Vil Gravis's blog

Isn’t it wonderful how even learners can sometimes get a great result despite doing everything wrong. Why I am writing this deal up? Because it actually led to a very interesting, sometimes even heated, argument with one of my favourite partners, with whom I play our version of “Evil Acol” which includes the “Evil 2NT” response to a 1NT opening bid. I will continue that discussion in future issues, but for now let me relate the story of our beginners who brilliantly ended up in the same ‘ridiculous’ contract that we would have with our “Evil” system. This deal comes from last Wednesday's X-Clubs

Board 18 from 26/05/2023
Dealer East NS Vul

	K7653 75 T875 J2
4 KQJ96432 J6 T6		QJ8 A8 K94 A8743
	AT92 T AQ32 KQ95

Now we have the second deal from Friday’s play, a mundane 2S contract to defend, but not every pair managed to get it right. With a basic opening lead structure and signals, there can be no excuse for not getting the maximum out of the defence, no matter what declarer does.

Board 26 from Friday 21-Mar 2023
Dealer East All Vul

	32 AKT3 Q9742 85
86 Q872 KJT J432		AQJT74 J65 6 KQ6
	K95 94 A853 AT97

Signalling is an absolutely indispensible requirement for good defence. Here is another example of why it is so necessary. The following deal comes from a recent match point session where the contracts were either 3NT or 4H. Once more the opening leads should have been different depending on the contract, with the defender on lead each time holding the ace and king in the same suit. The defenders should all have followed the rule that ‘God didn’t deal you both the ace and king in the same suit for you to lead any other suit’. But in one case, against 4H, only the ace is correct, whereas against 3NT either the ace or ‘fourth highest’ would have been acceptable this time. And, before anyone tells me that any lead but a spade from South will defeat 3NT, that’s true but we’re not here to defend like Deep Finesse, just defend sensibly!

Dealer East NS Vul

	JT3 KT 7652 JT74
872 AJ964 K9 AQ4		Q96 Q87 AJ7 K976
	AK54 532 Q843 92

This deal comes from an On Line session on Monday 3/4/23. Some good lessons for the defence. But before I show you the full deal let me show you just the North hand and ask you some questions.

Dealer East NS Vul

J7432

KT

A65

K84

After two passes, West opens 1H.

1. What is your bid?
2. If you bid 1S, and East bids 2H passed to you, and (presumably) you pass, what do you lead and why?

Your reasoning when answering these questions is important, so please give me some answers (mailto: villyn@xtra.co.nz), they will help you yourself and other readers as well. But of course you may want to keep your ‘secrets’ for yourself, why help your competitors?

Here is a fine example, from a recent match point session, of good and bad opening leads, and good and bad defence. As well as good and bad bidding.

Dealer East EW Vul

	T743 Q8 A7652 J3
AQJ2 KT64 QJ T86		K8 A972 K843 K75
	965 J53 T9 AQ942

The wonderful thing about bridge is that there are always so many different outcomes in any one deal, depending on the skills and bridge knowledge of the participants. This deal provided opportunities for everyone.