Secrets of Accurate Hand Evaluation

In this lesson:

Although everyone can improve their declarer play and defense, it's not easy to make huge improvements in these areas. When it comes to card play, great players are born not made.

However, regardless of how well you play, every player can greatly improve their bidding. As long as you have access to sound advice and are open-minded, you can make great strides.

In order to do so, you must learn how to figure out the TRUE VALUE of your hand. You can learn to do this, but you first need to be willing to not be overly dependent on point-count.

In this lesson, Marty will show you:

• - The 9 key factors in determining the true value of your hand
• - How to KNOW if your hand is upgradable, downgradable, or OK as is
• - The true value of honor cards
• - Why "Location, location, location" is so crucial
• - The great importance of your distribution in your 3 shortest suits.
• - The true value of a 7-card suit
• - Tips on how to get the most out of the Rule of 20
• - How to improve your results with notrump opening bids
• - When you should think twice about preempting with a 7-card suit
• - What hand-types scream for aggressive bidding

Here is an example of what Marty will teach:

On these two hands, you open 1NT and partner bids 2♦. For each hand, would you super-accept?

1. ♠QJ7  ♥KQ65  ♦QJ6   ♣KQJ
2. ♠A93  ♥A1075  ♦AK108  ♣62

Answer to Would You Super-Accept?

1. ♠QJ7  ♥KQ65 ♦QJ6  ♣KQJ
Technically 17 HCP, but this is a terrible hand for a heart contract. 4-3-3-3 distribution is awful. In addition, you have no aces or intermediates, and no fewer than seven over-rated quacks (queens and jacks). Bid 2♥ only.

2. ♠A93  ♥A1075 ♦AK108 ♣62
Technically you have only 15 HCP. However, this is a great hand for a heart contract. You have all the right stuff. 4 quick tricks, a ruffing value and 4 intermediate cards. Jumping to 3♥ is clearcut .

In conclusion:

Opener can super-accept a Jacoby transfer with less than 17 HCP. To super-accept a Jacoby transfer, you need 4 trumps and a nice-looking hand. Once you learn how to accurately upgrade and downgrade hands, you will KNOW the true value of these two hands, which is definitely not 17 and 15 respectively.