{"id":1772,"date":"2011-02-13T16:18:09","date_gmt":"2011-02-14T00:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=1772"},"modified":"2013-02-15T22:53:07","modified_gmt":"2013-02-16T06:53:07","slug":"polling-you-40-penalty-doubles-and-environmental-factors-11-15-day-5-february-14-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=1772","title":{"rendered":"Polling You #40: Penalty Doubles, Environmental Factors 11-15, Day 6, February 14, 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bridge Penalty Doubles and Environmental Factors 11-15 in Contract Bridge
\nWatch Your Opponents, Know Thy Partner<\/p>\n

Click here to view Part 1 of the video commentary<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

BridgeHands<\/em> members – after logging in, please scroll down to view text and video…<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Okay, we\u2019ve covered Environmental Factors number 1-10, with only 5 more to go.\u00a0 As we\u2019ve mentioned from time to time, Bridge is an ecosystem that lives and breathes with each player\u2019s bid, their play, their gestures and mannerisms \u2013 even knowing their style before sitting down to begin shuffling the cards.\u00a0 When we first begin playing Bridge, we are so focused on ourselves and the basic mechanics of the game we have little hope to be aware of our environment.\u00a0\u00a0 Over time, we realize that Bridge is not a solo event; \u00a0it pays handsome dividends to both be a good partner and trust that your partner wants to help you, too. <\/strong><\/p>\n

When you stop to think about it, nurturing your partnership is the secret sauce of successful Bridge players.\u00a0 But then that\u2019s true with personal and business relationships as well, right?\u00a0\u00a0 Ah, there\u2019s another secret of Bridge \u2013 the things we learn at the Bridge table are transmutable in our daily lives.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Continuing on our paradigm, at some point advancing Bridge players realize that in addition to paying close attention to one\u2019s partner, it pays to keep an eye on the opponents, too.\u00a0 Or as the Chinese General Sun-tzu eloquently stated, <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cKeep your friends close, and your enemies closer.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the above as our backdrop, it\u2019s only right that 3 of the remaining 5 Environmental Factors monitoring on our opponents and we finish up focusing on our golden partner. <\/strong><\/p>\n

11. Analyze opponents<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong> bidding.\u00a0 Pay extra attention to the meaning of opponents<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong> bids.\u00a0 Did one or both of them: pass, preempt, signoff, or make an invitational bid (including a help suit game try)?\u00a0 Obviously, when opponents make a signoff bid but then continue to bid the contract 2 levels in the face of competition, they seem to be willing to take a sacrifice double.\u00a0\u00a0 Ditto when both opponents are passed hand and belatedly bid up to the 3 level. Assuming they are competent bidders, the pair seems to be pressing their good nature and good luck.\u00a0 But be on the lookout for the occasional shrewd opponent who likes to \u201cWalk the dog!\u201d\u00a0 Having extra shape and knowing your side will keep the auction alive, the dog-walkers will slowly make what repeatedly appear to be signoff bids.\u00a0\u00a0 Watch out for these types who have either a really long suit or partner with a big fit and slowly overcall with apparent signoff bids.\u00a0 When seemingly \u201cpushed\u201d to the 4 level, these sneaky players might actually make the game \u2013 how frustrating.\u00a0 Then again, when your side signs off and their ploy is foiled, your side gets the last laugh.\u00a0 Chalk it up to the twists and turns of Bridge \u2013 try to enjoy the irony of Bridge bidders.<\/strong><\/p>\n

12. Pushing opponents into game. Perhaps your side has shortness in their major suit, the opponents are tentative competitive bidders, their side is non-vulnerable, or you help them \u201cdiscover\u201d a double fit (making a help suit game try).\u00a0 When pushing the contract to 3 Spades or 4 Hearts, be aware that when they believe you\u2019re likely to make your contract, they may push on an outbid you.\u00a0 And when enough of the above \u201cstars are in the wrong position,\u201d you may have pushed them into a game bid.\u00a0 If so, are you prepared to punt, i.e., make a Penalty Double?<\/strong><\/p>\n

13. Observing opponents \u201ctells.\u201d\u00a0 No doubt, the better the players the more observant they are noticing hesitations, hitches, gestures, timing\/tempo, body movements and even the manner in which a bid is made.\u00a0 It would be nice if we could always make a bid in 7 seconds with exactly the same expressionless, robotic movements but after all, Bridge is supposed to be fun, right?\u00a0 Incidentally, the Laws of Bridge forbid a player from deliberately making a false gesture, mannerism, or the like to deceive an opponent.\u00a0 \u201cFalse tells\u201d are a big no-no in our game, so never attempt an antic such as needlessly hesitating when you hold a singleton and it is your turn to play (Law 73.d.2<\/a>).\u00a0 Of course you are not required to play the card within one second \u2013 just play the card in your average tempo but not a moment longer. <\/strong><\/p>\n

14. Conventions.\u00a0 Love them or hate them, most Bridge players cannot resist bidding candy, and conventional agreements take the cake.\u00a0 The Help Suit Game Try can be a useful tool when you have 6 losers in hand.\u00a0 Support Doubles are useful to discover whether partner has 3 or 4 card support of your major suit.\u00a0 And Maximal Doubles can be a great tool to use when opponents have bid at the 3 level and their suit it lower ranking than your agreed upon suit.\u00a0 And that\u2019s just the beginning but let us not get totally sidetracked plunging in the depths of conventions today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

15. Partnership bidding style.\u00a0 Are you or your partner a frisky bidder?\u00a0 Or maybe one of you takes the conservative low road, especially to offset partner\u2019s bidding?\u00a0 In competitive bidding perhaps the mantra should go, \u201cknow thyself AND know thy partner!\u201d\u00a0 Sometimes throwing the \u201clong bomb\u201d (bidding game) wins the game \u2013 do you feel lucky?\u00a0 Especially playing against far better players, some lessor opponents feel the urge to \u201cmix it up.\u201d\u00a0 In Duplicate Bridge we call this going for a swing board, shooting for either a top or bottom score on the hand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Special Note: BridgeHands has changed the play of the cards format – here’s the new format:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Trick<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

South<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

West<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

North<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

East<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1. S<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 6<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 A<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 J<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 5<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2. W<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 7<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 10<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 2<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 Q<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

So from now on, each player play will be uniformly displayed in the same column (South lead the first trick and is always in column one on the above example).\u00a0 West won trick one, the Ace is underlined.\u00a0 So on trick two, the row begins with “W” to show West won the prior trick.\u00a0 West led the Heart 10, followed by the H2 by North, the HQ by East which won the trick (underlined), to South’s 7 (wrap around to column one), etc.\u00a0\u00a0 The advantage of this format is that you can quickly scan down a column to see each card played by a given player and determine the number of tricks a player earned (the number of cards underlined).\u00a0\u00a0 We hope you enjoy this new format.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Polling You #40, Board 1a<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Board 4<\/em><\/strong>
\nWest Deals
\nBoth Vul<\/td>\n		\u2660 K J 10 9 4 3 2
\n\u2665<\/span> K 2
\n\u2666<\/span> K 6
\n\u2663 10 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2660 A
\n\u2665<\/span> 10 9 8
\n\u2666<\/span> A Q J 8
\n\u2663 A 9 8 5 2<\/td>\n		\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
N<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
W<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\nE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
S<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n\u2660 5
\n\u2665<\/span> A Q 5 4 3
\n\u2666<\/span> 10 9 7 5
\n\u2663 Q J 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\u2660 Q 8 7 6
\n\u2665<\/span> J 7 6
\n\u2666<\/span> 4 3 2
\n\u2663 K 4 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n
West<\/em><\/td>\nNorth<\/em><\/td>\nEast<\/em><\/td>\nSouth<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1 \u2666<\/span><\/td>\n1 \u2660<\/td>\n2 \u2665<\/span><\/td>\n2 \u2660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3 \u2665<\/span><\/td>\nPass<\/td>\n4 \u2665<\/span><\/td>\nAll pass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Trick<\/em><\/td>\nSouth<\/em><\/td>\nWest<\/em><\/td>\nNorth<\/em><\/td>\nEast<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1. S<\/td>\n\u2660 6<\/td>\n\u2660 A<\/span><\/td>\n\u2660 J<\/td>\n\u2660 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2. W<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> 7<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> 10<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> 2<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> Q<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3. E<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> 6<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> 8<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> K<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> A<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4. E<\/td>\n\u2663 3<\/td>\n\u2663 2<\/td>\n\u2663 7<\/td>\n\u2663 Q<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5. E<\/td>\n\u2663 4<\/td>\n\u2663 A<\/span><\/td>\n\u2663 10<\/td>\n\u2663 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6. W<\/td>\n\u2663 K<\/span><\/td>\n\u2663 5<\/td>\n\u2660 3<\/td>\n\u2663 J<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7. S<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> 4<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> J<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> K<\/span><\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8. N<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> 2<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> 8<\/span><\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> 6<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9. W<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> 3<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> Q<\/span><\/td>\n\u2660 2<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> 9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10. W<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> J<\/span><\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> A<\/td>\n\u2660 4<\/td>\n\u2666<\/span> 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11. S<\/td>\n\u2660 7<\/td>\n\u2663 8<\/td>\n\u2660 9<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> 3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12. E<\/td>\n\u2660 8<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> 9<\/span><\/td>\n\u2660 10<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> 4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13. W<\/td>\n\u2660 Q<\/td>\n\u2663 9<\/td>\n\u2660 K<\/td>\n\u2665<\/span> 5<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

While West has 5 Clubs, with a 1=3=4=5 shape and most honors in Diamonds, thoughtful West\u2019s will open 1 Diamond.\u00a0 This way if partner bids 1 Spade, opener can rebid 2 Clubs to show 9 cards in the minors with Spade shortness (opening 1C and rebidding 2D shows a reverse, a 17+ HCP hand).\u00a0 With a very nice 7 card Spade suit and 4 losers outside Spades, North bids 1 Spade.\u00a0 East has a good 5 card Heart suit and a working 9 HCP hand (Queen-Jack-third in Clubs), responding 2 Hearts is a reasonable bid.\u00a0 While South has 4 Spades, the hand has poor environmental factors \u2013 spread honors (even Jack-third in Hearts) and a pancake 4-3-3-3 shape \u2013 no ruffing power.\u00a0 Additionally, jumping to 3 Spades will likely push opponents to\u00a0 game.\u00a0 West has a difficult bid \u2013 4 Hearts is a bit pushy with poor trump (opponents might begin playing top trumps); in direct seat, West invites bidding 3 Hearts.\u00a0 North should pass, downgrading hand after East bids 2 Hearts which negates the value of North\u2019s Heart King.\u00a0\u00a0 Based on West\u2019s 3 Heart freebid, East bids 4 Hearts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

South leads the Spade 6 to West\u2019s stiff Ace, returning a trump Heart to finesse North\u2019s King.\u00a0 Playing the Heart Ace drops North\u2019s King with everyone following.\u00a0 Considering the \u201cRule of 1\u201d and no transportation problem, the declarer plays the Club Queen which South smoothly ducks and North plays low to avoid revealing the Club 10.\u00a0 Next declarer plays a low Club to dummy\u2019s Ace, only catching North\u2019s 10.\u00a0\u00a0 Conceding a Club to South, a Diamond is returned to North\u2019s King.\u00a0 South will eventually win the Heart Jack, East making the 4 Heart contract.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more hands with\u00a0commentary analysis<\/strong>, additional video and downloads,\u00a0please login to your\u00a0Premium or ULTRA Membership.<\/strong>
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Warm Regards, <\/strong><\/p>\n

BridgeHands<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bridge Penalty Doubles and Environmental Factors 11-15 in Contract Bridge Watch Your Opponents, Know Thy Partner JavaScript needs to be enabled for polling to work. Online Surveys by Constant Contact.Tweet Click here to view Part 1 of the video commentary BridgeHands members – after logging in, please scroll down to view text and video…   […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[39],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1772"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1772"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1774,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1772\/revisions\/1774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}