Wednesday, March-25-09

Hand Evaluation – Partnership ( Hand Types )

PITBULLS:

       Bridge is a partnership game . The idea behind the bidding part of the game is to describe your hand so that a joint decision can be made on determining the final contract. When you do not describe your hand to partner ( hiding your hand ) , you take partner out of the decision making process. You must single handedly make the decision for the partnership as you are the only one who knows the true nature of your hand.

Here is a well bid hand by a Tormentee taking into consideration all the articles discussing the importance of describing defensive hand vrs offensive hand types. These articles stressed quick tricks & the importance of describing these assets with a double to "invite partner to the party". The skill of identifying offensive hands vrs defensive hands is essential in the game of Bridge. Tormentees have said “I bid when I should be passing & pass when I should be bidding”. Knowing want to do in misfit auctions is a byproduct of this hand evaluation skill. Defensive hands just do not play very well while distributional hands do. Identifying offensive vrs defensive hands allow you to use the correct tools to describe them . A double vrs toys /overcalls.

♠A ♥109x ♦AKQxx ♣A109x you are vul & the nv LHO opens 1♥ & RHO bids 1♠. You have a number of bids that describes the minors in the "sandwich" position. With a defensive hand , you of course double. With a weak offensive hand , you bid 1NT to show a 5-4 or similar weak hand with the unbid suits. With an offensive more distributional hand , you up the bidding a level & bid 2NT. The Tormentee doubles 1♠ , opener passes & her partner bids 2♣ after which I bid 2♠.

        Decision time for the Tormentee , to best describe her hand the 2nd time. She could compete to 3♣ or 3♦ but that bid would misrepresent her hand as that bidding shows an offensive hand type. She has 4 quick tricks on defense & an excellent playing hand with a source of tricks. Partner could be bidding a 3 card club suit & be stacked in the majors. To cover for that possibility & to describe your fine defensive hand , you double 2♠. Partner with ♠xxx ♥Kxxx ♦Jxx ♣QJxx has heard enough & leaps to 5♣. With the ♣K onside she makes 6 for +620. With the ♣K offside she makes +600 but as it turns out the opponents can make +140 in spades !

Lets back up & make the beginner bid of hiding the strength of your hand & hand type from partner. This is nicely done by bidding an offensive toy of the unusual 2NT. This is of course is the wrong bid as you do not have the 5-5 shape nor do you lack defense for the pre-emptive or very strong element all toys require. Partner now bids 3♣ & I bid 3♠ . Since you have all this defense , it is probably best to double now but as you "hid your hand " from partner you choose to play partner for nothing & believe the opponents. You pass & naturally partner passes as she is scared to compete to 4♣ as that might push the opponents to game which is a clear make on this bidding.

The opponents make 3♠ & you miss a 50% vul slam your way. Describing your quick tricks & defensive hand with a double makes all the difference in the world. A double invites partner to the party also. Quite the concept this idea of a partnership :)