March 2016 - 55

Intermediate Players

Boehm on Bridge
BY AUGUST BOEHM

Hand evaluation - part 3
Point count has its place. On big,
balanced notrump hands, it is a great
assist to determine the correct level;
sometimes that extra jack makes the
difference between a poor slam and
a good one. On distributional hands,
however, point count is, at best, a blunt
instrument.
In the earlier days, authorities advised that a re-raise - 1♠ - 2♠; 3♠ by
opener - was a game try. This is a good
example of the bludgeoning effect of a
blunt instrument. Responder added his
points, took a second look at his trump
support, and either passed with a minimum, went to 4♠ with a maximum, or
guessed with a mid-range raise.
Suppose opener holds:
♠K Q 8 4 3 ♥K Q J ♦K J 7 2 ♣5.
He opens 1♠ and partner raises to
2♠ (6-9 HCP). Consider two responding hands at the opposite ends of the
point-count spectrum for a 2♠ raise.
(A) ♠A 7 6 2 ♥9 6 4 ♦Q 4 ♣8 6 3 2
(B) ♠7 6 2 ♥A 9 6 4 ♦8 6 3 ♣A J 4
4♠ is excellent facing hand A, but
even 3♠ is in danger opposite hand
B. Clearly, the location of values in
responder's hand is critical, as is the
trump support. This type of deal is
made for help-suit game tries. After
a fit is found, a new suit bid shows
at least three-card length and some
strength (not x-x-x). It suggests that
help is needed there and partner re-

evaluates, upgrading queens and kings
in the help suit.
With hand A, responder's hand has
turned to gold - the ♦Q is a key filler
and the four good trumps are the Midas
touch - bid a confident 4♠. With hand
B, responder has zero help in diamonds
and minimal trump support. Despite
the two aces, take the low road: sign off
in 3♠ and hope to make it. It wouldn't
be a shock to lose five tricks in the key
suits, spades and diamonds. In hand
A, those two suits together rate to
produce only one loser. This is a bad
combination for bulk evaluation but
perfect for pinpoint location.
Try another: You open 1♣, LHO
preempts to 2♠, partner raises to 3♣,
and RHO competes to 3♠. For game
purposes, would you rather hold hand
C or D?
(C) ♠A 6 ♥K Q 8 ♦K Q ♣Q 8 7 6 3 2
(D) ♠A K ♥8 6 2 ♦9 4 ♣A K 7 6 3 2
Hand D is the better hand for 3NT.
Assuming the clubs run, you start with
eight winners and need only one trick
from partner. Where are his points?
Mostly in diamonds and hearts to
provide your missing stoppers. Assume
that a one-suited pre-empter will lead
his own suit, especially when it has
been raised. This rates to give you time
to develop a trick, even if partner is
aceless. 3NT is a standout call, even if
there is a slight risk. Remember, missing a game is a shame!

Hand C has more high-card points
but less playing strength for notrump.
What is vital is that you can't hold up
the ♠A effectively. Note that A-x-x
would be a vast improvement; by winning the third round of spades, you can
reasonably expect to sever the defenders' spade link. If you need to force out
an ace, there is a fair chance to keep the
long spades off lead.
With hand C, if partner holds the
♣A K, he is most unlikely to hold an
outside ace - with that much strength
he would have preferred a support cuebid (3♠) to indicate a limit raise. This
means that you visualize only seven
fast tricks once your spade stopper is
dislodged. Unless RHO has raised on a
doubleton, the eighth and ninth tricks
will be too slow to be of any use. If partner's clubs are headed by the K-J, even
two outside aces leave 3NT unmakeable. The race is on and declarer is going to lose; the defenders will run their
spades before declarer can establish
clubs or come to nine tricks. 4♣ seems
the best bid.
To properly evaluate this pair of
hands, it was essential to visualize the
play in detail in 3NT. There is so much
more to hand evaluation than counting
points.
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March 2016 Bridge Bulletin

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2016