An Eye for the Main Chance

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 04/04/2019 - 14:42

Bidding is not the only thing the game is about. It helps if you can bid to the correct contract, but it also helps if you, as declarer, make the best use of the cards that you have in front of you.

Martin's Bane

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Sat, 30/03/2019 - 15:43

Instead of his usual commentary this week, Vil fields a question from Martin Connelly of Greytown. Martin writes:

We bid to 2NT by me, West. North leads the jack of spades. Obviously I thought about the heart suit the wrong way, as I win in dummy and lead a low heart to the king. And that is all that is required to turn a making contract into a 3 light contract. Obviously I should have led the 10 or 9 of hearts and just let it run. What have I not understood properly here? Or was I just unlucky?

the full hand is

What It's All About, Alfie

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 28/03/2019 - 18:32

Why are some people so disparaging of poor suits that they prefer to play in No Trumps rather than try to find a trump suit to play in? One of the major failings of newer players is that they do not recognise the importance that having a trump suit can make in two ways: maintaining control over the opposition, and taking and establishing extra tricks. Take a look at Board 5 from this week’s session:

Board 5 from 27/03/2019
Dealer N NS Vul

AKT
K76
K6532
QT
Q87
QT2
QJ8
9743
J5
A985
T974
K85
96432
J43
A
AJ62

Vil .. That's Who (has the answers)

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 22/03/2019 - 14:19

The questions from last week: Vil thanks all those who sent in their answers.
1.
Dlr N Nil Vul
You are West and after two passes, South opens 1H. Your hand:
S KQ987
H KQ87
D AK8
C 7
What would you bid?
a) If you double, North passes, East bids 1S and South 2C. What would you bid then?
b) If you bid 1S and North doubles and East bids 2S and South bids 3C, what would you bid?
c) If you pass, North bids 1NT and South 2C. Do you wake up and bid something now and if so, what?

Nine-Card Fits Abound

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 21/03/2019 - 19:33

Much of match point bridge is about competing. Sitting back and doing nothing when you could actually be doing something will not normally get you the match points. The following board is a fine example.

Board 19 from 20/03/2019
Dealer S EW Vul

AK6
98732
AJT3
7
Q943
AQ
KQ
KQJT6
JT875
KT64
95
53
2
J5
87642
A9842

Who has the Answers?

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 15/03/2019 - 14:22

This week, some more questions.
1. Dlr N Nil Vul
You are West and after two passes, South opens 1H. Your hand:
S KQ987
H KQ87
D AK8
C 7
What would you bid?
a) If you double, North passes, East bids 1S and South 2C. What would you bid then?
b) If you bid 1S and North doubles and East bids 2S and South bids 3C, what would you bid?
c) If you pass, North bids 1NT and South 2C. Do you wake up and bid something now and if so, what?

Game, Anyone?

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 14/03/2019 - 17:33

With Acol, there is good reason for the 1NT rebid to show a hand of 15-16, or the more up to date version of 15-17 high card points.

Board 5 from 13/03/2019
Dealer N NS Vul

K9842
Q7
6432
86
Q3
A652
AKQJ9
T7
T765
K98
T5
AQ32
AJ
JT43
87
KJ954

Choose your poison ...

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 08/03/2019 - 14:22

Some more questions resulting from board 5 this week:

Board 5 from Thursday 7/03/2019
Dealer N NS Vul

943
K9543
43
752
KT52
Q2
92
AT983
Q
AJT76
AQ85
KQ6
AJ876
8
KJT76
J4

East opens 1H. What would you do as South?
If South overcalls 1S, what would you do as West?
Do you play “Michaels”? If you do and are South, would you bid 2H?
If South bids 2H (Michaels, spades and a minor) what would you do as West?
These are just some questions that might come up in this deal. Have a think about them before reading on.

Standard Play Wins the Day

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Thu, 07/03/2019 - 15:22

While these NS hands should possibly be bid to a small slam, it is the play that I want to talk about today.

Board 11 from 6/03/2019
Dealer S Nil Vul

AK84
82
A863
K43
QJT92
94
9742
75
63
Q753
T5
QJ862
75
AKJT6
KQJ
AT9

Vil's TakeAways ...

Submitted by Vil Gravis on Fri, 01/03/2019 - 19:50

Here are my takes on the problems posed in the article before last:

Board 20 from 27/02/2019
Dealer W All Vul

AJ74
KT98
AK54
2
KQT932
A6
72
A64
85
543
QJT3
T985
6
QJ72
986
KQJ73

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