1,000+ Great Games/1_1000 Games.iso/DOSGAMES/MARVIN13.ZIP/OPENBID.4CA

Text File | 1995-12-13 | 5.8 KB | 117 lines

                     WHAT IS AN OPENING BID?


The requirements for an opening bid of one in a suit are a matter
of personal preference for natural bidders. Some will open light,
some will not--it is not a matter of system. In my experience,
however, the super-light opening with trashy suits does not work
out well in a system of natural bidding. It seems like a con-
tradiction of the word "natural" to open the bidding with a weak
hand and a suit like J842. The opening lead benefits that normally
arise from natural bidding are undermined by such openings, and it
is difficult for partner to judge many hands when he must allow for
both a bad hand and a bad suit.

Light opening bids with balanced hands have an affect on other
bids, too. The 1NT rebid range must be reduced to 12-14 HCP,
leading to a 15-17 HCP notrump opening, an 18-19 HCP jump rebid of
2NT, and a 20-21 HCP 2NT opening. The last three range changes are
overbids that often lead to a bad result.

The sort of light openings that work well with natural bidding are
those based on good suits, especially good major suits, and
distributional strength. It is easy to stop bidding in this system,
even after a two-over-one response. Other systems find it difficult
to stop at a low level after a two-over-one response, because their
bidding sequences roll along with a momentum that is difficult to
brake. That is why some players will pass with a promising hand
such as S-AK987 H-KJ87 D-3 C-942, but will open 1C with a worthless
collection such as S-Q87 H-Q83 D-AK2 C-J642, hoping they can slow
things down by rebidding 1NT.

We often hear statements of this sort in the duplicate club: "I
open all twelve (or eleven!) point hands."  No qualifications, no
exceptions, just a flat statement that shows an abysmal ignorance
of what bidding is all about. It also reveals a pathetic dependence
on the 4-3-2-1 point count, a notrump evaluation system that must
be all fudged up with "adjustments" to have any validity in suit
bidding (for which a 3-2-1-1/2 count would be more accurate).

All bridge writers are agreed on this subject of hand evaluation
with the 4-3-2-1 count, but there are many otherwise fine bridge
players who will or will not make a certain call because they have
or have not the point count prescribed for that call (e.g., a
Precision 1C opening requiring 16 HCP). They give no consideration
to the fact that honors are worth more in combination with other
honors than when standing alone, or that it is better to have high
cards in long suits rather than in short suits. Wasn't it Cul-
bertson who accused such people of knowing "the price of everything
and the value of nothing"?

Instead of making categorical statements about the point count
requirements for an opening bid, bidders should vary their minimum
point count for opening in accordance with these considerations:

-- Opening lead support. If you can open the bidding with a suit
headed by AK or KQJ, there is good reason to stretch for an opening
bid, especially in a matchpoint game.

-- Suit solidity (e.g., QJ1097) provides a measure of safety for
the light opener. A suit like Q8642 is not likely to provide a
haven in a storm of doubling.

-- Major suit holdings are important. With 5-5 or 5-4 in the majors
you have a better chance of reaching a reasonable but light game
or of outbidding the opponents. Light minor suit openings do not
have such potential.

-- Major suit openings have preemptive value. The opponents must
usually come in at the two level, and may not be able to come in
at all when the hand actually belongs to them.

-- The quality of the opposition is a consideration. This factor
must not be over-emphasized, because even bad players can take
tricks if they have lots of high cards. The main advantage arises
from the fact that weak bidders have a difficult time when the
other side opens the bidding. They can manage well enough when
their side opens, but they do not have the skill or judgment
required for accuracy in overcalling, doubling for takeout, and
other defensive actions. Also, they defend poorly.

-- Partner's tendencies and skill must be taken into account. To
open the bidding light opposite an aggressive or unskilled partner
is bad strategy.

-- Ease of rebid often enters into the opening bid decision. If
there is a fair chance that you will have to make a bad rebid, it
is better to pass a doubtful hand. A 1S response leaves you in a
poor position when you have opened 1C with S-3 H-Q873 D-AK5
C-Q8762. It is better to pass such a hand.

-- Honors in combination are worth more than isolated honors. Pass
with S-Q62 H-K8763 D-K54 C-A5, but open 1H with S-863 H-KQ763 D-AK5
C-42.

-- It is better to have high cards in long suits than in short
suits. Pass with S-AQ H-J87632 D-A3 C-543, open 1H with S-76
H-AQJ632 D-A3 C-543.

-- Vulnerability can be a factor, especially in an IMP or total
point game. Not vulnerable open 1H with S-3 H-Q8762 D-KJ7 C-AQ83,
but such an opening could lead to a large adverse swing when vul-
nerable.

-- Light openings of one in a suit in first or second seat with a
defensive sort of hand (e.g., S-AJ H-Q932 D-Q975 C-A109) are best
made when no one is vulnerable. Going down two tricks (or one
doubled) may be okay, while passing and beating the opponents two
tricks (or one doubled) may not be okay. Going down two when
vulnerable (or one doubled) is not okay, while passing and beating
them two tricks (or one doubled) when they are vulnerable is okay,
so tend to pass this sort of doubtful hand when either side is
vulnerable. Besides, a 1H bid is unappetizing with the example
hand. If playing weak notrumps, a 1NT bid describes the hand so
well that it should not be eschewed at any vulnerability.

-- An opening hand in any seat should include at least two
defensive tricks (QJ=1/2, K=1/2, A=1, KQ=1, AK=2).