2007-11-21 19:18
Hand Evaluation – Expert Bridge ( Reading )
PITBULLS:
Here
is part of an article by Karen Walker :
“If
you've decided to take up the game of Bridge, you're about to discover the
world's most popular and challenging card game. You're also beginning a
learning experience that can truly last a
lifetime, and any extra effort you can put into it now will make it
even more enjoyable in the years
to come.
Whether you've chosen group lessons, self-teaching and
one-on-one instruction from a friend or relative, you'll learn the game faster
-- and enjoy it more -- if you take an active
role in your bridge education. It's difficult to become a good
bridge player if all you do is listen passively to your weekly lesson and hope
it will "soak in". . Here are some suggestions for learning
activities you can pursue on your own:
If you're taking a
group class, your instructor has probably given you a
textbook or lesson handouts. Most beginning bridge textbooks aren't intended to
be light reading, so don't be discouraged if you don't understand the material
at first. Keep your book handy (out on your desk, next to your favorite easy
chair) and plan to read
and study each chapter several times between classes.”
Edgar Kaplan says “you must learn from the mistakes of others as you
do not have time to make every mistake yourself “. Reading is
the only way to save years off your learning schedule. Experience is a cruel teacher & takes time. Reading is like cheating on
experience as you learn from the experience of others who have been there, done
that .
Memorization vrs concepts.
Some conventions & system can just be memorized as opposed to understood. In fact ,
it is the experienced player or Bridge
theorists that explain the Bridge logic behind a convention or
system. Good players either like or dislike a convention. They have their
Bridge reasons for doing so. Bridge concepts
have to sink in & be understood rather than memorized or else mistakes will be repeated forever.
Lets
discuss some hand evaluation concepts.
The “law of total tricks” is a
concept. This means to appreciate
your trump length as opposed to HCP’s. Raise the level of bidding to show your
extra trump length to partner. If you have ♥J10x
& 8 HCP it is a simple heart raise. If you have ♥J10xx
or ♥J10xxx & the same HCP’s you cannot
bid 2♥ as your hand is so much stronger.
Duplication
of value is a concept. We all are familiar with this concept as the
splinter was invented to identify wasted HCP’s. However ,
this concept transcends splinters. If you have a stiff or void in partner suit , duplication is possible. If you have HCP’s in the
opponents suit , duplication is possible. If you have
shortness in the opponents suit it is gold . if your HCP’s are located in partners suit , duplication of
value is avoided. If your HCP’s are located in your short suits
, your trick taking potential has been diminished so your values are
partially wasted.
Appreciating controls is another Bridge evaluation
concept. “I only had 15 points , Gerald “ is the creed
of hopeless Bridge players. Were these 15 HCP’s Ace & Kings as opposed to
queen & jacks ?
Where they in Quick Trick combinations
AQ or KQ instead of unsupported
? Were they located in your long suits ?
Do not be a slave to HCP’s. Evaluate your
hand & promote good HCP’s. HCP’s are like cholesterol
, they can be good or bad. Do not
pass partners vul 2♠ overcall when you have ♠xxxx ♥A10x ♦xx ♣Kxxx . You evaluate your HCP’s . The Ace & King as opposed to queens &
jacks & the 4th trump are to be promoted. Think in quick tricks to differentiate defensive
hands from offensive hands.
Appreciating defensive hand patterns vrs offensive hand patterns is a concept which
must be understood. Do not be a slave to the HCP system. A flat hand with X
number of HCP’s is not as good as a distributional hand pattern with the same
number of HCP’s. Bid more with distribution. Bid more with long suits. 6-5 come alive. A 5-3-3-2 is a flat hand . A 4-3-3-3 is not the
only balanced Bridge hand. Bid less with these balanced Bridge hands as their
trick talking potential is less.
Forcing
pass theory is a concept.
All Bridge auctions can be divided
into those “you own” & those you do not. Look for the bidding clues that
determine that you own the auction.
Forcing pass theory automatically kicks in & the pass has a different
meaning due to the context of the auction.
“Depending
on context” is a huge Bridge concept . Q bids , doubles , 4NT
, jump bids & 5NT have different
meanings depending on the context of the auction. You must be at the table to interpret the bid properly.
OK , my all
time favourite concept to be practiced & understood
in order to become
a Bridge player. Know that hand patterns
exist in the game of Bridge & translate Bridge information like bidding , opening leads , showing out of a suit &
signals into these patterns. This is a translating skill just like translating French into English. You are taking bidding &
translating it into a hand pattern. This blueprint will guide you for opening leads , declarer play & defense. Most
important concept in the game of
Bridge by far.
Back to the importance of reading.
Experts have a lot of understandings & a complex bidding system. Since they
are not professionals & play every day , hands
will not come up to practice these conventions. The human memory is not infallible. Reading
articles to remind ourselves of these treatments &
understandings is good preparation.
Repetition is learning. Huge
projects are accomplished by “divide & conquer “ In other words , break up the
project into little pieces. Improving your Bridge is a huge project
, so read a few articles a day
on the subject. Study them if
there are concepts involved. If
this is too hard on you , I recommend lawn bowling.