Declare a hand Check list
There is the opening lead!
Down comes the dummy!
Nice hand! Thank you Partner
What am I thinking?
I. Where is the hand you were bidding in the auction? :)
II. Was the opening lead fast?
III. Did the opening leader have a tough time finding a lead?
1. Review the bidding, make a plan.
2. Carefully consider the opening lead, make a plan.
a. Did defender lead his partner bid suit? Why not?
b. Did defender lead a singleton? Length lead?
c. Did defender make an honor lead? Top of a sequence?
d. Top of an internal sequence?
e. Was it a fourth best lead (low from an honor)
f. Top of a doubleton
g. Was the lead from an unbid suit?
h. Was the lead thru dummies strength?
i. Was the lead good for you free finesse ?
3. How many total tricks do I need to make? Make a plan.
a. How many do I already have?
b. How many do I need to generate?
c. Try for overtricks, will it jeopardize contract?
4. OK let’s go to work. Ways to create tricks. Make a plan.
a. Force opponents to win higher tricks to promote mine.
b. Ruff cards in the hand with short trump
c. Do I pull trump now? Timing?
d. How many trumps do I need to ruff losers?
e. What if the opps get in and play my trump before I am ready? Timing
f. Strip hand and loose control, let opponents lead broken suit.
g. Count winners and losers, should I concede losers early or
wait until end of play? Timing
5. Here I am half way thru, how’s it going?
a. Did the opponents signal each other? Get any clues?
b. Any surprises about the distribution of the hands?
c. What was the opening lead? Why?
6. I have the rest of the tricks! Am I 100% sure, no doubt about it. State my line of play and CLAIM! Well done to me There is no reason to take more time.
Barry Depristo
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Over bidding
YOU have to believe 100% in the information you gave you partner.
Get his permission to bid more.
Don't just do it. ASK pard?
Make a game try :)
Get his permission to bid more.
Don't just do it. ASK pard?
Make a game try :)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Take out double and responders bids
Takeout Double
If your opponent opens with a suit bid, a double by you promises:
• At least opening-bid strength (12+ pts.)
• Shortness in the suit the opponent opened.
• Support for all unbid suits. Your double forces partner to bid, so you must have at least 3-card length in any suit he will choose. Typical hands for a takeout double of an opponent's 1C opening would be:
KJ76 AQ92 KJ4 65
Q104 AK84 K10432 8
The exception: There is one type of hand where you can double without support for all unbid suits. You can start with a double if you have a hand that has one long suit and great strength (17+ pts.) -- The type of hand where you don't want to risk having partner pass a simple overcall of your suit. Your hand and your suit should be strong enough that you could make game if partner has as little as 4-6 pts. and a fit -- a hand like
KJ AQJ1084 AK65 7. To describe this hand, start with a double that forces partner to respond. Then "overrule" partner's choice by freely bidding your heart suit at your next turn.
Over call your own suit 8-15 pts
Double then bid your own suit 16-18 pts
Double then freely bid your own suit skipping a level 19-21+ pts
If the opponent opens 1NT, all the suits are unbid, so a double is not for takeout. A double of 1NT is always for penalty, showing 18+ pts. Use this double cautiously. Even if you have a lot of high-card points, you should avoid making a penalty double unless you have a strong suit to lead.
Responding to Partner's Takeout Double! If partner doubles an opponent's suit bid, you must respond unless:
• The opponent on your right has also entered the bidding, OR
• You have a long, strong holding in the opponent's suit and want to "convert" partner's takeout double to a penalty double.
Respond your longest unbid suit at the level that shows your point-count:
• 0-8 pts. -- Bid your longest suit at the lowest level possible (1H - DBL - Pass - 1S, 2C or 2D).
• 8+-11 pts. -- Jump a level in your longest suit to show strength (1H - DBL - Pass - 2S, 3C or 3D).
• 7-10 pts. -- Bid 1NT if you have good stoppers in the opponent's suit.
• 11-12 pts. -- Jump to 2NT if you have stoppers in the opponent's suit, but do not have length in an unbid major.
• 12+ pts. – Cue bid the opponents suit. 100% game forcing
If your opponent opens with a suit bid, a double by you promises:
• At least opening-bid strength (12+ pts.)
• Shortness in the suit the opponent opened.
• Support for all unbid suits. Your double forces partner to bid, so you must have at least 3-card length in any suit he will choose. Typical hands for a takeout double of an opponent's 1C opening would be:
KJ76 AQ92 KJ4 65
Q104 AK84 K10432 8
The exception: There is one type of hand where you can double without support for all unbid suits. You can start with a double if you have a hand that has one long suit and great strength (17+ pts.) -- The type of hand where you don't want to risk having partner pass a simple overcall of your suit. Your hand and your suit should be strong enough that you could make game if partner has as little as 4-6 pts. and a fit -- a hand like
KJ AQJ1084 AK65 7. To describe this hand, start with a double that forces partner to respond. Then "overrule" partner's choice by freely bidding your heart suit at your next turn.
Over call your own suit 8-15 pts
Double then bid your own suit 16-18 pts
Double then freely bid your own suit skipping a level 19-21+ pts
If the opponent opens 1NT, all the suits are unbid, so a double is not for takeout. A double of 1NT is always for penalty, showing 18+ pts. Use this double cautiously. Even if you have a lot of high-card points, you should avoid making a penalty double unless you have a strong suit to lead.
Responding to Partner's Takeout Double! If partner doubles an opponent's suit bid, you must respond unless:
• The opponent on your right has also entered the bidding, OR
• You have a long, strong holding in the opponent's suit and want to "convert" partner's takeout double to a penalty double.
Respond your longest unbid suit at the level that shows your point-count:
• 0-8 pts. -- Bid your longest suit at the lowest level possible (1H - DBL - Pass - 1S, 2C or 2D).
• 8+-11 pts. -- Jump a level in your longest suit to show strength (1H - DBL - Pass - 2S, 3C or 3D).
• 7-10 pts. -- Bid 1NT if you have good stoppers in the opponent's suit.
• 11-12 pts. -- Jump to 2NT if you have stoppers in the opponent's suit, but do not have length in an unbid major.
• 12+ pts. – Cue bid the opponents suit. 100% game forcing
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