Sunday, July 16, 2006 11:34 AM

Hand Evaluation – Suits ( Quick Trick Exception )

PITBULLS:

One of the meanings of an opening bid , is that you have suitable defense for partner or yourself to make penalty doubles . Another purpose of the opening bid is to announce controls so you can compete , bid game or slam. The fact that you open at the one level rather than the 2 , 3 , or 4 level , is you are announcing a hand with defensive capabilities. This defense , measured in quick tricks define an opening bid. Without at least 2 quick tricks , means in most cases you do not have an opening bid , you have a pre-empt or a pass. Partner has conditioned herself & her bidding judgment by expecting quick tricks for an opener. These expected controls are important for competing , game & slam bidding and of course penalty situations.

Rules are made to be broken though. Garazzo says “Bridge is a game of suits” . A good suit is the ultimate in the game of Bridge. Passing good suits not only deprives you of firing the first shot which is a tactical advantage but good suits are excellent “prevent defense” . We have all been victims of games or slams making because partner did not make the right lead. If you pass a good suit , you risk the auction go 1NT-P 3NT so partner misses your good suit with her opening lead.

If you have a good solid or semi-solid suit , you do not need quick tricks for the opening bid. You do not play gambling 3NT , you have ♠xxx ♥x ♦AKQJ10xx ♣xx is this an opening bid ? Yes , this is , because you have the suit requirement for an opening bid with a built in “fail safe” for partners penalty doubles. You simply pull her penalty double to the safety of your suit & you have further described your opening. Open this hand 1♦ , keep rebidding diamonds until partner gets the message you hold nothing else. Partner right sides the 3NT & you have 7 tricks for her.

If you “play the vulnerability’ , a tactic is getting your suit in for a lead at any excuse. On this terrorist vulnerability , a lead directing suit equates to an opening bid. Nv vrs vul ♠xxxx ♥xx ♦Jx ♣AKQ10x equates to an opening bid in any seat . This hand is passed with all 3 other vulnerabilities. Terrorists who do not respect vulnerability would open this hand in all vulnerabilities. This gets mostly partner in the long run as you do not have the defense for an opening bid.& your suit is not long enough for safety purposes. Playing the vulnerability is just that , as partner has conditioned herself for this type of terrorism when leeway is “built into” the system.

Evaluation your hand via quick tricks is way more than opening bids. Quick tricks are also used for deciding whether to make t/o dbls , balancing doubles , whether or not to pre-empt & converting partners doubles. Quick tricks come up in forcing pass decisions , penalty doubles & all bidding decisions. HCP’s do not . Get away from just counting your beans. Look at your HCP’s & evaluate your quick tricks.

Remember that quick tricks define an opening bid but rules are made to be broken when the hand or vulnerability calls for it. A good suit can override quick trick requirements for an opening bid. If you have a balanced 12 count with little or no quick tricks , you pass. This is to keep partner’s blood pressure at the normal levels. You can not make game unless partner has an opening bid anyway so what is the hurry ? Bid 2NT as a passed hand if partner opens & partner knows that you have soft values with a bad opener. If you are out to con the opponents & take partner with you , open 12 HCP vul & give the opponents options to gain a penalty & mislead partner at the same time. Trust me , as I have played Bridge for 40 years & that attitude is 100 % fool proof for bad results.