Tuesday,
January 31, 2006 5:26 AM
Hand
Evaluation - Hearts & Diamonds ( ELC )
PITBULLS:
We have written
articles that the lowly club suit
does not
have rights that other suits have.
If you have bought into the “equal level
conversion” philosophy , you know that clubs are not needed for a T/O double.
Being the lowest ranking suit in the deck , you
convert clubs to another suit at the same
level so you show the other two
suits. Lets discuss hearts & diamonds
specifically.
They
open 1♠ , you have ♠xx ♥AKJx ♦AJxxxx x so do you overcall 2♦ ? If you do &
they bid a number of spades , you have for all intents
& purposes lost the heart
suit. Partner holds ♠xxx
♥Qxxxx ♦x ♣Axxx
so is she
supposed to respond to a 2♦ overcall
? She passes , so +620 in hearts goes out the window. What about ♠xx ♥AKxx ♦AKxxx ♣xx , a spade opener ? Do
you overcall 2♦ & miss your heart fit ?
Both these hands , playing equal level conversion ,
you can get away with a T/O double.
They
open a weak 2♠ , you have ♠xxx ♥AQ109 ♦AKJxx ♣x again equal level conversion applies at the 3
level also. You have good enough cards to double & pull partners 3♣
bid to 3♦ at the same level. Also since you have good defense , a double describes your hand bettor. If
partner converts the double for penalty, you will be happy or if partner bids 3NT that is fine also.
An overcall normally describes a single suited hand. You overcall 2♠ with 3♦ so the last thing partner expects is a heart suit .
What
if the red suits were reversed in length ? ♠xxx ♥AKJxx ♦AQ109 ♣x , they open a weak 2♠ . What are the pro’s & cons of a double rather than overcalling hearts ? I think playing equal level conversion
, you can get away with a double also.
You are not going to lose the
heart suit as your double of spades pretty well shows hearts. Partner bids 3♣
& you can convert to 3♥ which at the same
level shows the 5th heart
since you bypassed diamonds but again should not
show a rock playing the ELC style. I think this sequence should just show a
heart overcall with diamonds as a side suit.
I held this hand with Dora tonight & got a bad result. I chose to overcall
3♥ & Dora held ♠xx ♥Q ♦Jxxxxx ♣Kxxx . She passed , with a 5-1 heart break I went one down in 3♥. Meanwhile our 6-4 diamond fit makes many diamonds L
. Change her hand to ♠x ♥Q ♦Jxxxxx ♣Axxxx , we may be on for 6♦ so the heart
overcall showing one suit has just destroyed the auction.
With
equal level conversion , you do not have to convert to
the cheapest suit. If you convert
to the higher ranking suit, you are showing extra
length. ♠A109xx ♥AKJx ♦xxx ♣x & they open 1♦ . Playing equal level
conversion has the advantage of preventing a 1♠ overcall with this
hand. You double & partner holds ♠x
♥Qxxxx ♦xx ♣Axxxx so you get to your
+650 in hearts instead of going one down in one spade !!
What if partner bids 2♣. I think you can get
away with a 2♠ bid. It is an equal
level conversion but you are showing the 5th card. Partner has ♠Kxx ♥xx ♦xxx ♣Jxxxx so you have landed on
your feet. In the worst case scenario you are in two spades going down &
the overcallers are in 1♠ going down. Equal level conversion should be thought of as
just a scramble to the best spot
not showing extra values.
You
play Michael’s Q bids as either weak or very strong. A Tormentee
held this hand ♠x ♥KJxxx ♦AQJ10x ♣Ax & they opened 1♠
too her right. This hand has quick tricks & with the intermediate range does
not qualify for a Michael’s bid. You play equal level conversion
, so you start with a double. Partner bids 2♣ so you bypass 2♦ & bid 3♦ to show a stronger hand
in the reds as you forced partner to the 3 level . Partner has ♠xxxx ♥AQ10 ♦xx ♣Kxxx & you may get to
your 50 % +1430 heart slam !.
Equal
level conversion is a scramble
to combat “Bridge is a bidders game” & get in their showing both suits
rather than overcalling indicating one suit. With the frequency of weak two’s increasing
, you need more & more off shape doubles in the direct &
balancing spot. This is to catch them speeding or scramble to your
best spot. Equal level
conversion. Do not leave
home without it !!