Thursday, May 05, 2005 6:45 PM

Hand Evaluation - Opening Bids ( partnership )

PITBULLS:

            Playing with one of my Thurs nite partners of old, I pickup ♠AQ109 ♥xx ♦xxx ♣KQx and partner opens 1♥ , RHO bids 2♥ ( Michaels ) vul  so I double saying “let me at them” partner.  They bid 2♠ so around to me so I double which ends the auction. Partner dutifully leads his trump so with the help of ruffing finesses in hearts for declarer we come to 1 heart trick , 4 trump tricks for –670 so an obvious disaster. At the end of the hand , partner questions my double & said “something is wrong with this auction” . I scratch my head as I have played Bridge for 40 years & when I have held hands like this +800 seemed to be the average in these types of auctions.

            What went wrong ? A difference in philosophy for opening bids was the main culprit. Partner had 11 HCP with only one quick trick for his opening bid. I was expecting him to contribute to the defense of this hand as he opened the bidding which shows defense measured in quick tricks. Partner says no not true , partner must have the contract beat pretty well beat in my own hand as his opening bids do not promise quick tricks in the “modern” game . He went on to say that modern Bridge is a bidder’s game & defensive tricks are no longer a requirement for opening bids.

        Let’s examine the repercussions of what he is saying. In my mind ,  this style destroys the partnership aspect of the game of Bridge. You must make Bridge decisions almost entirely on your own hand playing this way. When you have the controls for a game you bid it. If you have the controls for a slam you bid it. If you have them set in your own hand you double. This is preposterous. Bridge is a partnership game. If the combined assets of the partnership dictate it , the opponents get doubled or you bid a game or a slam or compete again. Defense measured in quick tricks have been a requirement for an opening bid since the game was invented.

            What if partner did hold 2 ½ or 3 defensive tricks for his opening bid ? By not doubling 2♠ , I have just thrown away a +800 gift. The opponents can bid with impunity around us. I have a rubber bridge background where I have had years of experience dealing with psyches . If partner has psyched , he pulls the double. Partner did not hesitate on this auction to even consider pulling the double with his one defensive trick. He had his 11 HCP with one defensive trick so he has an opening bid in accordance with his methods. In his methods , he cannot pull the double as I might have 2♠X beat in my own hand & as he was not asked to contribute to the defense he passes. He of course , never pulls penalty doubles no matter what his hand I guess.

        Opening bids are the cornerstone of bidding. All further bidding evolves from that initial decision . If you open the Bidding without the required defensive tricks , you are making the dreaded “semi-psyche” . After a while partner will become “gun shy” & not trust the openers for penalty doubles , competitive decisions , slam & game bidding. It is another variable thrown into the equation of bidding. Does partner have an opening bid this time ??  You have invited ambiguity into your auctions.

            I was playing with Peter Jones and in 3rd seat he psyched 1NT vul against not. We went for –1100 & lost 13 IMPS. Tom Gandolfo our team mate joked that we should play 2♣ as “Drury” asking did you psyche partner and opener responds in steps depending on the severity of the set we are going for. Openers with no or little defensive quick tricks are the same thing. You need a check back system to determine if you have an opener or not. Too tough for me. Make them guess is the war cry of modern bidders but when "them" includes partner , count me out.