Tuesday, October 17, 2006 8:03 AM

Improving Partials III

PITBULLS:

Do not improve 1NT partials after a minor opening from a position of weakness. If you opened a dog , pass partners 1NT . If you have a distributional one suited minor , jump in that suit. If you have a weak 1♦ opener with clubs , jump in clubs. This understanding is in effect whether partner responded 1NT directly , in competition after an overcall or after a T/O double. Do not improve the 1NT partial.

Why ? this treatment means that when you do bid , you show invitational values. A simple rebid of your minor can show all the 5-4-3-1 hands with invitational hands just under a reverse. A simple rebid could also show the Goren jump rebid. If you have a running 6 card suit , leap to 3NT. A 2NT rebid is not invitational , it shows 18-19 HCP. This is obviously a game force but we allow an out to 3 of either minor. All reverses are game forcing and natural except for the 2♥ reverse. BJ Trelford introduced this bid as a relay to 2♠ and all subsequent bids are game forcing and natural.

♠x ♥Kx ♦AKQxx ♣AQJ10x 1♦-P-1NT-P

2♥-P-2♠-P

3♣

Reviewing World championship results , many cold 3NT games were missed because partnerships do not have this simple & sound understanding. Here is Norway in the Bermuda Bowl.

♠10xx ♥KQJ10 ♦10 ♣AKQxx opend 1♣ and partner bid 1NT . He felt he was not quite strong enough to reverse so he bid 2♣. They play light opening bids so partner thought he was bailing out of 1NT. Partner passed with his maximum and Norway lost the Bermuda Bowl as the American made an easy +630.

By having 2♣ or 2♦ as invitational , you have the best of both worlds. If partner has a dog 1NT , they play it in a nice safe partial. If partner has a maximum she can bid 2NT , 3NT or raise clubs. If the opponents balance they could be in big trouble as you own most of the HCP’s . A double would be penalty on this auction as invitational values says we own this auction. This structure is “fast arrival” . The less you have the faster you bid it. Balancing becomes rather precarious in this situation.