Vil Gravis's blog

Vil's Ready to Visit the TAB

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 19/01/2018 - 13:10

In this series of Thursday Review I intend to follow the play and results of players I have mentored. I am thrilled to report that the chosen pair this week scored a tidy 79%. Both of them are keen readers and students of the game and both have read “Tips and Quips” and are enrolled for my coming programme “Thirteen Tricks”. But tricks (as in ruses) are not always necessary to do well in a match point game, this deal illustrates how very basic defence can score tops or near tops.

From Thursday 18 Jan 2018
Board 17 Dealer N Nil Vul

763
AQ74
T3
A432
K852
632
Q98765
Q4
JT9
AKQ9654
K
AJT9
K85
J872
JT

Thursday Review Introduction

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Tue, 16/01/2018 - 10:01

In my final Wednesday Review I set an opening lead problem. That is the sort of thing that I will be concentrating on in all my Thursday Reviews.
Whereas the Wednesday reviews were mainly about basic bidding and only a modicum relating to declarer play and defence, the Thursday reviews will be much more about declarer play and defence.

Vil Moves on to Thursdays

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Wed, 03/01/2018 - 12:14

Hello dear readers and a very Happy New Year.
First, the bad news: this is my final Wednesday column. But now: better news for those of you who want to keep reading and improving. I am moving on to the next stage, “THURSDAY REVIEW” which will be a small step up from the Wednesday Reviews. A small step for most, but it could be a giant step for some, to borrow a phrase from the man on the moon. Thursday Reviews will follow the play of some of our recent Wednesday players who have taken the step up to Thursday nights at our local Hutt club. I have no idea at what level other clubs play on Thursdays but hopefully not all that different to our Thursday nights.

Did you double this one?

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 07/12/2017 - 11:01

Board 15 from Wednesday 6/12/2017 Dealer S NS Vul

72
KQT32
KJ62
63
JT96
AJ854
A4
J5
Q3
96
Q973
KT942
AK854
7
T85
AQ87

If you were West, would you do anything when South opens 1S?

Just DO what comes naturally

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 30/11/2017 - 15:06

It's all very well to bid to a makeable contract but then you also have to be able to make it.
Board 15 from Wednesday 29/11/2017 ... Dealer S NS Vul

J3
842
Q653
AQ85
AT874
KQT3
AT
42
Q965
9
KJ4
KT976
K2
AJ765
9872
J3

Concerning TOXes

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 23/11/2017 - 08:56

This deal provides us with a fine example of why we need to have, and understand, the ”takeout double”.

Board 18 from Wednesday 22/11/2017 Dealer E NS Vul

7
976
K32
AK7653
Q964
AK82
AJT
J2
AKT3
J53
9765
T9
J852
QT4
Q84
Q84

Don't let those Weak-2s snow you!

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 16/11/2017 - 15:53

Board 19 Dealer S EW Vul from Wednesday 15/11/2017

Q42
Q54
JT2
8765
A975
A83
874
KJ3
K8
KJT92
Q
AQ942
JT63
76
AK9653
T

What can we learn from this particular deal? Seemingly, quite a lot so let me start with South.

The Power of Shape

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 09/11/2017 - 10:08

As has been said so often, not just by me, it is not always the POINTS that matter. Distribution and fit are also of huge importance in evaluating the potential of any hand you are dealt. Take the South hand.

Board 11 Dealer S Nil Vul From Wednesday 10/09/2017

T8
AQT
K765
K962
K63
K7
JT932
J87
754
96
AQ8
AQT53
AQJ92
J85432
4
4

When giving a Ruff'n'Sluff can be a good thing

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 02/11/2017 - 10:42

This was the deal featured in last week's article. There are a number of important lessons for all readers, though most may be a bit difficult for even the advanced players. Nevertheless, I suggest that even the beginner might learn something from the discussion on how South should play this contract in 4S when West leads the six of diamonds. Let's have another look:

Board 9 Dealer N EW Vul

T432
AJ92
T3
743
J6
T5
K9765
KT52
95
Q86
QJ842
AQ6
AKQ87
K743
A
J98

Something Different

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 26/10/2017 - 10:07

Board 9 Dealer N EW Vul from Wednesday 25/10/17

T432
AJ92
T3
743
J6
T5
K9765
KT52
95
Q86
QJ842
AQ6
AKQ87
K743
A
J98

When this deal was played, all the Souths at Hutt received a low diamond lead against a spade contract. Some were in 4S, others only in 3S. I won't go into the pros and cons of how to bid the NS hands today, instead I have a problem that I want to set the reader. How best to play 4S when West leads the six of diamonds.

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