Vil Gravis's blog

Slam Dunk!

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 16/03/2018 - 14:05

Lest you should think that I am too fixated on slams, let me assure you that I am. They are fun to bid and fun to play. But the main reason that I am writing this deal up is this: One week ago I wrote another chapter for “13 Tricks”. It involved bidding of very strong distributional hands, and I did not imagine for one moment that a very similar deal would occur at the club the very next week. Having read that chapter, the reader would have had little trouble arriving at the available grand slam, but only one of the nine pairs at our club did bid to it. Let's have a look:

Ruminating on Openings

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 09/03/2018 - 19:08

Board 21 from Thursday 8/03/2018.
Dealer N NS Vul

Q64
A43
A87
9632
3
QJT7
T5
AKQJ74
AJ9872
K965
J2
5
KT5
82
KQ9643
T8

  • Would you open the East hand a weak 2S?
  • Would you open it ONE spade?
  • If East opened 2S, what would you do as West?

Model of a Contested Auction

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 02/03/2018 - 09:11

A number of quite amazing hands this week, I really don't know which to report. We've had quite a few discussions on slams, so maybe this week we'll talk about something different, a hand which was very competitive in nature and also required some good declarer play.
Board 22 from Thursday 1/03/2018.
Dealer E EW Vul

92
AJ75
3
AQ6543
AKQJ63
4
AK84
T2
75
Q93
JT9752
97
T84
KT862
Q6
KJ8

Doubling 1NT

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Sun, 25/02/2018 - 10:21

It seems that in this super modern age of bridge the low-level penalty double is obsolete. But surely most of us still play that a double of a weak 1NT opening as basically a PENALTY double? What do you need to double a 1NT opening? I go along with the theory that if you have a better hand than the 1NT opener, you should double. If you're playing ACOL opponents that means at least FIFTEEN high card points if your hand is balanced, or seven reasonably certain tricks, e.g. a solid suit and an outside entry. But let's just stick to the “15+” one for now.

Board 13 From Thursday 22/02/2018
Dealer N ALL Vul

9764
A9
QT762
76
J32
QJT74
54
J52
Q85
K52
A98
KQT3
AKT
863
KJ3
A984

Winning & Losing with Precision

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 16/02/2018 - 17:18

Do you play Precision? If not, have your ever thought of taking up the “Big Club” system? It definitely has a lot of merit if you want to try it.

That Grand Feeling ...

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 09/02/2018 - 09:55

As long as you know how to bid a slam, there is usually no need to bid a grand slam in a normal match-point session, especially on club nights. But nevertheless does it not feel great when you do bid and make a grand slam? I believe that this one is biddable no matter what system you employ.

Board 27 from Thursday 08/02/2018
Dealer S Nil Vul

A
AKT532
AKQ52
K
T865
J94
73
Q876
QJ32
87
JT64
JT3
K974
Q6
98
A9542

Thirteen Tricks

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Mon, 05/02/2018 - 10:50

Thirteen Tricks is a series specially designed for PARTNERSHIPS. However, I am sure that even the individual reader will gain a lot from following it on their own.

Thursday Review Bonus

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Mon, 05/02/2018 - 10:43

This one is worth documenting for a number of reasons. I hope it will be of interest to all readers, not just those who played on Friday afternoon.
Board 5 from Friday 02/02/2018
Dealer N NS Vul

K7
JT4
KQT983
93
T932
Q732
KQJT5
AJ8654
AK9
542
8
Q
865
AJ76
A7642

Low Level Penalty Doubles - Yes or No?

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Sat, 03/02/2018 - 09:41

How do you play your takeout and penalty doubles, and when? That is a very good question and should be resolved by any partnership.

Board 3 from Thursday 01/02/2018
Dealer S EW Vul

Vil Tells It Like It Is

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 26/01/2018 - 14:46

This time, I had a different pair to keep my eye on. The session result was mid fifties, but they scored well on this deal, thanks to opponents not playing Acol and South not opening 1NT.

Board 11 from Thursday 25/01/18
Dealer S Nil Vul

QJ32
A974
52
AJ8
T7
Q3
AQ743
T643
9864
KJ5
JT96
Q5
AK5
T862
K8
K972

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