Here is a really common bidding sequence. You will see similar examples in every tournament. I'm putting it up here because I have seen it lots of times from the people I mentor.
The error my friends make is that the 3 spades could be anything from a dead minimum (eg non-vul/vul in matchpoints and you want to compete even if you are going off 1) to a good 17 or 18 hcps inviting game. For some reason there seems to be a reflex from almost every bridge player that compels them to compete to 3 in these situations.
A common way to play here is that a direct 3 is just competitive and if you want to invite game you have to double (ie double is not penalty but an invite to 4
). But my friends don't play this way (as most under 50 players dont)...
So here's the sort of typical messes that happen and the thoughts that happen...
1. 1
- pass - 2
* - 3
3
** - pass - 4
*** * - constructive - 8-10hcps
** - I'll bid 3 - I might be minimum but it's matchpoints and my partner is not aggressive enough and we are non-vulnerable
*** - ah - my partner is inviting game - I have a maximum for my previous bid - I must bid game - my partner says I'm not aggressive enough.
And at post-mortem
"Why did you bid 3 spades on that mimimum?'
"I was just competing..."
** - I have a good 15 and good shape - I'd like to invite but my partner will pass - so I'll just bid game..result off 1
Post-mortem
"Why didn't you make a game try?"
"We haven't talked about that?"
Pass** - P - Pass***
* Constructive 8-10
** I am minimum - I should pass
*** Hmmm - Im flat but I have a 4th trump - under the law I should compete to 3 but my partner must be subminimum not to compete
3 spades made
Post-mortem -
"I thought if you had anything you'd have bid 3 spades"
"I can't - I'm minimum - you have to"
The major problem is the lack of defined rules about
a. what bidding at the 3 level means in competition
b. how to invite game
c. who should compete
d. when pass is the better option...
So, it's worth having agreements about what a 3 level bid promises in a sequence like
because for some reason most people can't help themselves bidding 3 on 12 hcps or 17 hcps...