{"id":58869,"date":"2023-01-01T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-01T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/funbridge.com\/blog\/?p=58869"},"modified":"2023-01-10T13:19:34","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T11:19:34","slug":"the-mechanism-of-controls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/funbridge.com\/blog\/en\/the-mechanism-of-controls\/","title":{"rendered":"The mechanism of controls"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You are in the slam zone. When and how should you initiate the process of showing controls? In the classical system, the first bid that shows a control denies any control in the suits that could have been bid below. Here we propose a new approach, adopted by all the best players. It involves acquiring additional tools and in particular using the bid of 3NT, previously left unemployed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Foreword<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This type of article is written for players who can be considered advanced beginners and who should follow the French teaching method and French standard system (SEF), but also for everybody else who wants to learn more about the French bidding system. I happen, quite frequently, to deviate from the SEF, but you are always alerted when I do. The deviations that I suggest all conform to a concern for improvement, without seeking to impose tedious memory efforts and even trying to simplify them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a course for advanced players, one rule conditions the initiation of control-showing bids:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rule: In the standard system, bidding the first control denies a control (or controls) in the lower suits.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In the sequence:<\/p>\n\n\n

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4♦️ denies a control in Clubs. Therefore, as corollary, a Heart cue-bid by (4♥️) confirms the existence of a control in Clubs. This system follows a certain logic – I practiced it in the 1980s – but it is unfortunately neither efficient nor competitive. Let\u2019s look at the following sequence, where South holds as dealer:<\/p>\n\n\n

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As a good soldier, South, who considers bidding a slam, initiates the process of control bids by saying 4♣ and, when he hears 4♦️- Ace or singleton – he still hasn\u2019t solved his only problem which is the Heart control before asking for keycards with 4NT. And, above all, he has no way to ask for this control, except if he (and his partner!) knows a very sophisticated bid, a jump to 5♠, used precisely to ask this question, with a risk of ending up in an inglorious 6 Spade contract opposite ♠J764 ♥️KQ92 ♦️4 ♣Q1073.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the time being, remember this: initiating the process of control bids by systematically bidding the most economical control can start the sequence on the wrong track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Control-showing bids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A. Some definitions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1) A control-showing bid always imposes that game will be played. It must not be confused with a bid showing a stopper or a natural bid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples :<\/p>\n\n\n

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Shows a Heart stopper on the way to 3No-trump.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Initiates controls.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Natural game try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) A control is defined as the certainty of not losing the first two tricks in the named suit. A doubleton or tripleton King is a control, even if it can be played through on the opening lead. The honor controls are Ace and King, controls by shortness are voids or singletons. An Ace or void is a \u201cfirst-round\u201d control; if the defense plays the suit, you can win the first round. A King or a singleton is a \u201csecond-round\u201d control. Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example :<\/p>\n\n\n

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4♦️ can be either the Ace or King, void or singleton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) A control-showing bid usually follows the discovery of a fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are, however, situations of anticipated controls, \u201cbefore signing off \u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Control in Clubs, agrees Hearts as trumps. There is no doubt here – South has described a balanced hand, so the 4♣ bid cannot be natural and this control-showing bid also confirms four-card support in Hearts in an economic fashion, below game. Three-card support on the other hand can be shown with 3♠ over 3♥️, leaving enough space for control-showing bids if wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, in a sequence like:<\/p>\n\n\n

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There is a doubt, 4♣ may be a natural bid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My advice? Follow this principle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When there is a doubt between a control-showing bid and a natural bid, you must start by interpreting the bid as natural.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

B. Two essential principles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hold your breath. Everything will be enacted in a few lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1) The player who starts control-showing bids begins by showing a control at the level that suits him, without denying the control he has (maybe intentionally) skipped.<\/strong> Example:<\/p>\n\n\n

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You have recognized the hand that was presented in the introduction. In order to hear about the existence of a Heart control before asking for keycards (or pass 4♠ if it is missing), South shows his Diamond control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comment:<\/strong> There is no priority given to showing a first-round control (Ace or void) rather than a second-round control (King or singleton).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) Once the process of showing controls is started, the principle of economy is restored and unavoidable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Principle: After the first control-showing bid, every skipped control is denied.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Example :<\/p>\n\n\n

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South, obedient, shows his Heart control, which happens to be shortness in opener\u2019s second suit. As you can see, the 4♥️ bid does not promise or deny anything in Clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you have accepted these two principles, you understand that the player who starts the control-showing process first of all wants to obtain information. He isn\u2019t the \u201ccaptain of he sequence\u201d yet, but this can change. He can either stop at game-level if the needed control is missing or ask for keycards after an affirmative answer – two of the most known ways of taking over captaincy. Under these conditions, a new principle is added to the two previous ones:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Principle: The process of showing controls is initiated by naming the control which is immediately below the one that is urgently needed.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Comment:<\/strong> This objective is easy to reach if you want to find out about controls in Diamonds or Hearts, with 4♣ and 4♦️ comfortably preceding the possible answers of 4♦️ and 4♥️. To find out about Club and Spade controls, it\u2019s trickier. It is still possible to do so under certain conditions \u2013 business to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. The start of control-showing auctions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A. When to trigger control bids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The immediate goal of control-showing bids is to verify that there is no suit where you could lose the first two tricks from the top. Once all the controls are on board, the objective of RKCB is to verify that you aren\u2019t missing two key cards – two Aces or an Ace and the King of trumps. These two essential steps help avoid losing the first two tricks, true, but they also presuppose the prior knowledge of at least an eight-card fit, good trump quality and sufficient material to get to twelve tricks. Example:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Subjugated by the quality of his honors and trump suit, South tries for a slam, starting with a control-showing cue-bid. He gets the answers he hoped for: North controls Diamonds and there is only one Ace missing. The problem here is that partner\u2019s promised point range won\u2019t allow you to count twelve tricks. 11-12DH is hardly more than 10HCP and when North has two Aces he cannot have a King unless he is 4-3-3-3. Let\u2019s say North has ♠10973 ♥️K105 ♦️A103 ♣A92 and therefore the missing first-round controls: you still have to satisfy yourself with ten tricks, not one more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B. How to trigger control bids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The technique is significantly different depending on whether the fit was expressed at the three-level in a non-forcing or a forcing situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) After a non-forcing raise at the three-level<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Whether they are made by opener or responder, these raises are always limited and therefore very precise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three types of limit raise of a major at the three-level:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11-12DH.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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11-12DH.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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15-16HCP.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Comment:<\/strong> Some people play 2NT as a limit raise, but this raise has its own specific developments and will not be studied here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faced with these limit raises, there are two possible approaches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Sign off. Either by passing or by bidding game.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Every other bid is a slam try.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    If the player who has just heard about a limit raise opposite decides all by himself to explore a slam, this implies of course that he has enough material to hope for twelve tricks facing the average hand his partner promised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Triggering the process of control-showing bids follows the rule that was presented earlier and repeated here because that rule is so fundamental in the situation of a limit raise: you start by showing the control immediately below the one that is the most important to know about.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The procedure is simple in some cases, but it needs the help of conventional bids in others. And therefore special attention for what will follow a little further down.But before that, test your judgment on the following question: with which of the responder\u2019s hands numbered 1 to 6 do you envision a slam after the following sequence?<\/p>\n\n\n

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    To answer this question properly, you have to imagine an average hand that corresponds to a rebid by opener, showing a fit at the three-level. Here are some things you can do to evaluate an average hand for opener, suit by suit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Four Spades, headed by one or two honors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Five Diamonds, headed by two honors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • A singleton Heart or Club.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • An honor in Clubs or Hearts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      And this gives:<\/p>\n\n\n

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      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      The answers to the test:<\/p>\n\n\n

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      (*) But not often, you have to find four key cards.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      What are the decisive elements in respon-der\u2019s hand?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The number of trumps, Aces in short suits, complementary honors in the ope-ning suit. And in these conditions, unless you are already able to ask for keycards, you will initiate the process of control-showing. Consider these cards in opener\u2019s hand in the sequence:<\/p>\n\n\n

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      In the recent past, you bid your control at 4♦️, very happy to then ask for keycards if North answers 4♥️ (controls in Clubs and Hearts), much less if North answers 4♠️ (no Heart control) or even 5♣️ (a courageous bid, but it doesn\u2019t solve the problem of the number of Aces, zero or one, for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Today you are going to start control-showing bids with the bid immediately below Clubs, and looking at the sequence, there is one left: the bid of 3NT<\/strong>, which logically cannot be natural, given that nobody wants to play Three No-trump when you have a nine-card fit. And you just learned a new rule:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Rule: After a fit has been shown by a limit raise at the three level, 3NT is a relay triggering the control-showing process.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      Partner then shows his controls in accordance with the now known principle of economy, any control that is skipped is therefore denied. With a control in Clubs, he answers 4♣. Without a Club control, he shows his lowest control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Let\u2019s take another example:<\/p>\n\n\n

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      You do have a control in Clubs, but you need to know if your partner has the King or, at least, a singleton in the suit. Using Blackwood won\u2019t solve this problem. First triggering controls through 3NT, then asking for keycards does. If, over 3NT, North bids 4♦️ then answers 5♦️ to RKCB, you have no slam to play. On the other hand, if North bids 4♣️, then answers 5♦️(30-41), you can go for 6♥️.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      <\/stop><\/stop><\/linearGradient><\/defs><\/svg><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Rule: 3NT asks for a Club for control as a priority, but without denying it.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      Armed with our new rules and conventions, let\u2019s get back to the South hand presented in the introduction, with the updated sequence a little further on.<\/p>\n\n\n

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      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      What does the 4♦️ bid tell us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • South\u2019s priority is to find out about a Heart control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • South controls Diamonds and doesn\u2019t need an additional control there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • The same applies to Clubs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        And here we are in a position to give you this other rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Rule: Bidding a control guarantees a control in that suit, but also in the inferior suit(s).<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

        Exercises<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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        Deal #1<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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        Deal #2<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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        Deal #3<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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        Deal #4<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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        Deal #5<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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        Deal #6<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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        Deal #7<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

        Solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. 3NT. Looking for a Club control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        2. 4♠️. No slam facing 11-12DH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        3. 4♦️. Priority to the inquiry for a Heart control, which is not promised by the 1♥️ response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        4. 4♥️. No slam, responder has at best two Aces, opener is far from counting twelve tricks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        5. 3NT. Asking for a Club control is the key bid in the sequence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        6. 4♥️. You are not proud of your hand, Iunderstand, but it\u2019s no longer time to evaluate your cards but rather obey an automatic process and show your Heart control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        7. 3♠️<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Careful, danger!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        You couldn\u2019t give the answer to this seventh and last question as it was, and I hesitated for a long time to offer you one, but it\u2019s stronger than me, I cannot bring myself to leave you in the dark. That being said, if the following seems too complicated to understand and to memorize, you should skip to the next part of the article without dwelling on this question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In fact, if you already understand the logic behind the process of triggering controls in a non-forcing situation, you could find the solution on your own. You want to hear about a Spade control without going past the game level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        But this question about the control in Spades can only be asked in the trump suit, Hearts. Showing your Heart fit (3♥️) gives you an additional space, reserved for the 3♠️ bid, which, a priori<\/em> is useless, and which will be recovered precisely to inquire about a control in Spades. And to stay within the logic of the system, it is the bid right after that shows said control: 3NT. Pause. I feel you are lost, and I understand it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Let\u2019s go back to the last question and its answer, 3♠️.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If opener shows his Spade control by the conventional bid of 3NT, you then use RKCB. If he answers 4♣️; a control in Clubs but not in Spades, you stop in 4♥️. Once the memorization effort is over, you will be under the charm of this new convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        2) After a forcing raise at the three-level<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

        A forcing raise by responder at the three-level is a catalyst for a slam auction, it\u2019s the trigger. It promises a minimum of 16DH. After two rounds of bidding, the point range shown by opener is more or less wide. Don\u2019t forget that an economical two-suiter ranges between 12 and 20HCP. However again, the process of showing controls must not be automatic, especially because the count of high card points doesn\u2019t resolve everything. Opener must re-evaluate his hand based on the classic criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Distribution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Location of the singleton.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Trump quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Number of trumps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Location of the honors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Quality of the honors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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          <\/stop><\/stop><\/linearGradient><\/defs><\/svg><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n

          Rule: Opener is not required to start a control-showing sequence after a forcing raise. With a minimum opening, he must slow down the bidding by bidding game, without this being a sign-off.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

          Corollary: Showing a control expresses a good opening.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n

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          This article won\u2019t talk about intermediate hands, those that are too strong to stop in game, but not strong enough to show a control. They occur too rarely and require the contribution of another convention which risks making you mix everything up; for a minimal gain in efficiency. Ifyou look at it like that, opener has only two options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • YES, okay to investigate slam, let\u2019s bid a control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • NO, refusal to investigate slam, slow down at game level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            The initiation of control-showing bids doesn\u2019t follow such a strict process as in situations of non-forcing raises; the captain is not yet defined. Here again, however, one can skip a control with the first bid without denying it, but here again if you skip a control later in the process, you deny having it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            When should you voluntarily skip a control? Generally speaking, when the first control is a control by shortness, and in particular when this control is a singleton in partner\u2019s suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            <\/stop><\/stop><\/linearGradient><\/defs><\/svg><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            Rule: Never initiate the process of showing controls by naming a control by shortness \u2013 singleton or void \u2013 in partner\u2019s suit.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

            The main idea is always the same: count and help your partner count twelve tricks. The difference between a tripleton King in the second suit and a singleton will jump right at you in the partial example below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            Five tricks in almost 90% of cases.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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            One trick and a suit difficult to establish.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

            All is said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n

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            \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

            In the first sequence, making a control-showing bid in Clubs to show the singleton in responder\u2019s suit will distort your partner\u2019s judgment. In the second sequence, showing the King of Diamond is more important than indicating the singleton Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Exercises:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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            Deal #1<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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            Deal #2<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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            Deal #3<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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            Deal #4<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
            \n
            \"The
            Deal #5<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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            Deal #6<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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            Deal #7<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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            Deal #8<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

            Solutions :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. 4♠️. Let\u2019s quickly curb responder\u2019s enthusiasm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. 4♣️. Hoping to hear 4♦️ before inquiring Blackwood.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. 4♦️. To hear about a Heart control and avoid showing shortness in partner\u2019s suit as a control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            4. 4♣️. 3♠️ shows a forcing raise with four Spades. No reason to be ashamed of his hand, 2NT shows a hand in the 12-14HCP range; South has every reason to encourage his partner to bid a slam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            5. 4♥️. And here he has every reason to discourage him.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            6. 3♠️. Despite balanced distribution and a minimum in high card points, South should not slow down the sequence with four key cards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            7. 4♥️. A bid that is clear enough to indicate the lack of controls in the minors, an honor control in Hearts and a hand far from minimum considering the quality of the trump suit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            8. 4♥️. Once the process of showing controls is initiated, the existence of every skipped control is denied. Therefore, you must bid 4♥️, even if it\u2019s a singleton in partner\u2019s suit, and whether or not you have a control in the fourth suit (here you don\u2019t).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              What do you think of this article?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              Please share your view in the comments section below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              You are in the slam zone. When and how should you initiate the process of showing controls? In the classical system, the first bid that shows a control denies any control in the suits that could have been bid below. Here we propose a new approach, adopted by all the best players. It involves acquiring additional tools and in particular using the bid of 3NT, previously left unemployed. 1. 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When and how should you initiate the process of showing controls? In the classical system, the first bid that shows a control denies any control in the suits that could have been bid below. Here we propose a new approach, adopted by all the best players. It involves acquiring additional tools and in particular using the bid of 3NT, previously left unemployed. 1. 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