Sunday, December 07, 2003

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( Prevent Defense )

PITBULLS:

The term "prevent defense" is taken from the world of sports . Football , Basketball & Hockey are the most common sports that use the concept . It is a style of play that you think defensively to prevent a disaster like a late touchdown or goal from occurring . It is like a safety play in Bridge by a declarer where you think of how to prevent something bad from happening . It is bidding like a terrorist but with a purpose in mind. Partner must be on board though.

In Bridge , a good partnership also has a "prevent defense" in bidding . The four most common disasters in Bridge is (1) opponents making a game or slam that could have been beaten by the correct open lead (2) opponents having a "free ride" to their contract without you making life difficult for them by taking bidding room away from them (3) not reaching a nice sacrifice & allowing the vul game/slam to be played instead (4) the double partial/game/slam swings .

Good partnerships realize when they are in a "prevent defense" auction so give each other leeway which they would not otherwise get . The partnership will not punish each other by leaping to game or doubling the opponents when the situation demands that partner might be bidding "defensively" . Normally these auctions would occur when the opponents have stated that they own the auction . Examples would be a 2 Club opener , a Q bid showing a limit raise or better , a 2/1 , an inverted minor , a Jacoby 2NT etc . Playing the vulnerability & partner being a passed hand are more ingredients for “prevent defense “. I will give a number of recent examples where a "prevent defense" would be applicable .

First example was a Pitbull playing with Maurice . The auction went 1♥ P 2NT ( Jacoby) by vulnerable opponents , you are not vulnerable & hold ♠AKxx ♥x ♦QJ109xx ♣xx . I would bid 3♦ or double or do something to interfere with their auction . As it turned out Susan/Pat had a good "serious 3NT" auction to know they were off the AK spades & stopped in 5 hearts . The opponents at Ms Fung’s table bid badly so reached 6♥ vulnerable & made it because she did find the spade lead . A disaster could have been prevented by bidding diamonds & doubling 6♥ for a non diamond lead . As the opponents had bid clubs in the auction , the spade would have been automatic . If Maurice had decided to "bid defensively" by doubling 2NT , a spade lead would also have been automatic . Partner should realize that when the opponents own the auction , tread lightly when partner doubles .

Another auction of a "prevent defense" was Mr. Jones & I playing on a Thursday nite against the Vinnies . I held ♠xxx ♥KQJ109 ♦xxx ♣xx and heard the auction go

2♣

1♦ 3♣ the opponents were vulnerable so you were not so it was an obvious "prevent defense" time . What are the two worst things that could happen in this auction ? One is they make a vulnerable 3NT which could have been beaten by a heart lead & the other is that you have a nv heart sacrifice against their vul game . You should bid 3♥ . Partner will not punish you as he has heard the auction so know it is their hand . He will not leap to 4♥ thinking that you own the hand & give the opponents an option to double you unless he is making an obvious "advance sacrifice" .This is not a matter of "trusting the opponents" instead of partner , because it is an obvious defensive bidding situation when they show a limit raise or better !

Another auction is a 2/1 by the opponents . You hear the auction go 1♥ , pass by partner 2♣ & you hold ♠KQJ10xx ♥x ♦xxx ♣xxx . You do not have to pre-empt to tell partner you are weak . Bid 2♠ as partner knows it is a "prevent defensive" type of bid as she is at the table also. Even vul with a good spade suit like AKQxxx you should bid 2 spades to prevent them from bidding 3NT with partner not leading a spade . Good partners have discussed "defensive bidding" over an opponents 2/1 so know what a Q bid means , as opposed to a double as opposed to an unusual NT . Klimo has a stack of understandings for these type of defensive bids.

Another auction came from Regina . Again the opponents are vulnerable against nv , own the hand as the auction went 1♣ P 2♣ . I glanced at their card and they play inverted minors forcing to game . Well now it is time for "prevent defense" , I held ♠KJ1098 ♥J9876 ♦1098 ♣void . I fleetingly though of a Michaels bid but that might help the opponents rather than hinder them . I decided that the worst disaster in this hand is that the auction went a 2NT rebid P 3NT & they made it off the first 5 spade tricks. The next disaster is with my void in clubs we have a nice NV sacrifice instead of -600 in 5 clubs . Anyway , I bid 2♠ knowing that my partner realizes that they own the hand so I am bidding "defensively" . Partner will not punish me by leaping to 4♠ expecting me to make it or double 5♣ based on values for a "real" non defensive bid . Partner will also be very careful not to "push" them to 5 Clubs if the inverted minor is not forcing to game . He might try a 4♠ bid to tactically get them to 5♣ with ♠AQxx ♥xxxx ♦x ♣KQJx . The double of 5 clubs will prevent partner from any other action if your sneaky ruse worked !!

Partners hand could be ♠Axxx ♥xx ♦KQ109 ♣xxx so who would blame him for leading a diamond against 3NT ? The 2♠ bid prevented a 12 imp disaster from occurring . Alternatively partner could have held ♠Axxx ♥Axxx ♦x ♣xxxx sothere is a double game swing with 5♠ doubled making our way & 5♣ making their way for a 18 imp disaster ?

Remember - do not punish partner when the opponents own the hand !! Think defensively & bid accordingly ...