Vil Gravis's blog

Anybody Home? Perhaps YES!

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 13/09/2019 - 11:05

The message is not getting through, or is it? A few weeks ago I wrote a review on a very similar hand where all Easts opened 1NT and all Souths passed. With any hand that looks like being able to compete, it is usually profitable to do so.

Board 8 from Thursday 12/09/2019
Dealer W Nil Vul

A82
4
JT643
K982
KT9
9863
85
A764
J54
QJT7
AQ9
QJT
Q763
AK52
K72
53

The Space Invader!!

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 12/09/2019 - 21:19

Pre-empts serve more than just one purpose. Generally, we understand a preempt as a bid that takes away space from opponents and makes their bidding more difficult. But if used judiciously they can make our own bidding much easier.

Board 15 from Wednesday 11/09/2019
Dealer S NS Vul

JT9654
K7
A92
AJ
KQ3
9532
KJ53
83
A872
AT64
Q64
62
QJ8
T87
KQT9754

The X(Club)Files

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Mon, 09/09/2019 - 15:09

This article begins a new series that will comment on deals throughout the week. Readers may send requests to Vil (villyn@xtra.co.nz) for hints or comments on anything that puzzles them.

This freak deal occurred in a recent session. I still don’t know if I bid and played it correctly, but the end result was that I failed, as did a number of others. There is a lot to be discussed and learnt from the deal.

Board 12 from Friday 7/09/2019
Dealer W NS Vul

AKQJ42
AKQT75
8
863
6
QJT974
K95
T75
J98432
6
T86
9
AK532
AQJ7432

Answers Answers Answers

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Sat, 07/09/2019 - 20:09

The very first board, and a number of pertinent points crop up.

Board 1 from Wednesday 4/09/2019
Dealer N Nil Vul

87
AK72
KQ873
Q9
AT6
Q9
T9652
AKT
K32
J6543
A4
542
QJ954
T8
J
J8763

Q.1 What is North’s opening bid?
Q.2 Should East overcall if North opens 1D?
Q.3 If North opens 1D and a) East passes, should South bid? b) East overcalls 1H, should South bid?
Q.4 If East passes and South bids 1S, what should North bid next?
Q.5 If North does bid 2H and everyone passes, what should East lead?

Questions Questions Questions ...

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 05/09/2019 - 19:06

The very first board, and a number of pertinent points crop up.

Board 1 from Wednesday 4/09/2019
Dealer N Nil Vul

87
AK72
KQ873
Q9
AT6
Q9
T9652
AKT
K32
J6543
A4
542
QJ954
T8
J
J8763

Power Bidding

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 30/08/2019 - 11:48

How do you handle opening bids by opponents? East has a perfectly good opening bid of 1H. I am a great advocate of major oriented doubles, and hence a double of 1H should guarantee a four card spade suit.

Board 13 from Thursday 29/08/2019
Dealer N All Vul

KJ765
JT76
J
J82
43
432
T98753
Q4
Q82
AKQ95
2
T973
AT9
8
AKQ64
AK65

Double is the Key

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 29/08/2019 - 10:16

It should be easy to bid the EW hands to the correct contract of 3NT, but only IF EW know what a proper takeout double is and how it works.

Board 3 from Wednesday 28/08/2019
Dealer S EW Vul

AKT63
A8
92
T976
QJ2
QT
AK865
AQ4
9854
K942
JT
KJ5
7
J7653
Q743
832

A Delicate Rock Crusher

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Sat, 24/08/2019 - 08:56

How would you value the East hand? If you like to count losers, how many losers? Would you open the East hand 1S or a game forcing 2C? Would you be happy to play in 1S if partner cannot respond, or would you be prepared to be in game in either major irrespective of what partner has? And if partner can make a positive response to a 2C opening bid, will you definitely bid a slam?

Board 22 from Thursday 22/08/2019
Dealer E EW Vul

96
KT4
KQ963
854
54
865
AJ84
KQ93
AKQJ82
AQ932
T
2
T73
J7
752
AJT76

That's Unusual

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 22/08/2019 - 17:01

It should be much easier to bid the EW hands to game than to actually make the game, which of course should be 3NT. The bidding should be simple: 1H from East, 1S from West, and 3NT from East. It may be complicated if NS are playing the "Unusual No Trump”, and that is worth a mention.

Board 13 from Wednesday 21/08/2019
Dealer E All Vul

KJ972
J9543
86
T
AT84
72
K42
8742
Q65
KQT8
AJT
AK6
3
A6
Q9753
QJ953

Take some time to explore

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 16/08/2019 - 13:22

What is the best way for EW to get to the best contract after North opens a weak 2S?

Board 17 from Thursday 15/08/2019
Dealer N Nil Vul

KJT754
Q87
3
JT6
A9
AKT63
K762
K3
62
952
AJ9
A9875
Q83
J4
QT854
Q42

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