Thursday, November 02, 2006 11:58 PM

Playing the Vulnerability - 2NT Bids

PITBULLS:

Modern players “play the vulnerability” . The sensible ones try to be destructive nv vrs vul & others like Meckwell also do it nv vrs nv. Terrorists do not even look at the vulnerability. In today’s game , this is a reality so partnerships must be aware of this tactic. In previous articles , I have mentioned card showing doubles ( D.S.I.P. ) as a tool to help with this intrusion into your air space. Another good understanding to counteract terrorism is to play 2NT as natural when they are bidding a weak jump shift , weak jump overcall or weak two & you are vulnerable. Play 1NT as 16-18 vul vrs not in the sandwich position. These agreements are fine but there are still others.

I held ♠AK10 ♥10x ♦Q109x ♣J10xx , the nv opponents opened 1♦ nv vrs vul . BJ overcalled 1♥ & RHO bids 2♠ nv. They are obviously trying to disturb your auction since you are vulnerable & they are not. You bid 2NT as natural on this vulnerability & partner raises to 3NT. They decided to sacrifice in spades and went for a number but at least we were in the right game.

The vulnerability dictates your bidding. Tonight a person notorious for “non openers” opened 1♥ nv vrs vul opponents. The auction goes 2♥ by RHO who would not be shy making the bid on virtually nothing to muddy the waters. You have ♠AJ ♥QJ ♦AJx ♣AK1098x just a cool 20 HCP which you were planning on opening 2NT. A 3♣ bid although vulnerable does not describe this hand so you double. LHO as expected bids 3♥ pre-emptively which tells the table the type of opener she has. Partner passes so around to you again. Doubling again should promise the spade suit. Bidding 4♣ could easily talk your self out of your 3NT contract. You bid 3NT now as a semi-balance as partner is marked with a little bid of stuff. Partner has 3 clubs & the King of hearts so if the clubs broke you make +630. 3NT should be to play and deny suits in which you want partner to bid. Psychologically they could not stand to let you play your vul game so they took the sacrifice. This goes down one so you pick up +100 for +7 IMPS your way. Partner with just the queen of spades and the king of hearts had no guarantee of a vul game so he just took his plus & doubled. Quite often it pays to be pushy on this vulnerability as it induces the nv opponents to bid again.

OK , I contend that vulnerability should actually change the meaning of your bids. If you have a flat 17 NT bid with the auction going 1♥-P-2♥-? you are vul & they are not , 2NT should describe that hand. On all other vulnerability scenarios , 2NT should be unusual for the minors . People are more careful how they open on the other vulnerabilities , so you are not being robbed of anything. If you have a flat NT hand without the other major , you should just pass ( not double) so if partner does not balance , just defend. It is too risky to bid 2NT as a double is quite lucrative for them. You are less likely to be doubled on the other vulnerability as they do not trust their openers or responses on that vulnerability. You take a risk by not bidding 2NT with your flat 17.

Playing the vulnerability also means that you do not let them keep you out of your vulnerable games just because they open & respond light. Risk taking is a part of the game of Bridge.