Evening star., 1934-07-15
The Strategic Aspect Of the Third
Hand Bid.

AAS SNANtS , ~ as PNNN Va Wan a AAA -
Hand Bid.
HERE is no reason to argue
that you are protecting your
partner. when you bid a weak
Il hand, third-hand position. II
is psychic bid, pure and
simple; at times, not so pure, and
very. very simple. Under the theory
that it is better to be aggressive on
a hand than to paSsively accept what
fate or the dealer dealt you. many
players make such bids.
For example, take the following
hand. played in a rubber bridge
game:
81 az E.xxx g dioHHH
The holder Of this beautiful COL
lection of cards had not been known
to pass third-hand within the men,
ory of living man. Therefore. he bid
one heart. He was playing with
strange partner, however, who had
passed the following
sS 1oSx PASS
Fourth hand doubled. DiSliking to
redouble without heart support, this
player conservatively bid two no.
trumps He was firmly of the belief
that the hand would play best in no
trumps, unless his partner could
show him another suit, and he wished
to place the declaration in the correct
hand. Fourth hands double was evi-
IDENTIFY psychic. When secondhand
doubled two no-trumps, however,
things began to take on slightly
bluer tinge. without batting an eye
lash, third hand quickly bid three
hearts, but 1t was too late. He got
doubled at that contract also, and
went down four tricks-a nice save,
when the opponents didn't have a
game.
You can see the advantages Of a
club bid, third-hand, on the above
hand. IF you really feel that you
have to bid at all) Partner has a
perfect che-over- in diamonds.
The subsequent bidding depends on
how. when and If the opponents enter
the auction, and how strongly the
opener feels about disclosing a psychic
by passing a one-over-one force. The
bidding might get as high as three
diamonds, but even three diamonds Is
better contract than three hearts.
advise you, however, to vary your
tactics occasionally by passing third
hand, when you don't have a bid.
Otherwise, you will give second hand
the advantage of being able to pass
big hand, serenely confident that
you will open the bidding, and that he
may get bigger score by trapping
you than by bidding his own hand
Psychics seem to act as a drug, and
if they don't put you to sleep, your
partner eventually will-with base
ball bat.
This method of handling the third
hand bid grades the suits perfectly,
allowing for partners possible re-
sponses. When you bid a spade, or
a heart, the bidding will probably
reach the two level, at least. There
fore. your minimum spade or heart
bid must have some definite strength.
have placed it at two primary
tricks, unless your hand is two-suited,
so that you are prepared to rebid for
oOulC Il4ilC, uC4cuolFCly. WIlcu yOu
bid a minor suit, however, your
partner can presumably keep the bid
ding at the one level by giving you
a one Overcome. And you can sign
off with one no-trump-still at the
one level. Therefore, your third-hand
minor suit bid merely tells your
partner II have decided to take some
action on this hand"
Perhaps the opponents have the
preponderance Of the strength against
you. If SO, you will almost surely get
minus score on the hand But if
your bidding prevents their getting
together correctly, or they double you
at a contract, and you suffer only a
small loss, then it has served its pur-
pose.
(Copyright. 1934)
Mr.. Sims will answer all inquiries on
contract that are addressed to this news
paper with self-addressed stamped en-
velope.