Monthly Publication of Tips, Quotes, and Humor
Monthly Publication of Tips, Quotes, and
Humor
|
January 2007
BONDING
What a year! The good guys, some who drink their scotch “neat”,
are going to beat the bad guys, win all the girls’
hearts, and play splendid bridge. Enjoy it while you
may; it won’t repeat for another 100 years. No, it’s
not Halley’s comet, it’s the 007 year. THE ONE WHO KNOWS
Consider this bidding sequence:
WEST EAST 1 © 3 © West has an opener (or better) and five hearts. East’s jump raise is a limit raise promising three hearts and 11 to 12 points. Who knows the combined values of both hands? Only West of course. East does not know West's potential but West certainly knows East's limits. Hence West has become the bidding captain - the one to decide where to play the deal - part score, game or slam.
Sometimes the responder becomes captain:
WEST EAST 1© 1 ª 2© West’s second bid (2©) limited her values to 13 to 15 (and probably six hearts). East becomes captain and if she decides on game, she must either go there directly or make a forcing bid.
These examples are basic and rather obvious. The principle
being that when one player limits her strength to a range of 2
or 3 points, the other partner becomes captain.
The
captaincy principle is much more than a beginner's tool. Coming
next month - captaincy in more advanced bidding sequences. SING ALONG lyrics written by Don Simmon to be sung to the tune of “Old Man River“:
Overbidder, dat over bidder,
When he shows somethin’ it don’t mean nothing’. He jes’ keeps biddin’, he keeps on biddin’ along.
Ah gets weary, the strain’s amazin’
Ah’m tired of passin’ and feared of raisin’. But Overbidder, he jes’ keeps biddin’ along.
BridgeSnaps newsletter is produced by John S. Thomas, author of Standard American 21. |