Vil Gravis's blog

All Things Considered

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 18/04/2019 - 18:37

Most learners have been taught two things about Acol: that you should always show a suit if you can, and that if you open the bidding in a suit, you must have a REBID prepared. They have also been taught that a 1NT response to an opening one level bid shows 6-9 high card points,. All that considered, even those beginners who have not been taught anything more than that, should be able to stop in the correct contract on these very unexciting NS cards.

Board 7 from 17/04/2019
Dealer S All Vul

T92
KQ84
KJ965
K
A853
952
AT73
J5
KQ7
JT73
Q
QT762
J64
A6
842
A9843

BSOL to the Fore

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 12/04/2019 - 19:53

Nobody at our club managed to make thirteen tricks in a heart contract on this board. Deep Finesse tells us that thirteen tricks can be made. It will give the reader an exercise in declarer play and the reader will be able to judge for themselves whether this is a sensible way to play a 4H contract or not. And should East land up in 6H, should the play be the same?

Board 6 from Thursday 11/04/2019
Dealer E EW Vul

KJT983
JT
QJ6
85
A
A6
K97
AT97632
75
KQ8752
A543
Q
Q642
943
T82
KJ4

It's Simple ...

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 11/04/2019 - 10:56

Simple and basic attention to declarer play should be all that is necessary a lot of the time. While these NS hands could well be bid to a slam, it is the very basic declarer play that we need to talk about, because almost half the Souths who played in game in spades managed ONLY eleven tricks! Take a look:

Board 15 from 10/4/19
Dealer S NS Vul

QJ872
T5
AQ3
AK3
8764
J6
JT98762
T64
AQ2
T98752
Q
AK953
KJ93
K4
54

Are Ladies Luck and Judgement both blind?

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 05/04/2019 - 14:01

This board proved to be lucky for some and unlucky for others. It all depended on what the final contract chosen by NS was and how it was defended and played. I will leave it to the reader to decide how to best bid the NS hands. Bidding to the correct contract did not always yield the best match point score, and in many cases bidding to the inferior contract gave NS a great match point score.

Board 23 from Thursday 4/04/2019
Dealer S All Vul

K8632
9
KQ
AKQT8
Q5
K875
A642
J62
J974
T3
JT97
974
AT
AQJ642
853
53

An Eye for the Main Chance

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 04/04/2019 - 14:42

Bidding is not the only thing the game is about. It helps if you can bid to the correct contract, but it also helps if you, as declarer, make the best use of the cards that you have in front of you.

Martin's Bane

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Sat, 30/03/2019 - 15:43

Instead of his usual commentary this week, Vil fields a question from Martin Connelly of Greytown. Martin writes:

We bid to 2NT by me, West. North leads the jack of spades. Obviously I thought about the heart suit the wrong way, as I win in dummy and lead a low heart to the king. And that is all that is required to turn a making contract into a 3 light contract. Obviously I should have led the 10 or 9 of hearts and just let it run. What have I not understood properly here? Or was I just unlucky?

the full hand is

What It's All About, Alfie

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 28/03/2019 - 18:32

Why are some people so disparaging of poor suits that they prefer to play in No Trumps rather than try to find a trump suit to play in? One of the major failings of newer players is that they do not recognise the importance that having a trump suit can make in two ways: maintaining control over the opposition, and taking and establishing extra tricks. Take a look at Board 5 from this week’s session:

Board 5 from 27/03/2019
Dealer N NS Vul

AKT
K76
K6532
QT
Q87
QT2
QJ8
9743
J5
A985
T974
K85
96432
J43
A
AJ62

Vil .. That's Who (has the answers)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 22/03/2019 - 14:19

The questions from last week: Vil thanks all those who sent in their answers.
1.
Dlr N Nil Vul
You are West and after two passes, South opens 1H. Your hand:
S KQ987
H KQ87
D AK8
C 7
What would you bid?
a) If you double, North passes, East bids 1S and South 2C. What would you bid then?
b) If you bid 1S and North doubles and East bids 2S and South bids 3C, what would you bid?
c) If you pass, North bids 1NT and South 2C. Do you wake up and bid something now and if so, what?

Nine-Card Fits Abound

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 21/03/2019 - 19:33

Much of match point bridge is about competing. Sitting back and doing nothing when you could actually be doing something will not normally get you the match points. The following board is a fine example.

Board 19 from 20/03/2019
Dealer S EW Vul

AK6
98732
AJT3
7
Q943
AQ
KQ
KQJT6
JT875
KT64
95
53
2
J5
87642
A9842

Who has the Answers?

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 15/03/2019 - 14:22

This week, some more questions.
1. Dlr N Nil Vul
You are West and after two passes, South opens 1H. Your hand:
S KQ987
H KQ87
D AK8
C 7
What would you bid?
a) If you double, North passes, East bids 1S and South 2C. What would you bid then?
b) If you bid 1S and North doubles and East bids 2S and South bids 3C, what would you bid?
c) If you pass, North bids 1NT and South 2C. Do you wake up and bid something now and if so, what?

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