Sunday, June 25, 2006 8:11 PM

Hand Evaluation – Systemic ( 2/1  Major Fit )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            One of the strengths of natural bidding is the ability to show distribution by “patterning out”. Artificial bidding & Q bids detract from this one fundamental advantage . There is one sequence that comes up time & time again. One of a major followed by a 2/1 & supporting partners major at the two level. Since the sequence comes up so often , why not have some standard 2/1 understandings associated with it ?

 

            The correct game or a good slam is obviously the goal so let’s unleash the power of natural bidding in these auctions. Since the two level bid is unlimited , most of us play courtesy Q bids at this juncture. Instead , lets demand that opener show her distribution at this stage. Let’s decree that all bids are natural by the opening bid now. She must bid her fragment to show a 5-4-3-1 or a 6-4-3-0 or rebid her 2nd suit to show a 5-5 . Opener is not allowed to Q bid initially after the fit is found. She must bid NT to show the 5-4-2-2 distribution with a stopper in the 3rd suit & return to the trump suit otherwise. Q bidding can commence at a higher level.

The 4 level is reserved for Q bids or slam bids so let’s make that agreement with these 2/1 auctions.

 

            Here is an auction that shows the power of natural bidding instead of ambiguous Q bids.

 

 ♠KQJxxx  ♥QJ10x ♦A10x ♣void       

 

1♠-P-2♣-P

 2♥-P-2♠-P 

 3♦      3♦ is not an ambiguous Q bid but opener is “patterning out” . This obviously shows a singleton or void in clubs. This is the default understanding.

 

Responder has ♠Axx ♥AKx ♦Jx ♣Q1098x so now knows that her cards are pulling full weight. She bids 3♥ , opener bids 3♠ & now a 4♥ Q bid so opener bids 4NT & on to 6♠. A 27 HCP slam with 3 HCP’s wasted !

 

            Forcing partner to show her distribution with this one auction may also drive the contract to 3NT instead of 4 of a major. A secondary minor fit might be found so a dual fit slam might be bid. Knowing partners distribution is a powerful advantage. You can either bid naturally or Q bid. You cannot do both. In these auctions only , you can force natural bidding by a partnership understanding.