Tuesday, July 11, 2006 11:02 AM

Playing the Vulnerability – Take You Fix

 

PITBULLS:

 

            We all give leeway to 3rd seat opening bids. Even if we passed a bad 12 or 13 we just invite in NT rather than leap to game. We use Drury because partner may be just opening for a lead. We tread lightly as a matter of policy. Third seat hands can help also by just passing the response at the one level. Raising to 2 is not pre-emptive , it means I have a real opening bid. Open weak two’s more often in 3rd seat , if you do not have the quick tricks for an opening bid. You are helping out your passed hand partner that way also.

 

            If you “play the vulnerability” as a deliberate strategy , leeway is a must. Here is BJ Trelford in action. Warning ! what you are about to see is not for the faint of heart !! BJ Trelford nv vrs vul opened 1♣ on ♠Jxx ♥Axxx ♦void ♣KJ9876 & I responded 2♠ . BJ Trelford bid 4♠ , all pass so I went 3 down . The opponents can make 6♦ vul !  A few hands later BJ in 2nd seat nv vrs  vul heard 1♠ to his right so he overcalled 2♥ on ♠xxx ♥KJ109x ♦Jx ♣Axx  and I raised to 3♥ on ♠xxx ♥Qxx ♦xx ♣KJ10xx all pass and BJ went two down. 5♦ & 4♠ made the other direction so this was a clear top. Yes , the opponents could have done better in both cases but the fact is , they did not.

 

            Playing this style , do not hand people gifts by doubling them because partner opened or overcalled. Take your fix if partner actually did have her values. These mishaps come with the territory but there is nothing more discouraging when you are trying to keep them out of game and “trigger happy” partner is putting them right back into game the easy way. Leeway is the code to live by. They win partials by virtue of them being vulnerable and you not. Pushing them into a vulnerable game is a disaster for this type of style. Learn how to pass big hands & give partner leeway.  Become reacquainted with the green card and avoid the urge to bid one more time. Table presence is a requirement for expert Bridge. On all other vulnerabilities , things return to normal disciplined Bridge.