[luis]

joshs, on Feb 28 2006, 09:28 PM, said:

In Sunday's regional swiss, playing with a partner with which I have few agreements I held: xxx Jxx KQx xxxx
White / White partner opens 2S, RHO xes and I bid 3D. I had no idea if 3D was a suit or a lead direct, but I figured LHO would bid hearts and I wanted a diamond lead... Is it a psych? I don't know, most bids showing length or values are considered natural, so the question is if having less cards in the suit than expected constitutes as a psych....

No it's not a psych it's a tactical bid.
Everybody will understand 3♦ implies some kind of spade support, you may have a diamond suit or just diamond values.

[hrothgar]

luis, on Mar 1 2006, 12:41 AM, said:

No it's not a psych it's a tactical bid.

Love to see a definition of "tactical" bid that isn't inherently subjective
I'll note in passing that without such a definition, the expression is pretty much useless

For example, how is one expected to use the following sentence to achieve a decision

"No, thats not a psyche its purple"

[Sigi_BC84]

awm, on Feb 28 2006, 10:24 PM, said:

joshs, on Feb 28 2006, 04:21 PM, said:

Opening 1S on AJx xx xxxxx xxx in 3'rd seat, is probably a psych

Oh, hi adam!

Yeah, but if we had the agreement that we do this kind of thing frequently, and that you will never raise me on three cards, and have some kind of "asking drury" in place where the first-step response shows this garbage... then it's not a psych (and should be alerted).

If I recall, you did raise me to the three level on three cards when I made this bid, and somehow it still worked out.

Now I have to echo Gerben: If you agree to do this frequently you are playing a HUM.
--Sigi

[awm]

Tactical bid = a bid which is frequently used for a hand other than the one officially agreed to, such that both partners are aware of this tendency, but we do not bother to inform our opponents.

Honestly this seems to fit the vast majority of things people call "tactical bids." In some cases people argue that it's "just bridge" (like lead directional calls in some auctions) and in others people say "well it's not our agreement to do this" (like Rodwell bidding 1M over 1♦ on three cards with problematic hands, or people who open 1NT with singleton honor frequently).

Really I think the distinction is mostly an attempt to avoid disclosure.

[Sigi_BC84]

awm, on Mar 1 2006, 01:19 AM, said:

Tactical bid = a bid which is frequently used for a hand other than the one officially agreed to, such that both partners are aware of this tendency, but we do not bother to inform our opponents.
[...]
Really I think the distinction is mostly an attempt to avoid disclosure.

While taking the risk of starting to sound like Claus, I have to say that this is highly unethical if done systematically, if not on the verge of cheating.

I think you absolutely must disclose such a meaning to your opps (BTW the "tactical bid" mentioned above over W2-(X) is called McCabe convention and should be noted as such on your CC if you use it at all).

--Sigi