Wednesday, October 13, 2004 4:49 AM

Hand Evaluation – Openers ( Strength before Shape )

PITBULLS:

With modern overcalls , we let “shape before strength” guide us in our bidding. We prefer to overcall first to show our shape & double later to show our strength . This tactic removes the ambiguity from the auction in case it takes off by opponent interference. The rule for these overcalls is if you might miss game by partner not responding , you double instead of overcalling. In the early days of Bridge there were frequent doubles because we were too strong to overcall with single suited hands . These doubles are rare in modern bidding as we prefer to introduce our suit first by overcalling.

Opening bids with opponent interference it is better to reverse this treatment & announce “strength before shape” . The reason for this is two fold . One , knowing that partner has values , the double gives partner the option to convert for penalty. Two , it brings partner into the picture for game tries. I had a hand tonight that illustrates the principle. I have ♠AKQxx ♥x ♦K10 ♣AK109x , with everybody vul I open 1 spade. LHO doubles , partner passes & RHO bids two hearts . Now what ? If you bid 3♣ it is too single handed. Say partner bids 3♠ . You are vul in IMPS , the opponents are bidding your singleton. What do you need from partner ? ♠xxx ♥xxxx ♦xxxx ♣xx with favourable breaks in the black suits will result in +620 . One queen will give you game

♠Qxx ♥xxxx ♦xxx ♣xxx or ♦xxx ♥xxxx ♦xxx ♣Qxx or even ♠xxx ♥xxxx ♦Qxx ♣xxx. You are forced to bid game in case it makes , as by bidding 3♣ initially you have taken partner out of the equation. Stopping on a dime in 3♠ vul is too risky in IMPS.

You should double 2♥ initially even with your strong 5-5 & notice the difference in the auction. LHO passes & partner bids 2♠ . You know bid 3♣ to show your rock two suiter . Partner now bids 3♠ . You have done your duty & partner has signed off twice . You can now pass expecting a horrendous hand as dummy. Partner held 3 HCP but they were totally useless. ♠xxx ♥Qxxx ♦Jxx ♣xxx , 4♠ goes down two for –500 as they doubled to show a bad spade break. Certainly you were unlucky , but this happens when you do not let partner contribute to the decision making process. This co-operation from partner is solicited with an initial double. In fact , after doubling & the opponents get too frisky in bidding hearts , partner can wield the axe. The opponents go for 500 in 3 hearts doubled. If you bid 3♣ first , partner will never double. The 3♣ bid is too ambiguous & can show a wide range of distributional weaker or intermediate hands.

A case can be made that this particular auction is one where the “good-bad 2NT” can be used. Why would you ever bid 2NT natural with a takeout double to your left , bidding to your right with a passing partner ? I cannot construct a hand where 2NT would be natural . The opponents are bidding in the sandwich position which is a cue for the good-bad 2NT. If you had a distributional two suiter , you would bid 2NT forcing partner to relay to 3♣. Bidding 3♣ directly would show the intermediate two suiters say ♠AKQxx ♥x ♦xx ♣AK109x , the double and bidding your suit would show the rock two suiter. The good-bad 2NT would allow you to show all 3 ranges of two suiters. The good-bad 2NT should be used quite frequently in competitive auctions as the bid brings partner into the picture. Single handed bidding , though well intended , quite often hands +500 to the opponents. Use the good-bad 2NT or the double to show partner the strength of your hand thereby inviting him to the party. He will show confidence in your play by raising you with the right queen.