Make bids that sound like your hand so if you
are LONG AND STRONG bid your suit and then JUMP REBID in ORIGINAL SUIT.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 252
If you sit over a player who Opens 1{
and you have KJ or AQ in Spades your hand IMPROVES and goes up in value
as the finesses will work in your favour. On the other hand if you sit
under them your hand goes down in value as the finesses will now work
against you
ADVANCED
TIP 252
Very seldom should you join in after the opponents Open 2]
I think you should join in with 2ª
or
even 3ª
and get nice surprise when partner supports and you can disrupt
the opponents’ progress
NOVICES
TIP253
Please BUILD TRICKS so with 9643 opposite QJ3 lead up to the QJ3 and
build at least one trick and lead from the 9643 side twice hoping for
Split Honours
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 253
When trying to establish this suit A10872
opposite 954 keep playing low for two rounds and you keep control of the
suit as you still have the Ace
ADVANCED
TIP 253
Third hand should play high but with AQ6 play the Queen and
declarer, if he has the King will not be able to hold up and
declarer will not be able to cut communications between the two
defenders – See the Lev tip from Bols Tips
http://www.haroldschogger.com/shmuellev.htm
NOVICES
TIP254
Please don’t be in a
hurry to go in with dummy’s Ace when you have the Queen in your hand-
you may well be able to win first trick with your Queen
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 254
Against a suit
contract don’t lead from KJ765 all the way around into declarer’s AQ-
the free gift department
ADVANCED
TIP 254
If there is an overcall of 1NT and opener’s partner has 8+
points then he MUST DOUBLE for PENALTIES in same way you Double
an Opening 1NT bid for Penalties
NOVICES
TIP255
If
you ruff in SHORT HAND you GENERATE EXTRA TRICKS, conversely if you ruff
in the long hand you were probably making these tricks as trump tricks
regardless
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 255
When you have K7 in dummy and Q543 in hand and opposition leads suit
play dummy’s King- its rude to leave bare King or Queen on table or in
the closed hand. By doing this at least you are leaving the other honour
in the hand hand slightly protected with small card(s).
ADVANCED
TIP 255
In 4th seat USE RULE of 15
so with
♠109
do not open as you will be opening the door to the opposition.
u
AJ72
otherwise the opposition will come in and be able to outbid you
♣ 75
NOVICES
TIP256
You really MUST PLAY back the suit partner led
in first trick especially in No Trump contracts.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 256
With A10872 opposite 954 keep playing low for two rounds and you keep
control of the suit as you still have the Ace
ADVANCED
TIP 256
If partner CONVERTS an INFORMATIVE DOUBLE into a PENALTY Double
then LEAD A TRUMP
NOVICES
TIP257
Bids are as they sound - if any player repeats a suit at the lowest
possible level he is showing a minimum hand and six card suit. This
goes, for opener, responder and overcaller.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 257
If
you are unsure what to lead then leading a trump is usually pretty safe
ADVANCED
TIP 257
If there is a choice between playing in two 6:2 fits, it is best
to play in the weaker player’s long suit otherwise you might not
be able to get to that hand. - so give in to partner graciously
J
NOVICES
TIP258
10975 is so close to a Sequence that you should lead the 10. 10s from
109s in bridge are always very good leads.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 258
Play back partner’s suit – this is known as FOLLOWING PARTNER’S DEFENCE-
if he suddenly switches respect his wishes and play that suit now- it
might be a singleton and he looking to ruff
ADVANCED
TIP 258
With
♠
AQ976 Playing Weak No Trump, in first and second
seats open 1NT and then you have no rebid problems but
Sometimes before drawing trumps you have
to get your second suit going first and if necessary ruff a card in that
second suit to establish it.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 260
With KQ94 opposite A872 play off the K first
and then over to the Ace in case you can still finesse the Jack/10 when
10/J falls in on first round.
in situations like this KQ94
10653
J
A872
ADVANCED
TIP 260
If you lead King against a No Trump
contract you are telling partner to UNBLOCK and if he has
the Queen or Jack to now throw it. so the suit doesn't get
blocked, if he has neither of these cards he is expected to give
the COUNT instead.
so that in situations like this
KQ1054 opposite J7
by chucking the Jack under partner's King partner knows it is
safe to continue
NOVICES
TIP261
Try
and keep track of your second suit which might easily become
established.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 261
If you lead King against a No Trump contract
you are telling partner to UNBLOCK and if she has the Queen or
Jack to now throw it. so the suit doesn't get blocked later, if she
doesn't have an unblocking card them GIVE THE COUNT INSTEAD
With
Q opposite AKJ10
play the Queen and OVERTAKE to be in correct hand to continue the
suit.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 262
With KQ4 opposite A9853 play off the KQ first
in case you can still finesse the Jack when 10 falls in one round.
in situations like this
K Q 4
J
10 7 6 2
A 9
8 5 3
ADVANCED
TIP 262
If the bidding suggest partner has nothing at all- you see 13
points in dummy and declarer rebid 2NT showing 17 and you have
10 points declarer has no idea that you have them all so do not
give any genuine signals- Partner will take no part in the
defence of the hand.
NOVICES
TIP263
Sometimes you need to knock out Ace of side
suit before touching trumps in case you actually need the trump suit as
your entry to this side suit
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 263
Partner Doubles their 1u
bid and you Have 11 POINTS make sure you JUMP in YOUR SUIT. You would
react with 1u
with very few points wouldn't you ? So you do need to come alive
with this Jump.
ADVANCED
TIP 263
With A54 opposite J10632 needing to
establish 3 tricks play Ace and another and hope for 3:2 break
if no 3:2 break then KQ might still be under the J10 holding and
you can lead up to the J10 twice.
NOVICES
TIP264
With Q65 in partner's suit lead the 5 - low one says you have honour in
partner's suit later
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 264
With A54 opposite Q106 play off the Ace and then low and if second
player plays low do you finesse the 10 or Queen ? Person in second seat
with the King should smoothly play low to give declarer a guess. Most
of time it is correct to finesse the 10 as so many in second seat wiill
play the King
ADVANCED
TIP 264
When pre-empting whether it be opening or overcalling please
don't do it on Jack high suits- you are just asking for trouble.
NOVICES
TIP265
If
there is a long suit in dummy and you have the Ace of that suit don’t be
in hurry to take it and you might cut declarer off from dummy
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 265
Jump in new suit
by Opener is Game Forcing. And shows 18
Persuade
declarer to finesse partner for missing honour especially if you
have doubleton QJ and you do not want declarer crashing them
down in two rounds- try the effect of leading the Jack and lots
of declarer will then finesse your partner for the missing queen
NOVICES
TIP266
Sometimes before drawing trumps you have to get your second suit going
first and if necessary ruff a card in that second suit
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 266
Lead partner's suit BUT if you have an AK suit of your own lead the Ace
and see what is going on J
ADVANCED
TIP 266
The Lebensohl convention is a
convention to help you when you are "being interfered with "
after your partner has opened 1NT and the nasty opponent
intervenes. Part of the convention All 2 level replies are
still weak. 2NT is still 11/12 and 3NT is still 13+
opposite a Weak No Trump Opener and the Cue Bid of their suit
becomes Stayman- this is only part of the convention - more
another time
NOVICES
TIP267
Push the opponents up and maybe they will go
one off J
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 267
Only cover an honour with an honour if you can promote something for
yourself or for partner so with J1095 showing in dummy do not fall into
declarer’s trap and cover the Jack
ADVANCED
TIP 267
A pre-emptive opening bid or overcall is a LIMIT bid and as with
all LIMIT BIDS DO NOT BID AGAIN- leave all decisions to partner
NOVICES
TIP268
With two five
time black suits I prefer to Open 1♣
and then you can show both suits.
(HIGHER
of FIVES so with Spades and Clubs when they touch, Clubs is in fact
higher J
).
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 268
With A54
opposite J10632 needing to establish 3 tricks play Ace and another and
hope for 3:2 break if no 3:2 break then KQ might still be under the J10
holding and you can lead up to the J10 twice.
ADVANCED
TIP 268
With 19 points if partner replies make sure you REBID GAME-
you really don't need much now from partner to make Game do you
? Avoid any sort of ambiguous bids
NOVICES
TIP270
If partner has six card suit and
four card major and responder replies in that Major SUPPORT- bridge is a
partnership game UGH.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 270
After 1NT Double, opener's partner should have FIVE card suit before they
pull into a suit .otherwise it could be a Out of the Pan into the Fire
Situation
ADVANCED
TIP 270
If one side has a fit then the other side also has a fit- this
is merely a mathematical fact. Therefore when one side has found
a fit don't be shy in introducing another suit and suddenly
finding your fit
NOVICES
TIP271
Establish suits like this :-QJ109 opposite 54- although this might not
be your longest suit - it has potential for two tricks
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 271
If
the opposition intervenes while you are transferring and you complete
the transfer you are now showing 3 card support - if you have only two
cards await partner's next bid.
ADVANCED
TIP 271
Partner offers you two suits and you
have 2 card support for the first suit and 3 card support for
the second suit sometimes it is necessary to GIVE FALSE
PREFERENCE and put partner back to first suit preferring to play
in 5:2 fit rather than 4:3 fit, especially if the first suit is
a Major - making 2{
only requires 8 tricks whereas in 2u
you will need to make 9 tricks to equal +110
NOVICES
TIP272
Bids are as they
sound so if you want to make a weak bid RETREAT LOW, if you want to make
an INVITING BID JUMP in ORIGINAL SUIT, if you want to be in GAME JUMP
to GAME. Think what you want to convey
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 272
With QJ109654 this is not just 3 points - it
is 5 tricks
ADVANCED
TIP 272
More often than not it is correct to
raise 2NT to 3NT even with as few as 3/4 points- it makes more
then it goes off.
NOVICES
TIP273
DOWNGRADE ACELESS HANDS by at least 1 point
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 273
If the opponents push you to the 5 level then
don't Double the final contract in case it might make. You might change
an
average score into a very bad score- these
very unbalanced distributional hands are hard to control.
ADVANCED
TIP 273
Partner
Doubles and you have weak hand and your longest suit is their
suit you HAVE TO BID a THREE CARD SUIT
- you have no option Grin and Bear it
time so with
Playing weak No trump (12-14 points) Partner
opens 1NT and you have 9 points balanced JUST NO BID as the total is
never ever going to reach 25.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 274
If there is a choice of being in Opener's long
suit or responder's long suit normally it is best to play in responder's
long suit as that is likely to be the weaker hand and the opening hand
will "obviously" have outside values. If you play in Opener's long suit
then dummy might end up being dead if dummy's long suit is not trumps.
.
ADVANCED
TIP 274
If there is interference over your
partner's 1NT opening bid and you still want to Stayman you bid
the intervener's suit and this is now Stayman part of the
Lebensohl convention.
NOVICES
TIP275
Playing weak No trump (12-14 points) Partner
opens 1NT and you have 9 points balanced JUST NO BID as the total is
never ever going to reach 25.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 275
If there is a choice of being in Opener's long
suit or responder's long suit normally it is best to play in responder's
long suit as that is likely to be the weaker hand and the opening hand
will "obviously" have outside values. If you play in Opener's long suit
then dummy might end up being dead if dummy's long suit is not trumps.
.
ADVANCED
TIP 275
If there is interference over your
partner's 1NT opening bid and you still want to Stayman you bid
the intervener's suit and this is now Stayman part of the
Lebensohl convention.
NOVICES
TIP276
In all
situations bid the HIGHER OF FIVES ie when Opening, when replying and
when intervening
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 276
The NEGATIVE DOUBLE (sometimes called a SPUTNIK
DOUBLE) is a responses SHOWING 6+ points and liking for the UNBID SUITS
(2 suits left).
.
ADVANCED
TIP 276
With AQJ10 opposite a singleton play the Ace prefer to do a
RUFFING FINESSE rather than a simple finesse- if they play the
King RUFF it and if they don't then throw away a loser - Even
if it fails you have still dumped a loser
NOVICES
TIP277
2]
is the strongest Opening bid you can make and promises either 23+ points
or 10 tricks in Spades or Hearts- Game in your own hand.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 277
65 COME ALIVE - bid fearlessly and never look
back - you might not even need a partner with such magnificent
distribution
open 2♣♣
as you virtually have 9/10 tricks in your hand. If you don't you
might not be able to catch up or manage to get over to partner
exactly how strong you are
NOVICES
TIP278
With AK10976 opposite QJ as your trump suit
play off queen and then OVERTAKE the Jack to be in right hand to finish
drawing the remaining trumps. This can also apply in No Trumps to be in
correct hand and not to get blocked
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 278
In
4th seat you can make an Informative Double with 10 points and protect your sides interests as you know
partner has values
open 2♣♣
as you virtually have 9/10 tricks in your hand. If you don't you
might not be able to catch up or manage to get over to partner
exactly how strong you are
NOVICES
TIP279
When you
defend don't be in a hurry to cash unsupported Aces especially as those
Aces might be the controlling aces in the opposition's suits.
In 3rd and 4th says if you are
playing weak No trump consider Opening 1 of a suit rather than
1NT with dodgy hands as you no longer need a rebid as you have a
passed partner opposite you and can merely Pass anything partner
replies so with
Opponents attack your most dodgy suit in No
Trumps don't be in hurry to take your Ace even if you hold
both the Ace and King - HOLD UP and cut communications between the two
defenders.
ADVANCED
TIP 280
Don't Open weak two if your hand meets
the Rule of 20 - 64 shape and 10 points as its far too good for
Weak Two.
Do notice if the opponent leads a TWO and you
immediately know he has led from a four card suit.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 281
9 points opposite a totally balanced 16 points
is not enough to produce that extra ninth trick so when partner rebids
1NT showing 15/16 points and you have nine JUST PASS- occasionally you
will make 9 tricks but it doesn't make it right to bid 3NT
ADVANCED
TIP 281
Partner opens and you have nine card
suit and good values don't muck around with science as you will
never ascertain what partner has- just bid what you think you
can make so with
With a good hand if partner has opened never be
shy in introducing a new suit to keep the auction going.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 282
If partner opens and you have 4 card support,
however bad your hand is, SUPPORT partner as you know you have at least
a nine card fit- you are bidding to level of fit and you should raise to
the three level.
ADVANCED
TIP 282
Don't Open weak two if your hand meets
the Rule of 20 - 64 shape and 10 points is too good for Weak
Two.
Sometimes to make a contract just FOCUS ON ESTABLISHING ONE SUIT and use
all your concentration on that suit only
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 283
If you can afford two trump losers with
AK543opposite 62 play off two rounds and then play off winners in other
suits and the opposition can take their two tricks any time they like.
ADVANCED
TIP 283
If an opponent leads a Queen from QJ9 and you, as declarer, have
AK104 smoothly duck the first trick and that defender might
well play another card in the suit and you will get 3 tricks
from your subterfuge
NOVICES
TIP
284
If partner cant reply first time around don't
get too excited with your 19 points as you know partner has less than 6
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 284
Opponents attack your most dodgy suit in No Trumps don't be in hurry to
take your Ace or even your Ace and King - HOLD UP and cut communications
between the two defenders
Playing a Weak No Trump, a rebid of 1NT shows
15/16 points balanced and a rebid of 2NT shows 17/18 Balanced and 3NT
will show 19 points balanced (it goes up in twos after 12-14)
Against No Trump contracts it is recommended
that you lead 4th highest from an honour eg K7542 lead the 4 but from a
suit without an honour eg 97542 lead the second highest, the 7 here.
Once partner knows your suit is not good then partner can still continue
with this suit if he is good or switch if he isn't.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 286
Don't Open weak two if your hand meets the Rule
of 20 - 64 shape and 10 points is too good for Weak Two.
Please don't overcall on JXXXX as its such a poor quality suit-
you don't want the suit led do you ? this is not an April
fool- I see far to many players on OK bridge think its ok
that as long as they have any 12 point hand and a five
card suit they should overcall - WRONG
If you open weak Two, prefer to have all your
values in your long suit.
ADVANCED
TIP 287
If somebody
on lead doesn't lead his partner's suit it is reasonable to
assume he has the Ace of partner's suit and doesn't want to give
away a trick hoping partner gets in and can lead through
declarer.
NOVICES
TIP
288
Never deny a four card Major means that you
don't deny 1 four card Major when RESPONDING to partner's 1 ♦
or 1♣ or even 1♥
Opener.
so here reply 1♥
when partner opens 1♣ even though you are
4333 shape
Overcalling on six card suit headed by Jack is
not good bridge even if you do fall on your feet - do you really want
this suit led?
ADVANCED
TIP 288
Beware Greeks bearing gifts. If
somebody gives away a free ruff and discard to allow you to get
to dummy hoping you will finesse a trump then
its more than likely this person has the missing honour in
situations like this where the player wants you to ruff in the
short hand to stop you finessing his Queen
K2
AJ876
NOVICES
TIP
289
Three weak
replies to 1 of a suit are:- Pass, 2 of same suit, and 1NT the
Dustbin bid
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 289
"I think" one should count your winners and
losers on all hands and you can work out how many tricks to generate
(winners) and where to be careful (losers).
ADVANCED
TIP 289
If your
partner suddenly near the end of the auction makes a STRANGE
DOUBLE this is called a LIGHTNER Double and ask for partner to
lead dummy's first bid suit. - maybe your partner has AQJ over
the dummy or a void and wants to ruff,
NOVICES
TIP
290
The structure
of rebidding in No Trump with 15/16 points for 1 NT etc ASSUMES PARTNER
HAS REPLIED- if partner has not replied then these rebids go out the
window on this very cold day L
If
the bidding goes
W N E
S
1♣ NO NO 1♠
1NT NOW opposite a Passed Partner (not deceased) shows 18/19 now
as you could be on your own to all intensive purpose
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 290
Once you
PRE-EMPT you have made a LIMIT BID and you must NOT BID AGAIN- all
decisions after that will be partner's
ADVANCED
TIP 290
Once
partner has had one ruff she will want another one, so you must
tell your partner where your entry is by making a SUIT
PREFERENCE SIGNAL- High card wants the higher suit back and low
card wants the lower suit back
Against 4♥
contract you lead AK of Spades and partner Peters because
he wants to ruff third round so now play
♠9 to show you want Diamond back
but here
Again 4♥
contract you lead AK of Spades and partner Peters because
he wants to ruff third round so now play
♠2 to show you
want Club back
NOVICES
TIP
292
4th highest means the 4th one down from the
top, usually a low card like a 4 or 3 so with K643 lead the 3 and from
AJ952 lead the 5. - you need to keep the high cards as entries to get
the lead back once the suit does become established.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 292
As a defender 2nd Hand low includes not
trumping in knowing partner could still win the trick without wasting
you trump.
ADVANCED
TIP 292
Bridge is a competitive game so don't
let the opposition play 1♣ only - bid something.
NOVICES
TIP
293
Once opponent Doubles your 1NT you should pull into your safe six card
suit especially with no Points otherwise your hand is useless unless
that suit becomes trumps so here
When you have balanced hand with
13/14 points and opposition opend in front of you with
anything JUST PASS
When you have same suit as Opener
even with 18/19 point hands.
When both opponents are bidding eg
1H PASS 2C and it comes around to you with your 15 points
you can work out PARTNER HAS NOTHING - why get involved.
NOVICES
TIP
294
In third seat, as a DEFENDER if two low cards
have already been played PLAY HIGH and make last person work hard for
the current trick- THIRD HAND PLAYS HIGH.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 294
Partner Leaves your
Informative Double in by Passing and converting it into a Penalty Double
you must now lead a trump. Presumably you are good in 3 suits so you
need to take out trumps and the best way to do that is to lead a trump.
ADVANCED
TIP 294
Playing with a Weak
No Trump partner To make a
Stayman reply to 1NT you need either 11+ points or total rubbish
with 5:4 in the Majors.
If you reply 2NT directly this shows 11/12
points balanced. If you reply in new suit and then rebid 2NT as your
response it still shows 11-12 points balanced.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 295
Partner opens 1NT promising 12-14 and you have
a balanced 10 points JUST PASS as the total is never going to reach the
magic 25/26 target for 3NT.
ADVANCED
TIP 295
Partner opens 1NT (12-14)
and you have a totally balanced 4333 11 point hand you MUST PASS
because even if partner has 14 points bringing the total to 25
this particular 25 point combination is unlikely to produce a
ninth trick
To make an Opening bid you need either 13
points or a hand that meets the rule of 20. Don't open the bidding with
9 and 10 point hands. You will get your chances later when you can
subsequently overcall with these hands.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 296
If responder
bids 2 suits this too shows 54 and enables opener to give delayed 3 card
support especially if the bidding were to go
W
E
1 ♦
1♠ now West can give
support with three spades
2 ♦
2♥
ADVANCED
TIP 296
Both opponents are bidding 1♥
- 2♣ and
in 4th seat you have 15/16 points, you can work out that partner
has nothing since the opponents have shown around 23 points
already so don't get involved
NOVICES
TIP
297
If somebody leads a 2 against your No Trump
contract then you immediately know he has led from a FOUR CARD
SUIT as there is nothing lower that a Two. So you know the distribution
of one whole suit at trick one
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 297
If the bidding goes 1♣
- 3♣ reply and now
a rebid by opener of 3NT is a good auction
If you wish to go slamming and have a
void, DON'T USE BLACKWOOD as its of no use- make overtures with a
CUE BID and expect partner to cue bid back.
NOVICES
TIP
298
Top of a Sequence lead OVERRIDES 4th Highest
lead so from KQJ96 lead that KING - if you are a cheap jack and lead the
9 declarer could easily win first trick under no pressure at all with
the 10
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 298
3NT is best when you have a LONG MINOR as the
suit will produce lots of tricks and 3NT is much more user friendly than
5♣ or 5♦
ADVANCED
TIP 298
If one side has a FIT then the other side has a FIT TOO so
don't be afraid of introducing your second suit and suddenly
finding a fit there and being able to take a subsequent
sacrifice or even pushing the opponents too high
NOVICES
TIP
299
Rule of 1 - if there is only 1 trump out
(usually the Queen) and its higher than all yours then no need to draw
it - Bad exchange rate of 2 for 1 when the Queen will always make
regardless.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 299
If the opponents attack your most dodgy suit In
No trumps and you have enough tricks already then there is no need to
Hold Up as they might switch and you go off. Don't just hold up
because you read it in a book somewhere once
L
ADVANCED
TIP 299
To differentiate between good suits and
bad suits it is recommended that you lead 4th highest from a
suit with an honour eg K7543 lead the 4 BUT with a bad suit
with no card higher than the 9 you lead 2nd highest so with
(7532 you lead the 7).
If partner hasn't got very much in your
BAD suit he will know to SWITCH.
NOVICES
TIP 300
If one hand has a shortage (for ruffing) then
create a different shortage in other hand.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 300
If your partner makes an informative Double and
you have 12+ points yourself, then BID OPENER'S SUIT and pass the buck -
this is Game Forcing - this bid is very rare and the strongest reaction
you can make.
ADVANCED
TIP 300
Leading away from an Ace is not a good
idea as it gives away tricks but mid hand if you see king in
dummy then play a low one away from your Ace and hope partner
has the Queen in situations like this with your A853
dummy
K76
A853 Q942
J10
Under pressure, Declarer is bound to
play low from dummy most of the time. You also need to rely on
partner to now play that Queen in 3rd seat.
NOVICES
TIP 301
With A J 4 3 opposite K 5 2 this might be the
longest suit between the two hands in a No Trump contract BUT persevere
with it and finesse that Jack and surprise yourself when it produces 4
tricks.
in situations like this
A J 4 3
Q 10 9
8 7 6
K 5 2
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 301
Don't lead a singleton trump as you might
expose your partner- and it would be rude to expose your partner in
situations like this :-
K 10 9 5 4
7
Q 8 6
A J 3 2
Left to his own devices declarer might play for
the drop and your partner now makes the Queen
ADVANCED
TIP 301
With an extremely BAD HAND against a No Trump contract -
TAFP- Try and Find Partner and make a short suit lead
e g
ª
7 6
no point in leading your long suit so lead
♠7 and see the joy in
as no outside entry
as you still have outside entry.
ADVANCED
TIP 302
If you have 4 or more trumps and you are defending then you need
to make declarer ruff in long hand so he loses control of the
trump suit.
On the following hand all East needed to
do was play another diamond and make declarer use up yet another
of his trumps and now declarer would be down to 1 less trump
than him having ruffed the second Diamond return.
Dealer South
♠
K 8
Both
Vul
♥
A
10 5
♦
J 7
6 2
♣
A 6 4 3
♠
Q J
5
♠
10 7
♥
Q
♥
K 6
4 2
♦
Q 9 8 3
♦
A 10
5 4
♣
K
J 10 9 7
♣
8 5
2
♠
A 9 6 4 3 2
♥
J 9 8 7 3
♦
K
♣
Q
W
N
E
S
NO
2NT
NO
4♥
NO
NO
NO
When this hand was played against me the
defence got off to the best possible start and led
4th highest Diamond and I had to play the King and a Diamond
came back after the Ace won the first trick.
I had to ruff and now I was down to same
number of trumps as East. I played a trump with the Queen
appearing and then I established my Spades playing three rounds
of Spades ruffing the third round. Things looked very bleak as I
tried to draw trumps but West took his King and for some unknown
reason played back a trump and I was able to claim. All East
needed to do was play a third Diamond and the hand falls apart.
(NB maybe I should not open with
this hand but everybody seems to want to do so so I played with
the field)
NOVICES
TIP 303
Barrier Bid principle :-
if you open 1C your barrier bid is 2C
if you open 1D your barrier bid is 2D
if you open 1H your barrier bid is 2H
if you open 1S your barrier bid is 2S
If you make your second rebid BEYOND YOUR BARRIER bid then you are
showing extra values 15/16 points not mere 13 count. If you only have
mere 13 count you are best to rebid original suit and not to try and
show another suit that might be beyond your original Barrier bid.
Playing against Weak No Trump opponents if the declarer has opened 1NT
and the opposition ends up in 3NT EACH DEFENDER can work out what his
partner has by adding his points to dummy plus the 12 and take it from
40
ADVANCED
TIP 304
When bidding goes 1♣
and you overcall 1 ♦
your hand should be good as you are not taking any bidding space
away from opposition
Likewise if the opener opens 1♥
and you overcall 1♠
don't do it on filthy suits where you are telling your partner
to lead the suit UGH
NOVICES
TIP 305
Don't Overcall with balanced 13/14 point hands,
JUST PASS
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 305
Like Stocks and share Hands go up in value and
down in value- with a fit hands go up with a misfit hands go down
so re-evaluate your hand accordingly
ADVANCED
TIP 305
Opening light in Third seat is good for
your bridge health but do consider that it is lead directing so
don't do it on poor quality suits
Not sure what to keep then Keep same suit as
dummy or same suit as declarer (remember the bidding) This is known as
"Keeping Length with Declarer"
ADVANCED
TIP 306
Amongst experts it is generally accepted that the received
wisdom is that you splinter with minimum 10-12 values and take
the Jacoby route with 13+ points
NOVICES
TIP 307
If you reply 2NT directly over partner's 1 of a
suit opener this shows 11/12 points balanced., If you reply in new
suit and then rebid 2NT as your response it still shows 11-12 points
balanced.
If you make your second rebid BEYOND YOUR BARRIER bid when you are
showing extra values 15/16 points not mere 13 count. If you only have
mere 13 count you are best to rebid original suit and not to try and
show another suit that might be beyond your original Barrier bid.
ADVANCED
TIP 307
Don't Overcall with balanced 13/14
points JUST PASS
NOVICES
TIP 308
In
third seat, as a DEFENDER, if two low cards have already been played,
PLAY HIGH and make last person work hard for the current trick-
THIRD
HAND PLAYS HIGH
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 308
If the bidding goes 1♣
- 3♣ reply and now
a rebid by opener of 3NT is a good auction.
ADVANCED
TIP 308
Please don't overcall with 12 points
and a five card suit headed by just the Jack- its really crummy
bridge - experts never do this sort of thing- Some of the "so
called advanced "players, playing online bridge, do it all
the time and its an abomination to me
J
NOVICES
TIP 309
Rule of 1 - if there is only 1 trump out (usually the Queen) and its
higher than all yours then no need to draw it - Bad exchange rate of 2
for 1 when the Queen will always make regardless.)
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 309
If the
opponents attack your most dodgy suit In No trumps and you have enough
tricks already then there is no need to Hold Up, especially if a switch
by the defnders to another suit could suddenly put your contract into
jeopardy,
ADVANCED
TIP 309
To differentiate between good suits and
bad suits it is recommended that you lead 4th highest from a
suit with an honour eg K7543 lead the 4 BUT with a bad suit
with no card higher than the 9 you lead 2nd highest so with
(7532 you lead the 7.If partner hasn't got very much in you BAD
Suit he will know to SWITCH.
NOVICES
TIP 310
Top of a Sequence in your longest suit lead
OVERRIDES 4th Highest lead so from KQJ96 lead that KING. You would
not want to lead that 9 and let declarer win the trick cheaply
with the 10 would you?
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 310
Both opponents are bidding 1♥
- 2♣ and in 4th
seat you have 10/11 points, you can work out that partner has nothing
since the opponents have shown around 23 points already so don't get
involved
ADVANCED
TIP 310
Partner opens 1NT (12-14) and you have
a balanced 4333 11 points JUST PASS as this particular flat hand
will not quite be enough to produce that 9th trick even opposite
a maximum 14 point hand.
If you play 15-17 points and you have
4333 hand with 8 points again say NO Bid as again although the
total might reach 25 points the flat hand is unlikely to produce
a 9th trick.
NOVICES
TIP 311
Establish suits like this QJ109
opposite 54 - although this is not your longest suit it has potential
for two tricks.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 311
If you want to know if partner has three card
support for your first response in a Major then bid a new suit even if
its a three card suit - some people call it NMF New Minor Forcing.
ADVANCED
TIP 311
With K765 opposite 4 in non trump suit
play low one from singleton side and if no Ace comes play low
and later hope the Ace falls in 3 rounds so your King becomes
high
NOVICES
TIP 312
To make a Stayman reply to 1NT you need either
11+ points or total rubbish with 5:4 in the Majors.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 312
To
make an Opening bid you need either 13 points or a hand that meets the
rule of 20. Don't open the bidding with 9 and 10 point hands in first
and second seats. You will get your chances later when you can
subsequently overcall with these hands
ADVANCED
TIP 312
N
E
S W
1NT
PASS 2♥
? if you Double,
this says "I have 15+ points and I would have Doubled their 1NT
Opening Bid"
NOVICES
TIP 313
When discarding, keep your long suits in No
Trumps as all the small cards are potential winners.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 313
Not sure what to keep then Keep same suit as
dummy or same suit as declarer (remember the bidding) This is known as
"Keeping Length with Declarer"
ADVANCED
TIP 313
Opposite a PASSED PARTNER a rebid of
1NT shows 18/19 points as you are on YOUR OWN
NOVICES
TIP 314
Never deny a four card Major at the 1 level
when replying so when partner opens 1 ♦
reply 1♥
or 1♠ and not 1NT if you
can do so even if you are balanced so with
3NT is best when you have a LONG MINOR as the
suit will produce lots of tricks and 3NT is much more user friendly than
5♣ or 5 ♦
isn't it?
ADVANCED
TIP 314
If you know the THE TRUMPS ARE SOLID
and would like to know about the King and Queen of another suit
then agree that suit before embarking into Roman Key Card
Blackwood.
NOVICES
TIP 315
If responder
bids 2 suits this too shows 54 and enables opener to give delayed 3 card
support.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 315
Mathematically speaking (and bridge speaking for that matter),If one
side has a FIT then the other side has a FIT TOO so if in doubt, do Bid
on
ADVANCED
TIP 315
With an extremely BAD HAND - TAFP- Try and Find Partner and make
a short suit lead
With the
first hand I think you should open 1♥
but on second hand where your rebid is a bit a of a problem I think you
should start with
as you have a nice rebid of 2 ♦
ready
a Pass
Bid to the level of the fit with 5 card
support and partner made a weak Jump overcall in clubs showing
6 so jump to 5♣ or 5 ♦
and APPLY THE PRESSURE on the opposition.
Both opponents bid and support a
suit but do not lead it then the person on lead is more likely
to hold the Ace of this suit and does not want to lead away from
this suit and wants the suit led through you, declarer.
NOVICES
TIP 318
With AJ43 opposite K52 this might be the
longest suit between the two hands in a No Trump contract BUT persevere
with it and finesse that Jack and surprise yourself when it produces 4
tricks.
the suit is favourably laid out like this:-
K 5 2
10 9 8
Q 7 6
A J 4 3
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 318
If the declarer has opened 1NT and th
e
opposition ends up in 3NT EACH DEFENDER can work out what his partner
has by adding his points to dummy plus the 12 and take it from 40.
assuming you are playing against weak no Trump Opponents. If they play
15-17 NO TRUMPS then take the total form 15 instead
ADVANCED
TIP 318
When bidding goes 1♣
and you overcall 1 ♦
your hand should be good as your bid is not at all pre-emptive
so don't bid on rubbish here.
NOVICES
TIP 319
1NT - 2♠/2♥/2 ♦
are all WEAK REPLIES and now Opener MUST NOT BID ON.- if
your partner does bid on then find a new partner
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 319
Keep your Tenaces intact, and you might still be able to finesse when
suits break badly
AJ7654 opposite K832 play the King first
KQ106 opposite A543 play off the King and Ace first retain that
Q10
A1065 opposite KQ932 play King first keeping two tenaces and
guaranteeing 5 tricks always.
ADVANCED
TIP 319
If your partner does not make a
splinter when he could have done so he will not have a singleton
or void in his hand
You get extra tricks by RUFFING IN THE SHORT
hand USUALLY DUMMY. If you ruff in the long hand you were making those
tricks any way.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 320
With 7510 shape and 9 honour points please open
1 of a suit and not a weak two or three.
with
ª
Q J 10 9 7 6 4
please open 1♥
¨
A
§
Q 10 9 5 4
ADVANCED
TIP 320
Open third
in hand LIGHT especially if your suit is the Spades, the
most pre-emptive of the 4 suits. In third seat you no longer
need to have a rebid ready and can merely pass anything
partner replies if you wish to do so. In third seat whne
opening light it also acts as lead indication so don't
overcall light without a good quality suit
Top of sequence provided its in your longest
suit is more important than 4th highest of your longest suit against No
Trump contracts - with KQJ95 you would lead the King - you
would not want to lead the 9 and get beaten by declarer's 10 would you
???
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 321
The first Opening bid is so vague that you must
make sure your second bid clarifies what you started with - try and make
a LIMIT BID at your earliest opportunity whether it be in No Trumps now
or supporting partner.
ADVANCED
TIP 321
If
somebody hasn't splintered when he could have done, he will
not have a singleton outside the agreed suit.
Rule of 1- If there is one trump out higher than all yours then don't
bother to draw it as its a bad exchange rate 2 for 1
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 322
Partner leads an Ace at trick one
and dummy has a singleton make sure you give a suit preference at trick
one to sho what you want partner to switch to next
Opening 2♣
promises 23+ points or 10 tricks in Spades or
Hearts- it is GAME FORCING and partner must keep bidding
until Game has been reached., so Open 2♣
on both o f these hands
Lead
from your long suit versus No trump contracts as this leads to tricks
for the defence that's why you lead your long suit - here lead the 6
from AQ1065 ie 4th highest of your long suit
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 323
4th Highest and then the Rule of 11 can be used
by both the other defender and by declarer.
(Take the card that has been led away from 11
and that tells you how many cards higher than the card that has been led
are in the other three hands)
Partner leads the 7 and dummy has Q95
and you the other defender has K102 then you,
know declarer has no card higher than the one led so when declarer plays
the 5 you can play the 10 or even low as you know the important
cards are divided as follows :-
Q95
AJ87
K102 (YOU)
Now the opponent on your left leads the 7 and
your dummy has Q953 and you have K102 you can immediately work out
that the other defender has no card high than the card that has been led
and you can win first trick with either dummy's 9 or your 10 at trick
one
The cards are now laid out like this:-
Q953
AJ87
K102
(YOU)
ADVANCED
TIP 323
In a No Trump contract holding
both the Ace and King of the suit led by the opponents you should hold up
twice if you have to give up the lead twice if you want to cut
communications between the 2 defenders so hey cannot benefit
from their long suit
NOVICES
TIP 324
Replies after partner opens 1♠
in No Trump as follows (NB Limit Bids show points and shape)
a) 1NT - 6-9
balanced, b) 2NT 11-12 balanced c) 3NT 13-15 balanced..
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 324
A 2♣
response to 1NTfollowed by 3♣ is
weakness takeout and should show six card suit- if you only have five
settle for 1NT
The opponents make a pre-emptive
overcall and you have 11 points and partner opens either Bid
onto Game and take your chances or take the money and Double-
don't just Pass.
NOVICES
TIP 325
If you Rebid 1NT opposite a PASSED PARTNER then
you are now showing Balanced hand with 18/19 points- you are on your own
so can no longer rebid 1nT with only 15/16- partner might have
Zero points.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 325
Don't overcall with same suit as opponents as
you are at conflict with them so if bidding goes 1♥
and you the opponent have
then you know partner's shape
is either 5422 or 4432 because partner didn't bother to splinter
when he could have done so!!
NOVICES
TIP 326
Most of the time when you rebid in a new
suit you are showing 5:4 shape (exception if 4441) so partner
should now suport the first suit with three card support especially if
you have three card support for the Major if that was the first bid suit
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 326
You can ONLY MAKE your prepared rebids if
you have had murmur from partner promising 6+ points
Playing weak no Trump a rebid of 1NT shows
15/16 but opposite a PASSED PARTNER (not deceased) it now shows 18/19 as
you are on your own and partner is promising 0-5 points only
ADVANCED
TIP 326
Against a
suit contract
Dummy has K 6 5
the opponents
lead the Queen and you have
3 2
DO NOT COVER as there
is little point - Right hand opponent must have the Ace and your
only hope of a trick in this suit is to play low for two rounds
and hope that Right Hand opponent has AX and
the cards might be distributed like this
K 6 5 4
Q J 10 9 8
A 7
3 2
NOVICES
TIP 327
Don't do CHINESE FINESSES when you try and
finesse an unsupported honour- Lead towards the unsupported honour if
you want to try and promote it so with
Q 5 4
opposite
A 3 2
Do not play that Queen- no mileage whatsoever.
Lead the 2 towards the Queen, the card you are trying to promote
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 327
Don't
overcall with same suit as opponents so if they open 1♥
and you have either of these hands you JUST PASS
Playing weak
No trump with 4432 and 15-19 points you open your 4 card suit
ready to rebid in No Trumps but if you have two 4 card Minors
which one do you open- it doesn't matter . HOWEVER I recommend
that you bid the weaker suit and if you end up In No Trump the
opposition are less likely to lead that suit so with
on both
hands try the effect of opening 1♦
rather than 1♣
NOVICES
TIP 328
During the bidding period, as with Stocks
and Shares, hands go up in value and down in value- with a fit hands go
up, with a misfit hands go down
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 328
If
you plan to rebid 1NT with your 15 points and partner replies at the two
level in a lower ranking suit now shade everything down by two points so
2NT is now 15/16 and 3NT is 17/18 - you can do this as partner is
promising more than a mere 6 count!!
ADVANCED
TIP 328
With
A K 9 8
assuming plenty of entries
opposite
make sure you cash the Queen first and if suit breaks 4:0 with
West holding all the remaining
Q 7 5 4 3
cards you will still be able to finesse his J 10
in
situations like this
A K 9 8
J 10 6 2
Q 7 5 4 3
NOVICES
TIP 329
A Limit bid shows points and Shape and once you
make any sort of limit bid you DO NOT Bid again unless invited to or
forced to by partner
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 329
You can rebid in responder's suit of a Major
with rebids 2 of responder's suit showing 13/14 and 4 card
support
3 of responder's suit showing 15-17 and 4 card support
4 of responder's suit showing 18/19 and 4 card support
ADVANCED
TIP 329
If you occasionally open 1NT with 5422 shape you should have
values in your doubletons such as AX or KX and the
doubletons need to be in the Majors- With 5422 shape and 54 in
the Majors it is best to open the major and then show the other
Major
To Make a pre-emptive overcall you need to
DOUBLE JUMP so over 1♥
you only need to overcall with 3♠
but over 1♥
you now need to overcall 4♣
if you want to make a pre-emptive bid in Clubs
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 330
Leading from 109X is one of the better leads in bridge more often that
not creating a position against dummy
maybe dummy has J54 and partner turns up with Q73 in
situations like this
J 3 2
10 9 4
Q 8 6 5
A K 7
ADVANCED
TIP 330
Leading doubleton Queen tends to be one of the
worst blind leads
in bridge
as it tends to help
declarer more than the defending side especially
if declarer might have taken a losing finesse in the suit UGH!!
NOVICES
TIP 331
Lead tops of sequences and tops of
Interior sequences against No trump contracts but don't bother with
anything less than the 10 so with AJ1095 lead the Jack but Q987 lead
the 7.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 331
When replying in a lower ranking suit that
forces you to reply at the 2 level use Rule of 14 - Add your high
card points plus the number of cards in the suit you wish to respond in
and if total is 14 or more then go for it otherwise bid the DUSTBIN BID
1NT- 8 points and SIX card suit or 9 points and FIVE card suit if fine.
ADVANCED
TIP 331
In 1st and 2nd seat
where you would need to have a rebid ready prefer to Open 1NT
with a five card Major but in 3rd seat and a lousy 13/14 points
Open 1 of the Major and merely pass most responses from
partner now
If you see dummy has source of tricks then GO
ACTIVE and switch to your good suit or partner's potentially good suit
and get your tricks early
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 332
Theory of Final Destination- if you bid 1NT
directly its 6-9, if you bid something on the way its still 6-9, this
applies in all bidding situations, if you reply 2♥
to 1♥
directly its 6-9 with 4 card support, if you introduce a
suit and then retreat to 2 of same suit its still 6-9 but only 3 card
support.
ADVANCED
TIP 332
The opponents make a pre-emptive overcall and you have 11 points
and partner opens either Bid onto Game and take your chances or
take the money and Double- Don't just Pass
NOVICES
TIP 333
Open light in third seat as you no longer need to have rebid ready BUT
have good quality suit as you are indirectly saying Lead my suit if we
don’t win the auction.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 333
If your partner makes an informative Double and
you have 12+ points yourself, then BID OPENER'S SUIT and pass the buck
ie
N
E S
W
1♥
DBL NO 2♥
You choose a suit partner we have enough for Game
ADVANCED
TIP 333
With plenty of entries
Take out insurance so with AK98 opposite Q5432
play the Queen off
first and when the suit breaks 4:0 you might stll be able to
Finesse their J1076 in situations like this
A K 9 8
J 10 76
-
Q 5 4 3 2
NOVICES
TIP 334
If
one hand has a shortage (for ruffing) then create a different shortage
in other hand
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 334
If
you see dummy has source of tricks then GO ACTIVE and switch to your
good suit or partner's potentially good suit and get your tricks early.
ADVANCED
TIP 334
If your partner makes an informative
Double and you have 12+ points yourself, then BID OPENER' SUIT
and pass the buck (very rare to have this many points but when
you do remember to pass the buck to partner and Say YOU
CHOOSE....
NOVICES
TIP 335
Replies in No Trump as follows (NB Limit Bids
show points and shape)
a) 1NT - 6-9
balanced, b) 2NT 11-12 balanced c) 3NT 13-15 balanced. With 10
points reply in your longest suit event if its only 4
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 335
As
opener you open 1♣ and now with a very good fit with partner's response and not sure how far
to go GIVE partner a chance to show his hand so with
♠
A K 7
♥ A10 6 5
♦4
♣
A K 9 6 5
if
partner replies 1♥
then he may have rotten hearts and all his points in
Diamonds- give him chance to show you- don't rush the auction rebid 2♠
initially creating a Game Forcing situation.
ADVANCED
TIP 335
With A 9 5 4 opposite
K Q 10 8 3 remember
to play that Ace first retaining the A9 tenace in one hand
and the Q10 in the other hand and now you guarantee 5 tricks out
of 5 even if the suit breaks 4:0. If you were to adhere to
playing the high cards from the short hand here you would be in
trouble if the Jack is offside and you can no longer finesse it
NOVICES
TIP 336
If you have fit with partner ( 4 card support)
then you can add extra points for shortages ie 3 for void, 2 for a
singleton and 1 for a doubleton.- these shrtages mean you might be able
to ruff ie you have "ruffing values" here.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 336
Please do NOT RUFF in the long hand because it
makes you feel good- you are merely depleting your trump stock and could
lose control of the hand.
ADVANCED
TIP 336
If no
suit has been agreed then raising 2NT rebid to 4NT is QUANTITIVE
and says to partner if you like your hand (ie Maximum18) please
bid onto 6NT in a
situation like this
6NT I like my 17 point hand
with 5 card suit - I accept
NO
NOVICES
TIP 337
When finessing lead from the opposite hand
towards the cards your are trying to promote
so with
5 4 opposite K3 or
start from the 5 4 side here as you are trying to promote the King
5 4 2 opposite K Q 3 start
from the 5 42 side TWICE as you are trying to promote both the King and
the Queen
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 337
Overcalling with 1♠
over their 1♣ opener can be done on all sorts of weakish 8 point
hands as the overcall is PR-EMPTIVE and cuts out them bidding 1 ♦
or 1♥ but if you overcall 1♠ over their 1♥
make sure you do it on a sensible hand as 1♠
is not at all pre-emptive now and gets in nobody's way
ADVANCED
TIP 337
If you have 8 obvious tricks in
3NT try and sneak a trick through in a side suit early on before
the opponents can get their signals going
With Q65 opposite K32 needing one trick
play up to one of the honours and just maybe second hand (who
has the Ace) will play low and your dodgy 9th trick will now
materialize
NOVICES
TIP 338
When rebid in same suit - most of time
you will be showing SIX CARD SUIT- weakly retreating to the two level
or strongly with a jump to the three level.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 338
Pre-empting with ♠
7 6 5
♥
7 2
♦ A
Q
♣ Q J 10 8 5 4 2
and opening 3♣ is Ok here as
you really have no defence to either major.
ADVANCED
TIP 338
If the opponents do not compete
with their known 8 or 9 card major fit then you know the suit
will be breaking kindly and risking 3NT is very little risk.
NOVICES
TIP 339
In 4th
seat 1NT is 10-14 points the protective seat
ie the bidding goes
N E S W
1♥
NO NO 1NT
now in the pass out seat you need to protect your side's interests so
you can bid with less here.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 339
With
K Q 5 4 opposite
J 7 6 2 lead up to the King
Queen twice when finessing and then you can safeguard against this
position
K Q 5 4
A
10 9 8 3
J 7 6 2
ADVANCED
TIP 339
With
J83 opposite AK1042 in the closed hand play the Jack and if
its not covered play for doubleton Queen
offside in this scenario
J 8 3
Q 7
9 8 5
A K 10 4 2
see zia tip - If they don't cover they
haven't got it
The expression for bidding in 4th seat is that you can
borrow a King
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 340
If opener or responder bids TWO SUITS then most
of the time the first suit will be five card suit- this is now important
as it allows partner to support the first suit with three.
ADVANCED
TIP 340
Even suits out
against you break badly and odd suits break well so appreciate
that A6543 opposite 2
where they have
seven (odd) cards has potential in situations like this
A 6 5 4 3 (dummy)
K Q J 10
9 8 7
2 (declarer's hand)
The suit is more
likely to BREAK 4:3 rather than 5:2
Even though they have
KQJ10 you can ruff just three times before the 13th card is
established.
Make sure you have
entry back to the established 13th card J
NOVICES
TIP 341
When declaring, If one hand has a shortage (for
ruffing) then create a different shortage in other hand.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 341
If your main suit is declarer's primary suit
and they end up in declarer's secondary suit then LEAD A TRUMP
ADVANCED
TIP 341
If the opponents do not compete with
their known 8 or 9 card major fit then you know suit will be
breaking kindly and risking 3NT is very little risk, even if you
do not have a stopper in the suit- also partner might still turn
up with a semi-stopper in the suit.
NOVICES
TIP 342
In
a No Trump contract, if the opponents lead your really dodgy suit where
you only have one controlling card HOLD UP and try and cut
communications between the two defenders so that they cannot reap the
benefit of their long suit
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 342
Second hand plays low includes NOT RUFFING IN
in SECOND SEAT- partner is still there for the current trick- don't be
in a hurry to ruff !!
ADVANCED
TIP 342
If your partner makes an informative
Double and you have 12+ points yourself, then BID THEIR SUIT and
pass the buck - this is very rare bid indeed as having a
concentration of the remaining points in one hand is a low
frequency situation.
NOVICES
TIP 343
If dummy has three
trumps and a singleton this is usually a clear sign to delay drawing
trumps so you can take advantage of dummy by ruffing losers (the
singleton suit) in dummy while there are still trumps in the dummy
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 343
If declarer opened 1NT (either 12-14 or 15-17)
each defender can work out his partner's total Honour point count once
the dummy comes down.
Add your points
to dummy's points plus declarer's known points and subtract this total
from 40 and that tells you haw many points partner has to within 2
points.
ADVANCED
TIP 343
If the bidding goes
N E
S W
1♥
NO NO NO
and West has not protected
then play West for long Hearts- most people in 4th seat protect
UNLESS they have same suit as opener.
NOVICES
TIP 344
Third hand
plays HIGH BUT only as high as necessary so if you have J106
in 3rd seat play the 10 and maybe partner might be able to work out you
have the Jack and if dummy has J95 and you are
third after dummy and have Q103 then the 10 is "as high as
necessary" isn't it if declarer plasy the 5 from dummy.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 344
Overcalling their 1
♣ with 1♠ is good for your bridge health and can be done on many minimum
hands becaseu it is pre-emptive. However there is little point in
overcalls 1♠ over a 1♥
opener as that has no pre-emptive values.
If somebody doesn't
lead their partner's suit then that defender is likely to have
the Ace of partner's suit and is waiting to entrap
Declarer- especially if declarer has ended in No Trumps
NOVICES
TIP 345
Players lose
concentration and expect trumps to break 2:2 and are less likely to
notice if the suit breaks 3:1 if you play a card of the same colour when
discarding and some declarers then forget to draw the last trump.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 345
In a Cue bidding scenario show controls up the
line and dont go past suits so if the bidding were to go
1♥
3♥
4♣
now says I have Club Ace and no ace or void in Spades as you by passed
the suit when you could have cuebid 3♠
ADVANCED
TIP 345
Partner makes a trial bid
looking for Game in 4♠ or 4♥
only go onto 4♠
or 4♥ with
either the Ace or King or singleton in the trial bid suit
otherwsei with less just sign off at the three level.
NOVICES
TIP 346
Don't lead
unsupported honours because the nasty opposition will merely cover them
and you will promote nothing so with
A K 7 6
opposite J 5 3 2 you play off Ace KIng and hope
somebody has doubleton Queen because if the cards are divided like
this you look really stupid for playing the Jack
A K 7 6
Q 8
10 9 4
J 5 3 2
Playing the Jack
merely gives them the 10 which they would not have made had you played
off Ace King from the start!!
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 346
Use rule of 20 for Opening 1 of a suit with judgement
Bid to the level of the fit so with 5
card support and partner making a weak Jump overcall in
clubs showing 6 Jump to 5§
or 5¨
and APPLY THE PRESSURE on the opposition.
Once West intervenes with weak Jump overcall of 3§
then East should immediately jump to 5§
-
some you lose some you win APPLY THE PRESSURE
NOVICES
TIP 347
Partner replies 1♠
and you have a good hand but a Spade void start to backpedal -
misfiiting hands neeed to be dropped early
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 347
If partner opens 2NT and you reply 3♣
then this is Stayman in the same way that 2♣
would have been over a 1NT opener.
ADVANCED
TIP 347
In any cue bidding sequence if you go
past a suit then you are denying 1st round control of that suit
so on the hands below North South can stop in 4♠
without going to 5 level finding out two aces are missing and
then going down on the bad trump break
LOW
LIKES is ONLY FOR
LEADING (not following suit) L L L
HIGH HATES
is ONLY FOR LEADING (not following suit)
H H L
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 348
Don't leave a bare Queen on the tbale (its rude
in situations like this
Q 7
A J 8 3 2
10 9 8
K 5 4
When the 4th highest 3 is led
play the Queen and when it holds you still have the King in Closed hand
with a small card - it is not totally compromised and is still protected
a little and now West is the safe hand
ADVANCED
TIP 348
In
4th seat
N
E S
W
1♥
NO NO ?
This is the protective seat and to double you now
only needs 10+ points
(borrow
a King to make this bid up to 13 J)
NOVICES
TIP 349
When you play Weak No Trump showing 12-14
points then your rebids in No Trumps are as follows1NT rebid = 15/16,
2Nt=17/18 and 3NT shows 19/poor 20 (just remember it goes up in 2s and
all you have to remember is the 12-14 bit !!)
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 349
Want to keep the auction going
and are not sure what to bid next then USE 4th SUIT FORCING and then
partner can tell you more about his hand
ADVANCED
TIP 349
With
AQ109843 opp0site a void, needing 6 tricks out of 7,
you have to hope one opponent started life with either a
doubleton Jack or singleton Jack and play off AQ to pin the Jack
and keep your losers just to ONE in this scenario
J 7
K 6 5 2
A Q 10 9 8 4 3
NOVICES
TIP 350
If you have lousy trumps DO NOT
DESPAIR especially if you have 8 in this scenario
A 7 6 5 4
K Q J
10 9
8 3 2
Firstly duck a round and then
play Ace and then they can have their winning top card any time they
like- you do not need to draw it now
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 350
Avoid the 2NT reply like the
plague- there is always something better and you can always reply in a 3
card Minor if needs be on a hand like this where you cannot reply 2♥
ª
5 4 3
reply 2♣
when partner opens 1♠ and
await your partner's rebid-
Partner opens the bidding
and overcaller overcalls 1NT and you have 8 or more points then
DOUBLE FOR BLOOD- they will not make 7 tricks !!
NOVICES
TIP 352
If you have a competitive auction with them
bidding onto 4H the experts Say that if in Doubt you should always
bid 4♠ over 4♥
if in doubt
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 352
A pre-emptive opening bid of a Weak Two or Weak
Three is a LIMIT BID and y0u must not bid again unless forced.
Partner now makes all the decisions about bidding on or even doubling-
Blame him if it now goes wrong
ADVANCED
TIP 352
Against their 3NT contract
make a short Major suit lead with a really lousy hand and TRY
and FIND PARTNER
so if the bidding goes 1NT
- 3NT and you have
ªª
ª
6 5
lead 6♠ and see how
delighted your partner will be
9 7 6
no point in leading from your long suit you will never get
it
¨
J 9 54
established nor will you get in with this pile of filth
§
10 9 4 2
NOVICES
TIP 353
If you bid a minor and then a major and then
repeat the Major you are showing 65 shape because if you had 55 shape
you would have opened the Major in the first place
so here open 1♦
hereand then bid spades and spades again
NB You bid spades twice but partner
can work out you have 6 Diamonds
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 353
The correct way to finesse Q J 6 5 opposite K 7 3 is to
finesse towards the QJ twice in case doubleton Ace and 10 and 4 the
other side.
in situations like this
Q J 6 5
A 10
9 8 4 2
K 7 3
catering for the 4:2 breal
ADVANCED
TIP 353
If declarer ends up in a suit and
dummy has revealed a strong suit during the bidding make a BOLD
LEAD - lead from a KXX or even a KJXX suit or declarer might be
bale to draw trumps and dump all his losers on dummy's powerful
suit in that dummy, not yet revealed. (only in the bidding)
NOVICES
TIP 354
In third seat you can Open light but treat your
light opeing bid like an Overcall and only do so if you want the suit
led so
Playing out a 1NT contract CONCEAL YOUR ASSETS
in the closed hand and try and give the impression you are less strong
in one suit- if you cash all your winners the opposition has a chance to
get their signals going!!
ADVANCED
TIP 354
If you have Q82 or K92
BUT don't want the suit played back then lead the 8 in first
example and the 9 in second example. and then partner will not
return this suit because you have given the impression you have
no honour in the suit.
NOVICES
TIP 355
Strictly speaking if you have seven card suit
and a 4 card Major you should not open with a pre-empt as you might miss
out on fit with partner in that four card major. The same applies for
Weak twos as well.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 355
With Q 6 in dummy opposite A105 in hand when
the opponents lead this suit against your |No Trump contract you should
play low from dummy to guarantee 2 tricks.
If there was no 10 in hand then you would have
to try dummy's Queen immediately but the Ten makes the world of
difference.
ADVANCED
TIP 355
Don't distort your hand
pattern so if you are 5422 you really need to bid both your
suits and not go into No Trump. If all your values are in the
doubletons then its Ok to do so OCCASIONALLY!!
J
Open 1♣
and probably rebid No Trump after Major suit reply
NOVICES
TIP 356
If declarer is drawing trumps and expects
trumps to break 2:2 and the trumps break 3:1 then discard a card of the
dame colour and a careless declarer will not notice and think he has
drawn all the trumps.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 356
You want to get your partner to bid then REMEMBER to use THE REOPENING
DOUBLE to get partner to bid so with
356356
♠
A 6 5
♥
K Q 7 6 5
♦
K 8 7 6
♣
8
N E S
W
1♥ 2♣
NO NO
DBL
rather than 2♦ rebid
ADVANCED
TIP 356
To make a Negative double you usually need 44 in the unbid suits
but if you have 4 of the other major and support for opener’s
Minor you can still Negative Double as you then have the safety
net of falling back onto opener’s first bid suit
ª
♠
A Q 9 5
♥
7 2
♦
A 9 8 7 5
♣
72
When the bidding goes
N E
S W
1♦
1♥
DBL
prefer to say Double rather than 1♠ which strictly speaking should
show 5 card suit now
if opener now bids 2♣
you can always go onto 3♦
which is your safety net now
NOVICES
TIP 357
ARYPS - "Always Return your Partner's Suit" even
if there is still an Ace in dummy- don't be intimidated by that Ace.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 357
When you have good hands and not sure where the
hand is going BID SLOWLY and use 4th Suit Forcing to get more
information from partner on partner's shape as well as point count..
♠ J 10 9 8 5
♥ A
♦ K Q 10 7 6 5
♣ Q
♠ A 2
♠ 7 6 4
♥ 9 6 3 2
♥ 10 7 4
♦ A 9 8 3
♦ 4 2
♣ K 9 2 ♣
J 10 7 6 4
♠ K Q 3
♥ K Q J 8 5
♦ J
♣ A 8 5 3
W N E S
1♦
NO 1♥
NO 1♠
NO 2♣ (4th
suit forcing- tell me
NO 2♠
NO 4NT more)
NO 5♦
NO 5♠
NO NO NO
Lose just the two aces
Get to your 53 fit with the 4th
suit forcing sequence.
356356
ADVANCED
TIP 357
In
a competitive auction with both sides bidding, if in doubt, bid
4♠ over their onto 4♥
ª
NOVICES
TIP 358
If
you are unable to get to dummy becasue you cannot see an entry there,
why not ruff something to get there.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 358
Assuming the opposition are playing weak No
Trump (12-14) Iif the declarer has opened 1NT and the opposition ends up
in 3NT EACH DEFENDER can work out what his partner has by adding his
points to dummy plus the 12 and take it from 40.
356356
ADVANCED
TIP 358
If
one person has already turned up with length in one suit then it
is reasonable to assume that the other defnder is likley to
tturn up with length in a different suit and play your suits
accordingly
so with
North
K 9 8 6
West
East
South
A 10 5 4
West has already shown
length in one suit so when playing this vital suit and expecting
a possible bad break (maybe 4:1) play East for length in this
suit and play the King first ready to finesse the 10 next.
ª
NOVICES
TIP 359
I know lots of people like 5 card Majors BUT if
you are playing 12-14 points No Trump and pc up 5332 hand with 5 horrid
spades open 1NT rather than 1♠ and
then you will not have rebid problems later in the auction so
Opening 3 of a suit or 2 of a Suit, apart from
being Pre-empts Bids they are LIMIT BIDS and as
with all Limit bids DO NOT BID AGAIN- partner now
makes all the decisions- (the only time you could bid
again is if partner makes a forcing bid maybe bidding in a new suit)
ADVANCED
TIP 359
In a No Trump contract
With
K86
opposite
1072
if Queen is led from West
DO NOT COVER trick 1 even if you suspect West has led from
AQJ because you will look very silly if the cards are laid
out like this
K 8 6
Q J 9 5 4
A 3
10 7 2
as East wins first trick
and now the defence has a stranglehold on "poor declarer" when
they finesse their remaining J9 through his 107 taking the first
5 tricks.
I watched a hand on OK
bridge where declarer, a so called expert, covered trick one and
fortunately for her East had a singleton Ace and she never got
found out
359359
NOVICES
TIP 360
If you cannot remember a
point count for a certain bid then try to make bids that sound like your
hand :-
so with
360
♠
A Q 9 6 5 2
♠
A K Q 8 7 6
♥
K J 4
♥
K Q 7
♦
K 5
♦
7 2
♣
7 4 2
♣
9 4
open 1♠
ready to rebid 2♠
open 1♠
but now ready to rebid 3♠
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 360
Partner makes a Take-out Double (informative
Double) and you have EIGHT or more points make sure you JUMP IN NEW SUIT
otherwise partner will think you have very little so when the
bidding goes :-
N
E S
W
1♣
DBL NO ?
360
♠
K Q 9 4
♠
Q 9 5 4
♥
7 2
♥
7 2
♦
A 8 5 4
♦
Q 8 5 4
♣
9 5 2
♣
9 5 2
here react by bidding 2♠
however here react by bidding just 1♠
ADVANCED
TIP 360
If you think that the
defenders should be attacking your trump suit and they don't
then expect that defender to hold a key card in the trump
suit - maybe a doubleton queen of trumps.
NOVICES
TIP 361
Apart
from 1NT being a limit Bid it is very PRE-EMPTIVE and sometimes stops
the opponents reaching their optimum contract.
So prefer to Open 1NT rather than 1♣ if the situation should arise
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 361
In any FORCING SITUATION if the
player between you and your
partner bids then you are OFF THE HOOK and can PASS. Therefore if
you still bid this is known as a free bid and you should only bid now
with GOOD VALUES
ADVANCED
TIP 361
Partner does
something really strange such as underlead his Ace or even his
AK to put you in, then FOLLOW PARTNER'S DEFENCE and come back
the suit he originally led and don't be surprised when he now
ruffs.
NOVICES
TIP 362
Playing Weak No Trump, with 4432 and 16 points
open 1♥ rather than 1♠
and then this gives you the best chance to find fit in either Major.
so with
ªª
♠
A K 9 2
♥
Q 9 5 4
♦
A K 4
♣
4 3
Open 1♥
here
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 362
If you have six card suit headed by AKQ then
this is 5/6 playing tricks - how do you work this out CLOSE YOUR EYES
and visualize the other seven card spread around the table amongst the
three payers and think 3:3:1 or 4:2:1 or even 5:1:1 then you take the
middle ground (here 4:2:1) and then you would expect to lose just one
trick so the hand is assessed as 5 playing tricks and if you had
another Ace in the hand somewhere you should be rebidding with a jump
despite only 13 points eg
ªª
♠
A 2
♥
A K Q 4 3 2
♦
7 4 3
♣
9 5
Open 1♥and plan to rebid 3♥
ª
ADVANCED
TIP 362
Person on left leads
♥2 against your 3NT
contract realize he has led from a four card suit and you need
to keep playing low to BLOCK THE DEFENCE
in this scenario
♠
♠
♥
-
♦
♣
♠
NORTH
♠
WEST
♥
K 5 4 2
♥
A J 10 9 7 EAST
♦
♦
♣
SOUTH
♣
♠
♥
Q 8 6 3
♦
♣
Declarer, South, must
keep playing low when Jack comes back at trick 2 to stop the
defenders getting 5 tricks
NOVICES
TIP 363
If you
cannot remember how many have gone in a suit then WORK BACKWARDS and try
to remember how many you started with in the suit you are contemplating
(usually trumps) so if you think you had five to start with and you
still have three in your hand then probably two rounds have gone ie 8
cards gone in the suit.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 363
If
the opposition joins in and you can no longer make your planned rebid
then you may say NO BID - you now your partner still has another bid
don't you?
ADVANCED
TIP 363
Only do Unusual No
Trump with 5:5 shape or better (not 5:4)
NOVICES
TIP 364
When dummy
comes down, surreptitiously reorder your cards in your hand so
that the suits line up so if trumps are on dummy's right then in your
hand the trump suit needs to be on your left, and so on - then its
much easier to think in STRAIGHT LINES when working out your winners and
losers
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 364
Holding the SAME SUIT AS THE OPPOSITION Just SAY NOTHING – don’t get
involved with conflict
ADVANCED
TIP 364
If from the bidding
you know you have a 4:4 fit and a 5:4 fit or even a 6:4 fit
available then its best to try and play in the 4:4 fit as you
will eventually get discards on the outside long suit. You will
get no discards at all, if you play in the 5:4 or 6:4 fit.
NOVICES
TIP 365
If Partner opens 1♠
and you reply 1NT and partner rebids 2♠
you must now SAY NO BID- you made the limit bid and now partner is IN
CHARGE- He is captain of the auction
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 365
If Partner opens 1♠
and you reply 1NT and partner rebids 2♠
you must now SAY NO BID- you made the limit bid and now partner is IN
CHARGE- He is captain of the auction
HOWEVER VERY RARELY if you have
a very weak hand and your own 6 or7 card suit you could now bid it at
three level and this is saying to partner I have heard and I was not
able to bid my suit when you opened 1♠ but I now want to play in my suit as it might
be safer with a hand like this :-
ªª
♠
2
now bid 3♦ over the 2♠
rebid
♥
5 4
and now hope partner is on same wavelength and does not
panic
♦
A Q 7 6 5 4 3
Unless played in Diamonds this hand might be worthless
♣
4 3 2
ª
ADVANCED
TIP 365
If the opposition joins in and you want to play in No Trump but
have no stopper, you bid overcaller’s suit and THIS ASKS for
STOPPER in that suit- -it is called a DAB- Directional Asking
Bid
NOVICES
TIP 366
If you have KQ5 in one hand and 432 in
the other, lead from the 432 side twice – lead up towards the honours in
following scenario
K Q 5
West A 8 7
J 10 9 6
4 3 2
South
lead from South teice and hope West has missing
ce
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 366
If you open the bidding with 19 points and your partner replies showing
6+ you can NOW MAKE A GAME FORCING REBID and the way to do that is JUMP
in BRAND NEW SUIT- Now you must both keep the auction open until Game is
reached
eg
West
East
1♥ 1♦
3♦
is now game forcing
ª
ADVANCED
TIP 366
The worst lead in Bridge is a from a
Doubleton Queen because more often than not it helps declarer-
Maybe declarer was going to finesse and not play for the drop!!
NOVICES
TIP 367
With Q65 opposite A92 play the 2
towards the Queen to try and get an extra trick.- Do not play the Queen
as the opponents will just cover the Queen with their King and you will
achieve nothing- that is technically known as a “Chinese Finesse”
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 367
Don't suffer from Singleton Syndrome is where you Panic when you have a
singleton in partner’s suit and partner has bid it twice – Don’t panic
and leave partner to it- if it fails dismally then its partner’s fault
and as we all know first rule of bridge BP- Blame Partner J
ª
ADVANCED
TIP 367
If partner has both Majors with you and
you are 5:4 in the Majors then make sure you GIVE PREFERENCE to
the FOUR card suit rather that the 5 card suit then you will be
able to draw trumps and then discard a loser on the outside
suit. If you play in the 5:4 fit you will not get a discard if
one should be needed.
NOVICES
TIP 368
When you Count winners you look at both hands together and you can only
count definite tricks- If you do not have the Ace of a suit then NO
WINNERS YET
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 368
Patience is the key to good defence especially when the points are 21-19
or 22-18 - Don't start playing Aces or lead away from Kings and Queens-
play passively and play second from bad suits or top of nothing from bad
suits.
ADVANCED
TIP 368
Once there has been intervention and
you are going to support partner then your, bids should now be
semi- preemptive so raising
1♠ to
2♠ should now show 4-5
points,
1♠
to 3♠ should be 6-9
points
and if you
have a good raise then adopt an Unassuming Cue bid which was
originally the overcaller's partner's dominion but can be used
in a similar way by responder's partner, ie you bid overcaller's
suit
e.g.
N
E S W
1♥
1♠
2♠
2♠
now shows good raise in Hearts
NOVICES
TIP 369
If
partner has not bid, then against No Trump, you lead top of sequence in
your longest suit but if you have no sequence then and only then do you
lead the 4th one down
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 369
Please please Pass
with Balanced 13 point hands 4333 when right hand opponents opens 1 of
anything- Do not double- you are completely shapeless and there is no
overcall available here.....
ADVANCED
TIP 369
If the bidding goes 1NT - 3♠
and you the opener now have a fit
(three card suit ) do remember to CUE BID any Ace you have
before going directly to 4♠
therefore if you go directly to 4♠
now you are denying any ace outside the agreed trump suit,
NOVICES
TIP 370
If
partner has not bid, then against No Trump, you lead top of sequence in
your longest suit but if you have no sequence then and only then do you
lead the 4th one down
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 370
Please please Pass
with Balanced 13 point hands 4333 when right hand opponents opens 1 of
anything- Do not double- you are completely shapeless and there is no
overcall available here.....
ADVANCED
TIP 370
If the bidding goes 1NT - 3♠
and you the opener now have a fit
(three card suit ) do remember to CUE BID any Ace you have
before going directly to 4♠
therefore if you go directly to 4♠
now you are denying any ace outside the agreed trump suit,
NOVICES
TIP 371
With Q opposite J1098 please persevere with
this suit because once you have forced out their AK you will establish
two tricks for yourself.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 371
Initially, you should downgrade QJ doubleton holding and singleton
King holding when opening the bidding, However if partner bids those
suits then the holdings become very valuable indeed
ADVANCED
TIP 371
With AJ10965 opposite K52 play the Jack from closed hand to
tempt a cover and if no cover go up with King and either play
for the drop on way back or finesse on way back if you think the
opponents are coverers of honours J
NOVICES
TIP 372
To
support an overcall you only need three card support since partner is
now promising 5 card suit for the overcall
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 372
If partner opens 1NT an you have weak hand and
6 clubs reply 2♣ and then repeat 3♣-
this is the way to do weak take-out in clubs. (NB Now you have six card
suit so its ok)
ADVANCED
TIP 372
If you are thinking about taking a sacrifice and are not sure if
they are making then DON'T
J
especially at the 5 level.
NOVICES
TIP 373
If you are not sure
what to bid, then try to make the least ambiguous bid possible, so
on the following hand
ª
K Q 5
if the first person opens with weak 2♦
, your correct bid should be Double
A K Q J 5 4 followed
by bidding Hearts but if you were not 100% sure then make
the
¨
9
unambiguous bid of 3♥
straight away and you will get your message across
§
10 5 4
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 373
I think you should only overall with 1NT with
16-18 and not on 15-17 as it can be dangerous (BUT I am a wimp). If you
are going to overcall on 15-17 then make sure you have some 10s or a
five card suit somewhere. Traditionally 1NT opener (strong) and 1NT
overcall was always on 16-18 and not the modern style of 15-17
J
ADVANCED
TIP 373
Partner
transfers into a suit you really like with transferred suit and
have maximum hand the WAKE UP and BREAK THE TRANSFER
so playing
weak no trump with
ªª
ª
A Q 5 4
having opened 1NT partner surprisingly replies 2♥
transfer to Spades
despite only having 7 points please
overcall 1♠ when they open 1♥
or 1♦ and then bow out- don’t you want
partner to lead a Spade?
Don't be a slave to points counts
J
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 375
Playing Weak No Trumps, with two four card
suits and 15-19 points it doesn’t matter which suit you open.- you will
be rebidding no Trumps next won’t you?. I prefer the Major.
ADVANCED
TIP 375
ªª
If partner transfers and
you have great 14 points and fit with the transfer suit then jump in
transfer suit- this is called BREAKING THE TRANSFER or in layman’s terms not
doing as you are told,
Please don’t pre-empt if your highest card in your seven card suit is
just the Jack- all your values should be in the seven card suit
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 376
If you want the
opponent to continue their lead and you hold Q72 in the closed
hand drop the 7 on the their lead of the Ace and muddy their waters. It
might lead the leader into thinking partner is encouraging in situations
like this
9 7 5
A K 8 3
J 10 4
Q 7 2
When East follows
with 4 West might think he is Petering from 4 2 and continue the suit
ADVANCED
TIP 376
You can rebid 2NT or 3NT once a Major suit fit has been found
if you are 4333 and give partner a chance to give preference to
No Trump or to the Major in situations
If
the person bids between you and your partner and you bid despite that
person this is known as a FREE BID and now you should not be bidding new
suits with minimum hands because you now partner still has another bid
ADVANCED
TIP 377
If the bidding
escalates to 3 level and the opponents are pre-empting you then
you MUST PROTECT and eithe rbid or Double in a situation like
this :-
N
E S
W
NO
NO 2♠
NO
3♠
?
East knows West has
values and is not bidding blind and should now protect with
Double with a hand like this :-
Nothing to worry about - if they have fit in spades you
certainly have a fit in one of the red suit
NOVICES
TIP 378
Be
aware of entries in each hand at trick one
tip377
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 378
Rather than a wishy washy sequence of 1♠
– 2♠ -3♠
(invitational) then 4♠ ( I accept),
USE Trial Bids so after 1♠ – 2♠
then new suit asks for help in that suit and if partner has the help he
bids 4♠ and if he hasn’t he retreats
to just 3♠
ADVANCED
TIP 378
To make a weak take-out into clubs
after 1NT opener you can either go through transfer sequence or
you can bid 2♣ (Stayman)
followed by 3♣ BUT only do a
weak-take-out with six card suit as you now have to make 9
tricks when you could have left partner to make 7 in 1NT
NOVICES
TIP 379
Partner opens 1 of a Minor and you have totally
balanced 4333 hand with a 4 card Major reply 1 of the Major rather than
1Nt- this is known as NOT DENYING a FOUR CARD MAJOR
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 370
If
there is ANY interference over 1NT and you were about to make a transfer
bid DON’T – play all SYSTEMS OFF now and play all bids as natural and
then there will be no bidding misunderstandings
ADVANCED
TIP 379
Are you disciplined enough to pass with 18 points in 4th
seat when you have heard the bidding go 1H No 1S ? you can
hear the opposition bidding showing around at least 19 points so
partner has nothing – let then get on with it
NOVICES
TIP 380
If you have a DOUBLETON ACE its ok to lead
against a suit contract if you are looking for a ruff.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 380
2♣ is ONLY STAYMAN if you reply to 1NT – all
the rest of the time its going to be natural (except for an Opening bid
of 2♣).
ADVANCED
TIP 380
Looking for
the Ace and Queen at trick 1 in a suit contract in a
situation like this
K 6
?? 3 is led WEST
EAST ???
J 4
since people do not lead away from Aces
play West for the missing Queen and play low from dummy
If East has then both then there is
nothing you can do about it
NOVICES
TIP 381
To
make a pre-emptive overcall you need to make a DOUBLE Jump so over 1♥
then 3♠and 4♣ and 4♦ would all be
pre-emptive overcalls
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 381
If
partner opens 2NT, more often than not, it is correct to raise to 3NT
especially with long minor- who wants to play 5♣
or 5♦?
ADVANCED
TIP 381
Playing weak No Trump, I recommend that you play 2NT rebid
showing 15-19 once partner has gone 2♣
in answer to your 1♠ or 1♥
opener and that a Jump to 3NT is just a source of tricks from a
long solid Minor and you think you can make 9 tricks
At TRICK 1 Be aware of ENTRIES to both hands after the lead
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 382
When opener has 19 points
then after the opening bid she can JUMP in NEW SUIT and then this is
Game Forcing situation and nobody in that partnership can pass
until game is reached.
ADVANCED
TIP 382
When following
suit with a small card at trick 1, from your own concealed hand
declarer should never play a true card so that the defenders
signal will get muddled.
eg the
opponents lead an Ace which will obviously lose and you declarer
hold 752 in the suit in the closed hand, drop the 5 at trick 1.
ª
NOVICES
TIP 383
Playing weak No Trump, please remember to
open 1NT with
3NT would be one off on a Heart lead and 4♠
is so safe
NOVICES
TIP 384
After
drawing trumps, attempt to count a second suit and be surprised when the
second suit gets established.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 384
Overcalling at two level in lower ranking
suit is completely different from overcalling at 1 level where you can
bid with very weak hands as long as you have a good quality suit whereas
at the two level, not only do you need a good quality suit but also some
reasonable values (11/12+)- Every time you overcall 2♣
or 2¨,
remember you are saying "I INTEND TO MAKE 8 TRICKS" and if you think
about this more often you might be less likely to join in with rubbishy
hands.
ADVANCED
TIP 384
In a competive3 auction DO NOT
BID 4♣ or 4♦ and
suddenly push them into a making Game that the opposition were
not going to bid UNLESS you intend doubling their 4♠
or 4♥
contract
NOVICES
TIP 385
Sometimes a Hand can become open book where you know where all the
points are. You are declarer with 13 points, dummy has 10 points and one
of the opposition opened 1NT (2-14) points so you can calculate last
person has 1 or 2 points at the most.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 385
If your partner overcalls 1NT then if
you, the advancer, reply 2♠, 2♥H
or 2♦
these are weak take-outs, the same as if partner had opened 1NT and now
the overcaller must not bid on at all.
ADVANCED
TIP 385
Make sure you and your partner
discuss what action to take after they open 4♠
Is Double Penalty and 4NT Take -out? which is the
recommended course of action, whereas over 4♥
the action might be different where Double should be take-out.
NOVICES
TIP 386
With 15
points and six card suit prefer to rebid 3♥ than just 2♥-
ideally rebid 2 and half hearts J Make bids that
reflect your hand's strength rather than just rebid 2♥
on all hands from 11 up to 18 honour points.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 386
Don’t be in hurry to reply 2NT after partner opens- there is always
something better and 2NT is stifling and commits the partnership to the
3 level- if in doubt over 1♠
reply with a three card Minor.
ADVANCED
TIP 386
With a totally balanced 13/14 point hand and 4 card support for
the MAJOR you can either bid new suit then jump to 4♥
or 4♠ or do a 3NT BARON
RESPONSE which shows precisely 4333 13-15 points with 4 card
support for the major or a 2NT Jacoby response
NOVICES
TIP 387
If there is a
shortage in EACH HAND (dummy and declarer’s) and a common trump suit
then this is usually indicator to not draw trumps too early
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 387
The reason you count winners is to see how many extra tricks you have to
find- if you have 7 winners in a 4♠
contract you might play the hand differently to a hand where you have 9
winners and only need one more
ADVANCED
TIP 387
In any
Game Forcing situation where you go directly to Game and do nit
bid anything on the way then you should not have a control in
the suits you by pass- you should always endeavour to make NO
COST CUEBIDS.
NOVICES
TIP 388
AQ opposite 53 THINK FINESSE and play the 5 and try the Queen (50%
chance is better than no chance)
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 388
You are defending and you are not sure what to keep and what to throw
then look at dummy and keep the same long suit you can see in dummy-
this is known as keeping length with dummy- see hand 3 where North must
keep Clubs
ADVANCED
TIP 388
Are you disciplined enough to pass with 18 points in 4th
seat when you have heard the bidding go 1H No 1S ?
you can hear the opposition bidding showing around at least 19
points so partner has nothing – let them get on with it
NOVICES
TIP 389
Lead the unbid suit and be especially pleased when partner turns up with
both the Ace and king
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 389
If there is ANY interference over 1NT and you were about to make a
transfer bid DON’T – play all SYSTEMS OFF now and play all bids as
natural and then there will be no bidding misunderstandings
ADVANCED
TIP 389
Playing weak No Trump Opening bids (12-14), I recommend that you
play 2NT rebid wide ranging showing 15-19 once partner has gone
2♣
in answer to your 1♠
or 1♥ opener, with possible slam
interests and that 3NT should then be totally balanced 15 maybe
16 points with no slam interest
NOVICES
TIP 390
Once partner has overcalled you can support with three as partner is now
promising a five card suit or better
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 390
If the
opponent opens 3♥
or 4♥
then if you double this, it is Informative Double and asks partner to
bid best suit, same as if he opened 1♥
ADVANCED
TIP 390
To open 1NT you need 12-14 points balanced 4333, 4432, and 5332
but occasionally with semi-balanced hands of 2254 shape with
doubleton Honour in both majors or even 2263 again with
doubleton Honour in both Majors you might open 1NT as a possible
pre-emptive bid cutting the opposition out from finding their
possible Major fit.- if you aren’t sure about this then DON’T DO
IT
NOVICES
TIP 391
If you have two cards in both partner’s suits then put partner back to
the first suit as that is likely to be five and the second suit might
only be four
When you defend against a No Trump contract and partner leads 4th
highest, and you have five card suit, make sure you keep a high card to
take the fourth trick so you can cash the 13th card in the
suit- basically you are performing high card from short hand rule
between the two defenders
ADVANCED
TIP 391
In the
overcalling seat
keep quiet with balanced 14 points if they have already opened
1NT or 1 of a suit
NOVICES
TIP 392
Please count both winners and losers on all hands to see if you need to
establish extra winners or you need to dump or ruff losers
Be
aware of Culbertson's Law of Distribution :-Play for like
distributions so if your dummy and hand have singletons and
voids expect the opponents to have similar shape and if
necessary take finesses and don't play for the suit to break 2:2
NOVICES
TIP 393
I recommend that you open 1NT with all 5332 hands even with 5 card Major
and then you will not have rebid problems later
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 393
With AKQ654 opposite 32 needing only 5 tricks from this suit duck a
round retaining he AKQ as entries in case the suit breaks 4:1
ADVANCED
TIP 393
If you have long Minor and 10/11
points and partner opens 1NT (12-14) then improvise and either
go whole hog to 3NT or invite 2NT as it makes more often than it
doesn't.
NOVICES
TIP 394
Once partner has overcalled you can support with three as partner is now
promising a five card suit or better
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 394
Top of
sequence overrides 4th highest lead in No Trump in your
Longest suit so with KQJ95 make sure you lead the king and not the 9 -
you don't want declarer winning first trick with his 10 do you?
ADVANCED
TIP 394
Partner replies 1♠ overthe 1♦ intervention after you opened 1♣
there is now no point in bidding Hearts now because partner has
denied Hearts BECAUSE he did not use Negative double over the
intervention. Had he got 5 spades and 4 Hearts he should have
started with a Double
NOVICES
TIP 395
If you have totally balanced (4-3-3-3)13 points with 4 Hearts you cannot
reply 2♥ after partner opens 1♠
as that shows 5 card suit so just go straight to 3NT showing 13-15
points balanced.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 395
If there is
ANY interference over 1NT and you were about to make a transfer bid
DON’T – play all SYSTEMS OFF now and play all bids as natural and then
there will be no bidding misunderstandings.
ADVANCED
TIP 395
Don't FORGET NEGATIVE DOUBLES -
if the bidding goes
♠
K Q 7 6
♥
6
♦
5 4
♣
A K 10 7 6 5
W
N
E
S
1♦
1♥
?
Remember
to say DOUBLE and not 2♣
If you bid2♣
you are denying a four card spade suit
NOVICES
TIP 396
Once partner bids a suit you like, your hand goes up in value so bid
accordingly and don't be shy in bidding on
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 396
Please don’t on overcall with a six or even seven card suit head by the
Jack- its not good bridge- you want all your values in the long suit
ADVANCED
TIP 396
To overcall 1NT you need 16-18
points balanced with stopper in opponents’ suit BUT IF you do it
on 15 then make sure you have some Tens to upgrade the hand.
NOVICES
TIP 397
When you lead an Ace from your AK suit do not be in hurry to
automatically play the King at trick two, especially if you see the
Queen on the table and there is the possibility that declarer might ruff
your King.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 397
Short of an entry to the long hand with QJ5 opposite A8653 play the
Queen and if King appears from West Duck it in this situation
A 8 6 5 3
K 9 2 10 7
Q J 5
ADVANCED
TIP 397
After the bidding goes
N
E S
1♥
DBL 2NT
The 2NT "response"
after the Double now shows 10-12 points with 4 card support
invented by Alan Truscott commonly called the Truscott 2NT
reply- the Americans call it Jordan
(NB If you had wanted to
make a 2NT reply showing 11/12 points then REDOUBLE to show
Balance of Power)
NOVICES
TIP 398
Don’t forget the dustbin bid of 1NT when replying and you are unable to
respond in a lower ranking suit at the 2 level. Sometimes you wuill have
to reply 1NT even when you are not as balanced as you might like to be
In
ALL SITUATIONS, with two five timers BID the higher suit
so when
opening the bidding, open the higher suit,
when replying,
reply in the higher suit, and
when
overcalling, overcall in the higher suit (HIGH FIVES)
ADVANCED
TIP 398
Partner initially
Passes and then comes back into the auction and PROTECTS- Do not
now go overboard and bid on recklessly- Partner was bidding on
the fact that he knew you had values- DON'T PUNISH PARTNER FOR
BIDDING
To open 1NT you need 12-14 points balanced 4333, 4432, and 5332 but
occasionally with semi-balanced hands of 2254 shape with doubleton
Honour in both majors or even 2263 again with doubleton Honour in both
Majors you might open 1NT as a possible pre-emptive bid cutting the
opposition out from finding their possible Major fit
ADVANCED
TIP 399
With 11 points and five card suit don’t open the bidding - lots
of "advanced" players do it because they think they are being
clever DON'T
NOVICES
TIP 400
If your
partner overcalls 1NT then if you, the partner of the overcaller, reply
3♠, 3♥
3♦
and 3♣ these are strong Game Forcing
replies, the same as if partner had opened 1NT
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 400
Are you disciplined enough to pass with 18 points in 4th seat
when you have heard the bidding go 1♥
No 1♠ ? you can hear the
opposition bidding showing around at least 19 points between them so
partner has nothing – let them get on with it
ADVANCED
TIP 400
If you
are playing both Splinters and Jacoby 2NT then limit your
Splinter bid to just 10-12 points and your Jacoby bid for
stronger hands.
NOVICES
TIP 401
Whenever you have minor suit strength steer the contract towards 3NT- so
much easier to make 9 tricks than 11
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 401
Top of sequence overrides 4th highest lead in No Trump in
your Longest suit so with KQJ95 make sure you lead the king and not the
9- don’t be a cheap jack!!
ADVANCED
TIP 401
Come alive with 65 shape. If you are in overcall seat and you
have very few points but 65 shape don’t be afraid to compete
NOVICES
TIP 402
When
you reply in a new lower ranking suit you are only showing 4 card suit.
The only time you show 5 is when the bidding goes 1♠
– 2♥ otherwise you are only promising 4
card suits eg 1♠ - 2♣
reply shows 4 or more Clubs and likewise 1♠
- 2♦
reply shows 4 or more Diamonds.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 402
If you have
totally balanced 13 points with 4 Hearts, you cannot reply 2♥
after partner opens 1♠, as that should
show a 5 card suit, so either temporise with 2♣
or 2♦
or just go straight to 3NT
ADVANCED
TIP 402
Opening
1NT with 5422 is all well and good BUT do have honours in both
the Doubletons KX or better in both of them.
NOVICES
TIP 403
When you
reply in a new suit you re only showing FOUR card suit. The only time
you are showing a five card suit is when the bidding goes 1♠
– 2♥ otherwise you are only promising
FOUR card suit.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 403
With 11
points and seven card suit and good outside values DO NOT PRE-EMPT- just
open 1 of a Suit
ADVANCED
TIP 403
Please
do not abuse Michaels Cue Bids and the Unusual No Trump. There is
nothing clever in using these conventions with only 4 card
suits- you MUST BE 5-5 or better distribution
NOVICES
TIP 404
Make bids that reflect your hand so if
you have six card suit and 17 points make sure you JUMP in your suit.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 404
Sometimes, when trumps break badly then you have to get your second suit
going first and displace the Ace from the opponents’ hand otherwise if
you draw too many trumps you will lose control of the trumps suit when
they get in. By doing thisn you still leave trumps in both hands.
ADVANCED
TIP 404
Do not
overcall at the 2 level with 5 card suit headed by just the Ace-
its ill advised and REAL EXPERTS don't do that
NOVICES
TIP 405
On most hands you
must draw trumps so you do not lose the existing winners and potential
winners in your other suits0- this is the case on the majority of hands.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 405
Partner
offers you choice between 3NT and 4 of Major then go 4 of Major with
three card support in an auction such as
1NT
- 3♠
now opener
either bids 4♠
or back to 3NT
ADVANCED
TIP 405
After
any intervention all raises of suit should not be weak and
pre-emptive so
1♣
DBL 2♣
can be made on as few as 3-5 points and
1♣
DBL 3♣
can now be made on 6-9
NOVICES
TIP 406
If partner reverses (bids beyond barrier bid) and you have a good 8+
points then you can go directly to 3NT if you want to do so- bidding 2NT
would now be very minimum
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 406
With 10932 opposite AQJ87 play that 10 and finesse twice
and by playing the Ten you are in correct hand to repeat the finesse
without wasting any entries.
ADVANCED
TIP 406
With AJ1076 in closed hand opposite K32 in dummy,not knowing which way to take the two way finesse play the Jack
from the closed hand and you will be surprised how many players
with the Queen will cover (even when they should not do so) and
if they don't cover then go up with the king and finesse the
other player on the way back.
After 1NT overcall replies of 2♠ or 2♥
or 2♦
by 4th player (overcaller's partner) are all weak the same way that they
would be if partner had opened 1NT
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 407
Playing weak NO Trump, I
recommend that you play 2NT rebid showing 15-19 once partner has gone 2♣
in answer to your 1♠ or 1♥
opener giving responder a chance to now bid out his shape after your 2NT
rebid.
ADVANCED
TIP 407
Please do no
hesitate when you have nothing to hesitate for - its cheating -
there is nothing clever in it at all.
If you play against
a hesitator and you are looking for a Queen or Jack then for
sure the other player will have this card. Now the hesitation
works against him- if he hesitates he hasn't got the honour in
question !!!
NOVICES
TIP 408
If your
partner overcalls 1NT then if you reply 3♠,
3♥ 3♦
and 3♣ these are strong Game Forcing
replies, the same as if partner had opened 1NT
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 408
You are defending and you are not sure what to keep and what to throw
then look at dummy and keep the same long suit you can see in dummy-
this is known as keeping length with dummy.
ADVANCED
TIP 408
If
somebody opened the bidding and you, the opponent end up as
declarer, many times the hand becomes OPEN BOOK as you know
where everything is from the opener having to have at least 13
points for his opening bid.
NOVICES
TIP 409
Sometimes you have to dump losers or trump losers or even a combination
of both before drawing trumps especially if you do not have the trump
Ace.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 409
Often there is no perfect bid for every hand and you may have to
improvise- maybe you should just go and try and bid Game.
ADVANCED
TIP 409
Once
you push the opponents up,do not double their part score at the
4 level for 100 instead of 50 - they might make the contract-
don't be greedy
NOVICES
TIP 410
If you make a load of
tricks at the beginning and then run out of steam then you have probably
played the hand incorrectly as you have not built tricks early enough
J
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 410
If the
opponent opens 3♥ or 4♥
then if you double this is Informative Double and asks partner to bid
best suit, same as if he opened 1♥.
ADVANCED
TIP 410
Not
sure where to go next in a non competitive auction with a good
hand then DEPLOY 4th SUIT FORCING your trusted friend and then
you will get to find out more about partner's shape.
NOVICES
TIP 411
If a low card is led at trick 1 and you
win the first trick with the Ten then you know that the person who led
has led, has led from the Queen in a situation like this
AJ8
Q543
96
K1072
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 411
Please evaluate the potential of hands with KQJXX as opposed to
King one suit queen in another and Jack in another
♠ K 5 4 3
♠ K Q J 8 7
♥ Q 6 5
or
♥ 9 8 7
¨J
4 3
¨
4 3
♣ 9 8 5 4
♣ 4 3 2
Both hands worth 6 points BUT if partner
invited you to 3N,T although you only have six points in each hand the
second hand is so much better and you should certainly upgrade this
holding and possibly accept the invitation
ADVANCED
TIP 411
When
following suit with only low cards in declarer's hand, declarer
should not play a true card- so with 962 follow suit with
the 6 and mess up the opponents' signals.
NOVICES
TIP 412
Please don’t overcall on Jack high suits
as you really do not want the suit led do you?
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 412
With AKJ9
opposite 10832 if you are going to take a finesse CASH THE
ACE first then go over to ther other hand ready to finesse- Maybe a
singleton Queen is floating about and no need for a finesse at all
in situations
like this :-
10 8 3 2
Q 7 6 5 4
A K J 9
ADVANCED
TIP 412
Often
there is no perfect bid for every hand and you may have to
improvise and if in doubt,a very good maxim is, "If you think
you can make 3NT or 4♠ just go for it and bid it...."
NOVICES
TIP 413
When you overcall you can have anything
from 8/9 points up to about 15/16 – very wide ranging.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 413
(I THINK) To overcall 1NT one needs 16-18 points balanced with
stopper in opponents’ suit BUT IF you do it on 15 then make sure you
have some Tens or a five card suit to upgrade the hand
ADVANCED
TIP 413
Playing
in 5:2 spade fit most of the time is better than leaving partner
in 1NT
NOVICES
TIP 414
If you make a load of
tricks at the beginning and then run out of steam then you have probably
played the hand incorrectly as you have not built tricks early enough
J
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 414
If the
opponent opens 3♥
or 4♥
then if you double this sis Informative Double and asks partner to bid
best suit, same as if he opened 1♥
ADVANCED
TIP 414
If
you Double their weak One No Trump opener you
promise 15+ points and it is for BLOOD- partners are expected to
leave them in 99% of the time.
NOVICES
TIP 415
You can dump losers or trump losers or even a combination of both.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 415
Who wants to play in 5♣? Nobody!!
Steer contracts towards 3NT when you have Minor suit fits.
ADVANCED
TIP 415
Adopt
2NT Jordan (or in UK Truscott) response when the bidding goes 1♥
DOUBLE now 2NT by responder should show good raise
in Hearts(10-12) and all other raises of 2♥
or 3♥ should then be weak
NOVICES
TIP 416
When dummy comes down, line your cards up
with dummy’s cards (red black) so you can count your tricks in straight
lines.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 416
If partner Bids beyond her barrier bid (ie reverses showing 15+ points)
you can now go to 3NT on your own with 9 points or more 2NT would now be
absolutely minimum and weak
ADVANCED
TIP 416
Playing
Match Point Pairs If
you think that 3NT will be made by everybody else in the room
and you are in 5♦
at the moment take a chance and bid 6♦
NOVICES
TIP 417
Please evaluate hands with KQJXX as opposed to King one suit queen in
another and Jack in another and be aware that the first holding is
potentially 4 tricks - upgrade these holdings- eferybody loves an
upgrade don't they? J
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 417
In 4th seat when the
bidding has gone N E S
W
1♥ NO NO
?
The bid of 1NT now
shows 10-14 points in this protective position.
ADVANCED
TIP 417
Playing weak No Trump I recommend that you play 2NT rebid wide
range showing 15-19 once partner has gone 2♣
in answer to your 1♠ or 1♥
opener and that a direct rebid of 3NT is balanced 15/16 - 4-3-3-3
distribution with no interest in possible slam
NOVICES
TIP 418
1NT overcall is 16-18 so when you the partner have 9/10+ points
you can go straight to 3NT as the partnership total is at least 25 and
is enough
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 418
If partner reverses (bids beyond barrier bid) and you have a good 8+
points then you can go directly to 3NT.
Bidding
2NT would be an absolute minimum hand
ADVANCED
TIP 418
With 4333 hands with 4 card Major don’t bother with Stayman when
partner opens 1NT or 2NT- you are far too balanced
NOVICES
TIP 419
If your partner overcalls
1NT then if you reply 3♠, 3♥
3♦
and 3♣ these are strong Game Forcing
replies, the same as if partner had opened 1NT
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 419
With KQ10 opposite 54 lead
up to the King Queen TWICE
ADVANCED
TIP 419
Declarer
leads
up to dummy's KQ10 in dummy and you hold A54 over dummy
hold up the first round and then declarer is likely to finesse
again and you can now Ace the Queen promoting partner's possible
Jack in situations like this :-
K Q 10
J 3 2
A 5 4
9 8 7 6
NOVICES
TIP 420
So as not to get blocked do remember that
playing the high Card from the short hand also applies when you do not
have the top cars so with
K 8
opposite Q J 9 5 4 you must play that King first
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 420
Playing against weak NO
Trump opponents' To DOUBLE
their opening bid of 1NT you NEED 15 OR MORE POINTS.
You always need one more than top
of their range so if they play 15-17 you would therefore need 18 or
more.
ADVANCED
TIP 420
After the opposition
makes an informative Doubvle against you if you REDOUBLE all you
are saying is you have BALANCE OF POWER 8/9+ points and really
no Fit with partner's suit.
NOVICES
TIP 421
Sometimes you
need to establish second suit- knock out their Ace- before drawing all
the trumps- by doing this you keep trumps in both hands and less chance
of losing control of the actual trump suit itself.
Playing 4 card suit
system (such as Acol) with two four card suits it doesn’t matter
which one you open as you will be rebidding No Trumps next BUT I
recommend to open the Major.
NOVICES
TIP 422
With KQ10 opposite 54 lead
up to the King Queen TWICE
get into the 54 side twice
to finesse up to the honours you are trying to promote (in this case the
King and Queen
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 422
Double of 1NT
shows 1 more point than the opponents’ Maximum so if you play against
15-17 opponents now you promise 18 or more and so on
ADVANCED
TIP 422
With KQ10 in dummy
if declarer leads up to the King Queen and you are defending
in 4th seat and you have the Ace do not play it
immediately as declarer is likely to assume second person has
the Ace and will finesse again in situations like this
KQ10
J54 A832
976
If you hold up
declarer is certain to finesse again and you will pounce with
your Ace and thereby promoting partner's Jack. if you Ace
straight away declarer is bound to try the finesse of partner's
Jack for 2 tricks and succeed.
NOVICES
TIP 423
Don’t forget
to make dustbin bid of 1NT if you are not strong enough to reply in your
lower ranking suit at the two level
reply 1NT here when partner opens 1ª
despite holding a singleton Spade and not being balanced
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 423
Only when
there is a FIT one should ADD EXTRA POINTS for SHORTAGES
ADVANCED
TIP 423
Its not a good idea to overcall 2¨
with AKXXX and about 11 points - -if you are going to do it with
5 card suit have three honours – joining in with 2¨
means contracting for 8 tricks – do you really want to do that
with a hand
like
If partner pre-empts and
you have singleton in partner’s suit do not panic JUST PASS.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 424
With 109762
opposite 8543 you need to knock out their top cards straight away to
build 2/3 tricks even though you don't have the A K Q or Jack
ADVANCED
TIP 424
Responder is not sure what to bid next then use the 4TH
SUIT FORCING BID to ask partner to bid his shape out.
NOVICES
TIP 425
ªª
When you have same suit as the opponents best to not get involved and
you should just PASS
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 425
Theory of Final Destination works like this- if your basic sequence of 1¨
– 3¨
is 10-12 but you go around the houses and end up in 3¨
after responder’s second bid it still shows 10-12, similarly if you
reply 2NT to 1NT opener it shows 11-12 (invitational) but you now go
around the houses with a Stayman reply or transfer reply but
subsequently rebid 2NT (as responder) it still shows 11-12 invitational.
ADVANCED
TIP 425
If your partner, the responder,
freely bids after the intervention he will have a five card suit
because he didn’t Negative Double when he could have done so.
NOVICES
TIP 426
ªª
With great source of tricks in the Minors-
go for 3NT please J-
trying to avoid 5¨and 5§
if at all possible
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 426
Be aware of hands and hand
evaluation. A balanced 14 HCPS (4-3-3-3)has little future to an 11 HCP
hand with two five card suits which has loads of future. View hand
distributions and don't be hooked on points only.
ADVANCED
TIP 426
Needing 1 trick from 54 opposite
KJ2 not knowing to finesse the King ro the Jack, play on other
suits first and then see what they throw- they are more likely
to throw from this key suit holding the Ace and hold on for dear
life with the Queen- see. The Discard tells the story by Terence
Reese
http://www.haroldschogger.com/Reese3.htm
NOVICES
TIP 427
ªª
Partner leads Queen (top of sequence) and you in 3rd seat have the
Ace
3rd
hand plays high (that Ace) and must not let declarer make a singleton
King from the closed hand
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 427
Faced with a two way
finesse looking for the Queen in a situation like this
K J 7 6 5
opposite
A 10 4 3 2
Use the bidding to help you decide and if
somebody has bid strongly (perhaps from distribution) maybe they will
have void in this suit.
(NB Once you have decided who is
more likely to have the missing Queen then cash a High honour first
ready to finesse next time just in case the suit was breaking 2-1 all
along)
ADVANCED
TIP 427
Remember that if you have the other two suits after 1♦
opener, followed by a 1
♥overcall
and you are replying then USE a NEGATIVE DOUBLE- a negative
double is UNLIMITED POINTS 6+
NOVICES
TIP 428
Against their
weak No Trump (12-14) remember
to Double their 1NT opening bid with ANY 15 POINT Hand
ªª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 428
When you rebid 1NT or 2NT or 3NT with the structure 15/16 or 17/18
or 19/20 it is based on partner turning up with 6. Do not rebid 1NT with
just 15 points opposite a passed partner who may have nothing at all.
Now the 1NT rebid shows 18/19 Balanced as you are on your own so to
speak.
ADVANCED
TIP 428
In the overcall position please PASS with BALANCED 13/14 POINT
HANDS- there is no valid overcall with these hands
NOVICES
TIP 429
Please do not lead from an
AKXX suit a low card against a suit contract - it is manic to do so
ªª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 429
Once
your partner says Double of One of a suit you are compelled to REACT
which means most of the time you bid your best suit at the loest
possible level with up to 7 points.
ADVANCED
TIP 429
Once
your partner says Double of One of a suit you are compelled to
REACT and there
should be a good reaction when you have 8 or more points and you
should JUMP in your best suit - partner will not think you
have loads of points because 26 points or so have already been
accounted for from the opening bid and the double, the first two
bids of the auction.
NOVICES
TIP 430
If
responder bids 1NT FOLLOWED BY NEW SUIT at two level this IS WEAK & LONG
and opener is now expected to say NO BID as responder has rejected
partner's Suit(s). Responder must have at least SIX CARD Suit to now
make this bid.
Players are careless so
when discarding and declarer is drawing trumps discard a card of the
same colour and maybe declarer will not noitce and miscount the drawing
of trumps
ADVANCED
TIP 430
Partner suddenly Doubles the final contract out of the blue-
This is Lightner Double asking for an unusual lead, usually
dummy's first bid suit. Maybe partner could ruff the opening led
or maybe partner has AQ of that suit sitting over dummy- It
usually occurs against a Slam (see hand of the week this week
for more information J)
NOVICES
TIP 431
ª
After
2NT, 3
♣ reply should be STAYMAN
and if you have 9 points and five card club suit just reply 3NT straight
away.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 431
Use the
bidding to work out who has all the remaining points- did somebody make
an opening bid?
ADVANCED
TIP 431
Please be aware that there are only 14 points after the
bidding has gone
N E
S W
1
♠
DBL NO ?
so any bid made by West has to convey either
weakness by bidding suit at lowest possible level or maybe
jumping in new suit with 8+ points.
NOVICES
TIP 432
ª
Do remember to
reply 2
♠after 1NT
opener from Partner with five card suit and 2 points, otherwise your hand is
worthless unless you play in the spade suit as trumps
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 432
If
responder bids 1NT FOLLOWED BY NEW SUIT at two level this IS WEAK & LONG
and opener is now expected to say NO BID
is what you now bid with the
hand above and partner had better Pass.
ª
ADVANCED
TIP 432
I come across a lot of "so called
expert/advanced players" who this it is correct with any 13/14
point hand they have to Overcall - IT ISN'T
With a Balanced 13 points (4-3-3-4) if
they beat you to it with an opening bid of any description
YOU MUST PASS in the OVERCALL SEAT
NOVICES
TIP 433
ª
Against No trumps you lead from your longest suit , not tops of doubletons
or singletons - you only do that when you are leading against a suit
contract
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 433
Remember that if you have the other two suits after 1
To
make an overcall in a suit contract shows 8/9 up to 14 points
after the 1NT opener. If you do it with only 8/9 then you better
have a good quality 6 card suit
NOVICES
TIP 434
ª
Partner replies 2
♠to your 1NT
opener, you say NO BID in an instant - save all your thinking for a
different hand
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 434
The
main strength of Acol or any other natural bidding system is the LIMIT BIDDING
STRUCTURE so if partner replies 3
♠
to your 1
♠opener and
you have no extra values JUST PASS_ This reply is only invitational. BE
DISCIPLINED
ADVANCED TIP 434
There is nothing clever in Opening the bidding with 4432 hands
and only 11 points DON'T DO IT - its just too clever
NOVICES
TIP 435
Against the Weak No Trump Please remember to Double their
1NT opening bid with ANY 15 POINT especially with 5 and 6 card suits
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 435
Partner pre-empts and you have your own suit and void in partner’s
JUST PASS and hope it makes- don't suffer from singleton syndrome
J
ADVANCED TIP 435
If, in 4th seat you
double their transfer or their weakness take-out it bids says “I would have
doubled their opening bid of 1NT- I have 15+ points"
eg
N
E S
W
1NT NO
2
♣ DOUBLE this now say I have 15 or
more points against the weak no Trump opponent
NOVICES
TIP 436
When
YOU DEFEND SECOND HAND PLAYS LOW- no need to play a high card as partner is
finishing the trick off. The second hand low rule and third hand high rules
ONLY APPLY to the TWO DEFENDERS
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 436
To make an
overcall in a suit contract shows 8/9 up to 14 points after the 1NT
opener. If you do it with only 8/9 then you better have a good
quality 6 card suit please
ADVANCED TIP 436
In 4th seat the protective seat or Pass-out saet1NT shows
10-14 points, balanced. If you have more start with Double and then bid
No Trumps next.
NOVICES
TIP 437
If
there is an intervening bid and you reply 1NT you will have GOOD VALUES in
intervener’s suit
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 437
You can play Stayman and transfers if partner overcalls 1NT but only
if you have fully discussed it with partner first
ADVANCED TIP 437
Against Weak No trump opponents if you double their transfer bid or
their Stayman bid then it says "I would have doubled their original 1NT
opening bid- I have 15+ points.
NOVICES
TIP 438
COUNT YOUR WINNERS when
dummy comes down- and line your suits up parallel with dummy as its easier
to count them (so in your hand the trump suit will now be on your left
J)
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 438
As a
Defender, never be intimidated by a lone Ace in dummy - Play that
suit especially if you are trying to establish that suit for the
defence
ADVANCED TIP 438
If partner initially
passes, and then comes back into he auction with weak Jump overcall in a
Major, then they probably have 6 in that major and 4 cards in the other
Major and didn't want to open a weak two in the first place.
NOVICES
TIP 439
To do
a WEAK JUMP OVERCALL you need 6 card suit and 6-10 points. Better to play
weak Jump overcalls rather than Strong Jump overcalls as they come up much
more often
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 439
Do not hold up if there is a danger that the opponents will switch
to another more awkward suit
ADVANCED TIP 439
The opponents end up in 3NT after a 3NT opening bid, LEAD AN ACE (if you
have one), and see where dummy’s weakness is, and then you can switch to
that suit and take the contract off
NOVICES
TIP 440
If you are about to
lead a Heart against a No Trump contract and that suit has been bid by the
opposition THINK AGAIN and lead an unbid suit
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 440
Partner opens 1NT and you want to do weak takeout into Minor you NOW
NEED SIX as you will now have to make 9 tricks instead of seven as
you can leave partner in 1NT with just five. Let him struggle to
make 7 tricks instead of 9
ADVANCED TIP 440
Playing Match
Point Pairs, if you think 5
♣ is going to be
lousy score because all will be in 3NT then bid 6♣
or 6♦any way and gamble on
a top that way
NOVICES
TIP 441
Once your partner,
when overcalling, says Double of One of a suit you are compelled to REACT
which means most of the time you bid your best suit at the lowest possible
level showing 0-7 points only
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 441
Use the
bidding to work out who has all the remaining points- did somebody
make an opening bid?
ADVANCED TIP 441
On the whole,
even suits out against you break badly and odd suits break well
so with 5 out expect 3-2 break but with 4 out expect 3-1 rather than the
more favoured 2-2
NOVICES
TIP 442
Sometimes you need to have a DUMP (of losers) before Drawing trumps. This
is particularly applicable if you do not have control of trumps
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 442
If you repeat a suit most of the time you will be showing SIX- the
exception would be when you are minimum and cannot show your second
suit as that would be a reverse and you would be bidding beyond your
barrier bid with a minimum hand.
ADVANCED TIP 442
You open and partner passes REMEMBER to REOPEN AUCTIONS with DOUBLE
- maybe partner is lurking wanted to make a penalty double in the first
place and was unable to do so.
NOVICES
TIP 443
If you
bid 2 suits then most of the time your first suit will be FIVE- the
exception and it is rare would be the 4441 hands.
This is very important as
far as partner is concerned as now partner can support your first suit with
three knowing a 5-3 fit exists, especially if partner had opened 1
♥
or 1♠
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 443
You can lunge into Blackwood straight away once there is a FIT and
all you need to know is about the number of Aces held in the
partnership - maybe the auction has gone :-
N
S
1
♥
3♥
you can now go 4NT if you have 18/19 points and now you have your
fit
ADVANCED TIP 443
If you, the partner of the 3NT Opener have stoppers in three
suits then you can leave 3NT in- if not just bid 4
♣
NOVICES
TIP 444
If you repeat a suit
most of the time you will be showing SIX- the exception would be when you
are minimum and cannot show your second suit as that would be a reverse
eg
♠♠
A J 4 3
♠♥
K Q 10 5 4
♠♦
K 6
♠♣
3 2
Here open 1♥
and plan to rebid 2♥
if partner were to reply in either 2♣
or
2♦
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 444
If partner opens Gambling 3NT this shows solid 7 or 8 card
Minor and not outside values
eg
♠♠
3 2
♠♥
5 4
♠♦
7 6
♠♣
A K Q J 5 4 3
ª
ADVANCED TIP 444
In the overcall position please PASS with BALANCED 13/14 POINT
HANDS- there is no valid overcall with these hands
J, Double is very poor
bridge with these hands!!
NOVICES
TIP 445
Top of sequence in your longest suit is
more important than 4th highest against their No Trump contract
With KQJ954 you would not
want to be a cheap skate and lead the 9 and let declarer win the first trick
with the 10 would you?
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 445
On the whole,
even suits out against you break badly and odd suits break well (see
below)
ADVANCED TIP 445
If an honour appears from one hand the touching honour is twice as
likely to be in the other defender's hand - this is known as the
Theory of Restricted choice so in the following situation
You
correctly cash the King
A10 6 5 4
8
Queen appears from East - so it is now better odds to Finesse West
for the missing Jack (see above)
K 7 3 2
NOVICES
TIP 446
You correctly lead an Ace from an AK
holding- DO NOT be in a hurry to play your King next unless partner encourages
or you see that it is safe to do so - if the Queen is in dummy you do not want
to be in a hurry to set that Queen up, by immediately cashing the King.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 446
A Jump bid in original suit by opener shows
six card suit 15/16 points but more importantly it shows 6/7 playing
tricks
ADVANCED TIP 446
Which suit to open with 5 clubs and 5 spades?
It doesn’t matter- My personal choice would be 1
♣
and then I can show both suits but it
doesn’t really matter and keep the auction under control when partner
replies 1 of a red suit
The Second Hand plays low, Third hand
plays High is only for the two defenders- declarer can do what he likes.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 447
With 4333
hands with 4 card Major don’t bother with Stayman- you are far too
balanced.
ADVANCED TIP 447
With A 9 5 4 opposite K J 3 2 needing only
three tricks play the King first and then low towards the 9 and then
whoever has Q 10 8 7 will be deprived of making 2 tricks - best to try
it and see with cards lying like this
A 9 5 4
or
A 9 5 4
Q 10 8 7
6
6
Q 10 8 7
K J 3 2
K J 3 2
NOVICES
TIP 448
If your
partner bids 2 suits then most of the time his first suit will be FIVE- the
exception and it is rare would be the 4441 hands and once you know
partner's first suit is five you are now duty bound to support the first suit
with three especially if partner's first suit was a Major.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 448
Theory of Final Destination works like this- if your
basic sequence of 1
♦–
3♦is 10-12
but you go around the houses and end up in 3♦
after responder’s second bid it still shows 10-12, similarly if you
reply 2NT to 1NT opener it shows 11-12 (invitational) but you now go around the
houses with a Stayman reply or transfer reply but subsequently rebid 2NT (as
responder) it still shows 11-12 invitational.
ADVANCED TIP 448
Bid your hand once- this means that if you have already described your
hand don’t get over excited and bid on with your good hand- leave it to
partner to make the decisions- This especially applies if you have made
a pre-emptive opening bid of 2
♠
or 3♠
as that is a LIMIT BID.
NOVICES
TIP 449
Downgrade misfitting
hands and upgrade hands where you have an immediate FIT
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 449
Bid your
hand once- this means that if you have already described your hand
don’t get over excited and bid on with your good hand- leave it to
partner to make the decisions.
ADVANCED TIP 449
In the overcall position please PASS with BALANCED 13/14 POINT
HANDS- there is no valid overcall with these hands
J
NOVICES
TIP 4
50
Please count your WINNERS
when dummy comes down and line up the suits parallel with dummy and then its
easier to count- Winners are the tricks you can make without losing the lead ie
DEFINITE TRICKS without doing any work at all.
A K Q opposite 4 3 2
are three winners
K Q J opposite 4 3 2 are NO
WINNERS YET- you have to dislodge their Ace
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 450
Most of the time if you bid 2
suits then the first suit will be at least FIVE and because you are
showing five in first suit responder is now duty bound to give
support with three.
ADVANCED TIP 450
In 4th
seat the protective seat or Pass-out seat 1NT shows only 10-14 points.
It is called the protective position because with third person passing
partner is marked with points and you are protecting your side's
interests rather than just passing out and selling out to their 1 level
opening bid.
NOVICES
TIP 4
51
Finessing :- lead up to the card you are
trying to finesse so with A Q J 7 6 opposite 5 4 3 lead from the 5 4 3 side
TWICE to finesse their King.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 451
N
E S
1♦
1♥ DBL
The Double by RESPONDER should be NEGATIVE DOUBLE showing 6
or more points and liking for the two unbid suits.
Needing two
tricks from this combination and not losing the lead, knowing King is on
left (from the bidding), play low towards the Jack and play on the
psychology that second person will play low
J 7 6 4 2
K 8 5
10 9
A Q 3
NOVICES
TIP 4
52
If you have five card
Major and weak hand just bid 2♠ or 2♥-
you do not bother with Stayman- Stayman is looking for a four card fit and you
have five yourself so do not need four now
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 452
Please bid the higher of two five
card suits. When you have clubs and Spades, Clubs is the “higher” suit
when they touch (not higher ranking).
If somebody passes initially, and then comes back into the auction
with weak Jump Shift they probably have 4 card Major in rest of hand
BECAUSE with a four card Major and six card suit they should not have
opened a weak 2 in the first place.
NOVICES
TIP 453
You can get extra
tricks from suit establishment or from finessing or a combination of both.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 453
Do not pre-empt with a king or Ace outside your long suit as that makes
it normal opening bid values
ADVANCED TIP 453
Only do an informative double on 3 hand types
as follows:-
a) 13+ points and liking
for unbid suits at least 4432 shape
b) 19+ points and Balanced (too strong for direct 1NT
overcall)
c) 18+ points and one suit
overcall (too strong for mere suit overcall)
NOVICES
TIP 454
While building tricks
(establishing winners)in your longest suit DO NOT play the controlling cards in
the other three suits. You need those cards as entries
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 454
SQOT (SUIT QUALITY TEST for OVERCALLS )
Add the cards in suit which you want to
overcall PLUS the Honours in that suit and it needs to equal tricks
required. So if you overcall at 1 level in higher ranking suit then
total needs to come to 7 ie 5 card suit with 2 honours or 6 card suit
with one honour.
If you wish to overcall in lower
ranking suit at 2 level then total needs to come to 8 ie 5 card suit
and 3 honours or 6 card suit and 2 honours.
ADVANCED TIP 454
When the opposition overcall Double and you
reply 2NT this should be good raise in partner's suit 10-12 points and 4
card support :-
People are
careless, so when declarer is drawing trumps, discard a card of the same
colour and sometimes declarer will miscount the trump suit.
ADVANCED TIP 455
The bidding goes
N
E S
W
1♥
NO NO ?
in this protective seat you need 3/4 points less
to make your normal bids so to protect with a bid you only need as few as
7/8, To double you need only 10 and to protect with 1NT just 10-14
NOVICES
TIP 456
When playing a weak No trump system, with two 4 card
suits and 4432 shape and 15-19 points you open 1 of the suit and rebid in No
Trump next- you should not try to show the other suit. So my own choice in these
situations is to open 1 of the Major. (but it is not written in stone which of
the four card suits you should open.)
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 456
Once
partner overcalls do BID TO LEVEL OF FIT even with four miserable
ones and put lots of pressure on the opposition
Now if partner had an original ropey overcall he can
rebid 2♠ and you will be able to stop
short of any blundering
ª
NOVICES
TIP 457
Use the Rule of 20 and open the
bidding with two five card suits and 10 High Card Points or 10 points and a six
card suit and a four card suit - both these hands should be opened 1♠
If
they Open 1NT and you, in the overcall position make an immediate
Double of course this should be for penalties.
If in 4th seat the
bidding has gone 1NT and responder transfers or bids Stayman, you
in 4th seat now SAY DOUBLE this should still be for Penalties and
playing against weak No trump opponents says I have 15 or more
points and against strong No Trump Opponents I have 18 or more points
(should always be one more than their maximum)
ª
ADVANCED TIP 457
If the opponents both bid a suit and then do not lead
the suit then left hand opponent probably has the Ace and does not want to lead
from his Ace especially against a suit contract.
NOVICES
TIP 458
When the
bidding goes 1♦ – 1NT reply this
categorically says I have no 4 card Major
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 458
Playing a weak
No trump system with four card Majors, with
two 4 card suits and 4432 shape and 15-19 points you open 1 of the suit
and rebid in No Trump next- you should not try to show the other suit.
So my own choice in these situations is to open 1 of the Major. as
Majors are so important.
ª
ADVANCED TIP 458
Partner Splinters and you are thinking about going to a
small slam- if your points outside the splinter suit plus partner's known points
total totals 26 or more then THINK SLAM big time.
NOVICES
TIP 459
When YOU
DEFEND SECOND HAND PLAYS LOW- no need to play a high card as partner is
finishing the trick off. The second hand low rule and third hand high rules
ONLY APPLY to the TWO DEFENDERS
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 459
If you make CRAZY JUMP BID then this shows FIT
and a singleton in that suit and Game Going Values—its called a
SPLINTER.
eg
ªª
ª
Q 9 7 6
partner opens 1♥
or 1♠
then immediately reply 4♣
What to do after 1NT gets doubled? – make all bids
natural and then there can be no misunderstandings or
ALTERNATIVELY you can play
the following AS LONG AS IT IS FULLY DISCUSSED BEFOREHAND :- all systems on with
2♣ still being
Stayman and 2♦
and 2♥ being Transfers and REDOUBLE now
asks partner to bid 2♣ which you will
either Pass or correct to 2♦.
This allows you to make
weak take-outs in all four suits at the two level still but unable to ever
play in 1NT Doubled.
NOVICES
TIP 4
60
Playing Acol with only 4 card Majors
only with
three card support for the Major and a doubleton or singleton somewhere
prefer to reply 2 of the Major rather than 1NT as you have
"ruffing values".
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 460
Overcalling 1NT should be with 16-18 points BUT if you occasionally do
it with 15 points then you better have a good 15 points maybe some TENS
and even a five card suit
ADVANCED TIP 460
With A10XX opposite K9XX Play for the suit to be 4-1
rather than 3-2 and then decide who is more likely to have FOUR against you and then finesse the
that person with 9 or 10
NOVICES
TIP 4
61
When YOU DEFEND SECOND HAND PLAYS LOW- no need to play a high card as
partner is finishing the trick off. The second hand low rule and third
hand high rules ONLY APPLY to the TWO DE FENDERS
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 461
After the Double if partner replies 1NT to the double it shows
values in opener’s suit and about 8/9 points and balanced in this
scenario :-
ªª
N E S
W
1♥ Dbl NO
?
For West to now bid 1NT West would have something like :-
Please don’t join in
with balanced 14 point hands - there is no known overcall
for this hand just be disciplined and PASS
NOVICES
TIP 4
62
A reply in a New suit
is 100% forcing and that's why the opener should have a rebid ready
if the bidding goes
1♥
1♠
NO
find a new partner quickly
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 462
If you want to defend properly you must remember the biddingª
ADVANCED TIP 462
Fully discuss systems and make sure you and your partner are on the same
wavelength when it comes to lead and signalling conventions
NOVICES
TIP 4
63
When
you make a pre-emptive Opening bid of 3 of a suit you really need all
your values in the suit and it is a good idea to have 3 of the top five
honours, nothing less that QJ10 in your long suit.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 463
The ideal shape for a Take Out Double
(Informative Double) is 4-4-4-1 with a singleton in opener's suit
ADVANCED TIP 463
4th Suit forcing is initially forcing up
to 2NT but any subsequent bid at the three level is NOW FORCING to GAME-
alternatively you and partner can agree that all 4th suit forcing
sequences are Forcing to Game
NOVICES
TIP 4
64
Playing weak or strong No trump, with balanced hands, when responding.
If you cannot bring the total to 25 then PASS. So opposite weak No trump
(12-14) even with Balanced 10 points PASS and opposite strong No Trumps
(15-17) even with Balanced 7 points just PASS.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 464
With K Q 5 4 opposite A
10 3 2 play off the King Queen first and when the suit breaks 4 1 as in
the following position you wuill still be able to finesse their Jack
K Q 5 4
8
J 9 7 6
A 10 3 2
This is known as
keeping the Tenace intact in the South hand the Tenace here being the
A10 permutation
ADVANCED TIP 46
4
With K Q 10 5 3 opposite A 9 4 2
you have tenaces in both hands Q 10 in one hand and A9 in the other so
in order to GUARANTEE 5 TRICKS even when the suit breaks 4-0 play
the King first and now you can still finesse either opponent for the
missing Jack when the suit does break 4-0
NOVICES
TIP 4
65
With 65 in the majors if Heart suit is longer pretend they are
same length as you want to show them both and on board 10 you will bid
Spades first
If the bidding goes 3NT Gambling 3NT by the opposition and you are
lucky enough to hold an ACE, LEAD IT and look at dummy and then you
might know what to immediately switch to once you have seen dummy
enabling you to defeat the contract. Do not make mundane 4th highest
lead.
ADVANCED TIP 46
5
If you partner reverses (bids
beyond the barrier bid this if FORCING and however bad your hand is you
must make one more bid
NOVICES
TIP 4
66
Leading Tops of Sequences is important and you also lead Top of
Interior sequences so lead
Queen from QJ1054 or QJ932 and
Queen from AQJ105 or AQJ9
Jack from J10943 or J1086
Jack also from AJ10954 or AJ1083ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 466
If your partner or even the opponent makes a
nice play say a kind word in that direction.
ADVANCED TIP 466
If you see a winning defence, maybe a switch at trick
two then go for it and take command- Now partner MUST RESPECT your change and
follow your defence especially if you have switched to a singleton and need a
ruff.
NOVICES
TIP 4
67
Against a No trump contract when ttwo low cards
have already been played make sure you play High (3rd Person plays High)
and do not be a cheap skate
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 467
In third seat with AQX play the
Queen - it might hold if partner has the King or if not declarer will
have to play the King and you will not cut yourself off from partner in
situations like this and declarer cannot afford to hold up now
7 6
J 9 4 3 2
A Q 5 (you)
K 10 8
ADVANCED TIP 46
7
Once you bid a suit and they join in and partner
Passes, try to reopen the auction with a TAKE-OUT DOUBLE- partner could easily
be wanting to convert.
NOVICES
TIP 4
68
Please build tricks in your longest suit when playing a No Trump
contract.- the bridge term for this is SUIT ESTABLISHMENT and if you
have QJ1064 opposite 5 3 2 it is you job to immediately use your Queen
and Jack to force out their Ace and King to eventually
build/make/establish
3 tricks.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 468
Do not bother to use Stayman with
precisely 4-3-3-3 hands as you have no doubletons and therefore no
ruffing values at all
ADVANCED TIP 468
With AQJ10 opposite 763 you need to finesse against their King THREE
TIMES playing low from the 763 side each time
NOVICES
TIP 4
69If your partner
replied 1NT to your 1♦
opener you know he does not have 4 spades or 4 Hearts otherwise he
should have bid 1♥ or
1♠. Us this information when making
your next bid.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 469
If you decide to adopt 4th suit
forcing make it FORCING TO GAME and that avoids any further ambiguity
and you can now slow the bidding down.
ADVANCED TIP 469
If the bidding goes 1♠
3♠ reply now 3NT by opener shows precisely 4333 hand and
asks you to choose between 4♠ and 3NT in case you are also
4333 without any ruffing values.
NOVICES
TIP 470
26 (maybe good 25 points with Tens or 5 card suit) is the MAGIC
NUMBER for Game contract of 3NT. 4♠
4♥ and 90% of Game contracts are
played in one of these denominations, so if your partner has already
opened and you have 13 points then if you bid less than one of these
contract you have certainly underbid
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 470
With AXX in a suit opposite XX you would hold up in a No
Trump contract to try and cut communications between the two defenders,
- if you have AKX opposite XX you should ALSO hold up if you have
to give up the lead twice in order to establish a suit and again you
might be able to cut communications between the two defenders from
setting up their long suit.
ADVANCED TIP 470
If you are a passed hand and
then you make a JUMP in NEW SUIT this says to partner you were maximum
for your pass and you have a FIT IN PARTNER'S SUIT
so with
♠
Q 9 5
4 having originally passed you can now
♥
7
2 reply 3♦ when
partner opens 1♠
♦
A K 7 6 2
♣
54
NOVICES
TIP 471
If you do not have top trump card (Ace) then take
a discard before drawing trumps
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 471
You should only ask for Kings in Blackwood sequence only if all the Aces
are accounted for in the partnership already.
ADVANCED TIP 47
1
Play 4th suit forcing FORCING TO GAME and then there can be no
bidding misunderstandings.
NOVICES
TIP 472
If you have bad 7/8 points and are
not good enough to introduce your suit at two level then use the dustbin
bid of 1NT even with a singleton so with
With A J 10 9 5 opposite 3 2 lead from the 3 2 side and
finesse twice and you have 75% chance of success in getting at least one
extra trick and more if the opponents' cards divide 3-3
ADVANCED TIP 47
2
If you make a vul versus non vul pre-empt your seven card suit
should be very strong - 2 of the top three trump honours - you don't
want to be doubled and lose 500 against their 420 do you?
NOVICES
TIP 473
If you see declarer has a great suit in dummy to discard all his
losers, then you, as a defender, must start cashing Aces and Kings where
you can.
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 473
Thinking of overcalling with a minimum hand of about 8/9 points if all
your points are in your five card suit then go for it- partner will then
know what to lead even if you do not win the auction
ADVANCED TIP 473
If you see A J 10 5 4 in dummy with no outside entries,
and you have K3 2 in second seat you must play King in
situations like this
A J 10 5 4
K 3 2
Q 7 6
9 8
if you don't do so, declarer finesses and later will pick up
your King and run the suit.
NOVICES
TIP 474
You should really only count shortage points if
there is a FIT and you have four card support. The rest of the time
length points should be applied.
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 474
If there is only one way to make your contract then you have to assume
the cards lie favourably and finesse - if needs be, even do a deep
finesse in situations like this
A K 10 9 needing all four tricks you will need
to finesse west for both the Queen and Jack if that's the only way to
get home
5 4 3 2
ADVANCED TIP 474
Holding a side entry plus honour doubleton in
the suit partner has led remember to unblock your honour if dummy wins
the trick in a situation like this
K 8
A 10 7 6 3 2
J 4 partner leads the 6 and declarer plays
the King unblock that Jack before you regret it
Q 9 5
NOVICES
TIP 475
Do not pre-empt if you hold a 4 card side
suit Major as you may easily miss out in fit with partner who might just
have four of that Major
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 475
Partner opens 1NT and you
have precisely 4333 shape holding a four card Major DON'T USE STAYMAN
now, as your hand is so balanced and even if partner does have four card
major fit here, it still might be easier to make 9 tricks than 10 with
such a balanced non shapely hand .
ADVANCED TIP 475
When defending and you intend splitting your
honours in a scenario like this KQX then play the King and
declarer could easily place your partner for the other honour and
miscount the hand.
NOVICES
TIP 476
Sometimes you give partner PREFERENCE- this is not the same as
supporting and merely says you prefer that suit
J
Q 8 4 2 remember to show
preference for Spades and rebid 2♠
§
9 5 4 DO
NOT fall into trap of preferring Hearts- YOU DON'T
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 476
Please do not play a low card from an Ace against a suit contract
as it may help declarer more than the defending side.
ADVANCED TIP 476
Use Restricted choice option whenever you can
and in this scenario
K 5 2
10
A J 3
Q 9 8 7 6 4
You decide to play for this suit to break 2-2
BUT first lead up to dummy's K and see if anything interesting falls.
When the Ten falls East is now twice as likely
to have the Jack so later on get back to North and finesse your
remaining 9
NOVICES
TIP 477
You can do Stayman with weak hands (provided you are on the same
page as partner) and you do not need any points at all but you NEED
SHAPE 5-4 or better
so with
ªª
♠
9 8 7 5 3 reply 2♣ and if
partner then bids 2♠ or 2♦
you merely Pass.
♥
9 6 4 2
♦
4 3
If partner replies 2♦
you now bid 2♠ your
five card suit.
♣
7 6
If partner were to then bid on FIND a NEW PARTNER
ªª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 477
Adopt 2nd from bad suit leads against No Trump
contracts so partner knows whether the suit has any future
so with K J 8 4 2 lead the 4
as usual but with 9 8 5 4 2 now lead the 8
and when partner sees the8 and has very little in the way of honours in
this suit he will know to switch should he get the lead
ADVANCED TIP 477
If they freely bid a Slam, unless you do not care what suit your
partner leads do not Double, otherwise partner will make an unusual
Lightner Double lead and suddenly declarer will make a contract that
should have been going down
NOVICES
TIP 478
ª
When defending try and count declarer's
points and you can see dummy and you can see your own hand and then you can
work out what partner has especially if declarer opened 1NT an exact limit
bid.
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 478
Once partner REVERSES and bids
beyond their barrier bid eg
W
E
1♦
1♠
2♥
you with 8+ points must now bid
onto game no matter what as partner has promised 16+ points and a good
hand
NB 2NT by East is now an
absolute minimum hand.
ADVANCED TIP 478
If no suit has been agreed directly or by
inference than 4NT MUST BE QUANTITIVE and is asking partner to bid onto
6 with MAXIMUM POINT COUNT and the Pass with minimum hand.
in both these auctions 4NT is invitational
quantitive bid and NOT Blackwood
W
E
W E
1NT 4NT
1♠
2♦
3NT 4NT (no suit agreed)
NOVICES
TIP 479
ª
If a finesse has worked once as in the
following scenario return to the oher hand and as you enjoyed it so much do
it again and if necessary do it a third time too
North
A Q J 10
West
finesse from south and when it works pla a DIFFERENT SUIT in order to get
back to South
ª
K 9 8 7
3 2 in order to finesse
again through West (THREE TIMES ALTOGETHER)
5 4 3
South
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 479
If Left Hand Opponent overcalls
and then doesn't lead his suit and you are missing Ace King of that suit
you should immediately know that the Ace and King are split in the
opponents' hand because most normal opponents who have an Ace King
holding would lead the Ace to look at dummy. You know at trick one how
seven of the opponents' honour points are divided. Conversely if
somebody leads an Ace you know most of the time they hold 7 point in
that suit.
ADVANCED TIP 479
If they interfere whie you are trying do
do Blackwood then adopt DOPI whereby Double (D) shows Zero Aces
(O) Pass (P) shows 1 Ace (I) and the next suit up
would be 2 and the next suit up would be three and so on.
D (as in Double) = Zero
O (as in Zero)
P (as inPass) = One
I (as in Number
one)
NOVICES
TIP 480
ª
Once you make any limit bid eg opening 1NT or replying 2 ♥
to partner's 1♥ opener or opening any
sort of pre-empt.
DO NOT BID AGAIN as you said it all on your first bid UNLESS partner
invites you or forces you to bid again.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 480
You should only ask for
Kings in a Blackwood sequence if all the Aces are in your partnership.
Asking for Kings now suggests you want to be in the Grand Slam and you
would only do that if all Aces are accounted for. If an Ace is missing
merely go to 5 of the agreed suit of 6 of the agreed suit.
ADVANCED TIP 480
If you open 3 of a suit you have seven
card suit and if you open weak 2 of a suit you show six
Do not make cowardly bids of 2 of a suit
with 7 card suit
J (which I have
seen people do, so called advanced players)
NOVICES
TIP 481
ª
When you overcall you can have anything from 8/9 points up to
about 15/16 – very wide ranging. If you have 8 points to 15 points still
only overcall 1♠ and
leave all the jumping to the High jumpers at the track.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 481
You can
reply 1NT with a singleton if you are not strong enough to reply in new
lower ranking suit at 1 level
If you have very strong hand and support for one
of opener's suits and you are not sure what to bid next USE 4TH SUIT
FORCING and then go to 4♥ or
4♠ next and now partner
will know that you are better than just a mere raise.
If partner replies 1♥
and then rebids 2 this is now weak and long and you should
probably Pass with a minimum hand and not panic especially if you only
have one or none- Don't worry partner will have six and the hand should
only be played in Hearts at the lowest possible Level SO PASS.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 482
If you open 1 of a suit and partner replies in new suit and at two
level a rebid by you in new suit is 100% forcing do with
ªª
ª
A K 10 4 3
you open 1♠ and
partner replies 2♣
then there is no need to jump
If you have had a cue bidding sequence and
partner jumps to 5 level of the agreed suit he is asking for first round
or second round control of the unbid suit
eg
ªª
♠
Q J 7
1♦
2♥
♥
J 9 5 4
3♥
4♣
Cue Bid
♦
A K J 2
4♦
Cue Bid
5♥
Do you have 1st or 2nd round control in Spades?
♣
Q 4
ª
NOVICES
TIP 483
ª
With 2 or at most 3 points against a No
Trump contract don't bother leading 4th highest of you longest suit try
and FIND PARTNER and make a short suit lead preferably an unbid Major
e.g bidding goes 1NT 3NT and you have
ªª
ª
9 2
lead 9 and hopefully find partner with five good
spades
J9 5 4 2 little point in leading from your long
suit as you are not going to get in are you?
¨
8 3 2
§
J 5
ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 483
In third seat with AQ5 defending a No Trump
contract play the queen (not the Ace). If declarer has the King it makes
no difference and declarer cannot afford to hold up and if partner has
the King it is a no cost play. If you play the Ace declarer might hold
up for two rounds and cut you off from partner in situations like this
3 2
J 9 6 5 4
A Q 5
in effect third hand doesn't play high J
K 10 8
declarer cannot hold up now when you play the Queen
ADVANCED TIP 483
Against Weak No trump opponents play Double
showing 15+ points for
Penalties and partner should leave it in - it goes off more than it makes even
if partner has very little- don't get busy removing it
J
NOVICES
TIP 484
Long in Trump lead length- this means that if you have 4 or more trumps
and another long suit (4 or more) lead the long suit and maybe declarer will have to ruff
and then maybe eventually lose control of the actual trump suit.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 484
In Acol after 1♣ opener a
1NT shows precisely 8-10 points 4 card clubs suit and totally balanced
4-3-3-3 hand.
ADVANCED TIP 484
Adopt leading second highest from bad suits (rather
than automatic 4th bests) when leading against No Trumps and if
partner has rubbish in that suit too, he will know to SWITCH as you have
led from a suit without future.
NOVICES
TIP 485
Please build tricks in your longest suit especially in
No Trumps. (The bridge term for building tricks is suit establishment)
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 485
With a four
card Major you might THINK STAYMAN BUT if you are 4-3-3-3 and have no
ruffing values whatsoever dismiss Stayman and stay with the No Trump
ADVANCED TIP 485
As declarer you
should never play a true card from your closed hand if you can help it
and then you muddy the waters for the opponents who are trying to get
their signals going
e.g. King is
lead and you hold up the first trick with A854 drop the 5 or
even 8 at trick 1.
NOVICES
TIP 486
Against a No Trump
contract with KQ109XX it is correct to lead the KING- top of sequence
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 486
5♣
is for the Birds- the Minor birds not seasoned bridge players
J
Push contracts towards 3NT when a minor suit fit has been found.
eg
W E
1♣
3♣
3NT
is now a good sequence
ADVANCED TIP 486
Do not open less than 4♠
or 4♥
holding 2 aces or 1 Ace and 2 Kings as you have far
too much defensive strength
NOVICES
TIP 487
Playing in a 5-2 fit can be healthier than leaving
partner in 1NT with a weak hand (most of the time). so immediately reply 2♠
or 2♥ or 2♦
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 487
What to open with 44 in the Minors ready to
rebid No Trumps next- My choice is to bid the weaker suit to deter
people from leading that suit should you end up in a No Trump contract.
Those that like lead directing bids would say to open the stronger suit
in case you end up defending- “you pays your money you takes your
choice”
ADVANCED TIP 487
When following suit with small
cards from the closed hand never follow with your lowest - follow with
middling one and hopefully, this will mess up the defender signals
NOVICES
TIP 488
When YOU
DEFEND - SECOND HAND PLAYS LOW- no need to play a high card as partner is
finishing the trick off. The second hand low rule and third hand high rules
ONLY APPLY to the TWO DE FENDERS
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 488
If opener or responder bids TWO SUITS then most of the time the first
suit will be five card suit- this is now important as it allows partner
to support the first suit with three.
ADVANCED TIP 488
An opponent leads a 10 at trick
One be aware that the Jack is now in the other defender's hand and in
situations like this
K 9 5
10 2
A J 4 3
Q 8 7
you need to play
dummy's King immediately as you now have a finesse position against
East
Against a no trump contract, if somebody leads a TWO you immediately know they
have PRECISELY a FOUR CARD SUIT, so you know the distribution of the whole suit
at trick one
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 489
With two four card suits and 15 -19 points prefer to Open 1 of a Major
so with ♠ J54 ♥
AK87 ♦ Q65 ♣
AJ107 Open 1♥ – if you do open 1♣
DO NOT then try and bid the other suit or partner will think you are 5-4
shape
ADVANCED TIP 489
They open and you have balanced 13/14 points then DON’T JOIN IN -
this is not really an advanced tip but so many so called advanced
players do not know that it is imperative to Pass with these hands
J
NOVICES
TIP 490
Do Not play the controlling cards in their suits. They lead a suit, you
win the Ace and also have the King- DO NOT PLAY THAT KING!!!
ADVANCED TIP 490
If in a competitive auction you push them one higher DO NOT Double the
part score now just in case it makes (unless the contract actually
belonged to you)
NOVICES
TIP 491
Never
be intimidated by a lone Ace in dummy, play the suit back especially if partner
l ed the suit
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 491
If you bid in freebid scenario (knowing partner can still bid if you
pass) then do not do so with a minimum hand- So with an absolute
minimum,Pass and see if partner can bid again
ADVANCED TIP 491
In 4th
seat Double still shows 15+ points when you double the 1NT opening bid
when the 1NT opening bid is 12-14, always 1 more than theri maximum
N
E S
W
1NT NO
NO DOUBLE
NOVICES
TIP 492
If you repeat a suit
most of the time you will have SIX since you didn't rebid in No Trump or
support partner or try and introduce another suit.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 492
To reply in lower ranking suit at two level requires 10+ points but
these points can also be made up of distributional points so 8
points and six card suit is good enough or 9 points and a five card
suit.
ADVANCED TIP 492
If somebody makes an against the odds lead, then
play that defender to have a lot of the missing honours that you will be
looking for.
Imagine that defender leads an Ace and then turns
up with three cards in the suit and no king then he must have had an
initial problem with his lead so play him for all the missing relevant
cards you are looking for." Why didn't he lead a trump?? OH he must have
QXX in trump !! "
NOVICES
TIP 493
You cover an honour with an honour if you can promote something for your
side i.e. the defending side) so if you see QJ10 in the dummy now do
not cover as all the cards you might wish to promote for yourself or
partner are all on show in the dummy.
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 493
With
18 balanced points do not commit to 3NT after a weak reply – only
invite becaseu if partner has bare 6 points then 9 tricks will
never materialize!!
ADVANCED TIP 493
With A10XX opposite K9XX Play for the suit to
be 4-1 rather than 3-2 and then decide who is more likely to have 4 and
then finesse the propitiate 9 or 10.
NOVICES
TIP 494
After your Double, if partner replies 1NT to the double it shows
values in opener’s suit and about 8/9 points and balanced.
If you
cannot stomach all three responses of 2♦
or 2♥ or 2♠
whe n you want to do a Stayman Replyt to partner's 1NT bid then
Just Pass.
ADVANCED TIP 494
Both opponents bid a suit and then they don't
lead that suit then the person on lead is more likely to hold the Ace of
that suit.
NOVICES
TIP 495
Finessing :- lead up to the card you are trying
t finesse so with AQJ76 opposite 543 lead from the 543 side TWICE to
finesse their King.ª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 495
On the whole ,in the opponents' hands
even suits out against you break badly and odd suits break well, so if
they have 4 trumps more likely to be 3-1 split than 2-2 and if
they have 5 trumps its more likely to be 3-2 split than 4-1
ADVANCED TIP 495
Rise with an honour to kill dummy's great suit
DUMMY
A K 10 9 5 2
YOU J 5
Q 8 7
4 3
No entries to dummy outside this
suit
Declarer leads 4 from closed
hand don't automatically play low, play that Jack
NOVICES
TIP 496
With two five card suits in all situations please bid the higher
(High Fives).
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 496
Top of sequence in your longest suit is more important than 4th
highest in longest suit against No Trump contracts.
You would not want to lead the 9 from KQJ94 and let declarer win
first trick cheaply withy the 10 would you?
ADVANCED TIP 496
With A 10 6 5 opposite K 8 7 3 2
When playing this suit play for the suit to be
2-2 . However play off the King first just in case an honour falls and
you might still be able to finesse up to the remaining A 10
Tenace in situations like this :-
A 10 6 5
J 9 4
Q
K 8 7 3 2
NOVICES
TIP 497
With a VERY BAD hand don't bother to lead 4th
highest lead against their No trump contract but better to try and find
partner and make a short suit lead so with
ªª
ª
7 6
try leading ♠7 and be
delighted when that's partner's suit
If
you do not play it already, then adopt leading second from bad suits
when leading against No Trumps and if partner has rubbish in that suit
too he will know to SWITCH as you have led from a suit without future.
ADVANCED TIP 497
With K10532 opposite AQ94 to make
sure you always get five tricks out of five and guard against a 4-0
break in either hand play off the Ace first and keep the K10 trance in
one hand and the Q9 tenace in the other hand and you will be
able to still finesse either play for the missing Jack.
NOVICES
TIP 498
In theory 1♠
2♠ reply shws 6-9 points and 4
card support BUT IF you have card support 6-9 points and ruffing vlaues
9 amybe a singleton or doubleton elsewhere on the hand it is better
bidge to reply 2♠ rather than 1NT
Whne
finessing be aware of all the good cards between the 2 hands so in a
situation like this
A Q 10 5
K 4 3 2
7
J 9 8 6
be aware that between your hand
and dummy you have A Q 10 J 9 8
and once you acknowledge that, you
can start with the NINE and that will keep you in South to repeat the
finesse more than once if necessary as in the situation above.
ADVANCED TIP 498
SAFETY PLAY :- With KJ54 opposite A8732 THINK FINESSE BUT play the
Ace first before committing to an immediate finesse just in case there
is a singleton Queen hanging around
NOVICES
TIP 499
In theory 1♠
2♠ reply shws 6-9 points and 4
card support BUT IF you have card support 6-9 points and ruffing vlaues
9 amybe a singleton or doubleton elsewhere on the hand it is better
bidge to reply 2♠ rather than 1NT
with a hand like this :-
ªª
♠
7 6 5
reply 2♠ here
after 1♠ opener
with these
♥
9 6
ruffing values in Hearts
♦
A 8 6 5
♣
K 8 7 6
ª
ªªª
INTERMEDIATES
TIP 499
When
finessing be aware of all the good cards between the 2 hands so in a
situation like this
A Q 10 5
K 4 3 2
7
J 9 8 6
be aware that between your hand
and dummy you have A Q 10 J 9 8
and once you acknowledge that, you
can start with the NINE and that will keep you in South to repeat the
finesse more than once if necessary as in the situation above.
ADVANCED TIP 499
SAFETY PLAY :- With KJ54 opposite A8732 THINK
FINESSE BUT play the Ace first before committing to an immediate finesse
just in case there is a singleton Queen hanging around
NOVICES
TIP 500
Please build tricks in your longest suit (SUIT
ESTABLISHMENT) which is no necessarily the suit with all the honours
In this suit 9 8 7 6 5 4
opposite 10 3 2 if we get lucky and force out their Ace King queen jack
and all these honours tumble in tow rounds we end up with4 tricks
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INTERMEDIATES
TIP 500
If opener or responder bids TWO SUITS then most
of the time the first suit will be five card suit- this is now important
as it allows partner to support the first suit with three.
ADVANCED TIP 500
They open and you have balanced 13/14 points
then DON’T JOIN IN.
