Competing over 1M (X).. do it aggressively

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of competing with one of the top players of the Seattle area. NV vs Vul at MP I opened 1S in first chair. Lefty made a TOX and partner, without any hesitation whatsover and with all the confidence in the world bid 2S holding: 652,842,J8542,JT.

Although this raise might be a little on the light side, most experts get in there over 1MX with less than the 5/6 points required for a normal raise. Why? First off, these bids are totally LAW protected. Have an eight card fit, compete to the two level. Note the emphasis on "compete". Don't promise you partner six points out of comp and emerge with 1.

Also, in these sequences a two level major suit bid takes away one or two levels of bidding from the opponents. For example, as in the above case --note that my RHO does not have the one level bid available, nor the jump to 3H. Rho is forced to compete to the three level on a very wide range of hands --almost anything that is not worth a 3S (gf) Q!!! Oh my. Competing light over 1H (X) takes away the 2S invitational jump.

If the layout is foul, only the most experience partnerships can catch you in a X'd contract. A X by the fourth hand is usually TO for the other suits and in order for the TOX'er to X again he/she needs relatively strong values.

Competing on a minimum with a major suit hand over a TOX is just solid expert bridge. However, here's the problem. Last weekend, at imps, my partner made a game try on this hand over my 2S raise. AQJxxx,AT98,Ax,K. I refused the invitation on Jxx,J9xxx,J,Axxx. The problem is obvious...If partner thinks I can have a 1 count, he/she makes a game try. If partner thinks I have a normal "in comp bid" i.e. 7+ more points, he/she jumps to game. The ultimate gaffe was not having discussed the issue.

Lots of expert partnerships have methods to delineate the 3 to a bad 7 point raise from an good 7 to a 10 point raise. Some use a 2D artificial bid for the strong raise, leaving the major support bid for "garbage". Thus 1M (X) 2D! means: "I have a solid raise to 2M, pard, says nothing about diamonds". Some use a transfer system to announce a good raise.

All systems protect the direct natural raise as "weak"- 1M (X) 2M! garbage. Why? it totally takes away bidding room from opps, it's law protected and very hard to catch if it's wrong (i.e. the layout is foul). Hope this is somewhat helpful. This is a necessary discussion to have with all your growing/learning partnerships.