Vil Gravis's blog

X-Files 73

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Wed, 29/07/2020 - 10:31

“Cover Story”, or “The king is dead, long live the ten or nine”. Why do so many players have difficulty with understanding and implementing the teaching of “cover an honour with an honour”? A simple enough suggestion and one that works nine times out of ten and also works when you are wise enough to ignore it the tenth time. This one is about the nine out of ten times that was seemingly ignored by nine out of ten defenders sitting in the North seat.

Board 26 from Monday 20/07/20
Dealer E All Vul

Q8
8652
A764
K95
K652
AT92
J92
J7
973
K4
Q8
AQ8642
AJT4
QJ7
KT53
T3

X-Files 66

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Wed, 29/07/2020 - 10:13

The declarer play problem I set earlier was a fairly simple ‘double dummy’ play problem but I made it sound more difficult than it was to make the reader think. Not one of the declarers (at our club) in 4H made twelve tricks. I believe that this hand should have pretty well played itself ‘at the table’.

Board 3 Dealer S EW Vul

874
K94
J9532
J2
QJT9
AQT4
AT974
AQT8632
86
K83
AK6532
75
K7
Q65

The TOX

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Wed, 18/03/2020 - 18:21

After West opened the bidding, usually with 1D, most Norths ended up playing in 2S, a few in 3S, and not one EW pair that I saw at our Hutt club played in the ‘par’ contract of 3H. From that it seems clear that few, if any, average club players, understand the takeout double or its uses, even if they at times say they play ‘takeout’ or ‘negative’ doubles. There are other important aspects to the following deal as well, but for now .......

Board 19 from Monday 16/03/2020
Dlr S EW Vul

AQJT97
62
J6
K86
K4
QT83
AQ73
AQ3
532
KJ94
T5
J972
86
A75
K9842
T54

Take a Cue ..

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 12/03/2020 - 11:04

There are cue bids and there are cue bids, different ones for different occasions. If you don’t play cue bids at all, or play them badly, your bidding becomes much more difficult. If you do play cue bids and pass up the chance, or maybe even ignore the opportunity, you won’t always get the right result. This deal comes from a Swiss pairs match, where getting to the best game is of huge importance. It would also have taken place in match point sessions at other X-Clubs.

Board 23 from Tuesday 10/03/2020
Dealer S All Vul

KQJT98
K952
8
94
T76
AK963
KT873
A53
AQ3
QJT4
J65
7642
J84
752
AQ2

Worth a Thought ...

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Sat, 08/02/2020 - 18:51

From Friday, 7 February 2020
Board 2 Dealer E, NS Vul

A85
AT8
KJT2
QJ2
KJ64
3
Q7
AT9874
Q73
K954
A95
K65
T92
QJ762
8643
3

Reader's question:
The bidding was:

Take a Lead

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 07/02/2020 - 09:24

The bidding has been 1NT-3NT and you have to make the opening lead from:

A82
82
AQT9852
4

Before reading on, make your decision.

Going for the Jugular

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 06/02/2020 - 08:11

How is your defensive bidding against a strong, usually Precision, opening 1C? In the following deal it really does not matter, nor does it matter if South opens an Acol 1D. All the EW pairs missed the boat, so let’s see why they did and why they should not have.

Board 6 from Tuesday 4/01/20
Dealer E EW Vul

K6
KQJ987
J8
T42
QT943
6
AT75
AJ8
J875
T542
Q9765
A2
A3
KQ96432
K3

Cutting Right to the Chase

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 06/02/2020 - 07:55

From Monday AM, 3 February 2020 – Board 19 Dealer S EW Vul

A
KQJ9653
AKQT2
954
QJ962
42
J65
KQT87
AKT
AT7
83
J632
87543
8
974

Reader's question:
The bidding was:

SouthWestNorthEast
--22
PassPass5Pass
PassPass

A Mysterious Challenge

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Tue, 28/01/2020 - 20:25

This one is an example of what I would call sloppy declarer play. West could hardly be blamed for raising East to a small slam when East opens with a preempt of 3D. That might make East a bit more careful in the declarer play if the results I saw are anything to go by.

Board 18 from Monday 27/01/20
Dealer E NS Vul

AKT9765
Q7
8
QT3
AT542
AJT
AJ542
4
83
KQ97632
K98
QJ832
KJ96
54
76

Vil Resumes ...

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Tue, 28/01/2020 - 12:48

From Monday, 27 January 2020 – Board 25 Dealer N EW Vul

AJ42
T93
KQ63
A4
5
42
T985
QJT832
KQT8
AK865
AJ7
5
9763
QJ7
42
K976

Reader's question:
The bidding was:

SouthWestNorthEast
1NT2PassPass
Pass

My partner and I play Evil defence over 1NT. My partner overcalled 2H to show both majors. Was it a right call? Would 'Double' after 1NT be better to show her 17 hcp?

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