KISS 2: Consider Passing More Often

The modern way is to bid more. Open more hands. Generally be more active in the bidding.

The best players are moderating their aggression, they know when to bid less or when to pass altogether. If bidding will mislead your partner, its typically a bad idea. 

Rule 1 - don't open bad 11 point hands. 

One big goal of bidding is to get to good contracts. Lots of bad contracts have been caused by a player opening a bad 11 point hand. 

What makes a hand good or bad

1. Aces and Kings are good, Queens and Jacks are not as good. 

2. Intermediate cards (10's, 9's and even 8's) are good cards, they are important for taking tricks. 

3. Balanced hands are generally "bad" and distributional hands are almost always worth a second look. Be more active with distributional hands, and take it slow with balanced hands. 

4. Concentrated points are good, and scattered points are not good. 

5. Points in the long suits is good.

Lets compare some hands

1. This is a fantastic 11 point hand. All the points are concentrated in the two long suits. The hand also has 10's and 9's in the long suits, which will make them even stronger. Its nicely unbalanced (4513) also full of aces and kings.

2. This 11 points is full of Queens and Jacks (Quacks), while it has no Aces at all. It has no intermediate cards. The points are concentrated in the short suits, while the long suits are bare. It is also completely balanced, (4333). It would be a bad idea to open this hand.

Rule 2 - If you have bid your hand already, consider passing. 

This is one of my favourite rules. As unfashionable as it is to say, I always ask myself the simple question "is pass the most descriptive bid here?". Remember your goal is to give your partner an accurate picture of your hand. 

1. In this example you have shown an opening hand with 5 card spades. The opponents 2♥ bid is actually useful for you, it opens up a new possibility of Pass, which you didn't have before (before you couldn't pass as the auction might have ended). Pass should indicate to your partner that you have a basic hand, which is welll summarised by what you have already shown. In other words, "I don't really have anything more to say".

Lets change it slightly

2. In this example, perhaps it is a good idea to just simply bid 2NT, as here you have something to say - a fairly robust double heart stopper. 

3. This is a difficult one, and I'm sure good players would disagree about the correct bid. Most players here see that their partner is an opening hand, and they have 11 points, so the opponents 4 Spade contract should be shakey. Its not really the way to I like to look at it. Your 2♥ bid has already shown 10+ points usually. Your hand is basically exactly what your partner would expect. You don't have anything unexpected about your hand. In other words, your partner was in an excellent position to gauge if a double was a good idea, or if bidding on was appropriate. I generally don't like doubling in these situations. Double for me should show something particularly unusual, either more points than I've shown, or just more defensive assets. 

Since bridge is a difficult game, lets end with a rule that contradicts the previous rules. Rule 3 - Don't let the opponents play on the two level in a fit, if your side also has a fit. I.e. Dont pass.

1. In this example, you have already shown your hand. But you are in the "pass out seat", so if you pass the auction is over. The majority of the time your goal is to "show your hand", however here your goal is to improve the contract for your side and make the opponents' lives difficult. Bidding 3♥ looks good.

Where to next

• -> Next: KISS 3: Support Partner as a Priority
• -> Related: Bidding Basics: Build a Clear Auction Plan
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