Friday,
December 06, 2002 1:06 AM
Hand
Evaluation – Tactics ( Bidding Safety Plays )
PITBULLS:
Everybody that has
played Bridge knows what a safety play is and why you make them in IMPS . The idea of a safety play is a preventative measure guarding against bad things
happening to you . This is normally a bad suit break or entry consideration or equivalent . What is not so clear is that there are “safety
plays” in bidding also . Usually with safety plays you
ask yourself “what could go wrong ? “ & try to
prevent it from happening . Safety plays in bidding are the same thing .
For example ,
you hold ♠xx ♥Qxx ♦QJ10xx ♣xxx which by all accounts
is a miserable hand . Partner opens 1♥ , RHO doubles – do you
bid 2♥ and why ? This is the classic
bidding safety play .
A simple raise of a major can be surprisingly pre-emptive .
What could go wrong if you passed ? The opponents could 1) leap to 2NT or 3NT
& partner does not lead a heart . 2) By bidding 2♥ you could hinder
their jump to 2♠ so they might make an ambiguous 2♠ bid &d fail
to reach their game . 3) By bidding 2♥ you jam them out of
their 1NT bid 4)
It could be your hand so passing gives them a lead director with 2♣ or 2♦ – that they might
not be able to bid over 2♥ . Partner now goes
down in 4♥ vul because they found
the best lead 5) Your pass might
discourage partner from competing with an intermediate hand so you lose a
double partial swing 6) It could be your hand for a vul
4♥ game , you do not
get there . 7) you jam them out of their natural 2NT
bid ( it might be Lebensohl ) .
Change
the hand to ♠Qxx ♥xxx ♦QJ10xx ♣xx , bidding 2♥ is now silly . You
get partner off to a bad lead . You encourage partner
to compete which you do not want to do .The honour in
hearts makes all the difference because of lead considerations
. Partner is allowed to make inferences on what you did not do . Bidding
is the best way to get the suit lead . The most common
bidding safety play is helping partner with her
opening lead .
No not let opportunities slip by !!
O.K.
you have ♠Axx ♥QJ109xx ♦xx ♣xx , LHO opens 1NT &
RHO bids 2♥ as a transfer . Do you double ? Yes , a lead directing double is another bidding safety play . If they get
to 3NT you want partner to lead her K x or Ax of hearts .
In a
suit contract ,
the double does not
demand a heart lead . If partner has a better natural lead she should make it instead . Doubling is usually for lead directing in NT contracts . Double Q bids ,
artificial bids , Blackwood responses anything that can help partner out with
her lead. She will also take the negative
inference that you did not double for a lead when you had the
opportunity.
Lead
directing doubles are a bidding safety play against very aggressive bidders. Most experts believe in
lead directing doubles for both NT contracts and suit contracts. Lead directing
doubles just follow one
simple rule. The double negates
the obvious lead .
This begs the question “what is the obvious lead” .
When partner opens
or overcalls the obvious lead is her suit. There is one exception to this rule , that’s in a NT
contract & you have not bid.
The double re-enforces lead my suit.
If partner has bid in the auction , the double demands partner’s suit be led instead .
Bidding
safety plays are also disturbing their
auctions. By not giving
the opponents a “free ride” , they might miss their
optimum spot. Pre-emption , overcalling or otherwise
getting into the auction as quickly as possible
takes away their bidding room. Take advantage of the fact that partner is a
passed hand or that you are on the terrorist
vulnerability. Playing the vulnerability
or otherwise making tactical bids are bidding safety
plays.
The principle of concealment
is a bidding safety play. Hide your distribution from your opponents
, if your side has only game
in mind. Do not assist them in making the best opening leads by making a splinter with a weak hand.
Go directly to game & do not pass go. Let them lead
blind.
Taking out insurance is a bidding safety play. When you are not too sure who owns the auction , it makes more sense to bid one more. They could make the wrong decision. It is like playing against the house in Blackjack. Let them make the decision to break or not.
Forcing pass & D.S.I.P. competitve double theory are bidding
safety plays. Two heads are better than one.
Allowing partners input into the final decision is much better than single
handed action. Penalty doubles
are playing with fire , so having partners input is
highly desirable.
Having
quick tricks
for your opening bids are bidding safety plays. Do not open just “to make the
opponents guess”. Partner can rely on
your openers for these values so these controls assist with her bidding
decisions. 3rd seat openers in a minor should be lead directing or
else you are so strong they will probably not be on lead. Open 4 card majors in
3rd seat for leads rather than a bad minor.
Bridge
is a game of suits
in an important bidding safety play. Bid your own hand with a good suit rather
than hoping partner can fill in your suit for you. If you bid a poor suit , it is automatically 2 to 1 against you as there
are 3 players left at the table to hold the rest of your suit & only
one is your partner.
Showing
defensive hands by doubling or
bidding NT & showing offensive hands
by bidding or Q bidding is an important bidding safety play. Painting a clear
picture of your hand type will prevent
a bidding disaster from occurring. Bidding safety plays are designed to prevent
partner from going wrong. Bidding discipline
& accuracy are the best bidding “safety plays” invented.