EMCB
Robert Todd
Advanced Same Bidding 1 - 576

Kokish Over Strong 2C

Balanced hand bidding is relatively easy. We can usually describe our hand to partner by opening 1NT or rebidding 1NT. This lets partner know both our points and our hand type with either our first bid (when we open 1NT, the best situation) or with our second bid (when we rebid 1NT).  However, if we have a big balanced hand then we need to have tools for describing our hand as well.  These usually involve the use of 2NT – as a rebid, an opening bid, or even a rebid after having opened the bidding 2♣.  But this does not solve all our bidding problems when we have these large balanced hands.  Let’s look at these auctions in detail, see some of the issues, and then look at a useful gadget called Kokish to help us bid better.

Advanced Same Bidding 1 - 576
EMCB
Robert Todd
Even More Competitive Bidding 9 - 575

Freebids by a Passed Hand

When partner makes a bid, and we choose to bid a suit of our own, this is called a freebid. In most normal situations freebids show values (called positive freebids) and are often forcing 1-round. We’ve all heard the saying -- a new suit is forcing by an unpassed hand.  Unfortunately, this is not always true, but it is often our agreement. Let’s look at freebids made by a passed hand and see how the fact that we are passed changes these situations.

Even More Competitive Bidding 9 - 575
EMCB
Robert Todd
Even More Competitive Bidding 8 - 574

Fit -Showing Jumps

One of my favorite sayings is “2NT is a convention, not a contract.” In specific situations, Responder can use 2NT as conventional raise of Opener’s suit. Sometimes we need to choose between several different conventional methods for competitive auctions. Here we look at our options for how to best use 2NT.

Even More Competitive Bidding 8 - 574
EMCB
Robert Todd
Even More Competitive Bidding 7 - 573

Bergen Raises

One of my favorite sayings is “2NT is a convention, not a contract.” In specific situations, Responder can use 2NT as conventional raise of Opener’s suit. Sometimes we need to choose between several different conventional methods for competitive auctions. Here we look at our options for how to best use 2NT.

Even More Competitive Bidding 7 - 573
EMCB
Robert Todd
Even More Competitive Bidding 6 - 572

Bergen Raises

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 is particularly true in competitive auctions but is also useful in constructive auctions. Responder must balance showing the size of their fit with showing their values. This LOTT bidding is especially effective when our side has a 9+card fit. In this case, the auction is likely to become competitive if the opponents have some values as well. Predicting this to happen, we would like to be able to compete to the 3-level with a 9+card fit as quickly as possible, eating up the opponents’ bidding space while showing our values. 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.

Even More Competitive Bidding 6 - 572

Robert Todd

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 7 - 504

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Card Combinations (Set 7 of 8)

When we are defending a hand there are many important situations that we need to know about when to attack a suit and when it may cost to do so. These card combinations and how to play to get the most out of them are an extremely important part of good defense.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 504.

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 8 - 505

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Discards Later in the Play (Set 8 of 8)

Discards are an important way to communicate with partner. But not just the first discard, every discard matters. Here we look at discards later in the play.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 505.

Advanced Card Play Set 1 - 489

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Advanced Card Play: Combine Your Chances (Set 1 of 9)

Finding the best line of play as Declarer is always a challenge. Instead of trying to determine the better of line of play A and line of play B the best play is often to choose a combination of the two. Here we look at how to improve you declarer play by combining your chances.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 489.

Advanced Card Play Set 3 - 491

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Advanced Card Play: The King-Jack Guess (Set 3 of 9)

When we are defending and the Declaring side holds the King and the Jack in a suit then they will often have to guess the layout of the suit in order to take their most tricks. Here we look at the art of giving them the most difficult guesses we can!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 491.

Advanced Card Play Set 4 - 492

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Advanced Card Play: Misfits and Moysians (Set 4 of 9)

Finding a fit makes declaring a hand much easier. When we are playing a hand without a fit it is much more challenging. Here we look at some strategies for playing hands that have less than an 8-card fit.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 492.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 1 - 480

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Michaels Cuebids (Set 1 of 9)

When the opponent’s open the bidding and we have two long suits it is useful to be able to show them both immediately. This is especially true when we have a weak hand. Here we look at Michaels Cuebids and see how they help us do this!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 480.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 2 - 481

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Unusual NT (Set 2 of 9)

There is another valuable tool for competing in the bidding when we have a two suited hand — the unusual NT. Let’s see how this bidding tool is effective in competitive bidding.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 481.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 3 - 482

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Overcalls at Each Level (Set 3 of 9)

Here we look at Simple Overcalls and how they vary based on situation and level — which is dramatic!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 482.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 4 - 483

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Competing Over 2-level Preempts - Lebensohl (Set 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!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 483.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 5 - 484

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Leaping Michaels (Set 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.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 484.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 6 - 485

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Bidding Over the Opponent’s 3-Level Preempt (Set 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.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 485.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 7 - 486

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Dealing with 4-Level Jump Overcalls (Set 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!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 486.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 8 - 487

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Overcalling a 4-card Suit (Set 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.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 487.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 9 - 488

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Modern Gazzilli (Set 9 of 9)

The latest upgrade to “modern expert bidding”. If you love gadgets, this is what you should add to your bidding system.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 488.

Defensive Carding Set 9 - 479

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Defensive Signals: Partnership Defense Philosophy (Set 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. Your philosophy on how we work together and how we signal is the most important part of this.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 479.

Defensive Carding Set 8 - 478

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Defensive Signals: Dummy Has Qxx+ (Set 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. This week we look at this situation in detail - attitude, count, suit preference, what does our card mean!?!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 478.

Defensive Carding Set 7 - 477

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Defensive Signals: More Suit Preference (Set 7 of 9)

There is ore 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.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 477.

Defensive Carding Set 6 - 476

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Defensive Signals: Suit Preference (Set 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).

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 476.

Defensive Carding Set 5 - 475

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Defensive Signals: Smith Echo (Reverse) (Set 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.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 475.

Defensive Carding Set 4 - 474

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Defensive Signals: Upside-Down Count and Attitude (UDCA) (Set 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!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 474.