Tuesday, June 13, 2006 10:23 PM
 
Hand Evaluation  –  Violating Captaincy

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Captaincy in Bridge is defined as who is “captain” of the auction. This captaincy concept  is quite easy as it is the partner  who is in the better position to know. The partner opposite the 1NT opener , or opposite the pre-empter or opposite the person who made a limit bid. When you open the bidding or overcall & you have exactly what partner can reasonably expect  , partner is the captain of the auction. Beginners rebid their hand by repeating themselves. They bid again with the exact values they already announced by opening or overcalling which violates captaincy big time.  There is a standard inference that when you bid again ( single handedly ) you are announcing more than you showed previously. This is a Bridge bidding basic.

 

            This very bad habit of bidding the same values you have shown , leads to a lack of trust in the partnership. Equal vul , The opponents opened 1♣ so you overcall 1♠ with ♠AKQxxx ♥xx ♦Qxxx  ♣x . They bid 2♥ to your left , partner passes & RHO bids 3♥ so now what ? If the opponents asked your partner what your one level overcall described ? She would answer that the overcall  shows a hand very similar to what you hold. You have already described this hand to partner  at the one level. What if you held ♠AKQJxx ♥xx ♦QJ109 ♣x  or similar better hands , would you make the same 3♠ bid ? How is partner to read the difference ? They bid 4♥ so around to partner who merely holds a stiff in your suit , 2 quick tricks in diamonds ♦AK & 4 of their trump who does not double opposite a hand that overcalled & single handed bid at the 3 level all by herself  ! Experts would make a penalty double expecting a 3 to 4 down set. If you are compensating for partner not having her bid all the time , penalty doubles are not existent in the partnership. You must be able to trust partner for her bid.

 

 

 

Here is a hand from the World Championship and commented upon by Edgar Kaplan.

 

                       

                   ♠ void

                        ♥ AJx

                        ♦ J10xxx

                        ♣ J1098x

 

 

                                                           

         ♠ A109653

            ♥ 1098

            ♦  K

            ♣ Q54

                                   ♥ 53

                                   ♠ 742

                                   ♦  Q9xxx

                                   ♣ Axx

                                               

                                     

                                     ♠ KQJ8

                                   ♥ KQxxx

                                   ♦  A10

                                   ♣ Kx

 

 

 

 

N    E    S    W

P    P   1♥  1♠              Vul none

2♥  2♠  4♥  4♠

5♥  P   P    P               

 

Edgar Kaplan “ North whose hand is so much better offensively , had his hand improve on the auction. He violated captaincy by bidding 5♥ which went down. 4♠X  goes for a mere 800 or 1100 depending on the defense. “

 

 

            I have noticed many , many swing hands written up in the Bridge World where D.S.I.P. competitive double theory would have saved the day. The leap to 4♥ does not turn on forcing passes , therefore D.S.I.P. applies.  Playing D.S.I.P.  theory , you are allowed to “ violate captaincy” but with only one bid – a double . North has limited his hand with a simple raise so his partner is captain of this auction.  However , North’s hand has improved on the auction , so he doubles saying he wants to bid 5♥. Partner nixes his request.

 

            You can violate captaincy even with a pre-empt or a 1NT opener as long as it is with a double.  A double is a flexible call which still allows partner’s input into the final decision. All Bridge experts should play D.S.I.P. theory . It is that good.