Bridge in Oz

My local club sent out an electronic questionnaire on this topic a couple of days ago. Among other things asking members' opinions about what safety measures should be taken when the club re-opens. Honestly though, I think the opinions of public health experts should matter more. I think most club p...

The problem with testing the club suit is that even if diamonds split 4-4 as expected, you will not enjoy discarding on the last two rounds of diamonds. You can comfortably lose the lead once but not twice. So let's leave clubs alone. Spades will split 3-3 or not, and if not you will need three hear...

Here's another instructive computer deal. After a routine Stayman auction you, South, are declaring 3NT with the ♦ 2 led. Scoring is IMPS. North K93,AJ93,865,A64 South AQ62,K64,AQ,9532 East plays the ♦ K. You have eight tricks with very good chances for a ninth. What do you do? I'll tell you in adva...

Julie Bryant, Secretary of the Coffs Harbour Bridge Club, yesterday announced this cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Let's hope 2021 will see a vaccine and a more normal continuation of bridge competition!

This is a marginal slam as you need either the ♦ A or ♣Q onside, plus another good thing to happen. Clearly diamonds should be tested before clubs. The devil is in the details. Ruff your ♥ 5 at trick 2 and take AQJ of spades. Assume for the moment that spades split 3-2. Play a diamond to the King (d...

Yesterday I declared this interesting hand against the computer.

North
♠ AQJ7
♥ 3
♦ 10765
♣ AKJ2

South
♠ K1042
♥ AK5
♦ KQ2
♣ 985

You're South in 6♠ with no opposing bidding. West leads the ♥J. Plan the play.

By the way if all you want is a suit symbol (as in "West led the ♦K against 4♠"), you can copy-and-paste from one of these lines.

Thanks Derrick! Perhaps Ron should sign up here to defend himself.

Every once in a while I run across a published bridge deal analysis that seems to have an error. I'll start this topic with one from Ron Klinger's 25 April ABF Daily Bridge Column . Starting on page 2 it presents this deal: North K72,954,93,K9876 South AQ106,AKQ87,A8,A5 where you, South, are declari...

Looks like the ABF is well along the path to offering masterpoints and club games on BBO. Articles are here and here.

Interested players who do not already have a BBO account should sign up for one, and club managers can proceed to send in a form to "express interest".