Tuesday, May 09, 2006 10:05 PM
Hand
Evaluation – Partnership ( Bidding Ambiguity )
PITBULLS:
I am mentoring a few people on Monday nights . One bidding fault I have noticed is they do not
try to prevent ambiguity in their bidding. The purpose of bidding as
in any communication is to paint a clear picture of his hand so partner
can come to a mutual decision within the partnership. Inviting partner to
the party is a bidding skill that needs to be acquired. How
will partner interpret your bid ? Here is an example .
♠QJx ♥AJxx ♦AJx
♣K10x , RHO bids 1♠ . The mentee chose the more ambiguous
double rather than the more descriptive 1NT overcall. This got
redoubled so around to the doubler so he bid 2♣ on
his 3 card suit as 1NT now over stated his values. ! Now partner should have a clear picture
of his 4-3-3-3 16 HCP J You have an obligation to partner to describe
your hand, so
do not ignore her. Choose the unambiguous bid going in.
Another
bidding fault I see quite often is mentees over using the negative
double which introduces ambiguity due to the nature of the beast.. The negative double was designed to handle hands
where you do not have a natural bid available. ♠Q10x
♥AQ10xx ♦AJxx ♣x , his partner opened
1♣ with a 1♠ overcall so the mentee doubled . His LHO leaped to 3♠ pre-emptive
so around to him again. He has now
painted himself into a corner by his initial double. 4♥ is now a ridiculous single-handed bid so he doubled
& all pass. This went for +200 but the slip indicated +650 for the field in
hearts. If you bid 2♥ naturally results in your
heart game, no
matter what type of interference they throw at you. The initial negative double
made the auction ambiguous.
A
mentee had this hand ♠void ♥x ♦KQ109xx ♣KJ1098x , with everybody vul his LHO opened 1♠ & I overcalled 1NT. His RHO bid 4♠
so now what ? 4NT for the minors right
? This is an ambiguous bid though so partner might interpret it to
play which is what happened. You need very little for a minor suit slam
with a void in the opponent’s suit so bid 5NT . This can not
be misinterpreted by anybody. Pick a minor at the 6 level. Alternatively
a spade Q bid can show any two suiter with a 1st round control in
that suit. You bid 5♠ , partner bids 6♦ so this makes. Do not pick the most ambiguous
bid possible from a list of alternatives. 4NT is right up their
on the ambiguity scale.
You
hold ♠K109x ♥xxx ♦x ♣KQxxx , partner
opens 1NT however the infamous Mr. Willard overcalls 2♥
alerted as DONT by Sue Schwan. The mentee doubled as
in the Standard Dictator system that just shows cards . Sue Schwan redoubled so around to you again. The redouble was
punitive saying I have hearts with a good hand. What does partners pass mean ? Probably anything as you are
captain of this ship. This auction is ambiguous though as partner may
have a 5-5 club fit with you or a 4-4 spade fit with nothing wasted in hearts.
Discretion is the better part of valour so you pull
to 3♣ & all is well. The mentee passed but 2♥XX
making 3 did not match point well. Do not put all your eggs in one basket when
the auction is ambiguous so nobody really knows what is going on. You
leave partner out of the picture so you are just guessing rather than
bidding. Passing the XX as punitive needs a clear & unambiguous
partnership understanding. Guessing is repugnant to experts so
try to prevent choosing ambiguous bids. .