Bidding
Robert Todd
(552) Competitive Auctions: More Bidding over ...

When the opponents open the bidding with a 3-level preempt then much of the tension in our decision-making process comes around “Should we bid beyond 3NT?” This is especially true when the opponents open the bidding with a 3-Major preempt. Because when we have one long minor suit then we likely want to play in 3NT or 5-minor. This allows us to use 4-minor in some interesting conventional ways, just as we do vs. a 2-level preempt.

(552) Competitive Auctions: More Bidding over 3-Level Preempts
Bidding
Robert Todd
(551) Competitive Auctions: Bidding over ...
(551) Competitive Auctions: Bidding over 3-Level and 4-Level Preempts
Bidding
Robert Todd
(550) Competitive Auctions: Leaping Michaels

When RHO opens a 2-level preempt, they have started eating up our valuable bidding space. But this is just the start of their attack on us. LHO may join in the attack and raise the preempt, making our life even more difficult. When we are bidding over RHO’s 2-level preempt we should keep this in mind. We need lots of tools to deal with this situation. Let’s look at these options.

(550) Competitive Auctions: Leaping Michaels
Bidding
Robert Todd
(549) NT Bidding: Slam Tries After Stayman

One of the most common gadgets that we use when partner opens 1NT is Stayman. We primarily use Stayman to search for a 4-4 Major suit fit. After Stayman sometimes we want to have a way to raise partner’s suit where they cannot pass. We will want a “Forcing Raise” (similar to Jacoby 2NT or Inverted Minors) in order to find out more about Opener’s hand. This is missing from a standard bidding system. It is a valuable tool for making a slam try while keeping the auction from getting too high.

(549) NT Bidding: Slam Tries After Stayman
Bidding
Robert Todd
(548) NT Bidding: Modern, Transfer, and Modern ...

Lebensohl is an excellent system for dealing with interference over our 1NT opening bids. But Lebensohl has some flaws. In Lebensohl auctions we will often play the hand from the “wrong” side (Responder’s side.) Another flaw in Lebensohl relates to Responder’s strength. Responder often has three strengths (buckets) let’s see how Transfer Lebensohl is an upgrade to this.

(548) NT Bidding: Modern, Transfer, and Modern Transfer Lebensohl

(122) Declarer Play - Suits: Counting Losers

(122) Declarer Play - Suits: Counting Losers

Suit Contracts play differently than Notrump Contracts.  Specifically, in most suit contracts we are in control of the hand, because we have a trump suit.  This allows us to count our losers instead of worrying about our more immediate winners.  This week, we begin our discussion of suit contracts by taking a look at how this works in more detail.

(121) Declarer Play - Notrump: Length vs. Strength

(121) Declarer Play - Notrump: Length vs. Strength

In all contracts, but especially in Notrump, developing a long suit into winners is a highly effective way to make our contract.  We will look at these options and compare them to establishing tricks the old fashioned way (with our High Cards) and see how we can combine these two skills to improve our play.