Tell, Don�t Ask
Silence is golden. Here are 3 situations to
examine. If you are on the �wrong� side of these, here is your
big chance to change your ways.
The sign of an inexperienced player is the
frivolous asking for explanations. If your opponents alert, that
doesn�t mean you have to do anything. After the auction is over,
ask away. But, while the bidding is still underway, don�t ask
unless the information is vital to you.
On many auctions, you and your partner are
passing throughout. Your opponents are on their way to game, maybe
slam. They are alerting away. Why ask? All you accomplish by
asking is to help them. They get to explain their bids,
thereby clarifying matters for their partners. Too often, I�ve
seen situations such as:
Opener Responder
1
2
2NT
4 *
Four clubs is alerted by the opponents. You
are next to bid, and you hold:
QJ32
542
Q64
952.
Why should you possibly care what four clubs
means? Just sit there and ignore the alert. If you ask, the
opponents will verbalize (thereby helping to avoid
misunderstanding) if it is Gerber, a Splinter, Natural, or
something else. Wait until the auction is over. At that point, you
can get all the explanations you wish.
Why do people ask when they don�t care?
Maybe to show off that they are paying attention? Maybe to look
sophisticated. Just the opposite. It is the sure sign of
inexperience to ask questions when there is no need to.
If you are on the other side of the equation
(you and your partner are doing the alerting), then you are
required to explain. Only if you are asked, tell.
Another pet peeve of mine (and another sure
sign of inexperience) is as follows:
| You |
Opponent |
Partner |
Opponent |
| 2 |
Double |
Pass |
3 |
| Double ! |
|
|
|
You open a preempt, and later the opponents
cue-bid your suit. This is a good time for the �silence is
golden� principle. Too often, people foolishly double these
cue-bids. Sometimes they even laugh and ask if it is their lead.
Such doubles can only help the opponents. Trust me, they aren�t
playing in three hearts doubled. By doubling, you give them
flexibility. They can pass the double back around to their
partner. They can redouble to show a control. You give them all
sorts of options they didn�t have if you had just sat there and
passed three hearts. Your partner knows you have hearts�why
double?
Lastly, here�s one I�ve seen many times
before. Dealer opens 1.
The next player is sitting there with:
K32
A2
AQ108752
2
Wow! What
a strange hand to hold when RHO opens 1.
Any experienced player would pass in tempo. What else can
you do? Presumably 2
would be a Michaels bid for the majors, and 3
would be preemptive. So, you pass and await developments (if you
overcall in diamonds on the next round, it will be natural).
What do the inexperienced players do? They
ask, �What does 1
show?� Or, �How
many diamonds does 1
promise?� Or, they
sit there with an amused grin on their faces. These players
obviously shouldn�t try Poker, but they also need to recognize
the situation so that next time they play bridge, they can pass
smoothly without giving away the show.
Make sure you are aware of the 3 situations
described here, so that you can be thought of as an expert. Or, at
least, you won�t be thought of as a neophyte. I am reminded of
the famous quote: �Better
to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it
and remove all doubt�
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