Tuesday, July 03, 2007 5:20 PM
 
Hand Evaluation – Partnership ( Interpretation )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Bridge bidding like any other language , must be interpreted by another human. When you have had a chance to describe your hand the first time & did not do it , you can not make up for lost time later. Attempting to do so is called the “St Albert” method. Bridge is a partnership game so partner interprets bids in the context of what partner could have done originally.


            Playing in a team game you pick up ♠KJT9xx ♥Ax ♦Axx ♣xx.  Partner opens in second seat 1♣.  The opponent overcalls 1♠ !  So, you pass.  It continues pass,  partner reopens with a double &  RHO now bids 2♥.  In negative double theory , a double of their 2nd suit announces a trap in the 1st suit. It is not a trump stack penalty double in that suit unless partner converts. The double just announces that you have originally trapped. Say instead of doubling , you bid 2♠. This cannot be a spade trap hand , as you did not double. It cannot be club support or else you would have taken initial action. The answer must be that you must have ♠QJ10987x & your hand is useless for any other contract. By the way , 2♥X goes down 4 minimum.

 

            The auction goes 1NT & a 2♦ overcall showing hearts or the black suits. They convert to 2♥ so around to you. A Tormentee bids 2NT so what does that bid mean ? To interpret bids , partner reasons on what action you did not take originally . You did not double originally to show values nor did you bid Lebensohl  to show a single suiter. The answer therefore must be that the 2NT is a weak two suiter in the minors ? The Tormentee had a good 9 HCP & meant the bid to be constructive towards a 3NT game. This is impossible for partner to interpret correctly in light of what you did not do the first place. You cannot make up for lost time by expecting partner to be clairvoyant.

 

            You have ♠xxx ♥KJx ♦KQJxx ♣Kx  , you open 1♦ which gets passed around to the balancing seat. They double , you pass & LHO bids 1NT with partner backing in 2♥ . RHO now leaps to 3NT so now what ? Your kings are well located behind the strong hand. This is good positional lead direct double as the big hand is well located for you. Your double negates the obvious lead  so the double will call for a  heart lead. It is imperative to get a red suit lead before the club King is knocked out so you double. If you do not double , partner is going to assume you do not want a red suit lead . Partner might try a spade lead on this auction as they have avoided the other major as a contract. When you do not make a lead directing double when you had a chance , you cannot make up for lost time.  I held a 7 card heart suit so 3NTX goes for +500 as opposed to –460 with a spade lead after you did not double. The lead directing double was invented for a purpose. In IMPS , it’ s one of the best gambles invented in Bridge.