Some Tactical Bidding Ideas
Randy Pettit
Marietta, Georgia

Preempting Once Partner Has Passed

Vul: E-W : You hold ª- 5 ©- AQ ¨- AQJ10862  §-J108

 
Bidding:      North         East      South
                      P               1ª          ?

Your first conclusion is that is unlikely to be your hand.  Yes, you can construct hands where going slow enables you to bid a slam after the above start to the auction.  Ergo, if partners holds ª- 87432 ©- 8 ¨- K9743 §- AK a small slam is odds-on.   But, most of the time the hand belongs to the opponents on this type hand once partner has passed, and you should gear your bidding to face the largest probability, minimizing losses and maximizing gains.  While this would clearly have been a 1¨ bid in first or second seat, I propose this is a 4¨ overcall opposite a passed partner.   This has the following benefits:

1. It eliminates 3NT as an option for the opponents (if West has long clubs or East's suit is long and solid, this option can be uncovered if you bid only 2¨).

2. It reduces the probability of the opponents finding a hear fit via bidding hearts or  negative double.

3. It allows partner to judge when to save.   He should EXPECT this kind of hand for this kind of bid.

4. If West bids 4ª under pressure, East may think he has a better hand and venture into uncharted waters at the five level.  Due to the pressure, West bid of 4ª could range from a GOOD raise to 2ª to a hand with near slam invitational values, yet all West could do with either hand is bid 4ª.

5. If West passes under pressure, East may not have sufficient values to bid a new suit at the four (or five!) level at this vulnerability.

6. It will probably be tough for the opponents to profitably double you, and there's always that worrisome -510 for 4¨ doubled, making - that will be on their mind.

On the other hand, a holding such as ª- 8 ©- 5 ¨- KQJ10752 §- J1086 is not a 3¨ or 4¨ bid at this vulnerability - it should overcall 5¨.

Why?

1. Partner's consultation is not necessary.  The occasional -1100 is more than overcome by the consumption of the opponent's bidding room.
2. Pressure to get a plus score encourages conservative opponents to underbid at the five level.
3. Partner may be able to jack up the bidding even more with right hand such as;
   ª- 7542 ©- 7632 ¨- 9764 §- 9;

North      East       South    West
  P           1ª          5¨       D'ble
7¨           ?

If East holds ª- AKJxxx  ©- KJxx ¨- A §- Qx; he MAY get it right, but then he may not get it right as well.

 

Some Tactical Bidding Ideas
Randy Pettit
Marietta, Georgia

Matchpoints  - Think No Trump

A common bidding problem occurs on hands where your right hand opponent opens at the one, two or three level and you are delt a good five or six card suit and want to make the best bid.

Vul: None;  You Hold ª- AKJ10xx  ©- AQ ¨- QJx  §- xx

East      You
1H          ?  

If you double and bid 2S, you misstate the most LIKELY game contract - 3NT.  If left hand opponent raises hearts, you can still bid 2S or 2NT.  So, in matchpoint scoring, I believe that the correct bid is overcall One No-Trump.

Vul: Both; You hold ª- Ax  ©- AKQ109x  ¨- Kx  §- xxx

East      You
  2S         ?

If you bid 3H and partner is to put you in game, he will need to provide 3 tricks.  If you play no trump, partner needs only the D-A or C-AK if hearts behave.  Think 2NT as the best bid on this hand!

More - and suggested bids...

You hold ª- Kx ©- Kxx  ¨- AKQ10xx  §- Jxx

East      You
  1C         ?

Looks like 1NT...remember minor suit openers are suspect in suit length or texture anyway, and left hand opponent often won't lead the minor for that reason - even when it is the right thing to do.

You hold ª- Ax  ©- xx  ¨- AKQJxxx  §- Kx

West      North       East     You
  2H           P             P           ?

Bid 3NT.  Ninety percent of the time partner has the hearts stopped on this auction, but may not have enough to bid 3NT if simply reopen with 3D.  Don't double - you don't want to hear a large number of spades from partner, and if partner bids clubs and you then bid diamonds partner will never picture this hand. [See editor's note below]

You hold ª- KQJxxx  ©- J10  ¨- Q10  §- xxx

Partner                          LHO      You
2NT(20-21HCP)            P          ?

Well? are you going slamming ? Texas ?   Jacoby?  At matchpoints you should probably just bid 3NT!  If you Stayman or transfer you give the opponents an opportunity to double or draw other inferences and thereby zero in on possibly the best opening lead.  You are NEAR the slam zone, but in matchpoints you're probably not going to push.  When you are near the slam zone (29-31 HCP) suit and no trump contracts often take eleven tricks each.  This is not a bid to be made at IMPs, but it works very well at matchpoints.  Note your "slow" cards in the above hand which may well be useful in 3NT.  If partner DOESN'T have the Spade Ace it may come down early and partner may be able to enter dummy with a long spade or a red suit.

SUMMARY
In summary, don't be ashamed of bidding your suits, but try to anticipate bidding problems on the next round of bidding and THINK no trump (even if you don't bid it) on balanced hands with good suits.  It's the WINNING style at matchpoints !