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Detail specifications UV10 - Level 1 ★

The 'Law of total tricks'

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High level bidding
When both camps have irregular fitted hands, the bidding can be competitive until high levels.
If a camp has shown at least 23H or committed to going to game without bidding it, iit is said to be in " offense", the opps camp is then in "defense".Examples of NS camps NS in 'offense' :
South West North
1♠ Pass 2♣ ...
2♦ Pass ...
1♣ 1♠ 2♠....
In these cases,
  • Either North South plays a contract it is hoping to make,
  • or East West plays a sacrificecontract it thinks will go down... but hopes to not go down too much or not be doubled
As a consequense,
  • Pass, by a player in offense is forcing and encourages his partner to overbid
  • The double is punitive and discourages his partner from overbidding
 
"Pass" and "double" by the camp on offense
In these cases,
  • Either North South plays a contract it is hoping to make,
  • or East West plays a sacrificecontract it thinks will go down... but hopes to not go down too much or not be doubled
As a consequense,
  • Pass, by a player in offense is forcing and encourages his partner to overbid
  • The double is punitive and discourages his partner from overbidding
  • With a reasonable doubt, you should overbid : on the one hand, the opps could get it wrong by overbidding as well, on the other hand it avooids big swings when both games make. It's a sort of insurance.
    • SWNE
    4
    Pass
    Pass
    X
    Pass
    5
    4
    10
    8
    6
    J
    10
    6
    K
    Q
    10
    7
    3
    2
    Exercise E20652 In South overbid to 5 ♦ with this hand : You'll avoid a catastrophy if 4♥ doubled makes and 5♦ also makes..
     
     
    Decision support : Should you overbid ?
    • Your distribution is the key criteria in the decision to overbid. Consequently a hand rich in HCP and defensive tricks should prioritize doubling
    • The 'Law of total tricks' : When both camps have approximatively the same points count , The number of tricks to split between the 2 camps is equal to the sum of the number of cards help by each camp in its long suit.
    • lower honors, mainly Jacks and Queens, do not have the same value in attack and in defense
      • They have a lot more value in offense in a long suit
      • They have no value in defense in a short suit
    • Vulnerabilities play a large part in decision making : Down tricks, doubled and vulnerable can be very costly
    SWNE
    1
    Pass
    2
    4
    Pass
    2
    A
    Q
    9
    7
    4
    A
    9
    4
    K
    J
    10
    2
    Exercise 20650 Pass, an overbid by North would please you
     
    SWNE
    1
    Pass
    2
    4
    X
    Q
    7
    K
    Q
    9
    8
    3
    Q
    6
    K
    J
    10
    4
    Exercise 20651 Double, to try and prevent North from overbidding : You have no Ace, The Queen ♠ is worthless and you distribution is unfortunate...
     
     
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