Vil Gravis's blog

Show Your Shape

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 27/04/2017 - 21:30

From Wednesday 26th
Board 5 Dealer N NS Vul

A965
T95
Q7
8542
7
Q764
K8432
K63
QT842
AK32
A9
JT
KJ3
J8
JT65
AQ97

The EW hands would provide a perfect example for a bridge teacher when teaching very basic bidding to beginners.

When not to rock the boat

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 20/04/2017 - 10:26

From Wednesday 19th April.
Board 19 Dealer S EW Vul

732
K9654
KT832
KQT
Q8
AQ964
A87
A5
A32
75
KQJ652
J9864
JT7
J
T943

No finesse some people!

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 13/04/2017 - 16:38

It's a pretty poor state of affairs when every pair in the room fails to make their contract, whatever it happens to be. Once more we can see the importance of a TRUMP FIT, and the folly of playing in No Trumps when there is a void in one hand.

Board 7 Wednesday 12th April
Dealer S All Vul

JT85
98763
AT63
Q96
K
J54
AJT942
42
JT42
Q97
Q753
AK73
AQ5
K82
K86

Good Basic Acol

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 06/04/2017 - 17:43

Judging by the results from Board 11 on Wednesday 5th April it is necessary to reinforce some very basic bidding theory relating to the weak 1NT opening and No Trump rebids, as well as the simple bidding when partner raises your suit. These things should be basic but still seem to be eluding many of our new players. Witness the following:

Board 11 Dealer S Nil Vul

AQ54
94
AJT
A872
KJ3
AJT8
762
Q65
976
K632
Q854
KT
T82
Q75
K93
J943

How far to go?

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 30/03/2017 - 19:58

It is a common dilemma with highly distributional hands - and even sometimes with not so distributional hands - just who should stick their neck out furthest. Take a look at the West hand in the following deal from last Wednesday 29-March:

Board 16 Dealer W EW Vul

Q2
JT6
T96
AJT96
T643
AK532
Q732
KJ985
Q5
QJ8
K54
A7
AK987432
74
8

Bidding Basics

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 24/03/2017 - 13:08

“An opening bid opposite an opening bid equals game”. Keep that in mind when you play, because it will make your bidding and decision making easier. Just knowing that of course does not make bidding to game easier unless you have a proper structure that you and partner work to. Witness this hand from Wednesday 22nd:

Board 20 Dealer W All Vul

AK54
965
K93
KJ9
QJ98
KT
QT2
QT42
632
QJ4
J764
876
T7
A8732
A85
A53

Vil's Tip for Bidding 4441 Hands

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 16/03/2017 - 17:48

Sometimes, the best results can be obtained from very ordinary deals. Often, the lower level contracts can be contested by both sides, with the best judgement in bidding winning out in the end.

Board 24 from Wednesday 15th March Dealer W Nil Vul

976
T4
AQJ
98732
T
A752
7642
KJT5
AJ54
K863
K853
4
KQ832
QJ9
T9
AQ6

Re: the ACOL 1NT

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 09/03/2017 - 19:26

Why do you play a “weak No Trump”? One of the first things that you are taught when learning the Acol system is that, unless you choose otherwise, you open 1NT with a balanced hand and 12 to 14 high card points. But maybe you haven't been taught WHY you choose to play the weak No Trump, nor what to do when you or your partner does open a weak 1NT.

It's all about the Pudding

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 03/03/2017 - 10:20

Sometimes, knowing how to finesse can be a bad thing, because you also need to know when to finesse and what the odds of success are.

Board 14 Dealer E Nil Vul from 09WED on 1st of March

Q
JT9763
QJ984
5
AJT8642
AKQ
K7
3
93
854
A6
AKQ742
K75
2
T532
JT986

You Owe It to P

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 23/02/2017 - 09:24

Bidding is about discussion with partner, as I have pointed out earlier. Declarer play is about taking care of business on your own. If you discuss things properly with partner, you will end up in the correct contract. Then, if you get to play the hand, you can make sure that you fulfill the agreement you have with partner. If partner has cooperated and you have reached the best spot, don't let partner down by sloppy declarer play.
Let's take a look at Board 7 from Week 08 Wednesday night's play:

Board 7 Dealer E All Vul

AQ82
KJ8
83
AQ93
K74
964
KJ764
T6
953
52
QT
J87542
JT6
AQT73
A952
K

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