Most partnerships that play Support Doubles have had a conversation about when they apply and when they do not. Hopefully, we will have a conversation with partner about the follow-up bids as well. But one thing that many partnerships forget to discuss is how high support doubles apply and what a double at a higher-level show. Let’s look at support double auctions in detail to make sure we are on the same page with partner.
Active opening leads attempt to "go out and get" our tricks. Passive leads, on the other hand, attempt to just not give anything away or help Declarer. There are many different types of passive leads for many different situations. Here we take a look at several lead types and hands where a passive lead may or may not have the intended effect!
Taking tricks with small cards is an important part of Declarer’s plan for making their contract. As a Defender, it is our job to do everything we can to stop that from happening. That means that suits that have potential winners, threat cards, must not be allowed to grow up into winners. We attempt to prevent this from happening by covering an honor with an honor (to prevent promotion) and by holding onto our cards in the opponent’s long suits – called guarding the suit
We usually win tricks with little cards (other than in the trump suit) by setting up our long suits. To establish these little cards in our long suits into winners, we need to play the hand well. This requires using our large cards in the best way possible to establish our little cards. That means we need to play our combinations as best as we can, manage our transportation, and have some good luck in the way the cards divide.
Major suit fits are the most important ones to find. When partners begins the auction with 1-Major then finding a Major suit fit can be easier. Let's look at how we Respond to a Major suit opening so that we give our side the best chance for finding a fit and getting to the best final contract.
You can find Robert’s Bidding. Basics book here.
https://www.advinbridge.com/learn-bidding-basics
Balancing by Responder
This week we look at balancing in more detail. Our focus is on Balancing by the Responder — how they fight their way back into the auction.
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 433.
Balancing NT Bids
When we are in the balancing seat we need many ways to compete in the bidding. We can use NT bids to compete in the bidding to describe the appropriate hands.
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 434.
Now that we know how to open the bidding with 1-minor then we need to practice responding to 1-minor. We generally respond using natural bids in these auctions -- let's see how it works!
You can find Robert’s Bidding. Basics book here.
https://www.advinbridge.com/learn-bidding-basics
When we have a good hand (opening bid values) and don't have the right hand for opening NT or 1-Major then we fallback on opening the bidding 1-minor (our least favorite opening bid). Here we look at auctions that begin with a 1-minor opening bid.
You can find Robert’s Bidding. Basics book here.
https://www.advinbridge.com/learn-bidding-basics
Balancing with Distributional Hands
This week we continue our discussion on balancing with a focus on our options for doing so with distributional hands.
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 435.
Other than 1NT, the most important opening bid in bridge is 1-Major (1H or 1S). Here we look at hands that begin with these openings and how the auctions usually proceed.
You can find Robert’s Bidding. Basics book here.
https://www.advinbridge.com/learn-bidding-basics
More Balancing
This week we focus on balancing back into the bidding in a variety of different auctions — this is a key part of modern 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 436.
1NT and 2NT Opening Bids
Do you want to learn the basics of bridge bidding. The most important opening bids is NT. Here we look at the basics of opening the bidding with 1NT (or 2NT).
You can find Robert’s Bidding. Basics book here.
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Pattern Out Auctions
In a 2/1 GF auction we often use our 3rd bid to show more about our distribution. We call this “patterning out”. Here we look at how to use it to 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 419.
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Splinters in 2/1 GF Auctions
In 2/1 GF auctions we can use splinter bids to show a fit and shortness while keeping the auction at a relatively low level. Let's look at our options for how to do so. 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 420.
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Solid Suis in 2/1 GF Auctions
Having an extremely powerful suit can help us reach slam even when the hand is a misfit. In 2/1 GF auctions we have a special way to show these hands. Here we see how to show these powerful suits to 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 421.
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Bypassing a 4-card Suit in 2/1 GF Auctions
Deciding which suit to bid, to create a game forcing auction or after you are already in one, can be a difficult decision. Here we look at when it is ok to bypass a 4-card suit vs when we should just be as cheaply as 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 422.
2/1 GF: Delayed Splinters
After a 2/1 GF and rebid we may find a fit. If we do, one of our options for is a delayed splinter. This shows a fit and shortness. Let's look at how we use these bids to try for slam in these auctions.
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 423.
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2/1 GF: 4th Suit in 2/1 GF
When we are in a 2/1 GF auctions and we bid the 4th suit there is a potential for a misunderstand with partner. Here we look at what types hands may need to bid the 4th suit in a game forcing auction.
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 424.
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2/1 GF: Using NT Bids in 2/1 GF Auctions
In the middle of a 2/1 GF auction some of the most useful bids that we can make are NT bids. This is true for both Opener and Responder. Here we look at how we use these bids to show stoppers and properly describe the strength of our 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 425.
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2/1 GF: Special 2M and 2NT Rebids in 2/1 GF
Here we look at a modern expert treatment in 2/1 GF auctions which uses a 2NT rebid like the rebid of a suit — showing a 6+card suit. Let’s see how it work and how it helps redefine our bidding structure.
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 426.
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.
