[sceptic]

Scoring: IMP

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West North East South

 -     2♥    Pass  2♠
 Pass  3♥    Pass  4♥
 4♠    Pass  Pass  Pass
 

I am curious, about this psyche, 2 spades, I thought psyches only applied to opening hands or this another hole in my bridge knowledge.

I would also like opinions as to whether this is a good psyche or not

[whereagles]

It is actually a textbook psyche. Change of suit after a preempt, like

2H pass 2S
2S pass 3C
3C pass 3H

or even

3D pass 3NT
4D pass 4S

are once in a while done with a weak hand, in an attempt to confuse the matter.

[EricK]

A psyche is any bid which grossly (and deliberately) mis-states your hand. So it can happen at any stage of the auction. For instance, one sort of well-known psyche is a psychic cue-bid designed to discourage that lead against a slam.

The example you give is also a very well-known psyching postion. South knows that EW almost certainly have a game, and possibly a slam, in ♠ so he bids their suit knowing that he can run back to ♥ if he is doubled. Note that if 2♠ is allowed to play undoubled, South won't even mind if goes 8 off (-400 instead of -420).

The psyche works even better if the bid is NF, because West will have to act immediately on this sort of hand. Personally, I think he should have anyway, and East was rather reticent in his bidding too. Although 5♠ happens to go down on a club ruff on this hand, it doesn't take a major change for slam to be lay-down.

Eric

[luke warm]

on another thread we were discussing the meaning of double after (1x) p (1y)... i like using the double to show 'y'... can the same treatment be used here, since both are designed to expose the psych?

[Free]

It's a standard psych, yes. I've also made these, with success. My only psych in competition (don't want to lose teammates so I don't psych as often there ) was similar, and it gained a full 2 imps (they played 5♣= instead of 4♠+2).

There are even other psychs. You can classify them in several cathegories:
- mini-psych (most common, bidding strong with nothing, not even the suit)
- maxi-psych (underbidding very strong hands and play opps Doubled for a few down)
- control psychs (showing a control in a suit you don't control, like bidding NT after 4th suit GF with a small doubleton)
- fake-lead-directing psychs (example: making a Lightner Dbl with a singleton and hope opps go to an unplayable 6NT while their contract is laydown)
- other psychs, like Doubling yourself so partner won't make a Lighter Dbl

I'm a regular psycher, and I've used the first 3 sorts now and then.
- mini-psychs most of all, like bidding 1NT with 4HCP
- maxi-psychs against opps I knew. I once passed a 16HCP hand after partner opened 1NT (11-14). I knew opps usually bid over 1NT, they did, I doubled and they received a -1100
- bidding 3NT without a control in the suit, opps didn't lead it and I made an unmakeble 3NT.

[pclayton]

Here's another recent thread that discussed dealing with the weak 2 partner's psyche:

http://forums.bridgebase.com/ind...=5994&hl=psyche

Double (if understood as penalty of spades) and 3♠ are both reasonable calls.

[joker_gib]

Free, on Jan 17 2005, 12:37 PM, said:

I once passed a 16HCP hand after partner opened 1NT (11-14). I knew opps usually bid over 1NT, they did, I doubled and they received a -1100

If you want to collect a complete zero, that's the thing to do !

Do you really think they are favorite to reopen when you have at least 27 HCP !

[Free]

joker_gib, on Jan 20 2005, 11:23 AM, said:

Free, on Jan 17 2005, 12:37 PM, said:

I once passed a 16HCP hand after partner opened 1NT (11-14).  I knew opps usually bid over 1NT, they did, I doubled and they received a -1100 

If you want to collect a complete zero, that's the thing to do !

Do you really think they are favorite to reopen when you have at least 27 HCP !

As I said, I knew my opponents and their style, so YES I really think they were favorite to reopen. If you look at the end of the story, you'll see I know my opponents quite well, since they actually DID reopen...

Don't get me wrong, I know it's quite a poor strategy to do this opposite any opponent, it won't help you win if you do it systematic, but that one time is one to remember. Extra bonus: they don't intervene as much over our NT in 4th seat anymore, now they know me as well

[joker_gib]

Free, on Jan 20 2005, 06:28 AM, said:

now they know me as well

LOL