Bridge in Oz

This deal from yesterday's Coffs Harbour club game has multiple points of interest. Matchpoints, board 13, North deals, all vulnerable. K63,K73,AQ86,A72 J1084,82,J532,1053 75,QJ964,109,Q964 AQ92,A105,K74,KJ8 All of the six auctions ended in a notrump contract by North. Four in 6NT, one in 7NT, one i...

Regarding an agreed defence against a multi 2 ♦ opening, here's what I think is a good compromise between effectiveness and simplicity: In Direct Seat: Double = Takeout for the minors, or a very strong hand. 2NT = Strong and balanced, about 18-20 HCP or as otherwise agreed. Systems are on. 2 ♥ /♠ = ...

Here's another one from the Coffs Gold Congress teams event. Match 7, board 7, all vulnerable, South deals. Pauly and I are West and East. K97532,7,A6,10963 AJ6,QJ4,9753,K42 Q10,K952,KQ4,AQ87 84,A10863,J1082,J5 The bidding proceeded: South West North East Pass Pass 2 ♦ Pass 2 ♥ Pass 2♠ Dbl Pass 2NT ...

This is from the Coffs Gold Congress teams event, Saturday morning, match 4. You are East, vulnerable against not, and North deals and passes. AK6,A,J107653,KQ6 You open 1 ♦ , partner responds 1♠, back to you. What's your call? Nothing quite fits. You're not good enough for a jump shift* and you don...

The Coffs Harbour club held its annual Anniversary Teams event yesterday. This celebrates the anniversary of the club's founding. Your teammates are assigned to you in a way designed to mix experienced with novice and inexperienced players. Three sets of eight or ten boards are played and in each se...

American expert Larry Cohen had some things to say about attracting new players. I'm not sure I agree with all of it, but here it is:

https://news.bridgebase.com/2022/02/22/larry-cohen-attracting-new-bridge-players/

I picked up this one at the club yesterday. Matchpoints, none vulnerable, partner opens 1 ♥ and RHO overcalls 1♠. 753,10,AKQJ108752,-- I called 2 ♦ and it went pass, 2 ♥ by partner, 3♣ by RHO. You're not playing any fancy conventions. What would you do? I tried 3♠ hoping partner could call 3NT, whic...

If you don't know what Wordle is, go here.

I played my 200th game today. My stats say 100% but that's because 99.5% rounds to 100%.

Wordle 401 3/6*

I ran across this black-and-white TV series on YouTube recently. It ran from 1959 to 1964 in the USA. While most of us don't play rubber format these days, it's interesting to see how little the game has changed since then, and how famous bridge personalities interacted with each other.

White vs. red, you hold this as dealer: 10,AJ97643,J,Q954 There are a few principles that I follow. 12-13 points, including distribution, to open at the 1-level in first or second seat. I count 11 here. When preempting be within 2 tricks of the contract at unfavorable vulnerability, 3 at equal, 4 at...