2008-03-15 01:09

Hand Evaluation – Taking Your Plus ( 5 level )

PITBULLS:

Taking your plus is an obvious Bridge strategy. Bridge is a game of probabilities. Playing the percentages means just taking a plus rather than trying for something that involves a low percentage chance of succeeding . Do not try to be a hero but play the odds. In IMPS , it is easier to do so than matchpoints as that is your default way of thinking. In matchpoints , much tougher as you must also maximize your plus with the rest of the field. The 5 level is for the opponents is more than a cliché , it is sound Bridge. 11 trick contracts are difficult to make so be like the house in a Casino Blackjack game , let the opponents go first & break.

Playing the vulnerability , of course comes with 5 level decisions. You are a passed hand , LHO opens 3♣ nv vrs nv & partner doubles. A passed hand re pre-empts to 5♣. Their pre-emptive action automatically turns on forcing passes for your side at the 5 level. You have ♠xxx ♥KQxxx ♦xx ♣Kxx so you must make a decision as partner will play your pass as forcing. 5♥ is not an option as that is a slam try as is the pass & pull. I would double to warn partner that I have wasted values so lets just take our plus on this equal vulnerability.

Taking your plus is also equated to “accepting your fix” . The opponents will jam you sometimes so do you just gamble or “take your fix” . The 5 level is where you just remained fixed , double the opponents & get out of Dodge. If the opponents take room away from you , slam exploration is all but impossible do you take your fix ? Yes , gambling is for Casinos or matchpoints . A player held ♠Ax ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣xxxxx , partner opening 1♣ & he responded 1♥. I overcalled 2♦ & his partner bid 2♠ showing 5♣ with a decent to good hand. Tom Gandolfo upped the ante to 4♦ robbing you of any room to show your slam intentions. Do you gamble on partner holding the magical stiff diamond an all or nothing approach ? No , with the “taking your fix mentality”, you should make the underbid of 5♣. Partner who held 19 HCP with a stiff diamond may bid 6 as he has more than he showed with the 30 HCP in the deck rule in effect.

You hold ♠xxx ♥KQJ ♦xxxx ♣xxx & in 3^rd seat nv your opponent opens 1♥ . Partner vul vrs not bids 3♥ & your RHO bids 4♥ . The opponents have fixed you as you should have a good shot at 3NT so do you take your plus or try for the magical 4NT ? I think this is an IMPS vrs matchpoints decision. In IMPS , I just take my sure money & double. The ♥KQJ are the most useless cards for partner’s hand if he tries 5 of his minor & 4NT is no certainty to make. There is also another consideration. Will partner interpret 4NT to play & not an invitation to bid his suit ? Why did you not double 4♥ , if you feel you can make 10 tricks at NT ? 4NT should be to play but this is not the hand for it. ♠Axx ♥QJx ♦xxxx ♣xxx is a more suitable hand. Partner probably should have read your 4NT as natural but did not , so trying to be too precise in IMPS led to a disaster. 4♥X goes for –500 & 6♣ thru the misunderstanding goes for –800. In effect you were gambling +630 –500 or a 3 IMP gain for a possible minus in 4NT or a possible disaster if partner misreads your intentions. Take your plus & leave gambling for matchpoint hounds.

When the auction is up at the rarefied 4 level or higher , taking your plus becomes more paramount. 3♣-x-5♣-? Forcing passes are automatically turned on so that at least you can guarantee a plus. If you do not have a certain game your way take your plus – do not gamble. The auction goes 4♠-P-P-? ♠x ♥J10x ♦AQx ♣AKxxxx so you have 3 ½ quick tricks. Why gamble that partner has clubs when you can take your plus with a double ? Partner can hold spades , a long heart suit , a long diamond suit or a void in clubs. Bidding 5♣ is an unnecessary shot that can easily turn a certain plus into a minus. By taking unilateral action , you are falling into the hands of the pre-empter. A double is the most flexible bid in Bridge & certain describes your quick tricks better than bidding 5♣.

Quick tricks & vulnerability assist you in your 5 level decisions. ♠xx ♥Qxxx ♦AKJxx ♣xx Partner opens 3♥ & RHO doubles equal nv . This may be a good time to bid 4♦ just in case you have the magical double fit. You decide not to & leap to 4♥ instead. The opponents now bid 5♣ so now what ? This is easy , you have 2 quick tricks so you have the contract booked. Partner may have a trick or a stray queen for you so why gamble by bidding ? The mathematics of bidding makes no sense as you are going for a sure –300 nv against their iffy 400 in 5♣. You pass , partner has a doubleton diamond , gets a ruff & her ♥A for +100. You have now saved 300 +100 for a 10 IMP swing.

Forcing pass theory is alive & well at the 5 level in order to facilitate taking your plus.. Review your understandings with partner . At the 6 level , you can make a nuisance of yourself as well. Doubling their freely bid slam for penalty is poor Bridge. Just pass and take your plus as a set is at the wrong end of the IMP scale anyway (your partners are only in game ). If you are in the auction and want to suggest a sacrifice , a double should mean I have no tricks and lets sacrifice partner. This “asking permission” to sacrifice prevents the dreaded pseudo as partner has the KQJ of their trump suit. If you are not in a competitive auctions and they reach slam , of course the double is lead directing.