That Grand Feeling ...

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

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

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?

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

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

Vil's Ready to Visit the TAB

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

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

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?

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

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

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