How High to Bid
Suppose you hold the following at IMP’s, neither vul:
6 5
9 8 7 5 4
Q 10 3 2
8 2
Partner opens 1 and RHO passes. Let us suppose that you have a pre-emptive 3-level raise of some sort in your arsenal. Would you use it, or would you bid something else? Decide before continuing.
This month’s OKBridge Spectator has an interesting article by Matt Granovetter on The Theory of Exhaustion. He presents an interesting hand from last fall’s Bermuda Bowl. I have some thoughts on this, but I’m curious about what the group thinks of Freeman’s tactic.
I would bid 4h.
Iwould bid 3h if it was preemptive
January 1, 2006 Mohan
FREEMANS TACTIC GOOD
January 1, 2006 Mohan
I suppose if I bid 3H now, I will be exhausted.
The “theory of exhaustion” has a ring to it but I suspect it is sophistry. We used to say that we drove people into things when everything was working for them. I like to structure my preempts so that the opponents have no more than 24 HCP between them. This is a range where guesswork can more easily go wrong.
About the Freeman hand, doesn’t the 4 heart bid sound a little suspicious? When in doubt bid one more might be employed. You were likely to make 3S and now you can get out for 50 and not have to risk 420? Why not? I have often said “The auction is never over.” Just trying not to get exhausted.
January 2, 2006 Phil Warden
3H but I can live with 4H. Sometimes opponents may create a winning auction but let’s not forget that Italy won the Cup.
January 2, 2006 Nik