Bidding judgment, agreements

In 1976, Mike Lawrence, at that point a two-time Bermuda Bowl winner on the Dallas Aces team, published his second book, “Judgment at Bridge.” (He also won the Bermuda Bowl in 1987.) Now “Judgment at Bridge 2” has come out (Baron Barclay Bridge Supply).

This expands on the original work, in particular taking note of how bidding styles have changed over the last 40 years.

Lawrence also considers bidding conventions you should use (negative doubles, for example), those you add once you have a practiced partnership (Reverse Drury being one), and a few you should avoid (stolen bids is on his list).

Lawrence tries to make the reader think logically. For example, look at the South hand in the diagram. With neither side vulnerable, East opens two spades. What should South do?

While you are deciding, Lawrence likes decent suits for pre-emptive opening bids, but says that if you are unsure whether to pre-empt or not, you probably should, especially when nonvulnerable.

If an opponent opens with a pre-empt, and you have a hand with which you might act, you should assume partner has six or seven points with one or two useful cards, but nothing magic. In this deal, North has the expected 7-count with two winners, but three hearts still rates to go down two, perhaps doubled by West (especially in a pairs event). South will lose one spade, two hearts, two diamonds and one club.

Yes, two spades can be made, but it requires double-dummy play.

Over two spades, South should pass.