Evening star., 1933-10-28

did not put up par defense. And this
might develop even though your part
ner'S response of two diamonds was in
no sense an underbid Do not be dis
tressed if this happens-on balance you
will gain overwhelmingly by not re-
bidding without rebid in your hand.
The real analysis is that in 19 cases out
of 20 there will be no game for you
Unless Partner Can Respond Immedi-
ately With Two No Trumps,
or, of course some favorable bid such
as two spades or two hearts, bids which
reveal a fit and thus confer immediate
rebid value on your hand and permit a
safe further move on your part. In
conjunction with the hand. to have
a reasonable play for three no trumps
your partner must supply something
like
Sp. Xxx Di. K Q lOXX
Hts J 10 X CT. A j 10
Or
Sp. OK Di x 10 Xxx
Hts. K 10 9 CT. K 9
with either of which his proper re-
SponSe is two no trumpS, not two dla-
monds Note that the second Of the
hands is shaded somewhat in the other
suits because of the queen of spades.
l admit that your partner would
have opened the bidding independently
over a pass by you, with either Of these
hands in the third position. However
you could not know that when you bid
your spade, and the outcome is that
if the hand is played in two diamonds
it is because that is the correct con-
tract: if rightly in three no trumps. 1t
is because the responding hand could
force on the first round by two-no-
trump response. In fourth position it is
clear that your partner would have to
pass out the second of the hands, and
that is why l recommend that only in
second position should you open on any
slight shading based on the virtual
certainty that your partners strength.
if he has any must be concentrated in
the minor suits That is to say, his
strength is almost sure to be in such
form that he will be reluctant to oDen
on minimum values, but nevertheless
that strength will be in Just the suits
where you require it for a no-trump
game.
No Contradiction Here.
am not telling you in one para
graph to open the bidding, and in the
next to pass with exactly the same cards.
am pointing out the factors YOU
should take into consideration, the lines
along which you must exercise fore
sight, in making important decisions
with very close hands. Remember that
what We here call absolute minimum
hands without a real rebid in them are
hands which in most other systems
would be called three and a half
quick trick hands"-that is. hands with
a half or even a whole trick more than
the standard requirements for an OPEN
ing bid
To Resume.
When vulnerable. no not make risky
opening bids with defensive hands
when an unfavorable two-over-one re-
sponse is likely and, If made, cannot
be handled on the next round. When
not vulnerable, do not disdain the de-
fensive advantages conferred by an op-
ening bid of this kind. especially
against vulnerable opponents. In any
case there IS little need to shade as
dealer with a sound Sims partner. for
you may trust him to open light third
hand to protect your pass. When you
are second hand, be willing to bid
your partners hand to some slight ex-
tent when you know from your own
cards that he is likely to have values
only in the minor suits. and therefore
to pass for fear of major suit bidding
developments by the adversaries be-
lieving them to hold most of your high
spades and hearts.
(Copyright, 1933)