed by three Hearts, to let partner know that you have
a minimum.
The
number of auctions in which this two No Trump option is available is staggering. However, we've found that in
some situations it doesn't make sense to play it. Any serious partnership
should take a little time to discuss when it should or should not apply. Some
of the exceptions, discussed in Better
Bidding With Bergen, are the following:
1. When
two No Trump would clearly be Unusual.
2. When either side has opened one No Trump.
3. When the opponents have opened with a big Club.
4. When the opponents make a penalty double.
5. When we have already found a fit.
6. When we are already in a game forcing
auction.
Even if
you choose not to discuss exceptions, you do have to use a little common sense.
Let's say your partner opens one Diamond, they bid one Heart, and you make a
negative double holding:
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♠ |
Axxx |
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♥ |
Ax |
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♦ |
xxx |
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♣ |
AJxx |
They
raise to two Hearts and your partner bids 2 NT Good-Bad. He's probably got a
weak three Clubs bid or a weak three Diamond bid. You certainly can't afford to
bid three Clubs since he will pass if he has Clubs! So, you simply bid three
Hearts and partner will know you have a good hand.
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Look
how easy it becomes to handle situations like the following. You hold:
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You |
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LHO |
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Partner |
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RHO |
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1 ♦ |
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1 ♠ |
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Double |
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2 ♠ |
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3 ♥ |
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Pass |
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You
made a negative double and heard partner bid three Hearts over their raise to
two Spades. You know that partner has a good hand since he didn't bid two No Trump.
So, you can comfortably raise to game. If partner held only:
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♠ |
Kx |
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♥ |
KQxx |
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♦ |
KQxx |
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♣ |
Jxx |
he
would not have bid a direct three
Hearts. He would have started with two No Trump, and you would bid three diamonds
(no reason to bid three Clubs since, if he has Diamonds and Clubs, you would
prefer to play in Diamonds). Now, when he bids three Hearts, you can pass
without worrying that you're missing a game.
Using
Good-Bad 2NT, you will be able to compete quite effectively when the opponents
find their fit on the two level - and that's what the LAW wants you to do! You certainly will not suffer from
the lack of a natural two No Trump bid - it's not a bid you really need.
Telling partner whether you have a good
or a bad three level bid is a
much more useful piece of information to convey. “