May 2011 - 44

Upgrading Your Game

Lynn Berg
lberg@cfl.rr.com

Get more aggressive
A bridge adage is not to let the opponents buy the contract too cheaply.
While you don't want to be suicidal,
you should be aware of the benefits of
balancing. The name comes from the
idea that the points are probably fairly
balanced between the two sides.
West
1

North
Pass

East
Pass

South
?

You don't need to have a lot to bid
in the pass-out seat because your
partner is marked with values. Of
course, you do need to have a reason
or reasons for acting. Here are some
possibilities:
❖ To indicate a lead.
❖ To look for a sacrifice.
❖ To push the opponents higher so
you have a chance to set them.
Balancing can be done on lighter
hands than actions in the direct seat.
Imagine that your partner has at
least 7 points. Assuming you have a
fit, your side is probably safe at the
one level if you have 16-17 points
between the two hands. If you have
to bid at the two level, obviously,
44 Bridge Bulletin May 2011

you should have a better hand: about
18-20 points between the two hands
should be safe. Some partnerships
have a more aggressive agreement -
balancing even at the two level can be
done with as few as 7 or 8 points with
a good suit. Some pairs have the understanding that a balancing bid can
be made with a good four-card suit.
How about your partnership? Would
you balance with a suit like A-K-J-6?
What about double? With a reasonable pattern (at least three in each of
the unbid suits), you may double in
the balancing seat with as few as 10
points. You're not necessarily looking
for game, but rather trying to find a
viable partscore or set up an informed
defense.
Sometimes, of course. your balancing bid will let the opener show
a second suit which is preferred by
his passed-hand partner. When that
happens and you end up defending, at
least you'll have more information.
How strong is your 1NT bid in the
balancing seat? If you look in the NT
box at the upper right-hand side of the
back of the convention card, you'll
see where to indicate your range. It
should be lighter than for a direct
bid: It could be a light as 10-13. Just
make sure that your agreement is that
it shows a stopper in the opened suit
and a balanced hand. You do not have
to announce the range for a balancing
NT call.
How does your partner respond to
the balancing 1NT call? "Systems on"
is probably the easiest policy, though
partner must take into account the
lower range you're employing. Don't

forget, knowing the location of most
of the opponent's values should make
the play of the hand easier to plan.
A reasonable question is: "What
about when I have a better hand?"
You'll have the weaker hands more
often, but occasionally you'll have a
good hand. If you have a 15-17 point
notrump hand, double first and then
bid the cheapest number of notrump
to distinguish this good holding from
the usual balancing values.
Very occasionally, you may have a
hand such as:
A K J 7 4 2 K J 9 8 2 K 2.
When the bidding passes around
to you, either in a situation such as
1-Pass-Pass, bid 2. This is not a
preempt. Instead, it shows an opening
hand and a decent six-card suit. A bid
at the three level shows an opening
hand and a decent seven-card suit.
The advantages are great: You make
life tough for your left-hand opponent
and easy for your partner. Partner can
raise to game with a small doubleton
and 10-plus points. Remember, an intermediate bid has a top limit of about
16. With 17-plus, double first and then
let partner know about your suit the
next round.
You don't have to adopt all these
methods at once. You might start with
the balancing jump bids to show good
opening bids and a long suit - these
are easy to do and rarely will get you
in trouble. Then lower the requirements for your balancing 1NT bids.
You don't have to get too bold all at
once, but you'll be rewarded for becoming bolder.
r
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2011
