Wednesday, May 23, 2007 11:45 PM
Hand Evaluation - Fast Arrival ( Games )
PITBULLS:
“Fast
arrival” is not just a 2/1 concept. Back in the early days of Bridge , these jumps to game were called “shut
out bids” & partner was pretty well expected to pass with anything. Modern
bidders know that “fast arrival” pre-empts partner so “bidding what you
think you can make” is chosen carefully. These bids should have some
flaw that prevents reasonable slam exploration. Horrible
duplication of value in their suit , a lack of fit in partners suit , minimum
hand or a lack of controls are normally
the reason for fast arrival.
Fast
arrival is also bidding game without Q bidding along the way. If you
bypass a Q bid at the 4 level there must be a reason & that is you are not
interested in a slam try. A Tormentee
held this hand tonight ♠xxx ♥xx ♦AKQJ10x ♣Ax , partner opened 1♥.
She bid 2♦ & partner replied with 2♥. The auction continued with 2NT followed by 3♥ so now what ? You decide
that 4♥ is the spot due to your source of tricks , so it
does not hurt to Q bid 4♣ along the way. Partner now takes
control so you get to +1430 in hearts.
The
fast arrival inference is everywhere. You open 1♣ with ♠x ♥KQ109x ♦x ♣AKJ10xx vul
vrs not . LHO bids 4♦
& partner leaps to 6NT. This is a fast arrival bid so partner
is not interested in intelligently trying for a grand slam. The flaw in her
hand is probably soft values in diamonds eith KQx or KJx or the like. If she
had all controls , say a hand like ♠AJ10xx ♥AJx ♦AQ ♣Qxx she would take it slower
as a grand slam is possible. Normally when you have two suits as
a source of tricks for NT it is a good thing. Bidding 7NT on that basis
is fine but the “fast arrival” by partner should deter you from
bidding 7.
Here
is hand where “fast arrival” cost your side 17 IMPS. Partner
opens 1♦ vul vrs not, your hand is ♠AQxxx ♥QJ ♦Ax ♣AJxx .
You respond 1♠ , partner bids 2♦. You make a 4th suit forcing bid of 3♣ with partner
bidding 3NT. Now what ? You now make a “fast arrival”
bid of 6♦ which shuts out exploration for an alternate
contract of 6NT & in rare cases a grand slam. 6♦ goes one down ( very
unlucky ) but 6NT has 12 top tricks. A two suited fit
normally means 6NT is the superior contract. Partner had ♠KJ of spades to fill
in your suit but was never given the chance to describe it. Pulling 3NT to
4♦ is a slam try so allows partner a chance to
bid 4♠. Now with two suits in the mix , it is best to bid 6NT as insurance
in case one suit does not come in. Have a reason for fast arrival
as you take partner right out of the picture. Partners hand is ♠KJ
♥Kxx ♦KQJ10xx ♣10x so 6NT is
claimed with any lead. Change partners heart to the Ace & 7NT is cold on
any lead.
When
partner responds a major & you leap to game in her major , fast
arrival dictates that the bid should be based on distribution even in
competition or maybe especially so. I think a jump raise to the 3 level should
be stronger in HCP’s than a jump to game as we leave room for the
serious 3NT or Q bidding. My partner had such a hand tonight. He opened 1♥ on ♠KQxx ♥QJ1098x ♦x ♣Ax , partner
responded 1♠ . His RHO bid 2♦ so is this a 4♠ bid
or a 3♠ bid ? Partner judged that the stiff diamond
was the deciding factor to show the stronger of the two bids. If
he had a doubleton diamond , he probably would have
bid 4♠.