Wednesday, July 09, 2003 5:18 PM

The Art of Passing

PITBULLS:

Expert players use the green card when appropriate . Quoting an unknown Bridge player “anybody can bray like a Jackass” . Passing is both an art and a science . The science is ( you guessed it ) applying patterns during the bidding. Translating the opponents bidding into patterns allows you to bid again or discretely pass . Take this hand

x	x	A	K
x		K	Q
x		x	x
		x	x
		x

Strong NT to your right and LHO is a passed hand. You decide to pass and await developments . LHO transfers to hearts and RHO bids 2 hearts which is alerted as not liking hearts . Do you now back in with a double or 2NT for the minors? Apply patterns and you get your answer . The hearts are most likely 5-5-2-1 around the table with partner holding 5 of them . Give her 3 or 4 spades with her 5 hearts and that means she is dangerously short in the minors for you to bid . Put the green card on the table.

A	A	x	Q
K	K	x	x
x	x
x	x
x

1♦ to your left and RHO bids 1NT which you double. LHO bids 2♣ , partner passes and RHO bids 3♦ . Do you double again ? Apply patterns in order to “bid the table” . LHO is probably 5-5 in the minors and very short in the majors. RHO bid 1NT going in and jumped In diamonds therefore is also very short in the majors . Partner is marked with no HCP’s on the auction but she does hold length in the majors . Double again and you might have an excellent major suit spot.

x	A	x	x
x	K	x	x
	J		x
	10
	9
	8

Not vul my partner Scott Brinsmead opened 3♠ and vul RHO overcalled 4♥ !! Has Christmas come early ? Wait a minute the 4♥ bidder has a partner . What defense do you have for 7 of either minor ? I passed quickly and LHO went into a tank . A pass card eventually hit the table and we took our +300. LHO had a void in hearts and nice minors . He definitely would bail to his makeable minors if I doubled.

x	A	A	x
x	K	K
x	x	x
x	x	x

One spade by RHO and you pass . 2♠ by LHO and all pass and your bid . Apply the spade pattern 5-4-3-1 and partner has a singleton spade . This gives her 12 cards that might fit your hearts or diamonds . I would double and pull partners 3♣ to 3♦ if necessary .

The “art” side of passing is reading opponents and “smelling” misfit auctions. There are standard auctions that suggest a misfit so you can stay out of those auctions. People astute players can read vibes that indicate the hands are not fitting well for the opponents and a pass would be a good bid to make . Peter Jones makes more passes then any other Bridge player alive . He is quite often right . I think this is a skill he picked up from Texas holdem where passing is a must . Self discipline and passing goes hand in hand . You earn a lot of IMPS by passing when it is right !!