Falling Into A Common Trap

Bids that mean everything mean nothing.

Many moons ago at a local club duplicate, my partner, after one pass from the opponents, opened 4 Clubs. While we were playing Gerber, I took this as a pre-empt in clubs and all passed. It was intended as an ask for aces and we got a bottom. To her credit my partner said nothing except it was intended as Gerber.

The very next hand at the same table, the same partner opened 4 Clubs as dealer. You guessed it, this time it was a pre-empt.

Afterwards, when I suggested that I am not a mind reader she was unable to see that one bid could not mean two very different things when there might be no chance of later clarification.

Recently another partner fell into a similar trap. This partner held:

A Q J 9 7 6
A 2
7 4
Q 3 2

The bidding had gone 1 Heart, pass from me and 1 Spade on her right. Her choice of bid was double and over 4 Hearts on my right, believing we had a double fit and so little defensive values, I bid 5 Clubs as I held:

8
6 4
Q J 9 6 2
K 10 8 7 6

The 1000 plus penalty was a complete bottom although I enjoyed the challenge of making the best of a bad job.

This partner realised immediately I bid 5 Clubs that her bid was not descriptive of her hand.

Are you or one of your partners guilty of falling into the trap of making bids mean what you want them to mean?

One of my partners invented a new bidding system - similar to the Polish Club - and I promised to let readers know how it is going.

We have played it at several clubs and it is going well. There are very few unclear situations that still need resolving, but on balance it has less problems of description than say Acol or Two over One. Also there are many advantages to not having to respond with a four card major and knowing more than usual about partners hand when partner has opened and the opponents buy the contract.

Enjoy your bridge.
R. Wells Simple Tips with Big Impact