Friday, August 25, 2006 1:51 AM

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( Exposing Psyches )

PITBULLS:

The nature of Bridge changed in the 1990’s . Quite a few players now believe that Bridge just consists of trying to talk the opponents out of their rightful contract either by making tactical bids , non openers, overcalls or blatant psyches. The partnership aspect of the game goes out the window as Bridge becomes a poker style game of bluffing. If you get partner as part of your deception , she is “collateral damage”. They are trying to emulate the pros especially Meckwell. I detest that style of Bridge so a great many of my articles are dedicated to a way of combating those types of bidders.

Lets cover the one , two & three level and make sure we are on the same wavelength for exposing psyches. The one level , I have special understandings that a bid of their suit in the “sandwich position” is natural . In other words. 1♦-P-1♠-2♠/♦ are both natural by virtue of having many other bids to show the unbid suits. You can double , bid unusual NT or a “sandwich NT” to show the unbid suits. This treatment handles their psyches of responses at the one level.

At the two level , especially with favourable vulnerability , people like psyching after partners weak two. My partner suggests the best way to play against these people is expose the psyche immediately at the two level. A double is reserved to show their bid suit with defense & a good hand. If you bid their “suit” directly you have length in that suit but lack the defense for a double. My partner says reserve 2NT or a Q bid of the weak two suit to show the unbid suits. With a good balanced hand , just await developments with a pass as their bid is a one round force. Now start doubling at the appropriate level. This works for me.

The universal Bridge understanding for handling a psyche of 2NT after a weak 2 & a T/O dbl by partner is , of course , the double. If you do anything other than double , you can not hold a defensive hand with HCP’s. This is the negative inference of Bridge bidding if you do not double , you do not have HCP’s. Here is an excellent auction by a Tormentee against her psyching nemesis Chris Buchannan. They were NV vrs vul ( Terrorist vul ) & LHO opened a weak 2♥ which I doubled. Chris bid 2NT & you hold ♠A ♥KJx ♦Axxx ♣QJ10xx which is a strong defensive hand of 15 HCP with controls. Invoking the 40 HCP in the deck rule , you know partner has an average of 15 HCP , you have 15 HCP yourself & LHO shows 5-10 HCP leaving zero HCP for the psycher. You , of course double to expose the psyche early. Partner passes & Chris bids 3♠. You make a forcing pass & partner doubles. The vulnerability is not to your liking so you use the “pass & pull” aspect of forcing pass theory to make a slam try. You bid 4♣ & partner bids 4♥ to confirm the club suit. You comply with a 4♠ Q bid & partner takes control with KCB & drives the hand to 7♣ which is cold vul. Using the psycher as a stepping stone to get to your optimum spot is very gratifying. The psyche allowed you to use the “pass & pull” of forcing pass theory which drove our side to the grand slam.

At the 3 level , they also psyche over their pre-empts , but we cannot afford the luxury of exposing the psyche immediately. This is because we want to retain 3NT as a natural bid to play ( Hammons rule) & a double as T/O for the unbid suits. To expose a psyche, just pass as their bid is a one round force. When they retreat to the pre-empt suit , now you can double or bid responders suit to expose the psyche.

I have an understanding when the opponents play an artificial short diamond that Michaels no longer exists. I play 1♦-2♦ as natural. Depending on the vulnerability & hand type I may pass & back in later. This “back in “ is always natural when you bid their suit. A forcing club , an established partnership should have a toy to disturb their auction. Suction & Crash are excellent weapons for that purpose. Discuss these things with partner , as these treatments above are just a guidelines.