Friday, May 04, 2007 8:54 AM

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( Game Bidding )

PITBULLS:

The game of IMPS is quite drastically different from the matchpoint game. Nowhere is the difference so obvious as in the area of game bidding. IMPS players bid games based on probabilities & expected gains while match point players just try to be accurate as possible. In IMPS , you get rewarded 10 IMPS for bidding the +620 against +170 (450) and lose 5 IMPS for –100 as opposed to +140. In the long run you will be ahead if you just make these games 40% of the time. Not so in matchpoints though as you have no IMP scale to deal with. Bidding close games is quite often a zero when you go down.

You hold ♠AQx ♥xxx ♦AQ10xx ♣Jx , open 1♦ . Partner bids 1♠ so you show your balanced hand by bidding 1NT. Partner bids 2♣ which in your system shows all invitational hands than bids 2♠ to show a game invite with 5 spades. In IMPS , this hand is easy . In support of spades you can not have more of a maximum . You have 1 ½ + 1 ½ = 3 quick tricks , 13 HCP & a doubleton for 14 HCP’s & a source of tricks with the 5 card diamond suit. You have very strong trump support with the AQx of spades. Partner has invited in IMPS so you accept by bidding 4 spades.

In matchpoints , you must be extra careful and even though you are maximum , you could invite over partners invitation. You could bid 3♦ to show where you live and partner could judge her hand again. This “re-invite” is against the odds though even in matchpoints as partner is less likely to have invited with only 10 HCP’s and a stiff in your suit. It turns out partner did have a stiff in your suit bit an excellent 10 HCP all in controls with extra club spots. ♠Kxxxx ♥Axx ♦x ♣K109x . Any good player would invite with this hand despite the stiff in partners suit. How good a game is this ? Without a heart lead, you have the luxury of a diamond finesse with the club finesse to fall back on. With the club queen on side & a non heart lead you have a chance for +650. You must be in these games in IMPS so you bid it. In matchpoints +140 will earn you a near top if they lead a heart with the club queen offside or nothing good happens in the diamond suit.

Do not confuse the two games when it comes to game invitations. Not bidding game with these two hands is long term IMPS suicide.