Tools of low level auction
Responding Partner’s Opening ‘Double’
By first round Double, your partner told you that he has no biddable 5
card suit but holding near opening/supportive hand. This is takeout double
inviting your response.
i) Your partner made a takeout double. You have a low hand with no
5 card suit to respond. What to do?
Add the level of the contract + Number of quick tricks except trump
+ Count of Trump honors held including the Ten.
If this sum is 9 or more, pass the takeout double for penalty.
If this sum is 8 or less, bid best suit and don’t let the double
stand. Bid nearest NT with a low hand(even if you hold a 5 card
suit).
This NT bid is semi-forcing for one round.
Skipping response level with a new suit shows 5 card and joint HCP
up to bid level.
ii) When Opponents 1NT opening is Doubled, use Staymen e.t.c system.
iii) Any Double, where previous auction expressed mismatch in home
suit(s) by both partnerships, is for Penalty.
Responding Partners Redouble
Redouble initially sends a message to bid 2nd suit.
i) Pass with a low hand with a fair suit.
ii) Bid the 2nd suit with any hand without any further infringement.
But with infringement, the 2nd suit bid should be with a higher hand.
Special Double:
i) A Double may be used to stop opponents from attempting Slam at 3
level upwards.
ii) With opponents Weak-2 Bid/Pre-empt/weak raise in a suit upto 3
level, Double is inviting partners suit with HCP competent to
support up to the bidding level.
If partner has a prior bid, this double is game force in partners
suit.
If partner has no prior bid, this double shows near NT opening
hand. Bid the best suit with no game force.
But if the partner responds with cheapest NT, he tells you a game
going hand. Use Stayman system to get the final contract.
iii) Double on opponents artificial bid or over the response against
Control query is lead directing double.
Responding partners NT with a flat hand:
Your partner bid 1NT. You have weak 8 HCP, no 4 card Major or 5 card Minor
and unsure what to do. Shall you raise or pass.
If your HCP + Count of cards which are 8 or higher = 16 or more, straight
raise bid to 3NT. Otherwise, Pass.
But even with 8 or slight below hand, if you hold one Major 4 card and your
hand complies the above rule, use Stayman.
Principles of Low level auction:
i) When making an overcall with 5 card suit and low HCP, add count of
honors
with length of your suit. If such sum is less than the bidding level
trick
requirement, don’t Bid.
ii) In a part game auction when there is misfit with your partner, add
your joint minimum HCP. From that sum, deduct 40 to get the maximum
HCP that the opponent may hold. Now, derive the level of contract the
opponent may bid out of such HCP.
If it is marginally outside of contract requirement;
Count of your Trump winner in Opponent suit + Opponents Trick
Requirement = If 10 or more ---- Double for penalty.
How far We can bid in a Part Game contract:
To derive contract level in a part game contract, The Law of Total trick is the
tool.
For ‘Vulnarable’ and ‘Both Non-Vulnarable’ hand :
Level of Bid is determined as :
Sum of total Trump in both hand + Sum of Opponents auction suit in
opponent hand – 11 = Sum of both opposing bid within Safety barrier.
Explanation: Assuming you are with Diamond and they are with Hearts.
From Bid, support and auction it reveals that you have 8
Card fit and they have 9 card fit.
So, sum of bidding level is restricted to 8+9-11=6.
That is against their 2S auction, your maximum level is 3D.
They are competent to bid 3S (3+3=6). But if they bid 4,
short is for sure.
For Non-Vulnarable hand when opponent is Vulnarable :
Level of Bid is the Sum derived under above formula + 1.
Adjustment with the above: One may override the rule:
a) When you have a strong Trump Holding.
b) Match in side suit along with Trump suit.
c) Shortness in opponent’s suit.
d) Unbalanced hand where one suit is agreed.
How far We can bid in a Game contract:
Considering A,K and Q are Winners in a suit, there are 12 winners in 4 suits. In
opposite side, there are 12 losers. So, the sum of winner and loser is 24.
Calculation of Loser:
Own hand: To ascertain loser in own hand:
count of A,K and Q (-) count of singleton winners except Ace
(+) Add ½ on a sequence of AQ in a suit (-) Deduct ½ for Qxx in outside
suit but, do not deduct if backed by J(QJx) (+) 3 for void
(+) 2 for singleton = Number of winning trick.
Deduct Winning Trick from 12, you get Losing Trick count.
However, in case of extra long hand, deduct from 13.
Partners hand: Bidding derives minimum HCP in partners hand.
Divide such by 3. The result is his winning trick count.
Deducting the winning trick from 12 gives Losing Trick Count
in partners hand.
Net Loser : Add losing tricks of both hand, then reduce 1 loser to
arrive the Net Loser.
Expected Trick:
In case of suit match: 24 – Net Loser = Expected tricks.
For NT contract= HCP in both hand + 1 = Expected tricks.
Your bidding level is guided by expected Trick
