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This month we will take a look at the dark side of the force – enter the psych. Regardless of our feelings about these nasty critters, they’ve been around a long time and with charismatic pranksters like Zia to perpetrate some rather “creative bidding”, it’s clear the psych is alive (if not always well) even at the top levels of Bridge play.

While fit showing jumps come in many flavors, the vanilla flavored “FSJ” after a passed hand is popular with many advanced partner. If you haven’t tried it yet, perhaps now is a good time to give it a taste test.

You’re in the passout seat in an uncontested auction where the opponents have bid game or slam, perhaps with an alert or another systemic call. Is it within your right to inquire about a specific bid before making the final pass? Let’s argue the merits of Law 20F versus Law 16A and see who wins. . .

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Last month we explored the raw power of trump used for ruffing and sluffing. This month we have a special treat – Marty Bergen has generously agreed to allow BridgeHands excerpt the chapter “Trumps are Wild” from his Points Schmoints book (nominated “book of the year” by the ABTA – American Bridge Teachers’ Association).

In our premiere issue, BridgeHands covered the basics of the finesse. Let’s add a handy reminder on repeated finesses, enter the Rule of 2.

Goulash, a tasty treat for Bridge players? No, we’re not referring to anything edible. But the goulash deal is an oddity enjoyed by masochistic Bridge players, if you care to try a bizarre interlude from the typical Rubber Bridge game.

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Continuing the saga of reverse bidding, this month we will turn our attention to the meaty topic of responder’s rebids. Responder’s hands can be subdivided into one of five hand patterns, two supporting opener’s first or second bid suits, two based on one or two-suited hands, the last expressing a balanced hand. Regarding strength, responder’s hand falls in one of three types: minimum, game signoff, slam interest. Using this framework, we will develop appropriate responses to opener’s reverses including the addition of the Lebensohl conventional rebid.

Unauthorized Information, specifically hesitations and a break in tempo lead to frequent appeals at ACBL national tourneys and the Fall 2005 Denver NABC was no exception. Yet this month we will focus on a different issue – misinformation, an issue that also pops up with some regularity in Duplicate Bridge.

Are you looking for an extra edge to literally see through your opponents’ cards? Then our April issue has just the device for you! Step up and be the first at your table to sport your very own xray vision glasses at the table! Better yet, using this approach you do not have to read any Bridge book (Right Through The Pack). Okay, we were just pulling your leg – April Fools! We hope you enjoyed our well-meaning prank.

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Welcome to our “April Fools” issue of Bridgehands – we hope you are ready to add some more tricks (literally and figuratively) during the play of the hand. Following last month’s ruffling theme, this month we will put ruffing play into action, adding several tactics to our ruffing arsenal. Our lesson will focus on two of declarer’s favorite ploys, ruffing and sluffing; next month we will follow- up with cross-ruffing and ruffing out a side-suit.

We are proud to announce our affiliation with Marty Bergen. Marty’s work is legend – a world-class Bridge player and theorist, renowned teacher, Cruise Teacher, and prolific Author/Publisher! Bridge players are blessed by the thousands of nuggets he shares in book after book. At BridgeHands, we invite you to sample two of Marty’s leading books: Points Schmoints and Marty Sez. Please call Marty directly at 800 386-7432 or send EMAIL to him at mbergen@mindspring.com to place your order. Mention Coupon Code BHB1 when you order any hardbound book and you will receive two free softbound books!

With all the “Rules of” (15, 20, Anticipation) discussed in prior issues, can there be more? For sure, yes! This month let’s go to the head of the list and examine the Rule of 1, a useful tactic during play.

As dummy, are you allowed to help the declarer in any way? If you said “no”, then you should brush up on Bridge Laws 42 and 43 and learn more about the three dummy rights and limitations. For instance, did you know that if you look at the declarer’s hand during play, you’ve lost the three rights? Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness may be “unalienable rights” in the United States Declaration of Independence, but in our fair game of Bridge be careful or you can lose your “qualified” rights!

Are you looking for an extra edge to literally see through your opponents’ cards? Then our April issue has just the device for you! Step up and be the first at your table to sport your very own xray vision glasses at the table! Better yet, using this approach you do not have to read any Bridge book (Right Through The Pack). Okay, we were just pulling your leg – April Fools! We hope you enjoyed our well-meaning prank.

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In prior issues, we explored forcing bids and the forcing pass. This month we will revisit a sometimes misused old friend of ours, the reverse bid – known as the “barrier” bid in some circles. Most players are comfortable with the criteria for the opener’s basic reverse, but rebid agreements are occasionally glossed over without solid partnership agreements or how to deal with out-of-the-ordinary situations. Even basic system agreements affect what is and is not a reverse. Is it right to reverse with a minimum opening hand and 5=6=1=1 shape? Would you ever reverse with a 3=2=3=5, 1=4=4=4, 3=4=4=2, or 3=4=2=4 shape? Hopefully you’ll be ready for these challenging hands before you pick one up at the table.

Also in this issue, we will kibitz a tough opening lead at the Bermuda Bowl. And if you’ve ever been suspicious of computer dealt hands in ACBL tournaments, we will take a look at what goes on “behind the curtain”.

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In our continuing saga of opening leads, this month our feature article shifts from leads against Notrump contracts to defending against opponents’ suit contracts. Whether declarer or defender, playing a suit contract is often a “ruff” life.

Last month’s article on Laws discussed the opening lead out of turn, but things could be worse – what about when partner exposes a card before the opening lead? Rubber Bridge players, check out Law 23.

We’ve discussed the Rule of 15 and Rule of 20, so let’s have some fun with the Rule of Anticipation.

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When opponents begin and end the auction in Notrump and partner doubles, what are your partnership agreements? Do you lead a long or short major, certain minor, shortest suit, Spade, or something else? Does it matter if opponents made suit bids en-route to their game or higher contract? Read on – we’ll take a look at agreements and a few situations where the top-dogs have shown their mortality like the rest of us.

On the topic of lead directing doubles, what better time could we find to review agreements when Right Hand Opponent cuebids our suit? Be careful before smartly placing your double card on the table.

Turning to the Laws, the ACBL has recently clarified its position when declarer begins to play a card from hand (L45C2). If you are a tourney player, check out this article.

Just for fun – the “knee jerk” Amnesia Double is one convention you do not want in your bidding arsenal! Also, “Holy Smoke, Batman – are we playing with a Pinochle deck?”

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For the last few months, we featured two of declarer’s favorite play strategies – the finesse and the promotion play. This month in our first of a two part article, we will explore considerations for the defender to make the best lead when opponents are playing a Notrump contract. There’s more to this game beyond leading your fourth-best card: find out why.

With our focus on leads this month, let’s review the Laws when something goes awry on the opening lead.

Everyone loves to open a hand for bidding. Last month we learned how the “Rule of 15” gives us another hand evaluation criterion when partner is a passed hand. Now let’s explore the “Rule of 20” – a third hand evaluation method, useful even when partner hasn’t bid.

My, partner, you have great shape – referring to your hand distribution, of course! Some hands have cute colloquial names associated with them to describe the shape: Swan, Rattlesnake, Two/Three Suiter, Pancake, (Ugly) Duckling, Freak, and Stiff. Regardless of how you play the cards, use these clichés and you’ll sound like you really know your stuff after you have finished this month’s newsletter.

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Last month we featured forcing bids and promised to delve into the Forcing Pass. If you haven’t discussed various scenarios or guidelines with your partner, hopefully this article will enlighten you.

Next, we will check out the Grosvenor Gambit, an unusual play that seemingly forfeits a trick, but… sometimes even an expert pulls one off!

The Michaels Cuebid is not a big deal, but even the professionals can get confused when the opener “could be short”. We’ll look at both the bid and what happens when when the Director is called to handle mis-information.

This month’s hand comes from the Denver NABC Barometer game where Jim Krekorian both jumped into 3 Notrump (Bob Hamman style), then managed a nice double squeeze.

Lastly, we’ll take a look at Multiple Compression – every bit as painful as it sounds!

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Dear Bridge Friend,

Welcome to our introductory issue of BridgeHands Newsletter for Intermediate and Advanced Bridge Players. While this issue will highlight features of the BridgeHands website, we promise to include the type of interesting Bridge information you’ll find in future issues.

Navigating BridgeHands

Game Tries, Losing Trick Count, and Cover Cards

Forcing Bids

Nice Bluhmer, partner!