Monday, December 25, 2006 3:31 AM

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( The Other Minor )

PITBULLS:

One of the skills associated with hand evaluation is spotting a weakness for NT purposes. This skill is applicable whether you are considering an opening lead or trying to reach the best game yourself. When partner opens a minor , the bid should mean something. If values in your minor are non existent , open a 4 card major or cheat a point & open 1NT ! When you have a choice of minors , pick the one in which you live & not the “lead inhibiter “ suit. Quite often when partner opens a minor & you respond a major , the Archilles heal for NT is the other minor.

Here is a hand to illustrate . ♠Kxx ♥AQxx ♦Qx ♣J9xx , partner opens 1♣ . You bid 1♥ , partner rebids 1NT . You have enough to invite to 3NT but how ? The Qx in the other minor is a glaring weakness for NT as partner chose to open 1♣. Playing 2 way NMF , I would invite this way. I would bid 2♣ as a relay to 2♦ & follow up with a 3♣ bid. Partner will reason that I did not bid 2NT so I must have a NT flaw somewhere. Partner has ♠QJxx ♥J10x ♦Kx ♣AKxx & even though a maximum , might get the picture that diamonds are a weak spot so pass 3♣. She reasons that partner may have 9 of her 13 cards in hearts & clubs for her bidding so there is not enough room for diamonds. She may risk a 4♣ partial by bidding 3♠ so that if partner does have diamonds , 3NT is reached.

Same idea with inverted minors. When you have a flaw in the other minor , make it a habit to show where you live ! Partner opens 1♣ , you hold ♠AKx ♥Jxx ♦xx ♣AQ10xx so bid 2♣. Partner bids 2NT so what do you do ? Some would argue that you have a clear cut 3NT bid. However, take a look at your other minor. The minor which partner chose not to open. Why not “show where you live” along the way to 3NT . I bid 3♠ & partner bids 4♠ ! Partner has ♠QJxx ♥AKxx ♦xx ♣Kxx so you chalk up +650 instead –100 in 3NT.

When you have 3NT on your mind , grope for 3NT if you can . Bid NT to describe your balanced hand & then grope for stoppers. Do not bid stoppers immediately like the Mike Lawrence school of bidders. Try to identify the weakness for NT before the opponents do , with their opening lead. Sometimes you end up in a Moysean major game or 5 of a minor but do not assume that the opponents will not find the lead. Sometimes they have a number of chances to get it right after they have led.