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Detail specifications 48AA - Level 2 ★

Competitive bidding

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Competitive bidding. When to continue bidding
The main decision criteria :
  • Your hand distribution is a crucial factor :
    • Holding a strong balanced hand, give preference to a punitive double
    • With an interesting distribution, reassess your hand and continue bidding accordingly...
  • The Law of Total Tricks (LoTT), written by Jean-René Vernes : the number of tricks a pair can make matches the number of trump cards both partners hold
  • Vulnerability : undertricks are very costy when you are vulnerable....
  • Your low honors are not worth the same if you are playing or defending :
    • When you are the declarer, your low honors will be more fruitful in long suits
    • When you are defending, they have a greater value in short suits

SWNE
1
1
1
3
3
4
4
Pass
Pass
Pass
K
Q
10
7
5
K
J
10
7
6
4
3
2
Problem 27275 Advantageous vulnerability... the perfect hand to continue bidding !
 
 
The vulnerability criterion
Pay attention to the vulnerability when you choose to either pass, continue bidding or double.
  • Green vs Red
    • If they make a game, your opponents will score 600 or 620
    • 1 trick down gives them 100, 2 down 300, and 3... 500
    • It is worth a try, but don't get 4 tricks down.. you would give your opponents 800, more than a successful game
  • Red vs Green, different situation!
    • One trick down is 200, 2 are 500 , which is more than a successful game
    • When Red vs Green, be careful and wise in your bidding

Q
7
5
4
A
K
8
7
2
A
6
5
4
SWNE
Pass
1
1
5
Pass
Pass
Pass
Q
J
10
9
6
A
10
8
3
2
J
9
7
Exercise 4♥ is not enough ! Be agressive, shoot : 5♥...10 trump cards in your line, and you have an Ace and a void. Don't be shy... It's going to be tough for your opponents. Difficult to bid 5♠ with so little information.
 
 
The Law of Total Tricks (LoTT) written by jean-René Vernes :
When both pairs have approximately the same HCP count, the number of tricks one can make matches the number of trump cards both partners hold. It's a statistical law...which one can verify most of the time... but not at all times !
SWNE
2
3
9
5
3
A
Q
4
A
6
3
Q
10
5
4
A
10
K
J
10
9
8
2
J
10
7
A
K
    
    
    
6
2
7
6
3
K
Q
8
5
2
8
3
2
K
Q
J
8
7
4
5
9
4
J
9
7
6
Exercise 27264 : A good example for the LoTT : each pair has approximately 20 HCP. NS may safely bid 3♠ (9 tricks contract).
 
 
Penalty double
When you have more HCP than your opponents, but can't be sure of a game, give preference to a penalty double, overall if you are Green vs Red.
In conclusion
In case of reasonable doubt, continue bidding :
  • your opponents may make bidding mistakes, too
  • When a game is possible in both lines, you'll avoid big score gaps

SWNE
1
1
2
4
X
K
7
3
K
Q
10
9
8
K
J
8
2
J
Problem 20261 With this hand, no Ace, no support, no information on another possible fit, give preference to a penalty double.2 undertricks will be worth more than a game...which may actually fail, in this case.
 
 
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