Saturday, August 21, 2004 2:16 AM

D.S.I.P. Sandwich Position

 

PITBULLS:

 

With an understanding that a double of the opponents bid in the sandwich position is support or D.S.I.P. ( depending on auction) , it is a good idea to play a variation of Lebensohl called “the good-bad 2NT “ .  It is only defined for the opponents bidding in the sandwich position and preventing you from distinguishing between competitive and invitational hands. A penalty double is still a pass in these auctions  and partner should re-open with a double.  I still feel a direct 2NT should be natural though ( non sandwich position ) . This bid was made popular by Marty Bergen . It brings back the concept of “free bids” showing a good hand as you would have bid 2NT just to compete. Like Lebensohl ,  partner must relay to 3♣ unless he is too strong to do so . Here is a write up on the bid from the net :

 

“This highly useful concept can best be explained with an example. Say you open the bidding with one Heart, holding:

xx

AKxxx

x

KJ10xx

Your partner responds one No Trump and your right hand opponent bids two Spades. Despite your mere 11 high card points you'd love to bid three Clubs. After all, you know the opponents have at least eight Spades (partner denied four when he bid one No Trump), so you can't leave them on the two level.

The problem with bidding three Clubs is that you would also have to bid three Clubs with a 17-count! How does partner know if you're just competing, or if you really have a good hand? This kind of problem comes up all the time - you'd love to bid, but you're afraid to mislead partner about the strength of your hand.

We solve this problem with Good-Bad 2NT - a variation of the Lebensohl convention ( actually it is Lebensohl ) . It enables us to compete to the three level in a very effective manner. Here is the rule:

 

 

 

In a competitive auction, when RHO makes any two-level call,

our 2 NT bid is not natural.

It shows a desire to compete to the three level,

and requests that the partner bid three Clubs,

after which the 2NT bidder shows his suit.

 

 

 

 

If the suit is Clubs, the two No Trump bidder can pass the forced three Club bid. Bidding directly on the three level (without relaying first with two No Trump) shows extras.

you'd bid two No Trump, then three Diamonds after partner's forced three Clubs bid.

 

 

 

 

 

West

 

North

 

East

 

South

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

1

 

Double

 

2

 

?

 

 

 

 

 

 

xx

AKJ10xxx

Kxx

x

An easy two No Trump bid - partner won't play you for an 18-count when you pull his three Clubs relay to three Hearts. If you held:

Kx

AKJ10xxx

Kxx

x

you would bid three Hearts directly.

 

 

 

 

 

West

 

North

 

East

 

South

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

1

 

Double

 

2

 

?

 

 

 

 

 

 

xx

KJ10x

AKxxx

xx

In Standard, you'd feel uncomfortable bidding a free three Hearts. But you can't leave the opponents in their eight-card fit on the two level. Playing Good-Bad 2NT, you bid 2 No Trump, followed by three Hearts, to let partner know that you have a minimum.

The number of auctions in which this two No Trump option is available is staggering. However, we've found that in some situations it doesn't make sense to play it. Any serious partnership should take a little time to discuss when it should or should not apply. Some of the exceptions, discussed in Better Bidding With Bergen, are the following:

1. When two No Trump would clearly be Unusual.
2. When either side has opened one No Trump.
3. When the opponents have opened with a big Club.
4. When the opponents make a penalty double.
5. When we have already found a fit.
6. When we are already in a game forcing auction.

Even if you choose not to discuss exceptions, you do have to use a little common sense. Let's say your partner opens one Diamond, they bid one Heart, and you make a negative double holding:

Axxx

Ax

xxx

AJxx

They raise to two Hearts and your partner bids 2 NT Good-Bad. He's probably got a weak three Clubs bid or a weak three Diamond bid. You certainly can't afford to bid three Clubs since he will pass if he has Clubs! So, you simply bid three Hearts and partner will know you have a good hand.

 

 

 

 

Look how easy it becomes to handle situations like the following. You hold:

You

 

LHO

 

Partner

 

RHO

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

Double

 

2

 

3

 

Pass

Ax

Axxx

J10xx

Jxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

You made a negative double and heard partner bid three Hearts over their raise to two Spades. You know that partner has a good hand since he didn't bid two No Trump. So, you can comfortably raise to game. If partner held only:

Kx

KQxx

KQxx

Jxx

he would not have bid a direct three Hearts. He would have started with two No Trump, and you would bid three diamonds (no reason to bid three Clubs since, if he has Diamonds and Clubs, you would prefer to play in Diamonds). Now, when he bids three Hearts, you can pass without worrying that you're missing a game.

Using Good-Bad 2NT, you will be able to compete quite effectively when the opponents find their fit on the two level - and that's what the LAW wants you to do! You certainly will not suffer from the lack of a natural two No Trump bid - it's not a bid you really need. Telling partner whether you have a good or a bad three level bid is a much more useful piece of information to convey. “