Captain of the Auction.
By Badderzboy
(Steve Kitching)
In
bidding there are three phases to the auction,
While
bidding we are conducting a conversation with our partner and effectively
trying to describe our hand in both strength and
distribution.
As
soon as one of the partners has described his hand to a tight range of points
and distribution, then the other partner is responsible for asking more
questions and then selecting the final contract i.e. the Captain of the
auction!
The
Captain of the auction can be either opener or responder depending on the
auction itself.
We
all do it but probably don't realise it and the non-captain should allow their
partner to decide on the contract and not over-rule! as
you have told your partner what you have and he knows what he's got!
The
opening bid is always descriptive but may also be the final descriptive
bid!
1C
- describes a hand with 3+ clubs and 11-19+ pts
1H
- describes a hand with 5+ hearts and 11-19+ pts
2C
- describes a strong hand, game-force or 23+ pts
2H - describes a weak hand with 6 hearts
and 6-10 pts
1NT
- describes a balanced hand with 15-17 pts in SAYC
2NT
- describes a balanced hand with 20-22 pts in SAYC
Which
of the above are the final descriptive bid and which aren't?
The
first three aren't the final descriptive bid as we don't know the shape and
point count of partners hand but the last three are – Partner has told us what
they have got and so it's up to us to find out what we need to know and set the
contract !
Also
you shouldn't ask a question until one of the partnership has tightly defined
their shape and points!
A
good example of this is the auction 1H - 4NT is normally
a poor bid because we don't know partner's shape or strength, another bid
allows partner to finish describing his hand and then we can get excited!
The information
gathering phase (Sayc based)
As
soon as the descriptive phase is finished, the final placement of the contract
lies in the hand of the Captain!
It’s
now up to the Captain to either ask a question or set the contract! So how do
we ask a question – we bid again 1♥ - 2♥ (end
of description phase by responder this time 3+ hearts 6-9 pts say playing
simple raises ), opener is now the captain, what questions can he ask?
The
normal questions asked are you minimum/maximum in your range, do you have any
Aces!, do you have a stopper in x,
The important
thing here is to answer partner’s question and not try to
describe other things about your hand!
An
example of the opener being the Captain is the simple raise,
1♥ - 2♥
2♥ -
describes responders hand as 3+ hearts and 6-9 pts so,
· Pass – sets the contract
·
3♥ -
Are you minimum or maximum i.e bid 4 with a good weak
raise?
·
4♥ -
Sets the contract
·
3♣ - Do you have less than 3 losers in clubs
(suit trial bid)
·
4NT – have you any aces (or Keycard
ask)?
It
can be a little more complex but not much as most descriptive bids complete
after responder’s first bid or opener’s rebid…
The
sequence shows the descriptive phase completed by opener’s rebid,
1♣ - 1♦ - 2♦-?
Opener
has described his hand as 5+ clubs (as not balanced else he would bid 1NT), 4+
diamonds, no 4 card major and a weak opening hand 11-14!
It’s
now up to responder to either ask a question or set the contract! Responder may
ask a question – do you have a stopper in hearts and so on or even ace asking!
1♣
- 1♦ - 2NT
Opener
has described his hand as balanced and 17-18 pts with 4+ clubs and no 4 card
major and so responder again is the captain
As a
general rule, once NT is bid the other partner is the captain (unless 3NT is
bid as the final contract)
If
you think about it every bid after a 1NT opener is asking a question or forcing
a bid which will then generate a question!
So
after, 1NT
2♣
- Stayman – Have you a four card major? – each subsequent bid is a question from partner
1NT -
2♣ - 2♦ -
…
·
2NT – is a question have you a maximum if so bid 3NT
·
3♠ -I have 5 spades and 4 hearts, do you
have 3 spades? If so bid 4 spades, otherwise bid 3NT
·
4NT is a question are you minimum / maximum bid 6NT with a maximum or pass and so on …
1NT -
2♦ - 2♥
2♦ is a forced bid to 2♥ and then Partner either sets the contract
or asks a question!
·
Pass – Sets the contract
·
2NT – I have 5 Hearts and 8ish pts – the question is
do you 3 hearts and are you minimum / maximum pls bid
either 3♥, 3NT,4♥ or pass.
·
3♥ - I
have 6+ hearts and
In
the last two bids, although the 1NT opener will set the contract, he is doing
so under partner’s instruction.
When
the captain has asked the relevant questions, the contract is set by the
captain either by offering a choice or by PASS!
1NT -
2♣ - 2♦ -
…
·
2NT sets the contract at
either 2NT or 3NT
·
3♠ sets the contract at
3NT or 4♠
·
4NT sets the contract at either 4NT or 6NT
1NT -
2♦ - 2♥
2♦ is a forced bid to 2♥ and then Partner either sets the contract
or asks a question!
·
Pass – Sets the contract
·
2NT sets the contract at 2NT, 3♥, 3NT,
4♥ or pass.
·
3♥ sets
the contract at 4♥ or
pass.
In
conclusion, the benefit of thinking this way actually helps in the bidding as
you know when to start asking questions and who should set the
contract. I’m sure we’ve all overridden our partner’s final decision to
our detriment!
During the next time you play, think who the Captain of the Auction is
Steve
said :- This document was a topic of the very first bridge lecture I ever
attended. I found the subject very useful and have seen many fellow BILlies fall foul of theory !
It does help when bidding!
Note: The System referred to is
SAYC (the hand shape/points do not ,for
example, apply in Acol )