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:

• A or KQ = 1 Quick Trick
• King = 1/2 Quick Trick
• AQ = 1 1/2 Quick Tricks
• AK = 2 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:

• Your hand has two or more quick tricks -- Stretch to open any hand with at least 2 1/2 quick tricks. Avoid opening hands with less than 2 quick tricks.

♠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.

• You have good suit quality -- honors and high "spot" cards in your long suits.

♠KQJ103   ♥86   ♦A1042   ♣32 -- Open 1♠.
♠J8643   ♥KQ   ♦A8   ♣Q632 -- Pass.

• You'll have an easy, descriptive rebid -- a 6+-card suit or a two-suited hand.

♠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.

• You have length and strength in the majors -- This gives you an easy rebid and makes it more likely that you'll play in a trump contract instead of 3NT.

♠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♠.

• You're vulnerable. It may be safer to open a vulnerable 1-bid than to overcall later, especially if you have a fairly weak suit.

♠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.

• You have a partscore at rubber bridge. To complete your partscore, it's often important to show your values early in the auction. A light opener is fairly safe in this situation because partner will usually keep the bidding low.

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:

• You have a strong suit -- one you want partner to lead if you defend.

♠KQ1093   ♥43   ♦A75   ♣987 -- Open 1♠.

• You can safely pass any suit partner responds.

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

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- Karen Walker 2000