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Larry and the Law

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Larry and the Law BB by Larry Cohen Larry and the Law The full theory behind the Law of Total Tricks (the LAW) can be difficult to comprehend, but that doesn’t mean we can’t benefit from some of its results. Balancing In this series, champion Larry Cohen, who has popularized the LAW, shows High-card points have nothing to do how we can put it to practical use. with it. If the opponents have stopped in 2♥, we should have approximately combined trumps they hold. They half the points in the deck. Otherwise, Comfort Zone are very happy to be in 2♥ because they would have been trying to get to nothing bad can happen to them. If I’m a firm believer in making the game. Even if I have 6 or 7 high-card they make 2♥, great. If they don’t game as enjoyable as possible but points, I still know our partnership make 2♥, that’s fine also because that doesn’t mean I have to let the has roughly 20 combined points – half some contract should make the opponents have a comfortable time the 40 high-card points in the deck. other way. during the auction. In fact, that When I have 6 or 7 points, partner would be a violation of the ACBL’s So, our goal is: don’t let them do it! likely has 13 or 14 points with a hand Code of Active Ethics: Being minus 110 – the score the unsuitable to enter the bidding earlier. ♥ opponents receive for making 2 at Furthermore, if I bid, partner should Actively ethical players do duplicate or team bridge (60 trick everything they can within the realize that I’m bidding just to avoid scope of the game to defeat their score plus 50 partscore bonus) – is not letting the opponents play at the two opponent at the bridge table the way to win. It’s unacceptable. level in their eight-card fit. Partner while making that experience an We have to go out of our way to is not going to jump to game, even otherwise enjoyable one for them. accomplish the following objective: with the values for an opening bid. A COMPETITIVE PHILOSOPHY In the balancing position, I can bid So, here’s an auction that almost with a bad five-card suit that would never occurs when I’m sitting in the Don’t let the opponents play in be unsuitable for a direct overcall. If I North-South direction at the table: their eight-card fit at the two level. don’t have a five-card or longer suit, WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH I can make a takeout double with 1♥ Pass Balancing shortness in hearts. For example: ♥ 2 Pass Pass Pass One situation in which we can apply WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Let’s see why. this philosophy is in the balancing 1♥ Pass position—if we pass, the auction ♥ Counting Trumps 2 Pass Pass ? will be over. For example, suppose ♠ 2♠. Is it risky? Yes. The basic guideline that we use in we are South and the auction begins: Q 9 7 4 3 ♥ 8 6 Could I be doubled competitive auctions is: WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH ♦ A 7 3 2 for a large penalty? 1♥ Pass Yes. However, when THE LAW’S COMPETITIVE GUIDELINE ♣ 5 2 2♥ Pass Pass ? the opponents have Strive to compete to the level We are in the balancing seat. found an eight-card fit and are of the number of trumps held about to play at the two level, top by the partnership. When I used to play with Marty Bergen, if he were sitting South, he players know that they can’t afford would simply close his eyes and bid to let them stay in that contract … To apply the LAW, we need to despite the risks of bidding. count not only the number of trumps something in this type of auction. held by our side but also the trumps You don’t have to be like Marty and ♠ Q 10 7 4 Double. It’s a little held by the opponents. In the above close your eyes, but you do want to ♥ 5 2 dangerous to double auction, we know the opponents strive to do something other than ♦ K Q 10 5 but the goal is the ♣ same: to get them out have at least an eight-card fit. East pass. The guideline I would use is: K 10 3 ♥ has a five-card or longer heart suit of 2 . for the 1♥ opening and West has at BALANCING GUIDELINE When we make a balancing call in least three-card support to raise to If you have shortness in the this position, any one of three good the two level. opponents’ suit – fewer than things might happen: The opponents are now “LAW” three cards – bid a suit or 1. We reach a contract we can make. protected. They have competed to the make a takeout double. 2. We go down in our contract but level corresponding to the number of lose only 50 or 100 points instead BETTER 1 BRIDGE VOL. 9 NO. 3 BB of the 110 or more points they WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH shortness in the opponents’ suit is would receive for making their 1♥ Pass 2♥ ? the one who needs to do the acting. contract. This small difference is If I pass and West passes, partner, When Not to Balance crucial at matchpoint duplicate. North, will be in balancing position. 3. We may push them a level higher It may be difficult for partner to make We can’t be too aggressive if the and then defeat them. a balancing call if partner has length in opponents may not have found an In the balancing position, we bid hearts – three or more cards. So, if I’m eight-card fit. Consider this auction: aggressively on hands we wouldn’t short in the heart suit, I like to strain WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH dream of acting on in direct position. to bid even in the direct position. 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass This is especially comfortable when Marty Bergen had a very cute 2♠ Pass Pass ? the opponents’ suit is hearts because mnemonic for this. He called it OBAR The opponents have stopped at we may find a spade fit at the two BIDS: if the Opponents Bid And the two level, so it’s likely we have level. When their suit is spades, we’ll Raise, Balance In Direct Seat. It’s a about half the points. However, have to go to the three level, but it’s nice way to remember the concept. there’s no guarantee the opponents the same philosophy. The potential What I teach is to really go crazy in have found an eight-card fit. West gain more than outweighs the risk. this position … throwing the usual has shown a six-card suit but East Use the same strategy if playing guidelines out the window. Be very may have no spades. In this type of matchpoint duplicate or a team game. aggressive. The opponents have situation, we shouldn’t be too Try to be a little sounder if vulnerable found a fit and, if we pass, there are aggressive in entering the auction. – after all, we don’t want to be minus two things that are likely to happen If the opponents don’t have a fit, we 200 points when they can make only and both of them are bad for us: may not have a fit either. 110 points – but don’t be overly 1. It may go all pass. I consider this WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH concerned about vulnerability. a disaster since we’ve violated the 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass The Unusual Balance competitive philosophy by letting ♥ the opponents play comfortably in 2 Pass Pass ? In balancing position, we overcall their eight-card fit at the two level. The opponents probably have an with a single suit or double with 2. They may continue to game and eight-card fit, but be aware of the support for the other three suits, but now we’ve lost the opportunity danger. West might have raised with what do we do with a two-suited to make a lead-directing call or three-card support and the opponents hand? The answer is to use the perhaps find a profitable sacrifice. could be in a seven-card fit. Also, the “unusual” 2NT bid. This says nothing WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH opponents have bid two suits, so the about wanting to play in notrump. It possibility we have a fit is reduced. merely says we have a two-suited 1♥ Pass 2♥ ? ♠ When Partner Balances hand, typically with both minor suits. ♠ K Q 10 9 7 2 . Textbooks will WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH ♥ 7 3 say we can’t overcall If we’re going to follow a competitive 1♠ Pass ♦ J 10 8 5 at the two level in philosophy of trying to stop the 2♠ Pass Pass ? ♣ 8 4 the direct position opponents from playing comfortably with only 6 points. ♠ 2NT. Since I passed at the two level in their eight-card 8 6 Nonsense. This is an OBAR bid. We over 1♥, partner fit, both partners have to be aware ♥ 7 3 have to alert our opponents and tell knows I don’t have that this is our style. If partner ♦ A Q 10 8 them that this could be a weak bid the values for a 1NT makes a balancing bid, we don’t ♣ K J 9 8 5 in this situation, but that doesn’t overcall or more, so want to punish partner’s effort.
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