Monday, May 22, 2006 12:53 AM

Hand Evaluation - Limited vrs Unlimited Hands

 

PITBULLS:

 

            A concept that all Bridge players must be aware is the difference between an unlimited hand & a limited hand. Your bidding system defines this concept. A limited hand means you have had a chance to describe your hand within a narrow range. It does not mean a small hand but rather you have just had a chance to describe it systemically . A simple rebid , a non forcing bid , a preference ,  an invitational jump , a forcing 1NT response , 1NT opener or 2NT rebid are all examples of limited hands. An overcall is a limited hand in that you would have chosen a Q bid or a double if you were too strong. Once you have passed , you have limited your hand.

 

            Now , some examples of unlimited hands.  A 2♣ opener is obviously an unlimited hand. A 2/1 is an unlimited hand & causes unlimited hands in that the opener now becomes an unlimited hand. 4th suit forcing is an unlimited hand as are conventional bids like Jacoby 2NT or NMF forcing. A simple response at the one level is unlimited due to the disparity of the range. Recovering the strong jump shift as responder are unlimited hands . Competitive tools like Q bids , doubles & splinters are all unlimited hands. Strong jump shifts & reverses are technically limited bids but since the range is so great , we consider them unlimited.

 

            OK , why all this pre-amble ? Whether a hand is unlimited or limited,  defines “fast arrival” both with jumps to games or slams. Whether a hand is limited or unlimited defines your Q bidding . Also minor suit KCB is defined whether a hand is limited or unlimited with respect to slam bidding. Whether a hand is limited or unlimited defines your double as competitive or penalty. Limited hands in competition do not have penalty double rights. “Fast arrival” is alive & well opposite a limited hand. You jump to game so that ends the auctions when the other hand is limited. Opposite an unlimited hand , a jump to game or slam is not allowed. If you do this “ fast arrival” game bidding , it describes a specific hand type ( picture bid ) usually with no outside controls or a narrow defined range of HCP’s. Q bidding opposite a limited hand shows extra & asks partner to Q bid only if she likes her hand. With no interest , partner just makes the “death response” of returning to her suit. Standard Q bid thinking.

 

            Opposite unlimited hands , Q bids are done as a “courtesy” just for the simple fact that partner is unlimited so may need that information. With a major fit , 3NT is a Q bid saying I have serious slam interest & not just being a polite partner for my Q bidding. If you take control of the auction opposite an unlimited partner, you can not jump to a small slam when your side has all the controls. You must bring partner into the picture by asking for kings so that partner can bid a grand slam based on undisclosed strength .

 

            Kantar goes as far as defining minor suit KCB bids depending on whether you have limited your hand or not. If you have limited your hand as responder , raising partner to the 4 level in a minor is just a waiting bid or invitational. If you do the same as an unlimited hand ,  it means KCB . If you have limited your hand via bidding some number of NT , you do not have minor suit KCB rights unless you jump. You are just agreeing the suit , so Kickback by partner will be KCB instead. How can a 13 HCP hand who has limited her via a 2NT bid for example , all of a sudden be allowed to take control of the hand via KCB ?

 

Here is an auction from a Spingold. ♠J1098 ♥Kx ♦x ♣AJ10987  opposite ♠AK ♥AJ10xxx ♦Jxx ♣KQ .

 

1♥-P-2♣-P

2♥-P-3♣*-P   * non forcing

4♣-P-4♦        This is a Q bid & not Kickback. A limited hand does not have KCB rights. How can a hand that can not even force to game now be taking control for slam purposes ?   Even though this is now a forcing to game auction , a limited hand can not take control via KCB.   You earn KCB rights thru strength.  4NT by opener is KCB in this auction as she has never limited her hand

 

            A simple response is an unlimited hand. This gives this hand KCB rights. A recent Kiz/Susan auction shows this concept nicely.    Susan opened 1♣ & Kiz responded 1♠ with ♠AKQJx ♥AJx ♦xxxx ♣x . Susan bid 3NT which shows a very good club suit with a decent hand. 4NT by Kiz would be quantitative but since she is unlimited , she can bid 4♣ KCB. Susan shows 4 Key cards so 7NT is an odds on undertaking. With the spade suit as a source of tricks , 7NT is a better contract than 7♣ in case the clubs do not break. If a hand is unlimited & 4NT would be quantitative , 4♣ is always KCB by the unlimited hand. 

 

            Jumping to game or slam opposite an unlimited hand is just bad bidding. You are pre-empting partner out of valuable bidding space. By not Q bidding with minimums opposite an unlimited hand , you are depriving partner from valuable information that might be the key to an excellent slam or the correct game. Be aware whether partner or yourself are bidding with limited or unlimited hands ,  as your bidding should change accordingly.

 

   Competitive doubles are just too unwieldy if they are too all encompassing. D.S.I.P. doubles were designed for when we are competing for an auction. Forcing pass theory is designed for when we are able to tell  from the bidding that we own the auction. What are about unlimited hands that we can not tell that from the bidding that we do or do not own the auction ? After experimenting with these hand types , we now feel that unlimited hands should default  to a penalty double. The concept of limited or unlimited hands should also define your penalty vrs competitive doubles. Limited hands in competition do not have penalty double rights.