Our ability to successfully solve bridge problems depends in part on how we manage our mental effort. Few players have the stamina to intensely analyze every decision, so it’s important to take advantage of opportunities to simplify auctions and conserve mental energy for yourself and partner.
One way to do this is to get to the final contract quickly, without seeking more input from partner. This can be the best strategy in auctions where you already know enough about partner’s hand and those where it would be pointless, risky or virtually impossible to search for more information.
Another is to describe your hand in one bid instead of two or three. That’s one of the benefits of preemptive openings and overcalls, but simple isn’t always better when you hold borderline hands. Patience will often pay off, even if it creates a more complicated auction later.
Neither side vulnerable at matchpoints, what’s
your choice with this hand after a Pass on your right:
♠AJ108642 ♥107
♦K1072 ♣Void ?
It looks like a hand that should be opened, but at what level? At this vulnerability, it has too much playing strength for a weak two-bid or even a three-bid, but not quite enough for a four-bid. A 4S opening could actually be too preemptive because it leaves little room for the opponents to make a mistake. They’ll gamble at the 4-level, but rarely at the 5-level.
Another option is opening 1S. That’s a big stretch with an 8-count, especially since it doesn’t even qualify as a “Rule of 20” opener.
Jerry Kissel of Clearwater FL sent this problem to a dozen experienced players. All but one rejected a 2S opening, but they were split on four other calls. Jerry believed that the strongest arguments were made not for any of the spade openings, but for a Pass.
The passers pointed out that being in second position was an important factor because it increases the likelihood that a 3S or 4S opener will preempt partner instead of the opponents. They also liked holding the master suit, which gave them confidence that they could outbid the opponents later. Change the hand to ♠107 ♥AJ108642 ♦K1072 ♣Void and the passers would probably give stronger consideration to a 3H or 4H opening.
Jerry commented, “I thought matchpoints was such an aggressive game that you should bid as high as you can as soon as you can, so it would be hard to ever find a ‘wait and see’ hand. I've never really been watching for them, but with this hand, maybe we've found one.”
The wait-and-see approach can also pay off when you have wild distribution and enough strength in your own hand to make a high-level contract. Blasting to your preferred spot is the simplest, most partner-friendly action, but it won’t always get the best result. Your goal with freak hands is to declare, so you need a plan to talk the opponents out of saving.
The late Mike Cappelletti Sr. offered an example of this thought process in his book 100 Bridge Problems. Both vulnerable at matchpoints, he heard 1H on his right and was looking at the only 11-card suit he had ever held: ♠AKJxxxxxxxx ♥x ♦x ♣Void . His first impulse was to overcall 4S and then bid 5S if pushed, but he decided that would be preempting himself.
Mike, who was also an expert poker player, chose
to start low and see what developed. He overcalled a simple 1S and was rewarded
when the ensuing auction allowed him to use Exclusion Blackwood and bid the
laydown 6S, doubled. His advice: “It’s sometimes better to listen than to leap.”
© 2017 Karen Walker