Tuesday, January 11, 2005 2:40 AM
Hand Evaluation – Over Their NT
( Toys )
PITBULLS:
Everyone
has their toy over strong or weak
NT’s . The toy that my partners & I play is very simple. We have not bought into the
“modern” notion of non penalty doubles over
their NT. A double is penalty & shows at least their HCP range with a
reasonable opening lead. The double also covers one suited hands too strong to bid
directly. The 2♦ overcall shows the majors ,
2♣ overcall shows the minors. This is the same in the balancing spot also.
If
partner can not stand the penalty double, we have an
automatic run out ( scramble ) to 2♣
unless we have a long suit of our own in which to escape. A pass should show a
half dozen HCP’s or more so partner is not perpetually end played. A major suit
overcall is single suited hand with HCP’s up to a double value. If we are
maximum with our major overcall , we usually back in
with a D.S.I.P.
double to show our values & ask permission to bid again.
If we
overcall at the 3 level in a minor , it’s a one suited hand in that minor and not strong enough to double initially. A
jump to the 3 level in a major
shows a very long suit needing a
trick or two from partner to make game. It is not
pre-emptive as an overcall at the two level does not promise the worlds
fair and can be surprisingly pre-emptive.
How
do we handle two suiters especially over weak NT’s ? We play Roman jumps over weak twos. A Roman jump
is a two
suiter shown by a leap to
the 4 level in your minor indicating a long major also. A jump to the 4 level over a
NT to show a single suited minor hand is redundant to our leap to the 3 level in a minor. So why not play it as
a Roman jump ? Partner bids 4♥ to ask for the major so the deed is done.
How
about any minor – major two suiter combination but you do not
want to jump to the four level for safety reasons ?
An overcall
of 2NT shows any two suiter
that is a major - minor combination.
Our 2♣ & 2♦ covers two suiters in the minors
& majors so disturb their NT with a 2NT bid with the mixed
combination. You have ♠KQ10xx ♥xx ♦KQJxx ♣x they open 1NT , you
should overcall 2NT at favourable vulnerability. Partner bids 3♣ if he is
interested in playing in your minor , 3♥ if he is interested
in your major. It’s a pass or
correct scenario made famous by the multi 2♦. If he wants to
force to game he bids 3NT with the same pass or correct sequence is used by
partner bidding his minor.
You
hold ♠AJ109x
♥x ♦AKQxxx ♣x , a weak NT to your
right. You bid 4♦ so partner bids 4♥ . You correct to 4♠ and you have
described your hand and playing strength in one fell swoop. Strong two suiters
are very difficult to describe over
weak NTs ( rare against strong NT’s ) but could
happen. A jump to the 4 level does the job quite well when you have the other two suiters
covered by your 2♣ & 2♦ bid.
What
is a double of a strong NT in the balancing position ?
Playing it as a flat 10 HCP is a match point gamble. If you have a
strong balanced hand , it is best to pass as partner
has nothing anyway. Tom Gandolfo suggests using the double as a single suited minor balance. You do not have to jump to the 3
level and with the appropriate club/diamond holding partner may convert for
penalty. What is a direct double if the doubler is a passed hand ? It can not be
penalty so use that as a natural 2♣ or 2♦ overcall
! Again avoiding the 3 level to show your minor overcall makes good Bridge sense.
The
auction one of a minor with 1NT by the opponents needs a toy to get in the auction either in the sandwich or
balancing position. Preserving the double as
penalty is sound Bridge. Tom Gandolfo suggest following the same logic as we
play over a NT directly . Bid 2♦ regardless of the
minor opened for the majors , bid 2♣
regardless of the minor opening for the minors. Direct doubles are
penalty with all balancing doubles of their NT .
Every
established partnership needs a toy vrs their NT
opener or a 1NT
response to a minor. Discuss with partner.