Vil Gravis's blog

Tricky Questions (3)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Wed, 18/11/2020 - 11:19

You are SOUTH each time.

1. Match Points
Dealer W EW Vul

A
Q3
AK64
AKT964

Partner opens 1H, you bid 2C, partner 2H.
a) What is your bid?

Tricky Answers (2)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Tue, 17/11/2020 - 09:38

You sit South for each hand and play at matchpoints:

1. Dealer E Nil Vul

QT9732
2
K943
AQ

East opens 1C, natural. You bid 2S (you play ‘intermediate jumps’ but West does not ask and doubles. Pass from North, 2NT from East, 3NT from West.
a) No questions asked, but do YOU think 2NT from East is 15-16?
b) What would you lead?

Tricky Questions (2)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 13/11/2020 - 09:25

In Vil's new series the questions have been floated past a panel at time of publishing here. Vil comments on the responses in his following article. All hands come from recent sessions. You can join an email list for direct access by contacting Vil at villyn@xtra.co.nz

You sit South for each hand and play at matchpoints:

1. Dealer E Nil Vul

QT9732
2
K943
AQ

Tricky Questions (1)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 13/11/2020 - 09:16

Vil is starting a new series that he's sure will be both interesting and helpful for those who enjoy a challenge or two. All hands come from recent sessions and you can join an email list for direct access by contacting Vil at villyn@xtra.co.nz The questions are floated past a panel at time of publishing here. In this series Vil will comment on the responses in his following article but, for this first one his thoughts follow on. Cover up the prognostications at the end while you work through the hands with your favourite partner.

You sit South for each hand and play at matchpoints:

1. Dealer S Nil Vul

K9873
62
AKQ
862

e-Vil Files - The Final

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 30/10/2020 - 08:30

This will be the final of my e-Vil Files series. I will shortly be starting a new series for the new player, since we at the Hutt club have a number of them just starting on club play on our lowest graded night, Wednesdays. This series will be specifically aimed at new players, and will be very basic, but may still be of interest to a number of readers who just want to refresh their play. Even reading about basic bidding or play can reinforce some things.

Board 5 from Tuesday 27/10/20
Dealer N EW Vul

86542
742
J9
QT5
KQ7
QT5
62
98764
AJ
AK9
AKQ85
AKJ
T93
J863
T743
32

e-Vil Files 18

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 08/10/2020 - 17:50

Sometimes a decent swing in a teams match can come from a very ordinary deal, especially when the declarer play or defence is not up to scratch. “Cover an honour with an honour” should be well ingrained in most advanced players, and this deal provides a good example of just that.

Board 15 from Tuesday 6/10/2020
Dealer S NS Vul

K42
AKQ8
T652
Q2
J963
JT963
A
T73
AQ5
4
KJ9843
K54
T87
752
Q7
AJ986

e-Vil Files 17

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Tue, 29/09/2020 - 10:14

Teams is coming soon to our club at The Hutt. Teams is a totally different game tactically to match points. Bidding and making games is the most important facet, but so is not taking undue risks. One of my favourite suggestions is ‘get in early and get out early’. By that I mean that it is fine to open a bit light when the time is right, but to stop competing when you know you are pushing it uphill when the hand does not belong to your side. Determine what is rightfully yours, and what you might miss out on, and bid accordingly. Totally different to match points when every hand has the potential for a good match point score. Here is a deal from some time ago, in a teams match.

Dealer S All Vul

KJ973
AJ542
T
86
Q5
T76
AJ8652
Q7
862
Q93
K7
AJT54
AT4
K8
Q943
K932

e-Vil Files 16

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Sun, 27/09/2020 - 19:32

How many of our readers play on Thursday nights? Those who do not should seriously consider it, because the Thursday deals always produce some really great hands. Thursday 24 September was no exception. Here are some bidding problems for readers. I have asked my panel of Open players for their opinion, and will collate their responses. Readers of the “e-Vil Files”, can take part by sending in their answers. The highest scoring answers, as scored by the panel, will win a copy of my booklet on Twos and No Trumps. Please note: I have put the hand with the bidding problem as SOUTH in every instance, for convenience and consistency. All problems are from a MATCH POINT session.

e-Vil Files 15

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 17/09/2020 - 19:34

Another No Trump hand that was very difficult to handle for the group that played this deal at our club. Maybe with a bit more experience things might be different.

Board 5 from Wednesday 16/09/2020.
Dlr N NS Vul

Q963
752
AK96
K9
JT8
AKQJ
QJT54
7
A72
T964
AJT432
K54
83
8732
Q865

e-Vil Files 14

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Mon, 14/09/2020 - 17:00

Let me now repeat the hands from the last article for you and suggest how the defence should have gone against 1NT doubled.

Board 7 Dealer S All Vul

T62
9643
J876
86
K3
JT752
AK2
KJ7
QJ98
Q
T5
AQ9542
A754
AK8
Q943
T3

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