Kaleidoscope Series - Lesson 1

Bidding Light

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      In discussing the topic of bidding with subminimal values,
we must distinguish between a "light" bid and an outright psychic bid.   For our purposes here, we will define a "light" bid as any bid, which is within a King of legitimacy.   If we normally open with 13 points, an opening bid on 10, 11 or 12 would be considered "light".  Anything less would be deemed "psychic".  
      Another distinction is that a "light" opening bid always has within one card of the minimum length in the bid suit.  
      For example, one may open a four-card Major with 10-12 points in 3rd seat, even though we are explicitly playing five-card Majors.   A psyche, on the other hand, may or may not include 4+card length in the bid suit.  Light openings have a number of purposes.  Psyches have only one raison d'être:   confusing the opponents at the risk of baffling Partner as well.  

     Do not confuse a psyche with a "temporizing" bid.   Playing SAYC, we cannot respond 2NT to 1♣ with 3=3=2=5 distribution and 10-12 points.  Instead, we will "mark time" or "temporize" with a bid in a 3-card suit before bidding 2NT to invite 3NT.
Our purpose is to keep the bidding open, in order to get to our "destination" call of 2NT.  Were it a pscyhe, our sole purpose would be to trick the opponents.

     Remember, too, that we usually cannot make such temporizing bids, when we are a passed hand:

K x x

K x

Q x x

K 10 x x x.

Opposite Partner's 1♣ opening bid, if we were not a passed hand, we might bid 1♦ en route to 2NT, since an immediate 2NT reply would show an opening hand.  If we are a passed hand, we cannot bid 1♦ since Partner might pass it !   The good news is that, as a passed hand, we can reply 2NT here to show 10-12 flat.

      In this Lesson, we will discuss both light bids and psyches.

      "But I don't WANT to psyche !" some may protest.  
      That is okay.   Learn when others will be likely to be psyching against you, then ...   and what you can do about it !

     There are many schools of thought on third seat openings.   Consider these four hands, not vulnerable at IMPs, in third seat after two passes:       Everyone will open Hand #1.

      If Hand #1 is the only hand of these four that you would open in third seat, count yourself as a member of the "Ultra Conservative" camp.   This school of thought argues that we will need 14 HCPs opposite partner's maximum of 12 to make a game, and without any chance of game, we are willing to throw the hand in at IMPs.   One of the advantages of this Ultra Conservative approach is that Responder bids exactly as if replying to a first or second seat opening.   New suits are forcing and jump shifts (on 12 points by a Passed hand) promise either a semi-solid 1-suiter or a 5+card suit and good support for Opener's suit.  

     Most will open the 2nd hand with its 13 HCPs in 3rd seat.
No, game is not on our horizon, but we are a favourite to make a part score.   Those who will open Only these first two hands (#1 and #2, but Neither #3 nor #4) would comprise the "Conservative" school.  

      Many will open Hand #3 "light" in third seat.   The idea is that we *may* be able to steal a part score.   Equally likely, though, we hope to bluff the opponents out of a possible game.   Those players who will open on hands #1 through #3 but not #4 constitute the mainstream or "Orthodox" group.  

       Opening Hand #4 would constitute an outright psyche.   Some will open this hand at equal or favourable vulnerability for the lead directing value of the 1♣ opening and to bluff the opponents out of game.   Consider yourself among the "Aggressive", if you would open 1♣ on ALL of the above hands in third seat.  

      A very small minority belong to the "Good-Bad" or "Sound or Psyche" school;   they will tend to open with holding #1, #2 and #4 but not with #3 !   In other words, such players will psyche but will not open "light".   In this way, the only time Responder can invite us "past our limit" is when we have psyched.   In such cases, we can be assured that the opponents do have at least a part score.   Few things are more frustrating than opening light (but not psychic) in third seat and hearing Partner drive to 2NT or the 3-level, down one, with the opponents silent.   :(-

     In fourth seat, everyone will open Hand #1 while most will open holding #2.   Again, some very conservative players will not open any hand that does not have the possibility of game in it.   We do not psyche or open light in fourth seat.   We will, however, open an intermediate (note: not Weak, but Intermediate) 2-bid with 12-13 points and a good 6+card suit.  

A Q J 10 x x

K x

x x

Q x x.

Not wanting to hear a raise to 3♠ from Partner, we open 2♠ in 4th seat in an attempt to make a part score there.  

      The first rule of responding to a third-seat suit opening is that, unless we have 12 points opposite an ultra conservative player, we cannot force to game.   Partner may have 13 points — a sound opening bid — and game will still not make.   Simple new suit bids, which would be forcing, were we not a passed hand (e.g., 1♦:1♠), are now NON-forcing (Pass:1♦:1♠).
      To force for one round, we must jump shift (e.g., Pass:1♦:2♠).   [ Such a jump shift by an unpassed hand would show (16+ points and) a semi-solid suit or a good suit and support for Opener's.   Responder cannot be 2-suited for a jump shift by an unpassed hand, unless one of those suits is Opener's.]   This is not so for the passed hand.   With an exceptional 2-suited hand, we may jump shift as a passed hand.   may Jump to 2♠ and bid 3♥ later.   Natural.   3♥ will NOT be forcing, of course.   Were we not a passed hand, we could force with 1♠ here.
      The Jump Shift response to a third-seat opening bid is an exception to our general rule: unless Opener makes an unforced rebid, a Passed Hand Responder should try to Pass at either hir first or second opportunity, after Partner opens in third seat.   Try to describe your hand in one bid wherever possible.   Be especially cautious about going to the three level.   For example, if Responder makes a negative double, Responder should be very careful about raising a simple preference by Opener.  

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1♠	2♣
Dble	Pass	2♥	Pass
??

Do not bid 3♥ here, unless you have a solid 12-count.   If Opener were interested in your strength here, Opener might have jumped to 3♥.   Always try to "cut Partner some slack" after she/he has opened in 3rd seat.  
     A good general rule is that after a third seat opening "Responder underbids, Opener overbids".   With 10 points, SAYC Responder will often bid 1NT rather than force to 2NT.   Without Drury at our disposal, Responder will often raise to the two level with 10 points rather than make a limit raise to the 3-level.   Third seat Opener, then, must often bid aggressively with a good 16 points once a fit is established.  

Original Drury West North East South Pass Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2

West North East South Pass Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2

Reverse Drury West North East South Pass Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2

West North East South Pass Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2

      A very useful convention for bidding opposite a Major-suit third-seat opening is Drury.   Responder bids an artificial 2♣, implying support for Opener's Major.   In the original form of Drury, Opener would now rebid an artificial 2♦ (i.e., Pass:1♥:2♣:2♦ or Pass:1♠:2♣:2♦) to show a minimum or subminimum opener.
      Modern players tend to prefer reverse Drury, where the rebid of the Major (i.e., Pass:1♥:2♣:2♥ or Pass:1♠:2♣:2♠) shows the weak opening hand.   Opposite 1♥ or 1♠ by 3rd seat Partner, bid 2♣.   Opener will rebid hir Major if weak.
      Some SAYC pairs will play Good (i.e., "inverted") Raises As Passed Hand or "GRAPH".   While 1♦:2♦ retains its normal range of 6-9 points, Pass:1♦:2♦ will show 10-12 points, inviting Opener to proceed with anything more than a minimum hand.   The above hand, then, would bid 2♦ opposite a 1♦ opening.   As always, when the single raise is strong, the double raise (e.g., Pass:1♣:3♣ or Pass:1♦:3♦) is weak and pre-emptive.   Opposite Partner's 3rd seat 1♦ opening, jump to 3♦ to warn hir of weakness.   What, then, do we do with the 6-9 point hand, when playing our raises as either weak or strong ?   Reply 1NT. After Pass:1♣ we would normally bid 2♣.   If playing GRAPH, though, respond 1NT.   While Reverse Drury is very popular, "GRAPH" is an idea which would require some discussion with Partner.   "Inverted Raises in the Minors by a passed hand, Pard ?" may suffice.   Being in third chair has a subtle effect on some players' 1NT and 2NT openings.   With 15 HCPs and four spades, for example, some will tend to open in a 4-card suit rather than 1NT.   If you open 1NT with this hand, Partner will raise to 2NT with many 9-10 point hands.   As a matter of good form, many try to avoid provoking any invite that they intend to decline.   Consider this: 1♣ will likely allow Opener to show hir 4-card Spade suit at the one level.   Now, if Responder cannot jump to 2NT to show 11-12 points, Opener can remove 3NT from consideration.   This works well because we have that 1♠ rebid available.   But what if we don't ? Now, after Pass:1♣:1♦, Pass:1♣:1♥ or Pass:1♣:1♠, we must rebid 1NT, risking 2NT from Partner.   Some pairs will get around this by passing any such response with 13 points (even if Partner responds in our doubleton) and rebidding 1NT only with 14.
     This "Thirteen ?   Open.  Pass." approach we will call "TOP".   The effect it has on our 1NT rebid is that we will now be playing "Top End NoTrumps" (i.e., "TENT"), rebidding 1NT only when we are maximal.  
     When vulnerable, many "top" players will pass a flat 13-point hand that contains a doubleton in a suit higher ranked than the one we'd open.   They would pass the above hand, but would open 1♣ with 13 points and 3=3=3=4 distribution so that they can pass any response in comfort.   Similarly, they will open a 3=3=5=2 13-pointer via 1♦ when vulnerable, but might pass if the distribution were 3=2=5=3 or 2=3=5=3.  
     If we are inclined to rebid 1NT only with 14 points, we might consider expanding the range of the 1NT rebid to 14-15.   In this way, our 1NT opening bid in third seat takes on the effective range of 16-17, not 15-17.   Again, "Top End No Trumps" or "TENT".   This one aspect would require discussion with any new partner, though.   Without such agreement, 1NT will usually be either 14 points or 13 flat, doubleton in Responder's suit.   With three card support for Responder's suit and only 13 HCPs, Opener will pass the initial reply.  
     Similarly, holding 20 points and balanced distribution some will not risk a 2NT opening.   After all, slam is no longer a consideration.   Why risk going down in 2NT opposite a yarborough from Responder ?   Since Responder will reply with the 6 points we need for game, we can open in our longest suit and jump to 3NT if Responder peeps.   A 2NT opening bid in 3rd seat, then, would show a good 21 points for such pairs.  
     To recap, with flat hands in third or 4th seat, lacking prior discussion with Partner, we may have:
     After discussion with a steady Partner, some will tell their opponents that in third and fourth seat if holding flat hands they play:

     A quick and easy way to denote this on our convention card is to write:
"1NT = 15-17, 16-17 in 3rd/4th" and
"2NT = 20-21, 21 in 3rd/4th".  

1.	K Q x x	K x x	Q x x	K x x.
	IMPs, none vul. IMPs, none vul. After Pass-Pass-Pass, what would an ultra-conservative player do?
2.	K Q x x	K x x	Q x x	K x x.
	IMPs, none vul. After Pass-Pass-Pass, what would an orthodox player do?
3.	K Q x x	K x	K x x	K J x x.
	15 HCPs, 4=2=3=4. IMPs.  None vul.  After Pass-Pass, what would you open?

It follows logically that for many pairs 4-card Major-suit openings are quite common in third seat — even if playing a 5-card Major system. In third seat, fearing a pass from partner, many players will open our longest suit, 1♥... in case that becomes the final contract !
     Even a strong 1NT opening bid can pre-empt us out of a 4-4 Major suit fit, whenever Responder has less than the 9 points required for a Staymanic invitation.   Partner's 1NT opening here may cost us a fit in either or both Majors.   Had Partner only opened 1-of-a-suit...   :(
     To cater to this, many will open a 4-card Major in third or fourth seat.   This is especially true of 1♥ openings because, with 4=4=3=2 or 4=4=2=3 distribution, many will balk at opening a 3-card Minor.  
     If you will often open a 4-card Major in third or fourth seat, just change "5 card Majors" on your convention card to read: "5 card Majors in 1st/2nd seat".   Whenever Partner passes or opens a weak 2-bid in first or second seat we are often able to assess the opponents' chances of making game.   With a yarborough, for example, we should be fairly confident that our adversaries can make at least a game.   This, then, gives us "carte blanche" to psyche, knowing that, depending on the vulnerability, the first one, two or three doubled undertricks will be "on the house".   After 2♠-Pass we should be certain that the enemy can make at least a game and that slam will not be out of the question.   Hence, we might raise spades briskly to 3♠ or 4♠ unless vul versus not.   Or, we might psyche a strong-sounding 2NT reply.   Under these "carte blanche" conditions, pre-empts can be extremely light.   A certain Kaleidoscope teacher (who shall remain nameless) jumped to 3♥ after  Pass-1♦ against vulnerable opponents at MPs.   LHO doubled happily and collected 1400.   This was worth 81% for the pre-emptor, since most other opponents chalked up 1430 or 1460 in 6♠.  
     Similarly, when Partner passes our LHO's opening bid (e.g., 1♦-Pass-any) or makes an overcall (e.g., 1♦-1♥-any), we should conclude that the opponents probably have a game if we have a very poor hand.   Such a situation gives us "carte beige" to try to sew some confusion into the enemy ranks.   Our only concern is that Partner *may* have passed LHO's opening bid or overcalled with a 13-16 point hand which *might* prevent them from making game.   With this in mind, we may wish to force to the level just below game in order to make it tough for the opponents to double us.   After 1♦-1♠-Dble, we might jump to 3♠ unless vulnerable versus not.
     Our actions are always tempered by the vulnerability.   Unfavourable vulnerability is a "red light".   Equal vulnerability is an "orange light", suggesting some degree of caution.   When not vulnerable versus vulnerable opponents we have the go-ahead "green light".   These conditions apply not only to pre-empts (as above) but to psyching as well.   If Partner opens 2♦ in 1st seat and RHO passes, we might force to 3♦ if the vulnerability is favourable.   But some devious souls will bid 2♥ or 2♠ *en route* to Diamonds, in order to deprive the opponents of their suit.  
      If you *do* decide to psyche there is one absolute rule:
Do not rebid!   Even if Partner cuebids, Blackwoods or splinters, we should pass !   Bidding again — especially freely — is known as "double pumping" Partner, and should be avoided.   The truism "one psyche ... per hand !" applies here.   :) We must start by recognizing when our adversaries are liable to psyche.   90% of psyches come in "carte blanche" situations, usually by a third seat hand or by a player whose partner has just pre-empted.   Most will come at favourable vulnerability, some at equal vulnerability.   One tell tale sign of a psychic opening bid comes when Opener passes a forcing response.   If this happens at your table, it may be a good idea to ask Responder privately: The idea is to determine whether the psycher tends to have or not have length in the bid suit.   If your opponents are a steady partnership, they must tell you about any of their partner's tendencies that they may have observed in the past.  
     Our first weapon against psychers is the direct cuebid when the opponents have bid two suits.   Such a cuebid is always natural, showing a good hand and length in the bid suit.   Bear in mind that if we had the other two suits we could double or bid an unusual no trump.

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1	Pass
1	Pass	Pass	??

      Both 2♦ and 2♠ in this auction would be natural, promising the bid suit.   Double (strong), 1NT (weak, distributional) and 2NT (stronger, distributional) would both show the other two suits: Clubs and Hearts.  
     Another powerful antidote to psyches is a Pass of any bid which is forcing.   After 2♦-Pass-2♥, we might Double for penalty with a lot of Hearts, but with 4 or 5 of them we might Pass for now to see what develops.   With luck, we will be able to Double something for penalty later.   This is consistent with the Steinitz Rule: "Never interrupt the opponents, while they are making a mistake !" :)

West	North	East	South
2	Pass	2	Pass
3	Pass	3	Dble

     Such a Pass can often be followed up by a Penalty double.   This is especially so, if RHO repeats an unsupported suit.
     The double in direct seat here is penalty.

LHO	Pard	RHO	You
		2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
Pass	Dble

      Otherwise, we may need to rely upon partner to balance with a Double.
      In the above example, we could not double 3♠ for penalty, because it was a supported suit.   A double would be takeout here.   Little does 2♦ Opener know that Responder's 2♠ bid was phony ! :)
      Many people believe that there is something underhanded about psyching.   Some even go so far as to conclude that it is not a legitimate part of the game.   While this may be true of some Novice events (including Novice-Mentor tourneys on OKBridge), where psyching is expressly forbidden, it is NOT true of bridge as played in open competition.
      Psyching is as much a part of this game as falsecarding is.   In fact, "bidding 'em where they ain't" (an old expression which predates the use of the word "psyche") is as old as bridge itself.   Indeed, the expression "psyche", like "Grand Slam" and "finessing", is a term which bridge has been "exported" to general use among NON-bridgeplayers.
     There is also a misconception that we are only allowed a certain number of psyches per session.   Again, untrue.
If a player happens to encounter an unusual number of situations in which psyching is appropriate, blame the Dealer ! :)
     Psyches should always be "recorded" by reporting them to the Tournament Director, if they should occur during tourney play.   This is particularly true if you feel that there may be some evidence of the psycher's partner "fielding" (i.e., becoming aware of the psyche and bidding presciently) the psyche before you and/or your partner became suspicious of the call yourselves.  
     There are two pertinent ethical considerations that touch upon this issue:

1. We must never make a frivolous bid or play.
   Even if we are having a terrible game, we must continue to play as well as we can.   We must NOT start making rash bids (including but not limited to psyches) or plays simply because we "don't care anymore".   That is not fair to the "field" (i.e., to those who played these hands against more serious opponents) or to team mates (in team games).  
2. We must always practice full disclosure.
   If we have played with this particular partner long enough to know that s/he will psyche in certain instances, we must tell the opponents of this tendency.   This may begin with a pre-alert mentioning our tendency to psyche more often than most.  
         During the auction, we should advise the opponents privately, when we suspect that Partner's bid may be bogus: "Based on past experience, I can tell you that Partner may have psyched here."
   There should NOT be any problem, as long as the opponents are kept on the same footing as you are.
         In essence, this is no different from alerting an artificial call in F2F bridge.   The opponents have a right to know everything what we know about Partner's bids once we know it.   If Partner's second call hints that their first one may be bogus, a warning to the opponents after this second call is considered timely.  

      It is a good idea to discuss Drury (most likely reverse Drury) with any new partner.   If you like it, add it to your stats and to a "plain vanilla" card that you can post for new partners.
      A brief discussion of third-seat light openings may be in order.   This will usually focus on what to do with the flat minimum hands.
     "Do you open a flat 12 points in 3rd or 4th seat ?"
     "After opening in a suit, will you pass a 1-level suit response, or rebid 1NT with a flat 13 HCPs ?"
     Should the topic get around to psyches, bear in mind that any agreement you have must be disclosed to all opponents.   The best way to do this in tourney play, where we meet new opposition every second hand, is to use an OKScript macro.   This will allow you to pre-alert all of your opponents privately as you sit down.   To illustrate, with one touch of a button each of Kaltica's tourney opponents are greeted with the following private message:
     Fair warning: I make light 4+card overcalls, pre-empts, 3rd seat openers, takeout doubles and the occasional outright psyche.   :)
     For more information on OKScript, contact Colin at: cpw@escape.ca or go to Colin's OKScript site at: http://www.escape.ca/~cpw/okscript.htm
     Colin holds seminars on OKScript every second Sunday at 5:00 P.M.   PST.  

1. On Board #9 of the 1999 Turkiye Celebrity Auction game, over RHO's 1♠, Zia Mahmood bid 1NT holding:
        ♠ J    ♥ 7 3    ♦ K J 9 8 5 3    ♣ 9 6 5 3 .
   Slightly less than the expected 15-18 !   This psyche has a name.   What is it ?
2. An "Exclusion" Psyche is the most dangerous of ventures.   But what is an "Exclusion" Psyche ?
3. One of the safest times to psyche is when making a "FIB".   And what is a "FIB" ?

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