The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-01-20
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! EASY LESSONS IN
! AUCTION BRIDGE
BY PAUL H. SEYMOUR
I Author Of "Highlights on Auction Bridge"
Article Seven.
Defensive Bids
Copyright. by Hoyle. Jr.,

Defensive Bios
4 DEFENSIVE bid has been de-
"A fined as one made upon less than
original bidding strength after an OPP
ponent has bid.
If dealer makes a bid he thereby
assumes the offensive in the game,
and the opponents, unless very strong,
must act defensively. 1t is so impor-
tant for them to prevent dealers DID
winning the declaration that they may
venture a bid upon less than original
bid strength. Most authorities agree
that it is best to bid In this situation
even with ~ quick trick less; there
fore IL quick tricks is all that Is
considered necessary for defensive
bid
Different conditions alter circum-
stances to such an extent that we
shall consider the bidding by second
hand under the following headings:
After dealers bid of one of suit,
second hand may
G) Overbid in another suit.
(2) Overbid in no trump (not de-
fensive).
CD, Use the informatory double
mot defensive).
ID When second hand contemplates
overriding dealer, there are num-
Der of points to be considered. Is
there danger of dealers going game If
his bid is left in? If so, second hand
should bid defensively if possible.
The strength required for such bid
of one in a higher valued suit than
dealer has bid, is one and half quick
tricks. If second hand must bid two
he should have two quick tricks or
original bidding strength.
If second hand is so strong that he
feels sure dealer cannot go game, a
second question arises: has he suffi-
cient strength to attempt to wrest the
offensive away from the dealer? With
good original bidding strength in a
major this would seem possible, and
second hand should therefore overbid
dealer when holding an original bid
in a major suit.
A minor suit having been bid by
dealer, second hand holding hand of
about two quick tricks value knows
THAT he can prevent game being made
in that minor, but possibly feels that
he will be unable to make game at
major unless his partner holds
strength enough for a defensive bid.
ha
not only is there a chance of his part
ner's making bid which would great
ly help towards finding their best
declaration, but third hand is very
sure to take out his partners minor
If he holds as good as a defensive bid
in major, and either positive or neg
alive information on this point would
be of great value to second hand.
Therefore second hand should pass
many minor suit bids with the expec-
tation of bidding on the second round
after cleaning as much information as
possible from the intervening bids or
passes. With a major suit bid, how
ever, second hand cannot be so sure
of being able to prevent game, and
the necessity for a defensive bid is
frequently apparent. The following
examples illustrate these various
points.
After dealer bids one heart, secono
hand should bid one spade if he holds:
O S-A Xxx K; H-x x; D.
& X X; C-XX.
(2) SIX Xxx; Xxx; Do ]
<; C-xxX.
He should bid two clubs if he holds:
(3) S-xxx; H-x K; DIX Q x;
OK Qxxx.
(4 SO ] x; H-x x; DIX Xxx;
ca 10 Xxx.
If dealers bid is one of q minor
clubs, for instance-and second hand
holds the following hands he should
pass, because there is no danger of
dealers going game at clubs nor any
hope of second hands being able to go
game in any bid unless his partner
has sufficient strength to make a de-
fensive bid:
Q) S-A ] x; H-K x; DIX x;
CT x Xxx.
(2) SIX x; H-K Q K; D-A Q
Z x; C-x x.
Second hands bid therefore may be
purely defensive and made upon less
than original bidding strength, or it
may be made on more than minimum
strength in an effort to wrest the Of
fensive from the dealer. Fourth hand
cannot always be sure which form Of
bid his partner has made, but since it
may be defensive he should credit him
with only defensive strength.