2/1 GF: In Competition
2/1 bids are game-forcing as part of our constructive bidding system. But when we are in a competitive bidding system things change. Here we look at how 2/1 bids change in competition.
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 427.
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Competitive Bidding: 2-Level Preemptive Openings
When we have a long suit and not a lot of values, then most of our playing strength is offensive and only if our long suit is trump. This is exactly what a preemptive opening bid shows. Here we look at all of the factors we need to consider in order to make good decisions about whether or not to preempt.
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 411.
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Competitive Bidding: Higher-Level Preemptive Openings
Here we look at how we further attack the opponents by using our higher-level preemptive bidding tools. Making the opponent's life difficult is one of the pleasures of bridge!
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 412.
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Competitive Bidding: Responding to Preempts
When partner opens the bidding with a preempt we need to know our options for how to bid our hand. Let's look at how we get more information from them and how we extend the preempt.
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 413.
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Competitive Bidding: Responding to High-Level Preempts
After partner makes a high-level preempt we should feel good about having done damage to the opponents bidding space. Our goal is to survive the auction, not getting penalized if we are too high, or guessing the right game to play if have a good hand.
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 414.
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Competitive Bidding: 2C Openings
When we are close to having game in our hand, 22+ points when balanced or lots of points and tricks when unbalanced, then we open 2C instead of opening naturally. Let's look at how we use the Strong Artificial and Forcing Opening bid.
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 415.
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Constructive Bidding: Responder’s Rebid After a Jump Shift
After partner makes a jump shift then we need to continue the bidding in a way that gives a chance to find a fit, while keeping the auction below 3NT. Let's see how to get this done.
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 416.
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Constructive Bidding: Lebensohl Over Reverses
After Opener makes a reverse, Responder needs to continue the bidding and communicate their hand to Opener. Knowing if a bid is Forcing or Non-Forcing is the most important part of this followup bidding. Lebensohl 2NT is the primary tool for communicating this with partner.
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 417.
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Constructive Bidding: Off-Shape 1NT Opening Bids
A 1NT opening is one of the best in all of bridge. There are classic hands that open we open 1NT, but there are also some slightly off-shape hands that are best to open 1NT. Here we look at those.
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 418.
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Slam Bidding: Gerber and 1430 Gerber
When we are exploring slam in NT we often want to make sure that we don't do something stupid, bid 6NT missing 2 Aces. Gerber is our tool for accomplishing this. Here we look at when 4C is Gerber and an upgrade to traditional Gerber, 1430 Gerber. 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 402.
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Slam Bidding: 1430 Keycard Blackwood
We work to improve our slam bidding tools on a regular basis. 1430 Keycard Blackwood is an upgrade to traditional Blackwood that allows us to avoid slam when we have a weak trump suit. Let's take a look at how. 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 403.
Slam Bidding: Specific Kings
Making a grand slam requires taking 13 tricks. After we ask for keycards we often use 5NT try for grand slam. Here we look at an improvement on the traditional number of kinds responses -- specific Kings. Let's see how this upgrade improves our 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 404.
Slam Bidding: Minorwood
When our suit is a minor, exploring slam by asking for Keycards can be dangerous. If we use 4NT to ask for Keycards there is a good chance that partner's answer will be too high (and we will end up in a bad slam). Here we look at Minorwood, a tool to ask for Keycards while keeping the auction low. 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 405.
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Slam Bidding: Control Showing Bids
When you are interested in slam, you can express this and show controls by using Control-Showing Cuebids. Make sure you and partner have good agreements of how to use these slam exploring 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 406.
Slam Bidding: Jacoby 2NT
Finding a large fit and at least enough values for game makes us interested in exploring slam. Jacoby 2NT allows us to do that while keeping the auction at a low level. This is a valuable tool for allowing us to re-evaluate our hand and explore slam. 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 407.
Slam Bidding: Splinters
Slams that can be made with fewer than the traditional number of HCP often require large fits, ruffing values, and well-located honor cards. A splinter bid by Responder communicates values, fit, and shortness all in one bid and allows Opener to re-evaluate their hand and determine if slam may be possible. 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 408.
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Slam Bidding: Splinters by Opener
Shortness can be shown by the Opener, just as it is by the Responder. Here we look at how Open does this to explore for slam and help Responder re-evaluate their hand. 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 409.
Slam Bidding: Other Slam Tools
There are many other tools for exploring slam. Here we look at how to use some of these valuable and interesting 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 410.
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Opening Lead Basics: Card Combinations
Leading the proper card from your holding is important because it gives part a chance to work out what is going on and may allow them to find the proper way to defend the hand. 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 394.
Opening Lead Basics: Rule of 11
When partner leads "4th best", we have a tool to help us visualize the layout of the suit around the table (and determining if Declarer has any higher cards). Here we look at how to make use of this Rule of 11. 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 395.