Thursday, May
05, 2005 6:27 AM
Opening Bids ( criteria )
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.
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.
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