Sunday, February 15, 2004 2:02 AM

Inducing Pseudo Sacrifices

PITBULLS:

The art of deception in bidding . There are situations where vulnerability considerations and the fact that the opponents have a huge fit lends itself to deception. Maurice had this hand against BJ & Lorna . xx Q109xx Kxx Axx . The auction went 1♦-P-1♥-1NT 2♥-2♠-? . If you bid 3♥ , you know that they will compete to 3♠ and now you have a decision to make . Why give yourself a head ache ? Leap to 4♥ immediately even though you know the odds are against you making it . This might induce a pseudo sacrifice ! It turns out that they will indeed take the bait and bid 4♠ which is a very lucky down one for them doubled . 4♥ of course had no play .

There are times when the non vul opponents have a huge fit and you are vul . You know that they will not let you play in your vul game or slam . So bid it and let them do their dastardly deed. Sometimes they find out that they have two cashable aces but they can not afford to let you play your vul slam. The psychological effect of the vulnerability should be used in your favour at the game or slam level.

There is a reverse deceptive technique . It is called “sand bagging” in poker . You hold Kxx void AKJxxx AQxx and you are vul . 1♥-dbl-4♥-? You could be cold for 7♦ on this hand but you will have zero chance to play it at that spot vul vrs the non vul opponents . So you “sand bag” by making a gross under bid of 5♦ . They make the expected 5♥ bid and you back in 6♦ . They bid 6♥ and now the real poker decision comes as you bid 7♦. With this weird auction you might buy it there has they may feel they have pushed you high enough !!

Playing with BJ recently vul vrs not , I held ♠K109 ♥x ♦AKxx ♣KJ10xx and he opened 3♣ and they overcalled 3♥. You are not playing in a vacuum , so the chances of you playing this hand in a vul 5♣ making is virtually nil. Discussing this hand with Maurice he says that in reality there are only two possible calls. Bid 4♣ and sand bag hoping they let you play it eventually in 5♣ or bid a direct 6♣ hoping for the maximum set in a pseudo sacrifice. Normally nv opponents take out insurance and bid 6♥. This is the option I chose even though I knew 6♣ could not possibly make.

The redouble card is a very good psychological tool . I held this hand playing with Maurice KQxx AKxxx xx xx & vul vrs not Maurice opened 1NT 10-12 HCP’s . I bid non forcing Stayman and LHO doubled . Maurice surprised me by bidding 2♥ and RHO bid 3♣ setting up the non vul sacrifice . I leapt to 4♥ and LHO doubled and around to me again. This is a tight double and a tight game so lets put some pressure on the opponents and redouble . You do not expect to go down more then one and a 5♣ sacrifice will be a sure plus. The ♥’s were 2-2 and Maurice made his contract on a defensive slip. 5♣ x was a sure 500 as the cards were not well located for them !!