The Bid of Two Versus Three

A Moot Question in Contract Bridge Bidding Is Discussed Impartially From Several Angles

LELIA HATTERSLEY

WHEN EVER four players are gathered together in the name of Contract the question most often asked is, "Which is your stronger suit hid, partner—two or three?"

If the answer is given in favor of the strong two bid, it may, at first thought, seem highly illogical. Because in Contract the importance of showing the strength of one's hand can scarcely be overstressed. With this one fact in mind, it appears that the judicious way of opening a suit is the same as a No Trump, with an immediate bid of one, two or three as the holding warrants. Undoubtedly this method of declaring would be thoroughly wise were it not that in partnership bidding the importance of revealing the type of a hand is just as urgent as the necessity of disclosing its strength.

There is a sharp distinction between declaring a No Trump and a suit. A sound No Trump may be bid on different degrees of strength, but it will invariably reveal the same general type of hand. A suit bid, however, may show any one of several quite varied types of hand as well as greater or lesser strength. Holding a strong trump suit with powerful outside cards, it is logical that the type as well as the strength be shown. This can be accomplished by opening with a bid sufficiently high to put your partner on the alert for game, and sufficiently low to encourage what may prove a valuable exchange of information—that is, with a bid of two.

WITH a powerful one-suited, inflexible hand where there is no desire to obtain information, a shut-out bid showing the full strength of the holding should be given. In short, scientific and strategical Contract bidding demands that an original bid of two or three should be determined not solely by the strength or weakness of a hand but by its general flexibility.

For example, each of the following hands contains the probability of game at hearts with but little assistance from the partner.

It can be readily seen that while the first hand should be opened with a Heart bid it is not necessary that it be played at Hearts in order to make the most of its trick-taking possibilities. Should the partner, for instance, be minus in the heart suit and elect some other bid, he would find the hand of material assistance with its four quick tricks. The ideal opening for such a hand is a bid of two, inviting the partnership cooperation which might lead to game, or to a slam in Hearts, or in some other suit.

If any value is to be realized from the second hand, however, it must be played at Hearts, and the partner should be warned of this significant fact by an immediate bid of Three Hearts, which says, in effect: "Hearts and nothing else, partner! Support me for game if you have assisting tricks. Expect no help for a take-out or double."

From its very nature, an original three bid of this character can never be construed as an invitation for slam. A two bid, however, serves definite notice that a slam is in the offing if the partnership cards happen to fit.

It will be noted that each of the hands illustrated above contains seven prohahle tricks—the minimum requisite for both the conventional two and three bid under discussion. Either bid may show more than seven tricks, but it must show no less. The distribution and character of these requisite tricks decides the choice in opening. The two bid requiring at least three quick tricks; the three bid needing only abnormal trump length with no definite quick tricks.

V ith the type of hand which calls for a three bid, when holding eight or nine tricks (according to score position) a preemptive bid of four is advisable. By immediately bidding the limit of such a hand you are not often forced to go beyond it.

BESIDES informing your partner that -U though strong you can not be trusted for quick tricks, a preemptive bid serves a second equally important purpose. It prevents an easy exchange of information between your opponents at a time when such information might be particularly dangerous.

With a holding of this character there are, of course, many high cards missing from your hand. If your partner has his share of these, your game is assured. Should the opponents, however, hold a heavy preponderance of the outstanding Aces, Kings and Queens your bid will probably be set if you play the hand. Even so, your loss is compensated by the fact that your adversaries would surely have scored a game, possibly a slam, had not your high bid prevented them from getting together. If the strength is divided between them, each one will, as a rule, shy at a lonely jump in the dark.

For instance, if the dealer of the following hand passes, or opens with a bid of less than three, the opponents can get together for a small slam at Spades. Singly it is improbable that either of them would overcall an original bid of three Hearts, a contract that can almost certainly be made. Because of the specter of drastic Contract penalties which hovers over even round of the bidding, preemptive bids prove singularly effective as a protective measure in this game. On the other hand, with the type of holding which calls for a two bid, your quick tricks would enable you to put up an adequate defense should the opponents venture into a high contract; so that you have nothing to fear in giving them the opportunity to bid.

The full benefit of the highly informative two bid can only be obtained when you have the cooperation of your partner. Assured that your partner will always interpret your two bid as denoting a hand strong enough to warrant a higher declaration, you can be certain that he will, if possible, keep the bidding open for you to declare further strength when your holdings warrant. Thus, an immeasurable advantage is gained in being able to open a hand of embryo slam possibilities, or a powerful two suiter, with a comparatively low declaration.

Yi hile an original two bid in a major or minor suit may show exactly the same type of hand, far greater latitude is permissible in bidding short powerful minor suits, where a take-out from the partner is urgently desired. The reason for this difference is due to the fact that though your partner is not expected to take out of a Major suit except when really deficient in trump support, he will overcall a Minor suit with any declaration which might better the chance of game.

AS your adversaries' hands, played defensively, will usually average to take three tricks, the five tricks necessary for game in a Minor suit can rarely be made, while it is comparatively simple to score the necessary four tricks in a Major suit. A Major suit bid of two must always be backed up by sufficiently long and strong trumps to permit independence of the partner's trump support, while a Minor suit may be opened with a two bid on a powerful four card holding, with unusual strength in two outside suits. This opening solves the problem of the hand containing sufficient count for a bid of two or three No Trumps, but handicapped by extreme weakness in one suit.

The different requirements which may occur between the Major and Minor bids of two, are illustrated by the following examples:

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Finding yourself in the position of responding to your partner's original Major suit bid of two, bear in mind that if the intervening player passes you are expected to keep the bidding open unless your hand is practically trickless. One supporting trick is sufficient for a raise in this position and if you hold better than two tricks and are not entirely lacking in trump support it is distinctly up to you to respond with an immediate declaration for game.

When, however, your partner opens with an original two bid in a Minor suit, remember that he is primarily looking for information concerning your hand, with a view to scoring game but not necessarily in the suit named. A raise in his Minor suit should be considered as your last rather than first resort. If feasible, show partner another suit or take out with a sketchy No Trump. With a really strong hand a high bid would be in order to differentiate from one which is practically expected after an original bid of two in a Minor suit.

If you and your partner use the convention of the strong flexible two bids, with their highly informative responses, it is not difficult to arrive at sound slam contracts. For example, if you open with an exceptionally strong two bid and receive the encouragement of a double jump from your partner, a slam is undoubtedly in sight. At the same time the flexibility of the two bid often enables you to arrive at a slam in a suit other than the original declaration.

In the hand shown below if the dealer had opened with a higher bid than two Hearts the Grand Slam at Diamonds would undoubtedly never have been bid or made.

THE BIDDING South West

Two Hearts Pass

Seven Diamonds Pass

North East

Three Diamonds Pass

Pass Pass

The most fascinating feature of Gontract is undoubtedly the partnership bidding. Only with information plus, can the hands of a partnership be consolidated into an effective fighting unit.