Monday, October 13, 2003 3:19 PM

Hand Evaluation - Unassuming Q Bids

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Unassuming Q bids get the name because partner is not to assume that you are showing a control by Q bidding . If there ever was a “depending on context” bid the unassuming Q bid is it . This particular Q bid shows strength with game or slam interest rather than a control showing Q bid. The direct Q bid normally flashes the dual signal that we have a fit with undisclosed values . With a minor fit established , the unassuming Q bid turns into the “Western Q bid” which asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper .

 

            The context of the auction determines the meaning of a Q bid. A two suiter & a forcing NT are a very poor mixture. With two suits , its is best to make a light 2/1 rather than complicate the auction with a forcing NT initially. My partner opened 1♠ with ♠AKQJ10x ♥xx ♦J987 ♣x   & I bid a forcing 1NT with ♠xxx ♥AK10x ♦AQx ♣xxx  . The opponents backed in 2♣ , partner bid 2♠ & RHO bid 3♣. The opponents certainly do not have HCP’s for their bidding but certainly should have the club suit wrapped up. If the clubs are 6-3-3-1 or 5-4-3-1 , partner has a stiff club , so the 30 HCP rule kicks in. I made an unassuming Q bid of 4♣ to say although I bid a mere 1NT initially , I am interested in a spade slam. This gets doubled so if partner lacks a club control , he bids the death response of 4♠. A XX would show 1st round control & a pass or Q bid a 2nd round control. I now Q bid 4♦ as I want to find out if partner shares my slam interests. Partner bids 4♠ as he lacks a heart control obviously so I make one last try of 5♥. Partner has nothing more than he announced thus far , so he signs off in 5♠ which ends the auction. 6♠ makes because ♦K10x is on side but you do not want to be near slam.

 

            The unassuming Q bid is a very handy bid to say to partner we have a major suit fit without really supporting partner directly. The most common use for the bid is after takeout doubles where you must confirm we have found a major suit fit . In addition , I have values & am maximum for my previous bidding.

 

            Two hands from yesterday really show the usefulness of the unassuming Q bid . First a Maurice & Susan auction.

 

♠xx ♥J10xx ♦Qx ♣A109xx       1♠-X-P-?         

 

Do you bid 2♥ or 2♣ ? . I think this hand is worth two bids in a competitive situation so I prefer 2♣ . I will back in with hearts later & I have informed partner that I have some values in light of not jumping earlier. If I had nothing,  I would bid 2♥ & shut up unless partner forcers me to bid.

 

            Anyway Susan did bid 2♣ & partner now bids 2♥ !! Your hand in support of hearts is a monster considering you only bid 2♣ previously. How do I show partner that he has struck gold ? Unassuming Q bid to the rescue. The only reason I can Q bid now when I did not previously is that we found a major suit fit. A jump to 4♥ should say that we can make game but since we are jamming the auction it should lack a control. You confirm the fit by bidding 2♠ , partner Q bids 3♦ & you Q bid 4♣ which causes partner to bid 6♥ which is cold. If you had a stiff spade with the same hand, you could bid 3♠ instead of 2♠ and partner would get the message.

 

            A Lorna/BJ  auction shows another auction where unassuming Q bid works well. The auction goes

 

                      1♠-X-P-3♦

                       P-3♥-P-?            ♠x ♥J9x ♦J1098xx ♣AKx   

 

            You want to bid 4♥ but you are too strong in light of your previous bid to do so . 4♥ sounds like you were forced to bid it by partner. This is not the context where you can bid 4♣ as an advanced Q bid as partner will always think you just bidding a suit without heart support . The unassuming Q bid to the rescue . Bid 3♠ so partner knows that you have heart support & you leave room for Q bidding. Partner bids 4♥ & now you bid 5♣ or 4NT with 6♥ being cold when you get there.

 

            Tom & I had a hand that shows unassuming Q bids in action. .  Tom held ♠Kxxxx ♥A ♦AKxxxx ♣x & overcalled 1♥ with 2♦ , my first Q bid should show a limit raise or better in diamonds

 

1♥-2♦-P-2♥

 X-2♠-3♥-4♥

 P-?   .

 I chose to make a 2nd unassuming Q bid as he must have made a bid that improves my hand further. I probably feel that I am too strong to bid 4♠ . If that’s the case , you can leap to 6♦ giving me a choice of contracts. I convert to 6♠ with ♠A1098 ♥J10x ♦QJ ♣AKxx . The play is simple as the opponents opened a non opener with ♠QJxx ♥KQxxxx ♦x ♣Qx . All this does is locate cards for Tom. Tom & I have 29 HCP between us so it’s pretty simple to play the vul “opener” for the rest of the HCP’s & play the spades correctly to make our spade slam.

 

I think the unassuming Q bid should always be used in auctions to clarify KCB. I hate leaping to 4NT as KCB based on the last bid suit. All this means to me is that you are too lazy to make an unassuming Q bid first ? This hand came up tonight ♠AQ ♥x ♦KQJxx ♣AQJxx , with everybody vul RHO opened 2♥ , you doubled & LHO bid 3♥ & partner freely bid 3♠. If you were interested in a spade slam , you Q bid 4♥ & if partner bids 4♠ , 4NT must be KCB. I feel in the absence of a Q bid , a leap to 4NT should say pick a minor. 

 

 

            Here is the ultimate unassuming Q bid auction where you use 4NT to show a spade Q bid.

 

3♠-4♥-P-4♠ 

P-4NT-P-?      ♠xxx ♥J ♦AKxx ♣AQ10xx

 

When 4♠ is an unassuming Q bid just to show a strong hand ,  use 4NT to show a spade Q bid as it does not change the level of bidding. It can not be Blackwood as partner does not what is going on with partners unassuming Q bid action so he is captain of the ship. The 4♥ bidder held ♠void ♥AKQ10xx ♦QJxx ♣KJx  so a grand slam can be investigated.

 

            After you have made an assuming Q bid to show strength , a 2nd Q bid in the same suit has the dual message of extra strength & a control in that suit. Tom Gandolfo in Red Deer held ♠KQJ10xx ♥void ♦Ax ♣Kxxxx . The opponents opened 3♦ , I doubled & Tom made an unassuming Q of 4♦ to show his strength. I bid 4♥ so Tom now makes a 2ND Q bid to clarify the 1st one showing a slam going hand with a control in diamonds. This gives us a chance to get to our cold grand slam in either black suit.

 

            The trouble with “depending on context” bids is that partner has to be on the same wavelength as you are . Knowing the difference between unassuming Q bids & a  control showing Q bids is a bidding skill. That is what established partnerships are all about though. Understandings & treatments enrich the language of bidding. With this increased bidding vocabulary , you paint a better of your hand so exceptional Bridge results follow.