Search found 187 matches

by rod
18 Mar 2024, 09:58
Forum: Bridge Questions, Puzzles, Deals
Topic: Free Slam Try
Replies: 0
Views: 67

Free Slam Try

This one is from the Swiss Teams event of the 2024 Port Macquarie-Hastings March Congress in Australia. Match 6, board 19. We were vulnerable against not and I held this interesting hand as East: 864,AKQ109432,53,-- The bidding proceeded: South West North East Pass 1♣ Pass 1 ♦ * 1♠ 2 ♦ 3♠ ? As we ar...
by rod
03 Feb 2024, 16:47
Forum: Bridge Questions, Puzzles, Deals
Topic: Would you make this 6NT?
Replies: 0
Views: 196

Would you make this 6NT?

My solitaire bridge app dealt this one today. You are South declaring 6NT after an auction best not discussed. North J42,J83,KQJ54,J7 South AK10975,AK,A,AK108 West leads the ♥ 4 and East follows with the 2. What is your plan? The ♠A fetches the 8 from West and the 3 from East. Do you see that you ca...
by rod
05 Jan 2024, 08:56
Forum: Methods and Conventions
Topic: Third Suit Forcing
Replies: 1
Views: 4242

Re: Third Suit Forcing

I recently learned there is also a nice article about this from 2015 on the Bridge Winners site. Curiously it has the same title as the one above.
by rod
31 Dec 2023, 16:21
Forum: Bridge Questions, Puzzles, Deals
Topic: Finding a Slam
Replies: 0
Views: 1973

Finding a Slam

Here's a deal from playing with the robots today. I like this auction. J1073,AJ98,AK2,A2 1NT 2 ♥ 3NT 4NT 6 ♥ A4,KQ74,Q104,K1087 2♣ 3♣ 4 ♥ 5♠ Pass The key bid was 3♣ which is natural with slam interest, and then 4 ♥ confirmed heart support. My robot partner, holding a maximum, was then smart enough t...
by rod
16 Dec 2023, 08:28
Forum: Methods and Conventions
Topic: Optional Minorwood
Replies: 1
Views: 4047

Minorwood in 2NT Auctions

Optional Minorwood can fit well in some situations after a 2NT opening or equivalent. Responder might have a slam interest with a minor one-suiter or major/minor two-suiter. This can be shown by bidding Stayman and then 4 of the minor. Here's an example with Puppet Stayman : 2NT 3♣ 3 ♦ 3♠ Opener sho...
by rod
03 Dec 2023, 10:04
Forum: Methods and Conventions
Topic: Opening Two of a Major
Replies: 0
Views: 5793

Opening Two of a Major

Muiderberg Two Bids seem to be common in Australia. I like them for their ability to annoy the opponents while allowing us to reach a sensible spot when partner happens to have a strong hand. They show a two-suited hand where the suit opened is at least (and usually) five cards and the second suit ...
by rod
30 Nov 2023, 08:53
Forum: Bridge Questions, Puzzles, Deals
Topic: Slam Defense
Replies: 0
Views: 6217

Slam Defense

This is Board 1 from yesterday's Coffs Harbour club game. North deals, none vulnerable. K9853,9,10982,1094 A72,QJ10874,7,AK7 QJ10,K65,AKQ5,J32 64,A32,J643,Q865 I don't recall the auction but it ended in 6 ♥ by West. I sat North and led the ♣10 which declarer ducked to the Ace. Declarer then advanced...
by rod
28 Nov 2023, 12:43
Forum: Bridge Questions, Puzzles, Deals
Topic: Not a Tragedy
Replies: 0
Views: 5222

Not a Tragedy

A tragedy is serious stuff, often concerning death, and bridge is just a game. Maybe this deal would be a light-hearted tragedy if such a thing existed! Also posted to Bridge Winners. IMPs, nobody vulnerable. Screenshot from 2023-11-28 12-12-11.png East led the ♥ Q, won in dummy. A trump to the Quee...
by rod
03 Oct 2023, 10:01
Forum: Bridge Questions, Puzzles, Deals
Topic: A 3NT Opening
Replies: 0
Views: 5934

A 3NT Opening

It's another Monday club game and you pick up this hand: AK6,AQJ10872,AK8,-- Not bad, you may be thinking. But then partner opens 3NT! Obviously this is not the old-fashioned 3NT that shows 25 HCP. The most common treatment today is that it's a 7-card minor headed by AKQ with no outside ace or king....
by rod
09 Sep 2023, 11:11
Forum: Methods and Conventions
Topic: Optional Minorwood
Replies: 1
Views: 4047

Optional Minorwood

As discussed on the Bridge Winners site, partner and I recently had this deal come up: deal.png North would like to ask for key cards, however 4NT may get the auction too high. What to do? Kickback is popular among advanced players but requires careful study and discussion to avoid misunderstandings...