Tuesday, March 31, 2020

What to Respond?

Playing matchpoints. Neither you not the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠K764
96
QJ83
♣T52

Partner opens the bidding 1. The Opponents are silent during the auction. What is your call?

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Friday, March 27, 2020

What to respond?

Playing matchpoints. You are NOT vulnerable and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠KT84
KJ
J94
♣Q982

Partner opens the bidding 1. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) overcalls 1♠. What is your call?

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Wednesday, March 25, 2020

I recommend

For those of you who are bored at home with no bridge to play but don't really want to go online and play with a bunch of strangers I'd recommend the following:
Bridge Base online has a nice set of Declarer Play problems that many players don't know about.

First log onto www.bridgebase.com. If you are not a member you will have to create a membership to do this. (You can play without becoming a member but this is different.) The membership is free and quick and easy to do.

Once you are on the Home Page you will see several options under "PLAY OR WATCH BRIDGE"

You want the last option -- "Practice"

When you click on Practice it gives you three options.

You want the last option -- "Bridge Master"

Yes, they could have worded that differently (like maybe "Declarer Play Problems"?) so you'd know what you were getting into but they didn't.

This is the section that you want.

This part contains a series of DECLARER PLAY ONLY problems. You are shown the bidding and presented with the final contract. Now you have to make it. I like that because you are not allowed to slack off and play in game only when there is a slam to be had!

You have five difficulty levels -- Level 1 (Beginner) through to Level 5 (World Class). Each Level is further subdivided into A, B and sometimes C and D. Each sublevel has about 30+ Declarer Play problems in them. That is quite a few to keep you entertained.

Don't be fooled by their names. These are TOUGH. Even the Beginner ones I would say start off easy and beginner like but quickly turn into what I would consider more Intermediate.

These are all about MAKING YOUR CONTACT. Don't worry about those overtricks -- play safe to make.

You are allowed to try them as many times as you'd like and if you get stumped there are solutions available that you can click through. You can even get a first little hint and then just try the problem again.

Anyhow a nice change from playing online and you will definitely learn something from these! Enjoy!

P.S. If you don't want to play with strangers on BBO but do want to play then you and your friends can set up a nice, fun table and just play amongst yourselves. Just make the table PRIVATE. Email your friends and ask them what their userid is. Then set up a time to play with people you know. That way when we all go back into the clubs you won't have forgotten what an Ace is!

Monday, March 23, 2020

What to Rebid?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠KQJ96
Q93
9872
♣A

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) is Dealer and says "Pass". You decide to open the bidding 1♠. The Opponents are silent during the auction. Your Partner responds 2. Just a Standard American 2 bid. Not game forcing.

What is your call?

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Thursday, March 19, 2020

Climactic finale

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable. The Opponents are not vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ84
AK9
K954
♣J4

This is the thrilling conclusion to this hand.

So far the bidding has been:
Opener US!
1NT 2♣
2 4NT

To review. Partner opened the bidding 1NT. WE had a 1NT opening hand! WOW! So since we do have a four card major we started with Stayman. Partner has to respond. Partner responded 2 to let us know they have four . We didn't have a fit there so bid 4NT to find out if Partner was minimum or maximum -- plus we were secretly hoping they would be able to support our ♠ suit. Over our 4NT bid Partner says.....

5NT.

What they heck? That isn't even a response!

What is your bid? What do you think Partner is showing? Maybe think about what they DON'T have. Might make it easier.

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Sunday, March 15, 2020

Now what?

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable. The Opponents are not vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ84
AK9
K954
♣J4

Partner opens the bidding 1NT. The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. We decided last post to respond 2♣. This is Stayman asking Partner if they have a four card major.

Partner responds 2. What does that tell you about Partner's hand?

What is your bid? What does you bid show/ask?

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Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Responder

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable. The Opponents are not vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ84
AK9
K954
♣J4

Partner opens the bidding 1NT. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) passes. What is your call?

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Saturday, March 7, 2020

Responding

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable. You and your Partner are playing SAYC (Standard American Yellow Card) so nothing fancy.

Here is your hand:
♠J76
K75
AQ86
♣874

Partner opens the bidding 1♣. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) overcalls 1♠. What is your call?

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Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Open or Pre-empt?

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable and the Opponents are not vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠Q8
AQT972
83
♣QT5

You are Dealer. What is your call?

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