by: WillReich_77

1/5/2000

or any Strong 1C system. The opening bid of 1C to show a strong hand will often lead to an excellent constructive auction. However, it is clearly weak in a competitive sense as it has no bearing on what suit(s) the opener actually holds. Thus, we can generally concede that when the hands around the table are fairly balanced, the enemy is going to get to a normal or even superior contract. However, when we have a bit of shape, we should try to get the bidding to an uncomfortable level before opener can begin to show his or her colors.

We use the bids of Double, 1D, 1H and 1S to show one-suited hands, the Double shows Clubs. One key here is never to psyche one of these bids as it will make partner too cautious on the five hands that you DON'T psyche. These bids show five-baggers but the Double and 1D bid may be on six-card suits. The suit quality required is a function of vulnerability and the point count is pretty much irrelevant. The important thing about these bids is that partner should count his cards in the suit and raise you to the appropriate level. With three card support, go to the two level, with four, go to the three level and with five, go to the four level are a reasonable and actually fairly conservative set of guidelines. While responder may have been able to show something about his/her hand, opener may have a real problem at this point.

Direct overcalls of 1N, 2C and 2D are used to show two-suited hands.

Overcalls of 2H and 2S show six card suits and three level bids show seven-baggers with partner expected to go to the total tricks level as above.

Imagine that you have opened 1C on KQTXX - XX - AKQX - AX, expecting to show a good, but limited, hand with a 1S bid but LHO has Doubled, showing Clubs, partner has passed, showing fewer than eight HCP and RHO has bid 2C. OK, you say, I bid 2S. However, what if you were dealt AKQTXX - AKXX - X - AKX and were intending to JUMP to 2S over partner's 1D. What do you bid now and how do you tell the difference? Do you bid 3S to force and eat up ALL your bidding room? If you pass on the first hand is it forcing and if it IS, what do you do with an ordinary Strong NT which might not be suitable for the pass to be forcing.

This is just he beginning of opener's problems and the bidding can easily be at a very high level before he or she can bid a suit.

We use the bids of 1NT, 2C and 2D to show all six possible two-suiters over the opponents Strong 1C.

How can you show six possible combinations with only three bids? Through the modern miracle of ambiguity.

1N shows EITHER the Red suits or the Black suits; Color.

2C shows EITHER the Majors or the Minors; Rank. AND

2D shows Either Hearts and Clubs (Round suits) or Spades and Diamonds (Pointed suits); Shape.

Partner should further the preemption as far as he or she wants to go in the more pessimistic strain. You correct to the "next noise" if that is not one of your suits and partner now goes to his or her other choice.

An example or two should suffice.

QXXXXX - XX - JTXX - X RHO opens 1C (Strong) partner bids 1N (Color). You don't think partner has the Black suits but you are prepared to play at a fairly high level if he or she does. If partner has the Red suits, you have a nine card fit and the opponents can only play in their (excellent) Club fit or in NT. You should be willing to pay off in 3D if that is the case, so you go there. If partner corrects (to 3H, his or her bid is meaningless) to show a Black two-suiter, you will go to the moon in Spades, at least to the five level. If the opponents just ignore your bid and go on to Hearts at a high level, take the Spade bid; they are telling you partner has the Black suits.

Same hand. Partner bids 2C, Majors or Minors. You are willing to play 3D or 5S, just as above. So bid 3D and await developments. This time, they can play Clubs if he has the Majors, Hearts if he has the Minors.

Same hand. Partner bids 2D (shape) You should bid 2H?? This is as high as you are willing to go opposite Hearts and Clubs. It is very likely TOO high but bid it confidently and HOPE that partner has the other suits. If he pulls 2H, you will go a long way in Spades, with the double fit for both sides, you should want to buy the hand at almost any level.

With a much better Spade suit and distaste for the round suits, it would be correct to bid 2H initially. If partner doesn't pull it, pull it yourself to 2S if it is doubled. That says "I don't care what your two suits are, let me alone." A hand to justify this tactic would be KQTXXXX - XX - XXX - X. If you have to play 2H undoubled, that is life. In fact, you probably don't own the hand in any case. With most hands, just play in your longer suit of partner's two.

BTW, Truscott is better with the two-suiters. Immediate preemption is better than ambiguity. Partner can really jack it up when he knows what suits you hold. However, it uses up SIX bids and makes it harder to bid one suiters and one suiters when they encounter a fit seem to do more damage to Club system players than two-suiters do. Besides, CRASH is fun and gives the partner of the initial CRASH bidder a really interesting set of options.

Bill Reich

Slow pairs, please go home