Thursday, May 05, 2005 6:27 AM

Opening Bids ( criteria )

PITBULLS:

            Here is an article from the net by Karen Walker on opening bids . To say we agree with her is a huge understatement. The requirement for defense measured in quick tricks never went a way for an opening bid. Modern garbage openers are just random acts of terrorism forcing partner to field them. “Modern openers” adds ambiguity which is not needed in any language. Modern bidders confuse destructive tactics with systemic opening bids. There is more hand evaluation required for an opening bid than just totaling HCP’s.

 

Opening Bids

 

Quick Tricks:

 

The requirement for quick tricks for an opening bid have been around since the Culbertson times. The reason for quick tricks should be obvious to any Bridge player. Partners make penalty doubles , make competitive decisions , game and slam decisions based on partner’s opening bid. If the opening bids do not have quick defensive tricks , doubled contracts will make , games & slams will fail and competitive decisions will result in you taking a penalty. Controls are a needed ingredient for slams and games . Failing to have those cards will throw partner off in judging Bridge hands so bad decisions will result.

Quick tricks are based on probabilities. If there is a 50 % chance that a card like a King or an AQ combination will take a trick than it’s a ½ trick . Bridge was played for 25 years ( Culbertson )  where this was the only requirement for an opening bid. In the 1940’s , HCP’s were added as a requirement along with the basic quick trick criteria.

Evaluating your opening bid

Open  ALL hands with 14 or more high-card points. Open a hand with 11 or 12 , 13 pts. (or even 10 pts.) if our hand and the conditions meet at least two or three of the following requirements:

A1043   1096   AK92   43 -- Open 1. This is "only" 11 pts., but it has three prime quick tricks.
Q106   AQ1073   KJ76   4 -- Open 1. Just two quick tricks, but good playing strength.
QJ6   K72   Q43   A753 -- Pass. This is a "soft" hand with only 1 1/2 quick tricks.

KQJ103   86   A1042   32 -- Open 1.
J8643   KQ   A8   Q632 -- Pass.

103   KQJ85   65   AJ93 -- Open 1. You plan to rebid 2♣ if partner doesn't raise hearts.
1032   3   KQJ1065   AJ9 -- Open 1. You plan to rebid 2 over any response from partner.

K1072   AJ93   4   K954 -- Open 1♣. If partner responds 1, you can bid 1. If he instead bids 1 or 1, you'll raise to 2.
4   K43   AJ93   K9543 -- Pass. You'll have an awkward rebid if partner responds 1.

7   K98754   A102   KJ3 -- Open 1. You'd hate to have to overcall 2 if your opponent opens 1.
void   KJ10543   A102   J843 -- Pass. This hand is too weak for a 1-bid and too strong for a 3-bid. You can describe it better by overcalling later. Do not like a weak two either with the void and a 6-4.

A RULE TO REMEMBER:


If you decide your hand is worth an opening bid, stay with the courage of your conviction. Don't "lie" later just to make up for your thin high-card points. Treat your hand as a "real" opener, especially if you find a trump fit.

If you're in third seat (partner has passed):

Be more anxious to open light. You should stretch to open even a 10-11 pt or less hand if:

KQ1093   43   A75   987 -- Open 1.

K93   1087   J98   AK32 -- Open 1♣ and pass partner's response.


- Karen Walker  2000