TWiB Lesson #572 (6 of 9)
When responding to partner’s 1-Major opening bid, Responder tries to apply the Law of Total Tricks (LOTT) – getting to the size of the partnership’s fit as quickly as possible. This LOTT bidding is especially effective when our side has a 9+card fit. Bergen Raises are a set of conventional bids Responder can use when responding to a 1-Major opening bid with 4+card support (at least a 9+card fit). Let’s see how this system works.
TWiB Lesson #544 (4 of 9)
When constructing a system to allow us to bid over these weak 1NT openings we need to take a different approach than bidding over a strong 1NT opening. Thus, we construct our bidding system to allow us to explore game and make constructive bids, not just be destructive.
TWiB Lesson #545 (5 of 9)
After partner opens 1NT, we have a good structure for using our bids efficiently to describe our hand to partner. But when the opponents interfere in our auction, we lose some of this valuable bidding space and need to change our approach in order to deal with their interference.
TWiB Lesson #546 (6 of 9)
There are many systems the opponents play in order to interfere over our 1NT opening bid, but almost all of these systems use the 3-level (actually 2NT+) for the same meanings – 2NT as a weak bid showing both minors and 3-level bids as weak with a long suit, preemptive. It is important that you and partner are on the same page for how to deal with this higher-level interference.
TWiB Lesson #547 (7 of 9)
When we open the bidding with 1NT if an opponent makes a penalty double, we are less likely to be we are usually looking to escape from a 1NT contract and attempt to find some safer place to play. This safe place will hopefully be our largest fit or a long suit in the weak hand (in Responder’s hand). In order to find this place to play we need to look at how Responder’s bidding options change after a penalty double.
TWiB Lesson #483 (4 of 9)
Dealing with preempts is extremely difficult. Here we look at an extremely useful tool for dealing with the opponent’s 2-level preempts — an innovative use of 2NT as a convention, not a contract!
TWiB Lesson #484 (5 of 9)
Against the Opponent’s 2-level preempts we have ways of showing strong hands with two long suits by using a special jump overcall called Leaping Michaels. Here we see how to use it.
TWiB Lesson #485 (6 of 9)
When the opponents make a high-level preempt it makes our life difficult. Here we look at our options for bidding over them and what risks we have to take.
TWiB Lesson #486 (7 of 9)
When we open the bidding the opponents love to preempt and eat up our bidding space. This is especially difficult when their preempt is a jump to game in a Major. Here we look at how to deal with it!
TWiB Lesson #487 (8 of 9)
It is frustrating to have a good hand and not be able to get into the auction. Here we look at a less used option for getting into the auction when the opponents open the bidding — overcalling a 4-card suit.
TWiB Lesson #488 (9 of 9)
The latest upgrade to “modern expert bidding”. If you love gadgets, this is what you should add to your bidding system.
TWiB Lesson #471 (1 of 9)
Attitude signals are some of the most important ways that we can communicate with our partner. Here we look at how to make them and when they apply so that we can work with partners effectively!
TWiB Lesson #472 (2 of 9)
Signaling with partner is an important part of working together to defend a hand. Attitude signals are extremely important, but so are count signals. Here we look at how to give them and more importantly, when they apply.
TWiB Lesson #473 (3 of 9)
When we run out of cards in a suit being played then we must discard. These discards are a great way to communicate with partner. Our first discard communicates a lot of information, but so do our subsequent discards. Here we look at making sure you are making good use of these discards.
TWiB Lesson #474 (4 of 9)
Giving Count and Attitude signals is a key part of defense. Modern expert players often use Upside Down Count and Attitude to communicate. Let’s see how it works!
TWiB Lesson #475 (5 of 9)
Against a NT contract, when the opponents win the first trick and attack another suit they are often leading their best suit. In this case, we have an opportunity to communicate with partner. Smith Echo is an agreement that makes use of this situation to tell partner if the opening lead was good or not.
TWiB Lesson #476 (6 of 9)
Our goal on defense is to help our partner. Suit Preference Signals are a way to do this by giving painter information about which suit we would like them to shift to (or where we hold good stuff).
TWiB Lesson #477 (7 of 9)
There is more to suit preference signals than just the simple cases are trick 1. Here we look at even more places where you may use these valuable signaling tools.
TWiB Lesson #478 (8 of 9)
When Dummy has a holding like Qxx (or longer) it is important to have good agreements about signaling our partner, so they can make a good decision about what to do next.
TWiB Lesson #479 (9 of 9)
In order to defend well you have to work together with partners. Specific agreements are important, but “high-level” agreements are also important.
TWiB Lesson #463 (1 of 8)
Opening the bidding in the 3rd seat is a place for “misbehaving”. Here we look at some of options we have in 3rd seat that we don't have in the 1st or 2nd seat. Practice these 3rd seat openings to become a more difficult opponent.
TWiB Lesson #464 (2 of 8)
When we are a passed hand or partner is a passed hand our bidding changes. Here we look at how to make use of this information.
TWiB Lesson #465 (3 of 8)
When we are interested in investigating game we need to have more sophisticated ways of doing to than jump rebidding our suit. Help Suit Game Tries give us a way to do that!
TWiB Lesson #466 (4 of 8)
There are times in the auction where we want to find the best part-score and other times where our bids are exploring game. Here we look at these bids to make sure we know which one partner is intending.
TWiB Lesson #467 (5 of 8)
We can use doubles of artificial bids in sophisticated ways to help use compete in the bidding or better defend the hand. Here we look at how to use them and when not to do so.
