Transcript
Page 1: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

ImproversImprovers

Week 20Week 20

Competing in the AuctionCompeting in the Auction

Page 2: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Competing in the AuctionCompeting in the Auction 19691969 Frenchman – Jean-Rene VerneFrenchman – Jean-Rene Verne Article with a new theoryArticle with a new theory ‘‘The Law of Total Tricks’The Law of Total Tricks’ Greeted in the Bridge world with Total Greeted in the Bridge world with Total

Apathy!Apathy! But Marty Bergen – a US internationalBut Marty Bergen – a US international Tested the theoryTested the theory And found it workedAnd found it worked

Page 3: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

The Law of Total TricksThe Law of Total Tricks 19791979 Marty Bergen established a Marty Bergen established a

partnership with Larry Cohenpartnership with Larry Cohen They based their entire bidding They based their entire bidding

strategy on the Lawstrategy on the Law Through the 1980’s the most Through the 1980’s the most

successful partnership in the USAsuccessful partnership in the USA 19921992 Larry Cohen produced a book calledLarry Cohen produced a book called ‘‘To Bid or not to Bid’To Bid or not to Bid’

Page 4: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

To Bid or not to BidTo Bid or not to Bid Took the Bridge World by stormTook the Bridge World by storm Nowadays accepted as the standard Nowadays accepted as the standard

for competing in the auctionfor competing in the auction All top players use The Law or are All top players use The Law or are

aware of its’ implicationsaware of its’ implications

The Book is very heavy going!The Book is very heavy going! But there is a Ron Klinger flipperBut there is a Ron Klinger flipper Which is easier to get your head Which is easier to get your head

round!round!

Page 5: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

The Law of Total TricksThe Law of Total Tricks

‘‘The Total Number of tricks The Total Number of tricks available in any one hand is available in any one hand is

equal to the sum of the equal to the sum of the longest suit held by each longest suit held by each

side’side’

Page 6: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

The Law of Total TricksThe Law of Total Tricks If 1 pair have 8 If 1 pair have 8 ‘s‘s And the opponents have 8 And the opponents have 8 ‘s‘s There are 16 tricks availableThere are 16 tricks available

If 1 side can make 8 tricks in their suitIf 1 side can make 8 tricks in their suit The other side can make 8 in theirsThe other side can make 8 in theirs If 1 side can make 10 tricks in their suitIf 1 side can make 10 tricks in their suit The other can make 6The other can make 6 So: 8/8, 9/5, 10/6, 11/5, 12/4So: 8/8, 9/5, 10/6, 11/5, 12/4

Page 7: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

The Law of Total TricksThe Law of Total Tricks If 1 pair have 10 If 1 pair have 10 ‘s‘s And the opponents have 8 And the opponents have 8 ‘s‘s There are 18 tricks availableThere are 18 tricks available

If 1 side can make 10 tricks in their suitIf 1 side can make 10 tricks in their suit The other side can make 8 in theirsThe other side can make 8 in theirs If 1 side can make 11 tricks in their suitIf 1 side can make 11 tricks in their suit The other can make 7The other can make 7 So: 9/9, 10/8, 11/7, 12/6So: 9/9, 10/8, 11/7, 12/6

Page 8: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

The Law of Total TricksThe Law of Total Tricks If 1 pair have 11 If 1 pair have 11 ‘s‘s And the opponents have 10 And the opponents have 10 ‘s‘s There are 21 tricks availableThere are 21 tricks available

If 1 side can make 11 tricks in their suitIf 1 side can make 11 tricks in their suit The other side can make 10 in theirsThe other side can make 10 in theirs If 1 side can make 12 tricks in their suitIf 1 side can make 12 tricks in their suit The other can make 9The other can make 9 So: 11/10, 12/9, 13/8So: 11/10, 12/9, 13/8

Page 9: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

The Law of Total TricksThe Law of Total Tricks If 1 pair have 7 If 1 pair have 7 ‘s‘s And the opponents have 7 And the opponents have 7 ‘s‘s There are only 14 tricks availableThere are only 14 tricks available

If 1 side can make 7 tricks in their suitIf 1 side can make 7 tricks in their suit The other side can make 7 in theirsThe other side can make 7 in theirs If 1 side can make 9 tricks in their suitIf 1 side can make 9 tricks in their suit The other can make 5The other can make 5 So: 7/7, 8/6, 9/5, 10/4, 11/3So: 7/7, 8/6, 9/5, 10/4, 11/3

Page 10: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

The Law of Total TricksThe Law of Total Tricks Like all good LawsLike all good Laws An explanation of the obviousAn explanation of the obvious The more unbalanced the hands and The more unbalanced the hands and

bigger the fitbigger the fit The more tricks either side can makeThe more tricks either side can make

But this gives us a basis to judge But this gives us a basis to judge Whether to compete or stop in the Whether to compete or stop in the

biddingbidding

Page 11: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

ImplicationsImplications ProfoundProfound Length is everything!Length is everything!

If the total tricks are low we should not If the total tricks are low we should not compete very much unless very strongcompete very much unless very strong

If total tricks are high we should If total tricks are high we should compete to a high level even with weak compete to a high level even with weak handshands

And perhaps sacrificeAnd perhaps sacrifice

Page 12: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Calculating the Total TricksCalculating the Total Tricks

The Auction goesThe Auction goes Promising 4Promising 4 Promising 5Promising 5 Promising 4Promising 4 Promising 3Promising 3 Each side has shown 8 cards in their Each side has shown 8 cards in their

suitssuits So total tricks is at least 16So total tricks is at least 16

11 11 22 22

Page 13: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Calculating the Total TricksCalculating the Total Tricks

The Auction goesThe Auction goes Promising 4Promising 4 Promising 4Promising 4 1 side has 8 cards 1 side has 8 cards The non bidders must have 7 somewhereThe non bidders must have 7 somewhere So total tricks is at least 15 and likely 16So total tricks is at least 15 and likely 16 The next player should competeThe next player should compete

11

PP

PP

??

22 PP

Page 14: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Total tricks is 16Total tricks is 16 If they can make 8 so can you If they can make 8 so can you

somewheresomewhere If they can make 9 you can make 7If they can make 9 you can make 7 1 off would be a good score1 off would be a good score Bid a 5 card suitBid a 5 card suit Or a protective * without a 5 card suitOr a protective * without a 5 card suit Try to force them to 3Try to force them to 3 Allowing opponents to play in 2 of an Allowing opponents to play in 2 of an

agreed suit is a losing methodologyagreed suit is a losing methodology

11

??

11 22 22

Page 15: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

ExceptionsExceptions Do not compete over the 2 level with Do not compete over the 2 level with

Total Tricks = 16 or less when:Total Tricks = 16 or less when: Opponents have not found an 8 card Opponents have not found an 8 card

fitfit Opponents are known under-biddersOpponents are known under-bidders Opener thought before passing at the Opener thought before passing at the

2 level - bidding on was an option2 level - bidding on was an option Your hand is 4333 shape – better to Your hand is 4333 shape – better to

defenddefend

Page 16: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Competing at the 3 levelCompeting at the 3 level

Total Tricks is 17 (9Total Tricks is 17 (9’s and 8’s and 8’s)’s) With 5 With 5 ’s ?a should overcall at ’s ?a should overcall at

favourable vulnerabilityfavourable vulnerability With 6 With 6 ‘s ?a should overcall at any ‘s ?a should overcall at any

vulvul With 4 With 4 ‘s ?b should overcall at any ‘s ?b should overcall at any

vulvul

11

33

11

?a?a

22 22

?b?b

Page 17: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Competing at the 3 level when Competing at the 3 level when weakweak

With Total Tricks = 16 never bid With Total Tricks = 16 never bid 3 over 3 3 over 3

With Total Tricks = 17 bid 3 over With Total Tricks = 17 bid 3 over 3 with favourable or equal 3 with favourable or equal vulnerabilityvulnerability

With Total Tricks = 18 always bid With Total Tricks = 18 always bid 3 over 33 over 3

Page 18: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Competing at the 4 levelCompeting at the 4 level

1 side have 9 or 10 1 side have 9 or 10 ‘s‘s The other have 9 or 10 The other have 9 or 10 ‘s‘s Assume 9½ each Total Tricks = 19Assume 9½ each Total Tricks = 19 If ?a has 6 If ?a has 6 ‘s bid 4 at any vul‘s bid 4 at any vul If ?b has 5 If ?b has 5 ‘s bid 4 at any vul‘s bid 4 at any vul If they bid 5If they bid 5 only bid 5 at fav vul only bid 5 at fav vul

11

44

11

?a?a

33 33

?b?b

Page 19: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Competing at the 4 levelCompeting at the 4 level With TT = 19 bid 4 over 4 if you have With TT = 19 bid 4 over 4 if you have

1010 With TT = 20 always bid 4 over 4With TT = 20 always bid 4 over 4 With TT = 19 bid 5 over 4 if you have With TT = 19 bid 5 over 4 if you have

10 and fav vul10 and fav vul With TT = 20 bid always 5 over 4 With TT = 20 bid always 5 over 4 With TT = 19 never bid 5 over 5With TT = 19 never bid 5 over 5 With TT = 20 bid 5 over 5 with 10 With TT = 20 bid 5 over 5 with 10

and fav vuland fav vul

Page 20: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Competing after pre-emptsCompeting after pre-empts If partner opens 3 of a suitIf partner opens 3 of a suit And you have a weak handAnd you have a weak hand And 3 of partners suitAnd 3 of partners suit Raise the pre-empt to 4Raise the pre-empt to 4 Any time your pair have 10 of a suitAny time your pair have 10 of a suit Opponents must have at least 9Opponents must have at least 9 Or 2 8’sOr 2 8’s So you should compete to the 4 levelSo you should compete to the 4 level And consider bidding 5 or 6 if necessary!And consider bidding 5 or 6 if necessary!

Page 21: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Adjustments to the LawAdjustments to the Law If your side has a double fit add 1If your side has a double fit add 1 If you have a void in opponents suit add If you have a void in opponents suit add

11 If you have a good suit outside trumpsIf you have a good suit outside trumps AKQxx or AKxxxAKQxx or AKxxx Add 1Add 1 With freak distribution 6/5, 7/4, 6/6 etcWith freak distribution 6/5, 7/4, 6/6 etc Add 1Add 1 With Qx, Jx, Qxx, Jxx in their suit With Qx, Jx, Qxx, Jxx in their suit Subtract 1Subtract 1

Page 22: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

Accuracy of the LawAccuracy of the Law

The Law is completely accurate 50% The Law is completely accurate 50% of the timeof the time

The Law is within 1 trick 90% of the The Law is within 1 trick 90% of the timetime

Page 23: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

The Law in PracticeThe Law in Practice

Compete to the number of trumps Compete to the number of trumps held by your sideheld by your side

Never let opponents play in 2 of an Never let opponents play in 2 of an agreed suit with a fitagreed suit with a fit

In a competitive auction jump to your In a competitive auction jump to your maximum regardless of HCPmaximum regardless of HCP

With 2 suit fits for both sides compete With 2 suit fits for both sides compete more strongly and consider a sacrificemore strongly and consider a sacrifice

Because you have little or no DefenceBecause you have little or no Defence

Page 24: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

SummarySummary

Strong hands make more than the Strong hands make more than the number of cards in the trump suitnumber of cards in the trump suit

So, you can still bid game with less So, you can still bid game with less than 10 cards in the suitthan 10 cards in the suit

Weak hand make less than the Weak hand make less than the number of cards in the suitnumber of cards in the suit

But the Law means you are normally But the Law means you are normally safe to bid to the number of cards safe to bid to the number of cards heldheld

Going off can still be a good resultGoing off can still be a good result

Page 25: Improvers Week 20 Week 20 Competing in the Auction Competing in the Auction

FinallyFinally

Remember:Remember:

The Law is as much about when to The Law is as much about when to stop as when to bid onstop as when to bid on

With big fits competeWith big fits compete With flatter hands only bid on with With flatter hands only bid on with

strengthstrength