Bidding, Competitive Bidding
Robert Todd
(532) Slam Bidding: Forcing Pass Auctions

When we are in a game forcing auction and the opponents interfere (usually to sacrifice) it is clear that we are not going to go quietly and just let them steal the contract. If the opponents bid over us, then we will either double them and defend or bid on to our game. Forcing Pass is an agreement used to help us work together with partner to make a good decision about which to do.

(532) Slam Bidding: Forcing Pass Auctions
Bidding, Constructive: Responder, Constructive: Opener
Robert Todd
(531) Fits and More: Systems for Describing Our ...

When partner preempts the bidding at the 2-Level, and we have a good hand we expect the auction to be difficult. We need to have good agreements with partner and exercise some good judgment to get to the right final contract. When we have a fit for partner’s suit (especially a Major suit) then we know what strain we are likely to play in. We need to exchange useful information with partner. There are a variety of systems for accomplishing this, including Optional Feature, Ogust, Steps, and Modified Ogust.

(531) Fits and More: Systems for Describing Our 2-Level Preempts
Bidding, Constructive: Responder
Robert Todd
(530) Fits and More: Over-Splinters

When partner opens the bidding with 1-Major and Responder makes a Splinter bid then this shows our fit, values, and shortness all in one call. This gives an excellent description of our hand and allows partner to re-evaluate their hand based on their working values. In a sophisticated partnership we may choose to have multiple types of splinters, allowing us to communicate even more information to partner. Here we look at the use of Over-Splinters and see how we can use them to give partner additional information about our hand, allowing them to better judge if slam is likely to be a good contract.

(530) Fits and More: Over-Splinters
Bidding, Constructive: Responder
Robert Todd
(529) Fits and More: 2NT Trump Suit Game Try - ...

Here we look at when to raise responder's suit on 3-card support.  And then what we do after that -- the trump asking bid, sometimes called Spiral. 

(529) Fits and More: 2NT Trump Suit Game Try - Spiral
Bidding, Constructive: Responder
Robert Todd
(528) Fits and More: More Mixed Raises in ...

A Mixed Raise shows 4-card support and 7-9 HCP in a competitive auction. Let's see how to implement this very useful bid in even more bidding situations.

(528) Fits and More: More Mixed Raises in Competition

(88) Competitive Bidding - Responding to Preempts

(88) Competitive Bidding - Responding to Preempts

When partner preempts the bidding they are hoping to catch the opponents with the best hands.  But sometimes it will be our side that has most of the values.  This week we examine how to respond to partner's Weak Two Bid when they have taken away our valuable bidding space and how we try to survive the auction! 

(82) More Notrump Bidding: Advanced Lebensohl (Delayed Lebensohl)

(82) More Notrump Bidding: Advanced Lebensohl (Delayed Lebensohl)

We use Lebensohl (or Simple-sohl) in auctions where the opponents interfere directly over our 1N opening bid. This week we will examine some more complex auctions where the opponents interfere over our 1N opening bid.  We will see that Lebensohl (or Simple-sohl) can be used to help us deal with these auctions as well.   

(81) More Notrump Bidding: When to Open 1NT Off-Shape

(81) More Notrump Bidding: When to Open 1NT Off-Shape

1N is the best opening bid in all of Bridge.  It does a great job of describing the "big picture" of our hand.  With some hands that have difficult rebid problems we will choose to make a flawed 1N opener because it is the best description of our hand that we can come up with.  This week we examine some of these difficult bidding hands that are best solved by opening 1N.

(77) What to Expect: Planning as Responder

(77) What to Expect: Planning as Responder

Just as it is important for the Opener to make a plan before they open the bidding it is also important for the Responder to make a plan before they respond to the Opener.  Thinking ahead about what you want to communicate, what you expect from partner, and how the opponent's might make life difficult can greatly help our constructive bidding.