0016 – The Throw-in Play

Endplays #001 – The endplay cardplay technique in bridge can take many forms, but the process and result are basically the same. Declarer first plays on side suits taking away safe exit cards from the defender's hand and then strategically puts the defender on lead at a point when the defender must make a lead which costs a trick. The endplay typically happens towards the end of the play of the hand (thus an endplay), but can actually happen at any time during the play.

The endplay form on this deal is called a throw-in (tenace throw-in play) where East is forced to lead away from a broken honor holding when put on lead (Trick 7) and has no safe exit without giving up a trick.

On this deal North/South play a conventional defense to 1 NT where a Double is a one-suited hand. South's hand is way too good (14 hcp, 6-losers and rebiddable club suit) to make a preemptive bid of 3 ♣. East/West play systems are on over a Double and so 2 ♥ is a transfer to 2 ♠. West's bid, takes North off the hook, and thus, South knows North does not have on-going values. South can fully define this hand by bidding 3 ♣.  Some partnerships might double 3 ♣, but with East's club values of ♣ AQ10 sitting underneath South's values this would be a dangerous double.

The opening lead is the ♠ K, so how should South play this hand? 

Matthew Granovetter

0015 - A Baby Grand

Minor Suit Slam #001 - Bidding minor suit slams is not the same process as bidding major suit slams - there are bidding space considerations. When bidding minor suit slams, often valuable bidding space is consumed exploring for major suit fits or notrump contracts before agreeing on minor suits. When bidding major suit slams systems are designed to find fits right away allowing bidding space to find secondary fits, bid out shape or bid controls. Finally, typical control responses to 4 NT use lower rank suit responses of 5 ♣ or 5 ♦ artificially where in minor suit slams responses often put the contract at slam level before controls can be established. Bidding space is a luxury not often afforded to bidding minor suit slams.

This deal (rotated for presentation) was originally played as Board 8 Monday night October 27, 2014 / The Common Game (TCG).  So how should this deal be bid?

0014 - Knowing When to Bid

When to Bid #001 – Knowing when to bid and when to pass may not be the most exciting bridge skill, but it is an important element of the game. The standard 1-level response to 1 ♣ with 6+ hcp should be a guideline not a rule. Responder might hold a hand such as ♠ J53 ♥ QJ53 ♦ Q3 ♣ J753 with 7 hcp, and will surely respond 1 ♥ with a hand that may never win a trick.

North opens 1 ♣, East passes ... with 5 hcp, what is South's call?

Fast Results - TCG

The Okatie Creek DBC (Sun City Hilton Head) runs The Common Game (TCG) on Mondays and Saturdays.

TCG sends out Fast Results via email for these games to players whose email addresses are registered with ACBL.  If your email address is not registered with ACBL you can enroll in Fast Results by emailing your ACBL # (typed in the subject line) to: FastResultsHelpDesk@gmail.com.  Just an email sent from your email address with your ACBL # in the subject line.

0013 - Everything You Need to Know

Preemptive Bid #001 – An opening preemptive bid is a high level bid (3-level or higher) made with length in a suit (usually 7+ cards), limited high-card strength (not enough for an opening bid) and limited defensive strength (maybe no outside ace). Partnerships usually have an agreement on bidding disciplined preempts vs. undisciplined preempts and/or preemptive guidelines such as the Rule of 234.

This deal was played September 25, 2014 / Hilton Head BC mentor/mentee game.

When East opens the bidding with a preemptive 3♣, how should North/South bid/play this hand?

0012 - Forgoing a Trump Finesse

Safety Play #001 – The term safety play is usually used to refer to the line of play that guarantees making the contract against any lie of defenders cards, but may sometimes refer to the line of play that gives the best chance of making the contract.

This deal (rotated) was played September 18, 2014 / Hilton Head BC.

This deal was analyzed by the GIB bridge software (used on BBO) and the contract of 5 ♥ was set, down one (-1). Is it possible to find a line of play to make 5 ♥ against any lie of defender's cards (the safety play)?

West's opening lead T1 is the ♠ A and when East plays the ♠ 8 (suit preference) shifts to ♦ 6 ... before playing to diamonds, declarer (South) can count enough tricks (1-spade ruff + 4-hearts + 2-diamonds + 4-clubs = 11 tricks) if hearts are limited to just 1-loser.

Where T2 is won should be based on how declarer plans the play of hearts. So how should hearts be played? 

HHI Bridge blog

Earlier this year (2014) I decided to spend less time on administrative and governance activities of bridge and re-focus on studying, teaching, coaching, writing, and playing bridge, the technical activities of bridge.  As a result, I have been testing formats: this blogger website HHI Bridge blog (http://hhibridge.blogspot.com/) and a Facebook social media page also called HHI Bridge (https://www.facebook.com/hhibridge) each with the identifier "hhibridge". 

The blog has proven to be far more robust and lends itself more towards technical bridge writing - not only my observation, but unanimous among the feedback received from readers.   The Facebook page now only references to this blog.  Thanks to everyone, as always, feedback is welcome.

Fred Ferguson (fergusfe)
fergusfe@gmail.com

0011 - Aunt Mary's 7♥

Goulash (bridge) #001 – In the bridge world deals like this are often called Goulash bridge where the suits are more unevenly distributed among the players, creating wild deals.

Polly Thomason from Okatie Creek DBC gave me this deal from her neighbor's Aunt Mary ... the challenge is making 7 ♥.  East's hand was not disclosed.

With the opening lead of the ♣ K, how should this deal be played to make 7 ♥?

0010 - 2-Way Trump Promotion

Trump Promotion #003 – This deal is 3 of 3 (3/3) on the cardplay technique of trump promotion by position. This thread will flow better to start with deals ...

0008 - Avoiding a Trump Promotion A trump promotion is the defensive strategy of creating a trump trick (or tricks) by forcing the premature use of a trump card. One of the cardplay techniques of achieving a trump promotion is to make a trump trick in passing playing behind an opponent who needs to trump.

0009 - Seeing the Trump Promotion A trump promotion typically happens when the defender (short in trumps) is on lead through an opponent and the defender (long in trumps) is playing behind and both are void in the suit being lead. This forces the opponent to prematurely play a high trump to win the tricks allowing for a trump promotion.

This deal (rotated) was played September 6, 2014 / Unit 252 NAP Championship.

The reopening double by North on this deal is extremely gutsy, my partner would have bid spades with a crappy 4-card spade suit.

West's opening lead is the ♣ 5. After three rounds of clubs (T1-T2 -T3) East considers the lead options for T4 ... what should East consider? how should East continue?

0009 - Seeing the Trump Promotion

Trump Promotion #002 – This deal is 2 of 3 (2/3) on the card play technique of trump promotion by position – playing behind an opponent who must trump to win the trick. This deal focuses on seeing the trump promotion position. As defender if you cannot see the trump promotion, you will not be able to employ the technique, and as declarer if you cannot see the trump promotion, you will not be able to plan for the contingency.

This deal (rotated) was played September 4, 2014 / Hilton Head BC.

South is in a 4 ♠ contract where North/South have combined 27 hcp (29 shortage points). 

After an opening lead of the ♦ 4, South plays 3-rounds of diamonds (T1, T2 and T3) pitching a club on the third diamond trick to avoid the possibility of 2-club losers. Can you see the trump promotion position?

0008 - Avoiding a Trump Promotion

Trump Promotion #001 – A trump promotion is the defensive strategy of creating a trump trick (or tricks) by forcing the premature use of a trump card. One of the cardplay techniques (coup) of achieving a trump promotion is to make a trump trick by position in passing (en passant) playing behind the opponent who needs to trump.

This deal was played by Eileen Griffin with Fred Ferguson September 3, 2014 / Hilton Head BC.

This contract is very reasonable North/South have combined 24 hcp (26 shortage points). Of the 12 times this deal was played it was played in 4 ♠ - 10 times and in 3 NT - 2 times (go figure).

The opening lead by West is the ♣ A and East gives an encouraging signal with the ♣ 6. West follows with the ♣ 3 to East's ♣ Q. East returns the ♣ 4 ... how should Eileen (South) play this deal?

0007 – Don Buchanan rule

Playing Intermediates #005 – What makes the play on this deal special is not some bedazzling card play (cardplay) technique, but that the play (other than by a 10 year old) focuses on fundamental cardplay techniques. Often, very often, taking care of the fundamentals is all that is required.

This deal (rotated) was played by Emma Knight of Hilton Head Junior Bridge HHJB with Fred Ferguson August 23, 2014 / Hilton Head Island BC.

There is nothing special about the auction 2 ♠ is a reasonable contract - 2 ♠ was played 6/9 times the deal was played.

Upon first review, the side suits seem well situated supporting ♥ KQ and ♦ KQ with respective shortness and solid values ♣ AKQ in clubs. The trumps (spades) seem to be missing a few honors, but the intermediate ♠ 10 and ♠ 9 do give some values to base the play. 

So how should Emma play this deal? 

0006 – Best Hand at the Table

When to Pass #001 – Passing with the best hand at the table is really, really, really hard. But remember, bidding is about describing your hand to your partner or as Al Roth says bidding is "the art of painting a bridge hand."  After West opens 1♦, how can North best describe this hand?

After West open's 1 ♦, what call can North make that is NOT, at best, a misrepresentation ? The choices seem to be 1 NT, Double, 1 ♠, 2 ♣, PASS ... any others?

1 NT – While North has a perfect 1 NT opening bid, as an overcall, North does not have a diamond stopper. This is a really bad choice, the contract could end up in 3 NT not making (as E/W run off 7-diamond tricks) when game otherwise in a suit contract is assured.

Double – While some partnerships might make takeout doubles to show opening values regardless of shape, a Minimum Offshape Takeout Double (Savannah double), in modern bridge this is just WRONG! What would North do after a takeout double, if partner jumps to 4 ♥? So what about doubling with the plan on rebidding ... first, North only has 15 hcp and second, what would North rebid?

1S or 2C – North doesn't have a 5-card suit in either spades or clubs. Sure North would like partner to lead one of these suits if on opening lead, but partner will expect a different hand thinking if not saying out loud WWYT (what were you thinking).

PASS – Passing with the best hand at the table seems to be the best option. The bidding should come back around, and if partner does not have enough values to balance over 1 ♦, then PASS was the right option all along.

0005 - Cuebidding Stayman

Cuebidding #001 – This is a lesson on cuebidding ... so what's a cuebid? While technically the cue bid (or cuebid) can take other forms, the most common form of a cuebid below game level is the bid of an opponent's suit. A cuebid is a forcing bid, requiring partner to take some action based on the context (point in the auction) of the cuebid.

This deal was played by Adele Newman and Norman Bloch August 2, 2014 Okatie Creek DBC.

Adele (South) opens 1 NT (15-17 hcp) and West makes a natural 2 ♦ overcall.

In everybody's little book on bidding agreements, 3 ♦ by Norm (North) should be a cuebid for the Stayman convention. The use of the cuebid after interference was part of the original Stayman convention and still retains its usefulness. Some partnerships, who play the Stolen Bids agreement after interference of 1 NT, might play 3 ♣ as Stayman, but then how would responder make an invitational bid in clubs - 3 ♣ is needed for natural bidding sequences but 3 ♦ is not. Adele's rebid of 3 NT is perfect – denies a 4-card major and (on-the-way to wherever this auction is going) shows a stopper in diamonds.

 So far so good ... So what is 4 ♦? 

0004 - Listen to the Bidding

Playing Intermediates #004 – This deal initially looks a lot like the playing intermediates deal 0001 – Find the Jack where declarer needs to find the ♠ J and the ♠ A will take care of itself. But, listening to the bidding places the ♠ A and logic says don't finesse for the ♠ J.

This deal (rotated) was played by Dave McClintock with Marvin Shatz August 12, 2014 / Okatie Creek DBC.

There is nothing special about the auction, 2 ♠ is a reasonable contract. West's 2 ♦ overcall vulnerable (VUL) should show opening values (12-15 hcp) and a good suit - one West wants lead, if partner is on opening lead. 

West leads the ♥ A and when East encourages with the ♥ 8, continues with the ♥ K and then the ♥ 10. 

When dummy is faced holding the ♦ Q9, the first question should be what kind of diamond suit does West have to overcall 2 ♦? Missing the ♦ KQJ97 of diamonds the best suit West could hold would be ♦ A10865, not the best diamond holding, so West probably holds 6-diamonds. West also shows up with ♥ AK10. Without the ♥ Q, West must hold the ♠ A to have the values to make a 2-level overcall vulnerable. So, West should hold something like:

♠ A(x)
♥ AK10
♦ A108654
♣ x(x)

With so much information now available, how should Dave (South) play this hand?

0003 - The Miss Lucy

Intermediates 003 – The first two deals on intermediates focus on the texture and value intermediate cards of 10s, 9s, 8s and sometimes 7s contribute when playing a hand of bridge. But, what is the meaning of leading intermediates? What does opening lead of the ♣ 7 mean in this deal?

Playing with Emma Knight of Hilton Head Junior Bridge (HHJB) this deal was defended August 6, 2014 at the Hilton Head Bridge Club.

After North opens 1 ♠ and South responds 1NT as a Forcing Notrump, North/South must proceed carefully – anything that can go badly in bridge, often does. double dummy (DD) North/South should reach 3 NT or 4 ♠.

After opening 1 ♠, a jump rebid of 3 ♠ by North is invitational (not forcing), South can Pass 3 ♠. With a 3-loser hand, North should consider a jump-shift to 3 ♣ which makes the auction forcing and gives South a chance to bid the hearts at the 3-level. After 3 ♥ (6+ hearts, no fit in spades), North can decide on 3 NT or 4 ♠ (I like 4 ♠).

So what is the meaning of the lead of a 7 (Miss Lucy).

0002 - The Black Kings

Intermediates 002 – Having intermediate cards of 10s, 9s, 8s and sometimes 7s, especially when combined with honors, give texture (body) in suits where having a holding of ♠AQ1098 will play better than ♠AQ1082 which will play better than ♠ AQ1042 which will play better than ♠AQ542. Unfortunately, it is ♠AQ542 that are trumps in this deal.

Playing with Harrison Luba of Hilton Head Junior Bridge (HHJB) this deal (rotated) was played against Ron Perry and Marvin Shatz August 1, 2014 at the Hilton Head Bridge Club.

When you look at these two hands don't you wish you could trade South's club suit holding of ♣AJ1076 with 5 hcp (probably worth 4 tricks) for North's spade suit of ♠AQ542 with 6 hcp (lucky to win 3 tricks)?

There is nothing special about this auction, after three passes South opens 1NT, and regardless of systems, all pairs should reach the contract of 4 ♠ . 

How do you play spades without intermediates?

Are Game Tries Alertable

Previously posted in the 0001 - Find the Jack deal analysis East/West, after finding an agreement in spades, East bids 3 ♣ as some sort of a game try ... so the question is whether 3 ♣ is Alertable as a game try. Yes? No?

The answer depends on the partnership's agreement regarding game tries. As per Doug Grove, ACBL Tournament Director game tries come in three basic flavors: long suit, help suit and short suit. The first two long suit and help suit are defined as natural bids and are not Alertable.  The short suit is not natural and is therefore Alertable.  A short suit is defined as two or fewer cards because anything longer is deemed a suit.

If East/West are playing some generic version of help suit game tries or natural bid game tries (i.e., not short suit game tries) and holding ♣ AKJ2 in clubs, 3 ♣ is not Alertable.

0001 – Find the Jack

Intermediates 001 – This deal starts a series focusing on the value of intermediate cards (body cards) of  10s, 9s, 8s and sometimes 7s.  Intermediates give texture (or body) to a hand i.e., not just a hand with high honors and spot cards (6s, 5s, 4s, 3s and 2s).  Intermediates are of greatest value when combined with honor cards such as in this deal South's ♠ K107x and North's ♠ Q9xx when in combination form an impressive suit holding of ♠KQ1097xxx.

Playing with Diana Mullaly this deal was originally played East-West (but rotated for presentation) was played July 30, 2014 at the Hilton Head BC.

We find ourselves in a 4 ♠ contract with 21 hcp combined and respective shortness in hearts and clubs (24 shortage pts), not a really good contract (8.5 winners), but NTWC (not the worst contract) ever played. On the positive, lots of good intermediates in combination with honors.

When West leads the ♣ 4 (out of turn) Diana accepts the lead and makes me play the contract from South. (oh thanks!)

 How would you play this contract?