Balancing (bridge)
Encyclopedia
In the game of bridge
, the term balancing (or protection) refers to making a call other than Pass when passing would result in the opponents playing at a low level. Balancing is done by the player in the balancing position, i.e. to the right of the player making the last non-pass call. This is in contrast to bidding in the direct position, i.e. by the player to the left. Balancing is normally done with values unsuitable for direct action, but only after the opponents' bidding has demonstrated weakness or minimal strength. The aim of the tactic is to find a makeable or nearly-makeable contract for one's own side or to "push" opponents a level higher. It is more common in matchpoint games, where even a defeat and loss of 100 points is a relatively better result than the opponents' gain of 110-140 points.
– Pass – (Pass) – ?
Note that a Pass in this balancing position would result in defense against a 1 contract. The player in the balancing position, knows that the opener has made a non-forcing bid
and that his partner has denied values required to respond. In such a situation, it is probable that opener and his partner have less than half of the high-card strength. It is important to be able to enter the bidding on hands in which one has about 9-11 high card points (HCP)
. Therefore, in balancing position, either a takeout double
or 1NT overcall can be made on less values than in direct position.
Mike Lawrence
gave a detailed account of the various balancing situations in his Complete Book on Balancing in Contract Bridge. He stressed the fact that balancing over a minor suit is markedly different from balancing over a major suit. The difference stems from the fact that on a minor suit you can double and - after partner's response at 1-level - can rebid 1NT with 15-17 HCP. However, on a takeout double
over a major suit, partner will seldom bid at the 1-level. As a result, the 1NT overcall over a major suit needs to be stronger.
The following summarises the balancing agreements made by competitive bridge players:
). Also, the opponents fit gives a clue to the partner's length in the suit, and, by inference from previous rounds of bidding, in other suits.
It can also occur when the LHO has bid a sign-off without a clear fit, though this is not recommended due to the danger of not landing in a fit after the "pre balance".
The tactics/convention is often referred to as "OBAR BIDS" (acronym for "Opponents Bid And Raise - Balance In Direct Seat").
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
, the term balancing (or protection) refers to making a call other than Pass when passing would result in the opponents playing at a low level. Balancing is done by the player in the balancing position, i.e. to the right of the player making the last non-pass call. This is in contrast to bidding in the direct position, i.e. by the player to the left. Balancing is normally done with values unsuitable for direct action, but only after the opponents' bidding has demonstrated weakness or minimal strength. The aim of the tactic is to find a makeable or nearly-makeable contract for one's own side or to "push" opponents a level higher. It is more common in matchpoint games, where even a defeat and loss of 100 points is a relatively better result than the opponents' gain of 110-140 points.
After an opening bid is passed by responder
Balancing situation result from sequences like:– Pass – (Pass) – ?
Note that a Pass in this balancing position would result in defense against a 1 contract. The player in the balancing position, knows that the opener has made a non-forcing bid
Forcing bid
In the card game contract bridge, a forcing bid is any bid that obliges the partner to bid over an intermediate opposing pass. Owing to the partnership's bidding system or a bridge convention, partner must "keep the bidding open", i.e...
and that his partner has denied values required to respond. In such a situation, it is probable that opener and his partner have less than half of the high-card strength. It is important to be able to enter the bidding on hands in which one has about 9-11 high card points (HCP)
Hand evaluation
In contract bridge, various bidding systems have been devised to enable partners to describe their hands to each other so that they may reach the optimum contract. Key to this process is that players evaluate and re-evaluate the trick-taking potential of their hands as the auction proceeds and...
. Therefore, in balancing position, either a takeout double
Takeout double
In the card game bridge, a takeout double is any call of "double" that shows a desire to compete for the contract by further bidding. Many takeout doubles nearly require partner to bid; partner should pass for penalty with an appropriate hand, but that is uncommon...
or 1NT overcall can be made on less values than in direct position.
Mike Lawrence
Michael Lawrence (bridge player)
Michael Steven Lawrence is an American bridge player, teacher, theorist, and prolific writer.-Biography:...
gave a detailed account of the various balancing situations in his Complete Book on Balancing in Contract Bridge. He stressed the fact that balancing over a minor suit is markedly different from balancing over a major suit. The difference stems from the fact that on a minor suit you can double and - after partner's response at 1-level - can rebid 1NT with 15-17 HCP. However, on a takeout double
Takeout double
In the card game bridge, a takeout double is any call of "double" that shows a desire to compete for the contract by further bidding. Many takeout doubles nearly require partner to bid; partner should pass for penalty with an appropriate hand, but that is uncommon...
over a major suit, partner will seldom bid at the 1-level. As a result, the 1NT overcall over a major suit needs to be stronger.
The following summarises the balancing agreements made by competitive bridge players:
| West | North | East | South (in the balancing position) | |
| Call | Meaning | |||
| 1 | Pass | Pass | Double | 8+ HCP |
| 1/ | normal overcall Overcall In contract bridge, an overcall is a bid made after an opening bid has been made by an opponent; the term refers only to the first such bid. A direct overcall is a bid made directly over the opening bid by right-hand opponent; an overcall in the 'last seat' is referred to as a balancing... |
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| 1NT | 10-14 HCP, does not guarantee a stopper | |||
| 2 | normal overcall | |||
| 2 | unknown two-suiter (see Michaels cuebid Michaels cuebid The Michaels cuebid is a conventional bid used in the card game contract bridge. First devised by Mike Michaels of Miami Beach, it is an overcaller's cuebid in opponent's opening suit and is normally used to show a two-suited hand with at least five cards in each suit and eight or more points.After... ) |
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| 2/ | good 6+ card, 12-16 hcp | |||
| 2NT | 18-19 HCP, balanced |
| West | North | East | South (in the balancing position) | |
| Call | Meaning | |||
| 1 | Pass | Pass | Double | 8+ HCP |
| 1 | normal overcall Overcall In contract bridge, an overcall is a bid made after an opening bid has been made by an opponent; the term refers only to the first such bid. A direct overcall is a bid made directly over the opening bid by right-hand opponent; an overcall in the 'last seat' is referred to as a balancing... |
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| 1NT | 12-16 HCP, does not guarantee a stopper | |||
| 2/ | normal overcall | |||
| 2 | unknown two-suiter | |||
| 2 | good 6+ card, 12-16 hcp | |||
| 2NT | 17-19 HCP, balanced |
In later rounds
Balancing can be also executed in later rounds of bidding, in the sequences where the opponents have found a fit but stopped at a low-level. Normally, it is performed with some values, but less than if it was in direct seat. The opponents' fit requirement is important: statistically, existence of one side's 8+ cards fit favors the possibility that their opponents also have one (see Law of total tricksLaw of total tricks
In contract bridge, the Law of total tricks is a guideline used to help determine how high to bid in a competitive auction. It is not really a law but a method of hand evaluation which describes a relationship that seems to exist somewhat regularly...
). Also, the opponents fit gives a clue to the partner's length in the suit, and, by inference from previous rounds of bidding, in other suits.
| Bidding | South Holding | Comment | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South was too weak to give a takeout double Takeout double In the card game bridge, a takeout double is any call of "double" that shows a desire to compete for the contract by further bidding. Many takeout doubles nearly require partner to bid; partner should pass for penalty with an appropriate hand, but that is uncommon... in the first round, but the bidding now places some points with partner, and a likely fit in some suit |
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| South can now venture 2 overcall, judging that the partner has singleton heart and some values, so even a 4-3 fit could play well. | ||||||||||||||
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A hand too weak for initial overcall might now try a 2, as partner is marked with some values. | |||||||||||||
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Although the distribution and strength are fine, opponents have not found a fit, and balancing can be dangerous; no fit from partner is implied, and East may have passed with significant values in fear of a misfit. | |||||||||||||
Jacoby transfer The Jacoby transfer, or simply "transfers", in the card game contract bridge, is a convention initiated by responder following partner's notrump opening bid that requests opener rebid in the suit ranked just above that bid by responder, i.e... |
This is a fairly extreme case, but a takeout double might be ventured at matchpoints. The partner is marked with values which lie behind 1NT opener, although he might fail to provide a fit or expect more from the balancer and pass for penalties. |
Balancing in direct seat
Although the "balancing in direct seat" term is self-contradictory, it is occasionally possible to have the "balancing values", yet to act relatively safely in the direct seat. The classic case is after the opponents have found a fit at the two level:| Bidding | South Holding | Comment | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South can see that the partner is not short in hearts and is unlikely to balance over 2, so a takeout double Takeout double In the card game bridge, a takeout double is any call of "double" that shows a desire to compete for the contract by further bidding. Many takeout doubles nearly require partner to bid; partner should pass for penalty with an appropriate hand, but that is uncommon... is in order. A prior partnership agreement for light actions is in order. |
It can also occur when the LHO has bid a sign-off without a clear fit, though this is not recommended due to the danger of not landing in a fit after the "pre balance".
The tactics/convention is often referred to as "OBAR BIDS" (acronym for "Opponents Bid And Raise - Balance In Direct Seat").