When people talk about dangerous bids in bridge, they usually mean something technical. Thin slams. Big sacrifices. Complicated conventions. But in my experience, the most dangerous bids are often very normal ones. They look reasonable. That is exactly why they can get me into trouble.
One of them is the polite pass. I hold something. Not strong, but not nothing either. Partner opens, the opponents interfere, and now it is my turn. I think maybe I should bid, but I also tell myself that partner might not have much more. Maybe it is better to stay quiet and wait. So, I pass.
At that moment it feels careful and disciplined. But after the hand is over, I sometimes see that we had a fit and never found it. Or that partner was stronger than I expected. My pass was not terrible. It was simply too comfortable. I avoided risk, but I also avoided opportunity.
Another dangerous bid for me is the “I will fix it” double. Partner makes a bid that makes me uneasy. It feels a little high or slightly optimistic. The opponents compete again and I feel pressure building. I double.
In my mind, I am helping. I am protecting the partnership. But very often I am only making the auction more complicated. We go one level higher than we should. Sometimes we defend when we would have scored better playing the hand. When I review the board, I realize the double was not based on clear extra values. It was based on discomfort.
Then there is the familiar 3NT decision. I count our combined points. Twenty-four. Twenty-five. The stoppers are not perfect, but not hopeless either. A suit contract does not look obvious. 3NT looks standard. So, I bid it.
Sometimes it works and I feel sensible. Other times the opponents cash several quick tricks and I am left wondering why I ignored the warning signs. 3NT is often correct, but bidding it because it looks normal, without a clear plan for the play, can be costly.
I also notice another dangerous habit in my own bidding. Sometimes I raise partner with one or two fewer points than I should, especially when we are vulnerable. I look at my hand and think it's close enough. Just one point short. It feels supportive.
But bridge is not always kind to optimism.
After I raise, partner becomes enthusiastic. Now he believes we have enough for game. The auction grows quickly and suddenly we are committed. Later I see that if I had described my hand more honestly, we might have stopped lower. One imaginary extra point can turn into a very real minus score.
What I have learned is that these bids are not dramatic mistakes. They are small decisions that feel comfortable at the time. But bridge rewards accuracy more than comfort.
I still make these bids. Not every day, but often enough to recognize the pattern. When I look back, I usually see that the warning signs were there. I simply chose the safer feeling instead of the clearer evaluation.
Maybe you recognize some of this. If you do, then we probably approach the game in a similar way. And sometimes the most reasonable bid turns out to be the one that causes the trouble.
About the Author
Ari is part of the BBO team and works on the weekly and monthly newsletters. He reads all the stories you send in, and plays bridge every day.
so right so often thx
Good article Ari and yet we do the same thing again, and again, and again!!
I play with different people and do not TRUST there bids. I then make bad adjustments to my standards
I agree with Leslie; examples would be helpful
Well, how about elucidating!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Reaching a decision on what to say or not say when it's your time to bid makes the game so interesting and fun.
For me, the most dangerous action is the one that is normal and done reflexively, without thinking. Examples include unnecessarily extending a preempt and covering an honor with an honor.
🎯
Any "easy" self-argument tips to remember before bidding or passing if some question remains... but you usually ignore...
Thanks for your write-up.
Excellent article. I would add one more thing. The desire to compete makes us bid when we should pass the decision to partner. This type of bidding is particularly dangerous when playing with robots. Your robot partner assumes that you have something that justifies your bid and you wind up with a minus score.
Robots go wild when you are only trying to balance. Best not to bid if your partner is a robot or you’ll be playing 7nt down 6 doubled! LOL
Excellent piece! Thx.
Not only the new comers but experienced players should take note!!
Common mistakes diffficult to rectify and hoping against hope scenario
That’s me all over.
Partner and even opponents ( great BRIDGE players) acknowledge better than I when to settle for partial
Your article was right on thank you
As a new player, I see me in this article! I often think, oh I’m just one point short of the standard and make a bid that is often optimistic. Another factor for me is forgetting that I am in a partnership. Evaluation. Is no easy thing!
Thank you for your article Ari.
Ottimo commento . Il mio disaccordo col mio part. e sempre dovuto a questo . Io rispondo con precisione e lei inventa ed elabora sperando che vada bene sempre alzare . Vorrei che lo leggesse. Bravo
Excellent article. Clear, not complicated and in it was something that we all can recognize. Certainly will make me rethink stretching the point count at times.
Very interesting and helpful!
I admire how clearly you expressed your actions and thoughts while playing bridge.Every bridge player have experienced what you wrote.
Emotions and assumptions interfere with our decisions which could leads to unanticipated results.
Clearly and concisely written. I am sure we ACBL bridge players can relate to these dangerous bids. Nevertheless, the examples all require judgment with no crystal ball. But if we had one, we wouldn't keep coming back to play a game that even the pros haven’t conquered!
I am new to bridge, however, I can already appreciate the situations you are describing.
Thank you for sharing.
Philnob
It would be helpful to give an example for each of your scenarios. Thank you.
Hi, thanks for the suggestion.
I actually thought about adding examples at first. The reason I didn't is that these bids often go wrong because of what is happening at the table. Maybe there is pressure from the auction, maybe we're frustrated after a bad board, or maybe we just act too quickly. When you put the hand in an article, readers have time to think about it, so the decision usually looks much clearer than it felt in the moment.
And I thought I was the only one 😀
Thank you Ari. Your letter is clear and precise and I enjoyed reading it. I very much recognise myself in your letter. Hope to hear from you again.
Regards. Papar12
We all do that but if you have a good understanding with your regular partner then you can get it right the majority of times.
Interesting article. Down to earth nothing too complicated or boastful. Very good 😊