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 OBAR BIDS - Acronym for Opponents Bid And Raise - Balance In Direct Seat.  Popularized by Larry Cohen in "To Bid Or Not To Bid: The Law of Total Tricks". Conceptually, when one side discovers a trump fit at the 2 level trump (beneath 2 Spades), the other side should consider entering the auction - even bidding without substantive values in direct seat.  While many might make a bid in the balancing/passout seat ("borrowing partner's King"), making a freebid in direct seat is typically viewed as showing additional values - no so playing OBAR BIDS.

Criteria to consider when making an OBAR BIDS:

1.

Sensitive to Vulnerability  - caution when unfavorable "Red versus White"

2.

Shortage in OBAR suit

3.

Reasonable length in higher ranking suit

4.

Working values - honors in higher ranking and side suits

5.

Quality of hand - controls, primary honors, intermediate values, sequences, etc

 

Also see Environmental Factors

 Example:

P - (1H) - P - (2H);
2S
                                 A reasonable bid holding:

K Q J 8 2                     Nice sequence, working values, and good lead direction
5 3
J 10 5
9 6 4

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