Wednesday Play at The Hutt (09)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Tue, 16/03/2021 - 08:24

This week, I want to talk more about opening leads.

There are two key things you should think about when making your opening lead: the SUIT you are going to lead and which CARD in that suit you should lead. For now, I want to focus on opening leads against a TRUMP contract.

Tricky Questions (11)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Wed, 10/03/2021 - 09:49

You are South each time.

1.

AQT8
T62
T82
AT8

This bidding problem has three bidding sequences: You are South and dealer and pass, so does West and North. East opens 1H. You pass and

a) West bids 2H and all pass. Your lead?
b) West bids 2H, East bids 3H and all pass. Your lead?
c) West bids 2H, East 3H and West 4H, all pass. Your lead?

Tricky Answers (10)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Wed, 10/03/2021 - 09:30

You are South each time. These questions arose in a recent Multigrade tournament.

1. Match Points Dealer E All Vul

Your hand:

T
K73
AT543
KJ92

The bidding has been:

SouthWestNorthEast
-PassPass1
23Pass3NT
Pass4PassPass
Pass

Tricky Questions (10)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Mon, 08/03/2021 - 13:14

You are South each time. These questions arose in a recent Multigrade tournament.

1. Match Points Dealer E All Vul

Your hand:

T
K73
AT543
KJ92

The bidding has been:

SouthWestNorthEast
-PassPass1
23Pass3NT
Pass4PassPass
Pass

Tricky Answers (09)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Mon, 08/03/2021 - 13:02

You are South each time.
1. Match Points Dealer S NS Vul
Your hand:

A
JT9
AJT642
KQ3

SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass1Pass
?

What would you bid?

The ‘book’ bid is 3D: 15-17 and a ‘good’ six card suit. The problem with that is that partner will pass with about 6 HCP and five hearts, or bid 3NT with nothing in diamonds and a bare spade stop. I must agree with Bob: “3H. Partner will bid 3NT if that’s right.” Three card raises are sometimes necessary, though 2H may work out better at match points. A new slant from Dean: “2C Forcing”. When I questioned this he told me it was 100% forcing and I should tell my panelists so, and ‘bring them into the 20th century’. A hundred years too late, Deano, it’s already the 21st century!

Wednesday Play at The Hutt (07)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 05/03/2021 - 19:44

In the next few issues I want to address OPENING LEADS. Did you know just how important the opening lead is? It is important because it begins the DEFENCE. When you are defending a contract, it is not very productive to simply play some random cards or take any aces you have. You must have a plan for the total defence.

Here are some things you need to think about if you are a defender:

There are THIRTEEN cards to be played. There are thirteen tricks, and you will take some of them but you do not always need to take them from the beginning. The important thing is how and when you take your tricks, and how your cards will combine with your partner’s to take your tricks.

Tricky Questions (09)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Mon, 01/03/2021 - 13:26

You are South each time.
1. Match Points Dealer S NS Vul
Your hand:

A
JT9
AJT642
KQ3

SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass1Pass
?

What would you bid?

Tricky Answers (08)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Mon, 01/03/2021 - 13:13

You are South each time.

1. Match Points
Dealer E NS Vul

AKJ4
J762
AJT6
3

a) The bidding has been:

SouthWestNorthEast
---2
XPass3Pass
?

East’s 2H is a standard weak two, 6-10 HCP and six card suit.
What would you bid?

The consensus of respondents was that IF you are playing Lebensohl, you should raise to 4D but if not, pass is best. What is Lebensohl, you may ask? For the uninitiated, after your takeout double of a weak two, 2NT is WEAK and any bid at the three level has some values, say 8+ HCP. Makes a big difference doesn’t it?

Wednesday Play at The Hutt (06)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 26/02/2021 - 13:16

This week there were a number of interesting deals but I want to revisit last week’s deal because there were a number of responses to my request for bidding suggestions. Let’s take a look at the East-West hands again.

Board 17 Dealer N Nil Vul

A5
T32
AKT6
AJ86
KQT872
A4
4
K432

The bidding should start the same way every time. But after that, the possibilities are numerous.

Some Tricky Questions (08)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Tue, 23/02/2021 - 10:24

You are South each time.

1. Match Points
Dealer E NS Vul

AKJ4
J762
AJT6
3

a) The bidding has been:

SouthWestNorthEast
---2
XPass3Pass
?

East’s 2H is a standard weak two, 6-10 HCP and six card suit.
What would you bid?

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