Kaleidoscope Series Lesson #2
Maxi-Flex
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"Whenever we have a choice of two or more equally
attractive calls, we choose the CHEAPER/CHEAPEST such
call for maximum flexibility."
This is the essence of Maximum Flexibility or
"Maxi-Flex". As defined above, the concept is very
easy to express and understand. More difficult is
appreciating just how often this concept applies!
In contemplating our next call, we always start
by identifying the "candidate" calls. What actions
SOUND reasonable? Once we have these lined up we
analyze each option before selecting which one seems
best. But what if there is an approximate "tie" for
"best"? This is where Maxi-Flex comes in: as a
"tie-breaker".
---- Aims of Maxi-Flex ----
The purpose of Maxi-Flex actions may be, in
order of frequency:
1. To allow PARTNER room to "correct" our call as
appropriate, based on Partner's hand.
2. To maximize the chance of being able to make one
of our other alternative bids later...a "2-for-1".
3. Lead directing, as with delaying a raise.
4. To "hide" our fit when the adversaries have the
majority of strength so that the opponent with 3
or 4 cards in our suit won't know that THEIR
partner is short there.
5. To give the opponents every opportunity to come
back into the auction when we have solid defensive
values. In this context, Maxi-Flex is the
opposite of pre-emption.
6. To feign weakness when a display of strength
might provoke an unwanted sacrifice by the
opponents (see Killdeer Coup below).
7. To feign STRENGTH when weak, hoping to bluff the
opponents out of bidding on (see Kenny Coup below).
The fundamental tendency to bid four card suits
UP THE LINE is in the spirit of Maximum Flexibility.
By doing so, we can NEVER miss a 4-4 fit. Here is
the classic Maxi-Flex decision:
S- KJ10x H- Kx D- AQJx C- A10x
After 1D:1H, should we rebid 2NT to show our
18-19 flat, or 1S to show our 4-card Spade suit?
2NT has the advantage of showing our strength
and GENERAL distibution in one bid. However, it
may involve missing a 4-4 Spade fit--especially if
Partner is too weak to bid again. 1S will run no
such risk.
"But 1S is not forcing," one might argue. "We
could end up in 1S!"
This is true. But 1D:1H:1S shows 13-18 points.
Responder can ONLY pass with 6 or 7 and 3 or 4
Spades. If that is the case, we will be HAPPY to
be in 1S, making a few, while others struggle in
2NT. If things break badly, we could easily be
making 1S while everyone else is down in 2NT.
If Responder DOES bid again over 1S, as with
a sign off in 2D or 1NT, we can THEN rebid 2NT to
show our 18-19 points. In this way, 1S is a
"2-for-1" choice, allowing us to show our Spades
AND our distribution (albeit later).
----- The Pass -----
The cheapest call is ALWAYS a Pass. It is
also the most flexible, since it allows Partner
the full range of options: doubling or redoubling
in some cases, passing or bidding in others.
S- KJx H- Q10xx D- xxx C- Axx
LHO opens 1C and Partner overcalls 1H. RHO
doubles (negative). With less, we might raise to
2H or higher so as to pre-empt the opponents. With
more, we might redouble and raise Hearts later or,
if playing that cuebids are limit raises, we might
cuebid 2C. This hand falls somewhere between those
two extremes. Game is not out of the question if
Partner has the full maximum of 16 points, but even
3H might be too high if Partner has a minimum eight
points. Consider these possible ensuing auctions:
1. Opener Partner Responder You
1C 1H Dble Rdle
1S 2D Pass ??
Is Partner merely showing a shapely 2-suiter,
unwilling to defend 1S? If so, with our poor Diamonds
we may be too high in 3H. Or does Partner really have
extras? If so, we may have game here, but 2H will
understate our Heart support (sounding like a mere
preference) while 3H may overstate our strength
(showing MORE than 10 points). Compare this to:
2. Opener Partner Responder You
1C 1H Dble Pass
1S 2D Pass ??
Now there can be NO doubt that Partner is
showing a GOOD overcall, bidding 2D freely opposite
a passing partner. NOW we can confidently bid 3H
so as to strongly invite 4H. Partner will discern
from our failure to act earlier that we have a hand
in the nether region between a solid redouble or
cuebid and a pre-emptive raise. Hence, we will be
showing about 10 points.
3. Opener Partner Responder You
1C 1H Dble Pass
1S Pass Pass ??
Here we can bid a mere 2H, knowing that Partner
is unlikely to have the full 16 points that we'd
need for 4H. Overcalling Partner may also infer
that our support might not include an honour for
such a delayed raise. Consider this situation:
S- 432 H- Ax D- xxxx C- Kxxx
At IMPs with the opponents vulnerable, LHO opens
1D and Partner overcalls 1S. RHO bids 2C now. 2S
looks reasonable here at first glance. But how will
the hand unfold if we do?
When the opponents bid strongly in the minors,
can a No Trump bid be far behind? It sounds like
Partner has made a rather light overcall here. RHO
didn't bid freely in No Trump here. This raises the
possibility that LHO may become declarer in a No Trump
contract. If so, do we want to do ANYTHING that will
encourage a Spade lead from Partner?
Because the 2D free bid by RHO is forcing, we
have the luxury of passing here. If 3C or 3D is
subsequently passed around to us (1C-1S-2D-P-3C-P-P
or 1C-1S-2D-P-3D-P-P) we *may* balance with 3S.
This pass-then-raise approach suggests WEAK trumps,
generally. This is similar to when we have a good
hand but a weak suit and are considering an overcall:
S- AJx H- Jxxxx D- Ax C- AJx
Over 1C, PASS and bid the Hearts LATER, perhaps.
----- An Extreme Case From Tourney Play -----
S- Kxxx H- Axxxx D- xx C- Ax
Having opened 1H on this marginal hand, you
hear Partner's 1S response overcalled with 2D by
RHO. 1H-P-1S-2D. The opponents are vulnerable
at MatchPoints. Your call?
96% of the players in the field made the
mistake of bidding 2S here. Not surprisingly,
Responder went overboard hoping for more from
Opener in light of Opener's free bid over 2D.
Only a very few players PASSED with this
hand, waiting for Partner to make a Competitive
Double. After 1H-P-1S-2D-P-P-Dble-P-2S Responder
will surmise from our reluctance to bid 2S
EARLIER that we have opened on dead minimal values.
Free bids--including free raises--show
extra values. In essence, then, bidding 2S
directly over 2D "in front of Partner" here
virtually GUARANTEED a MINUS score, while
PASSING 2D cinched a PLUS.
Denouement: In case you were curious,
2D was PASSED OUT at the table, leading to
down TWO, +200, for a sizable gain and one
of the very few plus scores for the opening
side. S-Qxxx H- Q D- KJ10x C- Qxxx was
Responder's hand. Responder was DELIGHTED
to be able to defend 2D. :)
----- The Double -----
The best example of a Maxi-Flex double is the
Competitive Double (described in Rainbow Lesson #8).
S- KJxxx H- xx D- Jxx C- KQx
After 1D-1H-1S-2H-P-P, as Responder we do
not want to sell out to 2H. Having suggested 5+
Spades already with 1S, a 2S rebid would be rather
unilateral, and would imply 6+ Spades. Instead,
we make a Competitive Double, hoping Partner will
support Spades or be able to rebid 3D with a
5+card Diamond suit.
It follows that Opener, with minimal opening
values and a long suit, should NOT bid the suit
freely if RHO intervenes. Rather, Opener should
PASS and let Responder balance.
S- xx H- Kx D- KQJ10xx C- Kxx
After 1D-P-1H-1S you PASS. Do NOT bid 2D!
Let Partner double 1S competitively, and
THEN bid 2D...to slow Partner down.
Whenever you have a close decision between
a slightly offshape takeout double and an overcall,
go with the double whenever you lack a good 5+card
suit. This is ESPECIALLY true if your choice was
between a minimal 1NT overcall and a double.
S- K10xx H- AQx D- K10x C- K10x
With no source of tricks in no trump, do
NOT consider a 1NT overcall. Double.
Such a double has a number of advantages
over any suit or No Trump overcall whenever our
values are scattered and our hand has some modicum
of support for any unbid suit. These advantages
include:
1. Partner may have a Penalty Pass. If this is
the case, overcalling may get US into trouble.
2. We encourage Partner to bid/lead HIR suit
rather than ours...for now, at least.
3. If Partner has a bust, we will play in the
WEAKER hand's long suit...forcing some entries
to the weaker hand in this manner.
4. Suit bids--be they overcalls or opposite a
takeout double--are usually harder to double
for Penalty than No Trump bids.
----------- Questions -----------
1a. S- Q9xx H- K109 D- Qxx C- Q10x BOTH Vul.
1D by Partner, 1NT by RHO. Your call?
1b. S- Q9xx H- K109 D- Qxx C- Q10x BOTH Vul.
After 1D-Dble-P-1S-P-P to you. Your call?
----- The Redouble -----
The best example of a Maxi-Flex Redouble is
an SOS Redouble.
1. S- KJx H- J10x D- xx C- AKxxx
After 1D-2C-Dble-P-P we might consider
redoubling, asking Partner to rescue us to
another suit. This is a true SOS redouble.
2. S- QJ10xx H- Q98xx D- xx C- x
After 1D-2C-P-P-Dble-P-P or 1D-2C-Dble
(where the double of 2C by RHO is alerted
as being for PENALTY) a redouble by ADVANCER
will ask Overcaller to run to hir better
unbid suit (Hearts or Spades here). This is
often misidentified as an "SOS Redouble", too,
but is properly termed a "Kock Werner" Redouble.
As a matter of correct nomenclature, only
Declarer (i.e. the first person to bid the
doubled suit on our side) can make a true SOS
Redouble.
Consider this hand:
S- 109xxx H- xxx D- x C- xxxx
Partner's 1S opening bid is Doubled for
takeout. The opponents are vul. Your call?
The orthodox action is to jump to 4S on
such hands. Some devious types, though, will note the
favourable vulnerability and "psyche a beaver",
redoubling in an effort to bluff the opponents out of
game. This is particularly effective if our 1S bid
is limited to 15 or 16 points, as in Precision. Of
course, after redoubling here we will pull any
subsequent Penalty double by Partner to Spades. Who
knows? We *may* end up being allowed to play in 4S
UNDOUBLED! :))
We will call this idea of pretending to be
stronger than we are in order to bluff the opponents
out of acting a "Kenny Coup", after Kenny "KSired"
Sired. The psychic beaver (i.e. redouble) is the
simplest example of a Kenny Coup. More on this later.
----- Bids -----
Imagine this horror story:
S- xx H- xxx D- xxxx C- xxxx
1H-Dble-Rdbl to you. And, yes, of
course, you are vulnerable. Your call?
If we bid 2D and CLUBS turns out to be our
better fit, we are stuck. We would have to go
to the 3C level. If we bid 2C, though, Doubler
may be able to bid 2D as appropriate. And, if
we bid 2C and an opponent doubles too loudly,
we can then bid 2D, showing our second suit.
Notice that, as Advancer, we bid the LOWER
of the two suits whenever we are so weak that we
do NOT plan to bid freely again. Compare this to:
S- xx H- Kxx D- Q10xx C- A10xx
After 1H-Dble-Pass we don't have enough
for 3C or 3D, but we WILL bid 2D so that
if given the chance we WILL compete with
3C later.
Always look for a bid CHEAPER than the
"obvious" bid which may solve a tactical problem
for you. Consider this hand at IMPs, where YOUR
side is vulnerable:
S- Kx H- QJxx D- xx C- QJxxx
RHO You LHO Opener
- Pass Pass 1H
Pass 2H Pass 3C
3S ??
First let's define where we WANT to be.
We would LIKE to play this hand in 4H, given
our double fit. The problem is that our
non-vulnerable opponents are liable to bid 4S.
As it happens, 4S will be tough to beat, and
will never fail by more than one. Such is
often the case when both sides have a double
fit. Here, we seem to have a double fit in
the rounds. They must have one in the pointed
suits. Fortunately, WE may be the only one at
the table who KNOWS that they have this double
fit in Spades and Diamonds. So how might we
convince them NOT to bid 4S here?
We start by considering all the options:
Pass - May net us -140 if Partner passes too.
Dble - Penalty. Will likely net us -530 or -630.
3NT - May net us -300 if Partner passes.
4C - Announces our double fit in the roundeds.
Will CERTAINLY provoke 4S. +100 or -590.
4H - We'll PROBABLY hear 4S as "cheap insurance".
4H is certainly the most attractive--or
least UNattractive--of these options. Before
you reach for "4H" in your bidding box, though,
consider the Kenny Coup of 4D. This will be
a cuebid, suggesting SLAM! While this MAY get
us overboard, it should convince the opponents
not to push us anywhere.
Denouement: At the table, Partner bid
4H (thankfully) opposite our 4D psychic cuebid.
This was followed by the three fastest passes in
bridge history! :)
-------- The Killdeer Coup ---------
The Killdeer Coup is an extreme example of
Maxi-Flex, where we pretend to be WEAKER than we
are in order to dissuade the opponents from
bidding on. It is the opposite of a Kenny Coup.
North-South are vulnerable, East-West are not.
Sitting West, on which of these two auctions would
you prefer to defend 4H?
1. West North East South
1S 2H 2S 4H
2. West North East South
1S 2H 2S 3H
3S Pass Pass 4H
Against auction #1, as East-West we would
take the sacrifice of 4S sacrifice in any close
decision. On auction #2, though, it SOUNDS as
if we may be able to beat 4H. After all, South
was willing to play in 3H and then, without
another word from North, South bid to 4H!
Now let us turn the tables and look at
the situation from South's point of view:
South: S- x H- Q10xx D- AJ10xx C- Axx
After 1S-2H-2S, as South we should feel
fairly secure that our vulnerable 4H will make.
But if we jump to 4H our non-vulnerable opponents
will almost surely bid to 4S. While 4S may make
or go down plenty, we should expect 4S to fail
by one trick on an average day. We might expect
+100 if we double...against our +620 in 4H. :(
So what might we, as South, do to DIScourage
the opponents from sacrificing in 4S here? Easy.
Bid 3H! Now one of three things will happen:
1. We will end up in 3H. A disaster, you may
think. But, no! +170 is BETTER than the +100
that we would have gotten had we bid 4H here,
stampeding them into 4S. The opponents may
chortle about us missing game in 3H until they
see that they LOST 2 IMPs on this board! :)
2. Partner may bid 4H. If this is so, we should
consider bidding 5H when and if they sacrifice
in 4S.
3. They will compete with 3S and THEN South will
bid 4H...and THAT the opponents may choose to
defend!
The latter example is the Killdeer Coup. By
JUMPING to 4H we appear too eager, and will only
stampede them into 4S. By LIMPING into game, we
may induce them to defend 4H!
Let's look at another situation. With the
opponents vulnerable, you hold:
S- xx H- 109xx D- xxxxx C- Kx
The auction proceeds:
Opener Partner Responder You
1S 2H 4S Pass
Pass 5C Pass ??
What to do here? Bid 5H, right? After all,
5H rates to go down only 2 or 3 and the opponents
can almost certainly make 5S...and maybe 6S!
If you DO bid 5H here, the opponents will
almost certainly bid on to 5S (or higher). We
will lose -650 instead of the -300 or -500 that
5H doubled would likely cost us. So how can we
convince them to let us play in 5H doubled?
Easy. We "blood the hounds" by PASSING 5C!
Maxi-Flex. We certainly wouldn't mind playing in
5C UNDOUBLED. No doubt, though, LHO will double
5C. Then, and ONLY then, will we "reluctantly"
sidle over to 5H. If we catch the opponents
in a "doubling rhythm" we MAY be allowed to
play in 5H doubled after we scramble into it.
This, again, is a Killdeer Coup, named
after the bird which feigns a broken wing in
order to lure predators away from its nest.
Try it sometime. When it works, it is
a thing of beauty...and one of KALTICA's
personal favourite bidding ploys.
------- Final Quiz -------
1. S- 7 H- AT75 D- J4 C- T87642
This hand came up in a recent Novice-Mentor OKBridge
tourney. None vul. 1S-Dble-2S to you. Your call?
2. Are there some ways to DETECT a Killdeer Coup?
3. Having detected/suspected a Killdeer Coup, what should
we do once they've bid game?
4. Many assume that a Killdeer Coup works only against newer
players. Does it work against more experienced opposition?
5 At which form of game is a Killdeer Coup more likely to
succeed: Matchpoints or IMPs?
6. S-KQxx H-xx D-Qxx C-xxxx None vul, IMPs. The auction
proceeds: 1S-2H-2S-3H-P-P back to you as Responder. Your
opponents are two shifty-looking KaleidoScope Series
graduates.
7. The auction proceeds: 1S-2H-2S-3H-P-P-3S-P-P-4H-P-P back
to Opener. Question: is Responder's pass of 4H FORCING
on Opener? If so, which course of action is RESPONDER
voting for?
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The KaleidoScope Series, at 8:00 A.M. and either 3:00 P.M. (Monday and Wednesday) or 7:00 P.M. (Tuesday and Thursday) PST from Monday to Thursday, is a lecture program on a variety of subjects: Bidding Light, Maximum Flexibility, Defensive Doubles, LOTT versus "Got More, Bid More" and Squeezes. Unlike the FireSide and 5th Chair sessions mentioned above, the Kaleidoscope Series is a semi-private lesson program for our students. Nevertheless, you are invited to stop by and participate. The KaleidoScope Series, directed more at that intermediate player than the Rainbow and Spectrum, has quickly become one of our most popular. For $60 for five invaluable lessons ($100 for two series, $150 for all three series) this may be the best bridge instruction available anywhere!  CLICK HERE to email your registration. In the meantime, why not click on the lessons below and start learning now ? |
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