Thursday, May 22, 2003 12:30 AM

Improving Partials

PITBULLS:

“You do not try to improve partials” is a IMP phenomenon. In match points , partials are as important as Grand slams so you do improve partials in that game. In IMPS , if you do not pass an invitational 2NT , it means that you have accepted the game try somewhere . With 2/1 non forcing to game if suit rebid , you can improve partials as you can not have a single suited hand with invitational values and not have bid 2/1 in the first place.

There are a number of hands in IMPS where you do want to improve partials . These are the weak 5-5 hands and the weak 6-4 hands. In IMPS , if you bid over the 2NT invitational after a forcing NT , you have accepted the game invite. So how do you get to improve the 2NT partial ? Relays to the rescue . Natural bidding is strong and says I want to get to game . If you have

A	Q	x	x
K	J		x
x	10
x	x
x	x

you bid 1♠ and partner bids 1NT . You bid 2♥ and partner bids 2NT so you bid 3♣ and partner relays to 3♦. You now bid 3♥ & partner gets the message that you are weak and passes. Similar to Lebensohl so very easy on the memory.

A	x	A	x
K		K	x
x		J
x		x
x		x

You bid 1♠ and partner bids 1NT . You bid 2♦ and partner bids 2NT . You can now bid 3♦ and as you did not relay partner gets the message that you are very strong for a 2♦ rebid.

A	x	x	A
K		x	K
x			J
x			x
x			x

You open 1♠ and partner bids 1NT . You bid 2♣ and partner bids 2NT . With a weak 5-5 in clubs and spades you open 1♣ so this sequence  

Is strong.

A	A	x	x
K	K	x
x	10
x	x
x	x

You open a spade and partner bids a forcing 1NT . You bid 2♥ and partner bids 2NT . You can now bid 3♥ as that is now game forcing Some partnerships ( Tom & I ) play a jump shift to 3 hearts as invitational so we do not need this sequence.

6-4’s can be weak or intermediate and bid exactly the same. It is good policy to always bid your 4 card suit if it is biddable so you do not miss close games. AJ10xxx AQxx xx x you should rebid 2♥ and not 2♠ . Partner can have 5 hearts and a stiff spade with enough scattered values to make 4♥ and still pass 2♠ . With AJ109xx x AKxx xx it is better to rebid 2♦ over a forcing NT as partner can have a stiff spade and diamonds and pass 2♠ . 5♦ can be cold with these 6-4’s.

The solution to show these weak 6-4’s is again the relay . You bid a spade and partner bids 1N. You bid 2♥ with your weak 6-4 and partner bids 2NT . You improve the partial by bidding by now bidding a 3♣ relay and convert partners 3♦ to 3♠ to show your weak 6-4. What if you have a good 6-4 .? Then just bid naturally over 2NT with 3♠ . 

Anyway bidding over any invitational 2NT in IMPS is forcing to game unless you have a tool like relays to get out. You do not improve partials in IMPS unless 2/1 are not forcing to game or you have relays to assist you. You hold x xxx QJx QJ109xx and partner opens 1♠ . You bid 1NT and partner bids 2♠ so do you improve the partial ?. Why not ? Partner has an inference that you would bid 2♣ followed by 3♣ as non forcing so you must have a real dog where your suit might have some use. Playing 2/1 forcing to game you must not improve the partial and a pass of 2♠ is in order.