The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-02
ARTICLE II Bidding Defined and Classified

ARTICLE II
 Bidding Defined and Classified <, There are two general classified
 tions of bids or declarations, namely,
 free bids and forced bids.
 A free bid is where the player
 makes a voluntary declaration such as the initial bid of the doaler or 1 the player on his left.
 l Any bid that overcalls or assists a | previous bid is forced bid. i There is also a variety of bid that has no particular classification, I namely the first round bid made by 1 the third or fourth player after the l dealer and his left have passed. This | bid is not governed by the initial bid 1 conventions, for although voluntary | it is influenced by the indicated | weakness of the preceding hands. Secondary bids are forced bids, ] made in the second round after pass in the first. They are generally strong major suit declarations which ] do not come up to the regulation
 standard, and have been held back to | avoid giving transformation. Free bids arc governed by conven- tions, that is, fixed rules. Forced | bids are not conventional. They show the number of tricks, which, with the partners assistance, may win the declaration. but are otherwise not | informative.
 Trick Make-Up of Initial Bids As there are thirteen tricks in avery hand, the average for each
 player should be 3A tricks. Of course, this is not the case always, but if you try several hundred deals
 and tabulate the results, you will find 1t comes out about this way. | For the sake of convenience the
 fraction is eliminated and three | tricks ill the quota taken as the standard.
 This is the only guide that the initial bidder has as to what sup He sees that his own hand has four sure tricks. This being somewhat better than the average, indicates l that his partners hand may have
 less than the average.
 1 Experience has demonstrated that
 the partner may be credited with two tricks. He may have fewer or more, but anyway, two tricks estimated 1 assistance is the standard. These two and the bidders own
 four tricks, total six. The privilege of playing ones own and the Dum- | my's hand is calculated as one trick, although often worth more. Here then are the seven tricks calculated
 on for an initial major suit bid | of one:
 Tricks in bidders hand. ...4 Partners tricks ....z
 Trick value of playing both hands ...................l r,
 Total .................7 l With no trump bids there is a diff ference. You have here three guarded suits which are roughly calculated | as three tricks. This leaves an ad- 1 ditional trick to be made up. But 1 the element of loss on high cards by ] trumping is eliminated, so the trick quota on account of playing both hands is increased to two. The l greater promotion value of the com 1 bined high cards is also a factcr. The seven tricks in a one no trurnp declaration are made up this way: Tricks In bidders hand ..s Partners tricks .......2 Trick value of playing both hanos .......... ..........2 Total ...............7
 Initial one minor suit bids are | merely informative, indicating two 1 sure tricks in the suit named The Three Initial Declaration. As the reader knows the dealer | has the privilege of bidding first. If he passes, the call goes to the player on his left. and so on around. The ] first bids of the dealer and lhe | player on his left are initial or free bids, and the same conventions gov ern them. When both of these play CTS pass and the say goes to the third or fourth player conditions have altered. and these latter bids. while seemingly voluntary, are really outside of the category of free bids. Initial bids are made by no trump or in major suits or minor suits. There are writers on bridge who insist that the initial bids of major and minor suits should be treated alike, and as if they both would be played eventually as final declara- tions. Also that the same conven- tions should govern them. On the other hand. it is argued that the par amount idea in bridge is to make game, and as II tricks are necessary Tor game in free minor suit bid. it is better to use the minor suit initially as guide to the partner Tor no trump or a major suit. h. deed, this Is the majority view and Is the standard adopted here. Minimum Initial Bids of One minimum initial one no trump declaration represents about queens strength better than tho average high card hand with three
 guarded suits. and tells the partner he can depend on three tricks or bet ter, either for defense or assi sistance- 1t says if the partner can help de- ciarer would like to play out the declaration.
 A minimum one major suit dec,ara-
 tion informs the partner of four sure tricks If the suit is trump, or two 1 sure tricks for defense or support.
 It also expresses the hope that the suit will go through as trump. An initial one minor suit declara-
 tion offers assistance to the partner in case he can go to no trump or
 some major suit. It says q have two more tricks. Take me out in l any assistance."
 l 1t might be well to say here that initial minor suit declarations on
 these lines are somewhat dangerous 1 with inexperienced players, or those not familiar with the conventions of
 the game, since they might be apt ! to raise the declaration. which might prove embarrassing. How to avoid l this is to use the Five Essential