Tuesday, January 17, 2017

An Introduction to this Blog

This blog is intended for newer players. However some of my newer players are getting better and better (all that playing) and I've started doing some more advanced stuff. This advanced stuff is NOT intended for any newer players that come to this blog. There is what I call "Heidi's Hierarchy of Bridge Learning" which states that you should learn some bids BEFORE learning others. At the bottom are the simple things -- like learning how to count high card points and learning how to open the bidding and how to respond to most opening bids. Then things progress into more advanced bidding where things are not quite so simple.

So start with the Stage 1 stuff. Once you feel you've mastered that move on to Stage 2 stuff. If you feel daring go on to Stage 3. Soon to come are the Stage 4 and maybe even the Stage 5 stuff.

Many people don't realize that you can subscribe to this blog. If you look on the right hand side of the blog and scroll to the bottom there is a heading called "Follow by Email". Fill in your email address and when I update the blog you will get an email the next day.

If you are having problems with the "Show Answer" button just click on the title of the post you are reading. That will get you into that post alone. Now the "Show Answer" button should work.

Some of the Lessons have quite a few Example Hands to bid. Do NOT feel like you MUST sit down and do all 117 Examples. Just do as many as you would like. If you are sick of doing them after the third Hand then STOP. I would rather give you a hundred examples and have you quit after ten then give you ten examples and have you say "I wish I had a few more to practice..." Besides, you can always come back later if you wish.

I recommend:
I recommend
Terms Bridge Players use
How to Score at Matchpoints
Why play in 3NT when you have a minor suit fit?
Short Club OR Better Minor -- What's the difference and how do I know what I play?

Click on the link to get to quickly get to the heading

STAGE 1:

The very first step in bridge is learning to count High Card Points
Learning how to respond to Partner's opening 1NT
Learning what to open the bidding at the 1 level only
Responding to 1 of a Major with a fit
Responding to 1 of a Minor
Rebidding when you have a fit for Partner's Major
Simple Declarer Play
Learn Simple Declarer Play
Learning to count Distribution Points

STAGE 2:

Learn Simple Declarer Play
Responding to Partner's Opening Bid with 6-9 HCP
Opening Bids for More Experienced Players
Bids and Rebids by Opener
Responder Bids and Rebids
Learning what some bids imply
Learn Simple Declarer Play: Counting Winners
Learn Simple Declarer Play: Counting Losers
Learn Simple Declarer Play: Finesses
Simple Defence
Overcalling
Learning to count Distribution Points

STAGE 3:

Pre-emptive Bidding
Stayman
Jacoby Transfers
Doubles
Blackwood
Gerber
Slam Hand Bidding
Trump Suit Asks
Difficult Declarer Play
Defence
Strong 2 Club Bids
Rules and Ethics

STAGE 4:

Reverses
Negative Doubles
Cuebidding
Opening the Bidding
Questions for Heidi


STAGE 1:

Basic beginner bridge stuff. Learning how to count high card points, opening bids at the 1 level, responding to Partner with a fit, bidding a new suit and simple declarer play strategies are in this stage.

The very first step in bridge is learning to count High Card Points:

Practice Counting High Card Points

Learning how to respond to Partner's opening 1NT:

Lesson: Bidding - Responding to 1NT with a Balanced Hand
Lesson: Responding to 1NT with an Unbalanced Hand
Quiz: 1NT: NON-Forcing, Invitational or Forcing?

Learning what to open the bidding at the 1 level only:

Lesson: Opening the Bidding

Responding to 1 of a Major with a fit:

Lesson: Responses to 1 Spade (no distribution)

Responding to 1 of a Minor:

Lesson: Responding to 1 Diamond

Rebidding when you have a fit for Partner's Major:

Lesson: Rebidding when you have a fit for Partner's Major

Simple Declarer Play:

Lesson: Declarer Play - High Cards from the Short Side

Learn Simple Declarer Play:

Lesson: Counting Winners
Problem 1: Counting Winners in Action - 6NT
Problem 2: Counting Winners in Action - 3NT
Problem 3: Declarer Play Problem #1 - 3NT
Problem 4: Declarer Play Problem #2 - 3NT

Learning to count Distribution Points:

Lesson: Distribution Points
Lesson: Rebidding when you have a fit for Partner's Major and can count Distribution points

Quick Little Stage 1 Questions:
Question 1: Opening the Bidding
Question 2: Bid over 1NT
Question 3: Rebids by Opener
Question 4: Another Opening Dilema
Question 5: Rebids
Question 6: What to Open?
Question 7: What to Open?
Question 8: Responding
Question 9: Responding
Question 10: Bids Over 1NT
Question 11: Responding
Question 12: Opening the Bidding
Question 13: What to Open?
Question 14: Another Rebid
Question 15: Responding
Question 16: What to Open?
Question 17: Responding
Question 18: What to Open?
Question 19: What to Respond?
Question 20: Rebidding
Question 21: What to Open?


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STAGE 2:


Things start to get a bit more complicated in this stage. A fit is not found right away so we are forced into rebidding. As responder we learn we cannot bid a new suit at the 2 level without some values. Declarer play becomes more complicated.

Learn Simple Declarer Play:

Problem 1: Counting Losers
Problem 2: Throw Losers on Winners
Problem 3: How Can Getting an OVERTRICK be Bad?
Problem 4: How to take that Extra Trick
Problem 5: Simple Declarer Play - 3NT

Responding to Partner's Opening Bid with 6-9 HCP:

Lesson: Responding to 1 Club with 6-9 Points
Lesson: Responding to 1 Diamond with 6-9 Points
Lesson: Responding to 1 Heart with 6-9 Points
Lesson: Responding to 1 Spade with 6-9 Points

Quick Little Questions on Responding:
Question 1: Responding to 1 Diamond - Real Life
Question 2: Bidding Question
Question 3: An Easy Response
Question 4: Hey, they are bidding MY suit!
Question 5: Responding to an Opening Bid
Question 6: Love that Spade Suit!
Question 7: Responding to 1 Diamond
Question 8: Responding to 1 of a Major
Question 9: Responding to Partner
Question 10: Responding

Opening Bids for More Experienced Players:

Question 1: Decision Time
Question 2: What to Open?

Bids and Rebids by Opener:

Lesson: Rebidding your original suit - Hearts
Lesson: Rebidding your original suit - Spades
Lesson: Rebidding your original suit - Diamonds
Lesson: Opening 1 of a FIVE card suit and taking Partner out of 1NT by now bidding a lower ranking FOUR card suit
Lesson: Opener has a FIVE card suit and a FOUR card suit when their Partner responds 1NT
Lesson: Opener shows a FIVE card Diamond suit and a FOUR card Club suit
Lesson: Opener rebids with a FIVE and FOUR card suit
Lesson: How to Show Balanced Hands
Lesson: Balanced Hand Rebids where you might have a fit for Partner's Major
Lesson: Another Rebid Question
Lesson: Balanced Hand Rebids -- Hands with Four Hearts
Lesson: Jump Shifts
Lesson: More Jump Shifts
Lesson: Support Partner, Jump Shift, Bid a new suit or Rebid NT?
Lesson: Rebidding 2NT after the Opponents make a 2 Level Overcall
Lesson: Bidding 4NT or 5NT over a Natural NT Bid
Recap: Define your NT Range

Quick Little Questions on Opener's Bids and Rebids:
Click on the link to get you into another post with just Opener's Bids and Rebids:
Quick Little Questions on Openers Bids and Rebids:

Responder Bids and Rebids:

Lesson: Responder Shows a Fit for Opener's Spade Response
Lesson: Rebids by Responder
Lesson: More Rebids by Responder
Lesson: Even more Rebids from Responder
Lesson: How Does Responder Force Over 1NT?
Lesson: How does Responder Force if 1NT has NOT been bid
Lesson: 1 of a Major - 4 of a Major
Lesson: More on Simple, Limit and Preemptive Raises
Lesson: Forcing Major Suit Raises
Lesson: Three Card Major Suit Limit Raises
Lesson: Major Suit Raises - Simple, 3 and 4 Card Limit, Pre-emptive and Forcing
Lesson: Responder Promises a FIVE Card Suit

Quizzes on Responding:
Problem: Bidding in a Standard American 2/1 Auction
Quiz: Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing?
Quiz: More Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing?
Quiz: Even MORE Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing?
Quiz: Game - Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing in a Standard American 2 Over 1 Auction
Quiz: Game -- Standard American NON 2 Over 1 without Reverses: Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing?

Quick Little Questions on Responding:
Click on the link to get you into another post with just Quick Little Questions on Responding:
Quick Little Questions on Responding:

Learning what some bids imply:

Lesson: Opening 1 Diamond
Quiz: What Does 2 Diamonds Show in this Auction?
Question: Theory question

Learn Simple Declarer Play: Counting Winners

Lesson: Counting Winners
Lesson: Counting Winners in Action - 6NT
Lesson: Counting Winners in Action - 3NT

Declarer Play Problems: Counting Winners:
Problem 1: Declarer Play Problem #1 - 3NT
Problem 2: Declarer Play Problem #2 - 3NT
Problem 3: Declarer Play Problem #3 - 3NT
Problem 4: Declarer Play Problem #4 - 3NT
Problem 5: Declarer Play Problem #5 - 3NT

Learn Simple Declarer Play: Counting Losers:

Lesson: Counting Losers
Lesson: Throw Losers on Winners
Lesson: How Can Getting an OVERTRICK be Bad?
Lesson: How to take that Extra Trick
Lesson: Counting Losers in Action -- 4 Spades
Lesson: Counting Losers in Action -- 3 Spades

Declarer Play Problems: Counting Losers:
Problem 1: Declarer Play Problem #6 - 4 Spades
Problem 2: Declarer Play Problem #7 - 4 Spades
Problem 3: Declarer Play Problem #8 - 4 Hearts
Problem 4: Declarer Play Exercise #9 - 6 Hearts
Problem 5: Declarer Play Exercise #10 - 4 Spades
Problem 6: Declarer Play Exercise #11 - 4 Spades
Problem 7: Declarer Play Exercise #12 - 6 Hearts
Problem 8: Declarer Play - 4 Spades
Problem 9: Declarer Play - 4 Hearts
Problem 10: Declarer Play - Throwing Losers on Winners
Problem 11: Declarer Play Choices -- Is the Finesse your Best Choice?
Problem 12: Declarer Play -- Try the Finesse?
Problem 13: Declarer Play - 6 Hearts
Problem 14: Declarer Play - 6 Spades
Problem 15: Declarer Play - 6C Example
Problem 16: Declarer Play -- Blocked!
Problem 17: Playing in a 4-4 Heart Fit
Problem 18: Playing in a 5-3 Fit rather than a 4-4 Fit
Problem 19: Answer
Problem 20: Declarer Play - 5D Example
Problem 21: Declarer Play - Avoid taking out trump

Learn Simple Declarer Play: Finesses

Lesson: The Finesse
Lesson: Eight Ever, Nine Never
Lesson: More Finessing
Lesson: Suit Combinations
Lesson: More Suit Combinations
Lesson: Distribution - Counting Shortness with Honors
Lesson: NT -- Developing Extra Winners
Lesson: Declarer Play - 3NT - Developing extra tricks with Finesses
Lesson: Ruff/Sluff

Quick Questions on Declarer Play:
Question 1: Which Card is a Loser in my Dummy?
Question 2: How to Play this Suit?

Simple Defence:

Lesson: Leading unsupported Aces against Suit Contracts
Lesson: Lead Problem - Underleading Aces in a Trump Contract
Lesson: Internal Sequences

Quick Questions on Defence:
Question: Lead Problem

Overcalling:

Question 1: Your Bid
Question 2: Responding to an Overcall
Question 3: Overcall or not?
Question 4: What would you Bid?
Question 5: What to bid Over a Weak 2?
Question 6: After the Overcall
Question 7: Overcall or Not?
Question 8: Now What?
Question 9: Responding to an Overcall
Question 10: I'm BACK and now you have to bid!
Question 11: Another Bid
Question 12: What to Bid?
Question 13: Overcalling
Question 14: Your call
Question 15: What to bid
Question 16: What to bid?
Question 17: What to bid as an Opponent
Question 18: Do you Bid or Not?
Question 19: What bid will Mess up the Opponents most?
Question 20: Advancer Bids!
Question 21: An Overcall
Question 22: What do you do?
Question 23: What to do?
Question 24: Overcalls
Question 25: What to Overcall?
Question 26: What to Overcall?
Question 27: Overcalls
Question 28: Opponents
Question 29: What to Overcall?
Question 30: Adventures with Heidi

Learning to count Distribution Points:

Lesson: Distribution - Counting Shortness with Honors
Lesson: Length Points

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STAGE 3:


In this stage we learn to bid suits we don't have in order to show suits we have. Defence becomes a bigger part of the game.

Pre-emptive Bidding:

Lesson: Pre-emptive Bidding -- An Introduction
Lesson: Responding to a Weak 2
Lesson: Weak 2 Bids -- Responding to 2NT
Lesson: Pre-emptive Bidding -- Does Vulnerabilitity Matter?
Lesson: Pre-emptive Bidding -- Upping the Pre-empt
Lesson: Pre-emptive Bids -- A Summary

Quick Little Questions on Pre-Empting:
Question 1: Pre-empt from Today
Question 2: Responding to Partner's Weak 2 Bid
Question 3: What to Open?
Question 4: What to do NOW?

Stayman:

Lesson: Introducing Stayman
Lesson: Responding to Stayman
Lesson: Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Diamonds to our Stayman Bid and we have Game or Slam Forcing Values
Lesson: Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Hearts to our Stayman Bid and we have Game or Slam Forcing Values
Lesson: Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Spades to our Stayman Bid and we have Game or Slam Forcing Values
Lesson: Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Diamonds to our Stayman Bid and we have Invitational Values
Lesson: Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Hearts to our Stayman Bid and we have Invitational Values
Lesson: Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Spades to our Stayman Bid and we have Invitational Values
Lesson: Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Diamonds to our Stayman Bid
Lesson: Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Hearts to our Stayman Bid
Lesson: Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Spades to our Stayman Bid
Lesson: Stayman auction with 1NT Opener bidding 2 Hearts and Responder then bids 2NT
Lesson: Stayman auction with 1NT Opener bidding 2 Hearts and Responder then bids 3NT
Lesson: 1NT: Responder has a 6 card major and also a 4 card major
Lesson: 1NT: Responder has a 5 card major and also a 4 card major
Lesson: 1NT: Responder has a 5 OR 6 card major and also a 4 card major

Quick Little Questions on Stayman:
Question 1: Responding to 2NT
Question 2: What Should NT Opener Do?
Question 3: Partner opens 1NT
Question 4: Bids Over 1NT
Question 5: Bidding over 1NT
Question 6: Responding to 2NT
Question 7: What to Respond?
Question 8: Responding to 2NT
Question 9: Responding to 2NT Part II

Jacoby Transfers:

Lesson: Introducing Jacoby Transfers
Lesson: Jacoby Transfers - Completing the Transfer
Lesson: Jacoby Transfers - What to bid after you Transfer to Hearts and you have a FIVE card suit?
Lesson: Jacoby Transfers - What to bid after you Transfer to Spades and you have a FIVE card suit?
Lesson: Jacoby Transfers - What to bid after you Transfer to Hearts and you have a SIX card suit?
Lesson: Jacoby Transfers - What to bid after you Transfer to Spades and you have a SIX card suit?
Lesson: Jacoby Transfers - What do you bid after you Transfer to Hearts?
Lesson: Jacoby Transfers - What do you bid after you Transfer to Spades?


Easier Jacoby Transfers for newer players:
Rebidding Pass, 2NT or 3NT after a Jacoby Transfer (Hearts)
Rebidding Pass, Inviting Game or Bidding Game after a Jacoby Transfer (Hearts)
Summary of all Easier bids after a Jacoby Transfer to Hearts
Pass, 2NT or 3NT after a Jacoby Transfer (Spades)
Rebidding Pass, Inviting Game or Bidding Game after a Jacoby Transfer (Spades)
Summary of all Easier bids After a Jacoby Transfer to Spades

Lesson: Was the Bidding Correct?
Lesson: Killer Lead
Lesson: Bidding Jacoby over 2NT

Quick Little Questions on Jacoby Transfers:
Question 1: The Opponents Interfere over a 1NT Bid
Question 2: Rebid after a Jacoby Transfer
Question 3: Do you really HAVE to complete the Transfer?
Question 4: What to Respond?
Question 5: Bidding Over 2NT
Question 6: Bids Over 1NT
Question 7: Another bid over 1NT
Question 8: Over Interference
Question 9: Responding to a Big, Balanced Hand
Question 10: What to Rebid?

Doubles:

Lesson: Double - Penalty Double
Lesson: Introducing the Take Out Double
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double with a Weak Hand
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double with an Intermediate Hand
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double with an Opening Hand
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double - Suit Bids
Lesson: Take Out Double -- Responding when the Opponents Bid and you have a Weakish hand
Lesson: Take Out Double -- Responding when the Opponents Bid and you have an Intermediate Strength Hand
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double with a Six Card Major
Lesson: Take Out Double -- Responding when the Opponents Bid and you have their Suit!
Lesson: Take Out Double -- Responding when the Opponents Bid
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double with a Balanced Hand and the Opponents Suit Stopped
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double -- Suit Bids and NT Bids
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double by Cuebidding the Opponents Suit!
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double by Cuebidding the Opponents Suit! Part II
Lesson: Responding to a Cuebid after you originally made a Take Out Double
Lesson: Responding to a Take Out Double -- Suit Bids, NT Bids and Cuebids
Lesson: Two Suited Doubles
Lesson: What you need to make a Two Suited Double

Quick Little Questions on Doubles:
Question 1: Overcall Question
Question 2: Responding to a Take Out Double
Question 3: Real Life Jacoby Transfer
Question 4: To Overcall or not to Overcall
Question 5: Partner DOUBLES
Question 6: The Opponents have bid
Question 7: What to Overcall?
Question 8: Rebids after a Double

Blackwood:

Lesson: Blackwood -- An Introduction
Lesson: Blackwood -- To Bid or Not to Bid
Lesson: Blackwood or Quantitative?
Lesson: Blackwood -- Asking for Kings
Lesson: Blackwood -- A Summary
Question: To Bid or Not to Bid Blackwood

Gerber:

Lesson: Gerber - An Introduction
Lesson: Gerber - To Bid or Not to Bid?
Lesson: Gerber or 4NT Quantitative?
Lesson: Gerber -- Asking for Kings
Lesson: Gerber -- A Summary

Slam Hand Bidding:

Strong Balanced Hand Bidding
Slam Bidding with a Five Card Major when Partner opens xNT
Signing off in 5NT

Trump Suit Asks:

Practice bidding hands with your Partner!

Lesson: Grand Slam Force
Lesson: Trump Suit Quality - 5 of the Major
Lesson: Trump Suit Quality Exercises
Question: Do we DARE? We do! But HOW?

Difficult Declarer Play:

Lesson: Watch the Spots!
Lesson: How BEST to play this suit?
Question: Declarer Play Problem

Defence:

Lesson: High Card from the Short Side - Defence
Lesson: More Unblocking on Defence

Quick Little Questions on Defence:
Question 1: Defence Problem
Question 2: Defending 3NT
Question 3: Defence
Question 4: Defending 3NT
Question 5: Lead Problem
Question 6: Another Lead Problem
Question 7: Lead Problem
Question 8: Lead
Question 9: Lead Problem
Question 10: Defence


Strong 2 Club Bids:

Question 1: What to Open?
Question 2: Which is my Best Lie?
Question 3: Strong Hand
Question 4: Responding with a Weak Hand
Question 5: Bidding a STRONG hand

Rules and Ethics:

Information: Unauthorized Information - the Stop card
Information: Acting on Unauthorized Information
Information: How to use the bidding box properly
Information: Insufficient Bids
Information: How to Score at Matchpoints
Information: SAYC

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STAGE 4:


Things are QUITE a bit more complicated in this stage. Things that look normal are actually showing a very specific hand.

Reverses:

Lesson: Simple Reverses
Lesson: Reverses Part II
Lesson: Reverses Part III
Lesson: Reverses IV - Responding to a Reverse
Lesson: Reverses V - Responding with FIVE in your Original Major
Lesson: Reverses VI - Openers rebids when Responder has shown a five card Major
Lesson: Reverses VII - Responding with SIX in your Original Major or Bidding 3NT

Negative Doubles:

Lesson: Introducing the Negative Double - Auctions showing Spades
Lesson: Responding to a 1 Level Negative Double when RHO passes
Lesson: Responding to a Negative Double when RHO raises 1 level
Lesson: Negative Doubles to show Hearts
Lesson: Responding to a Negative Double with Hearts RHO Passes
Lesson: Responding to a Negative Double which shows Hearts when RHO raises 1 level
Lesson: Negative Doubling to show BOTH Majors
Lesson: Rebidding after Partner makes a Negative Double showing both Majors
Lesson: Rebidding after Partner makes a Negative Double showing both Majors and RHO Raises 1 Level

Cuebidding:

Lesson: Bidding in Competition -- Learning how to CUEBID
Lesson: Cuebidding when Partner makes an Overcall

Opening the Bidding

Lesson: The Rule of 20

Questions for Heidi

I can get into some pretty advanced stuff in these questions (these are real hands) so I'm putting this grouping into Stage 4

Question 1 -- Overcalling
Question 2 -- Blackwood? Gerber? 4NT?
Question 3 -- Should you bid a bad four card major?
Question 4 -- Is this a forcing bid?
Question 5 -- More on forcing bids
Question 6 -- What do I need for this bid?
Question 7 -- How do you bid the slam?
Question 8 -- How do you bid this hand?
Question 9 -- What do you rebid?
Question 10 -- Trouble bidding BIG HANDS
Question 11 -- Curse those Opponents! They interfered!
Question 12 -- Rebid after opening a Strong 2♣
Question 13 -- Michaels?
Question 14 -- Bidding over Partner's pre-empt
Question 15 -- Bidding over Opponent's pre-empt
Question 16 -- Overcalling a pre-empt
Question 17 -- Overcall a suit or 1NT?
Question 18 -- Bidding over a reverse
Question 19 -- Slam possibilities
Question 20 -- Overcallers rebid

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2 comments:

  1. Heidi,
    The blog is really encyclopaedic.
    Where can I find posts about:
    Lavinthal
    Drury
    Multi Landy
    Michaels precise - Cubids
    Lebensohl
    McKenney Preference Signals
    Lavinthal

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This blog is for the newer bridge players who need lots and lots of basic examples. Those are more advanced conventions. You can easily Google any of those to see a description.

      Delete