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Advanced Lesson 4 – More Balancing Seat Bids for Duplicate Bridge Players

January 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Here we go again!  Yes, once again Lefty opened the bidding and after two passes, it’s up to you to make a call.  In this lesson we discuss the first few of 9, yes NINE possible actions.  Passing may seem like a sell-out, especially after “borrowing a King” from partner, yet sometimes we’re been dealt a funky hand and the proverbial VULNERABILITY stars are in the wrong position (adverse).  Or, you have lousy working values, or the game format isn’t favorable (Match Point), or your suit distribution screamed PASS (long/weak LHO suit, a short Spade suit, etc).   Fortunately, much of the time we can scramble up a 1 level bid or make a balancing seat 1 Notrump call.  In future lessons, we will explore the wide world of the takeout double, 2 and 3 level jump and non-jump bids, cuebids and more!  But wait, there’s much more waiting when we head for the table when defenders and the declarer begin plunking card down on the table…

By the way, Premium and ULTRA members are welcome to enjoy prior Advanced Lesson segments as well as the Social Lessons (covering Major Suit Raises in the first 4 lessons).  Better yet, check out the hundreds of hours of videos in our archive by clicking
“Index to Videos” on the navigation above or simply click this link.

Visitors – please click here to view Part 1 of the Teaser

Premium and ULTRA Members click here to view Part 1 of the 25 minute video

For our Advanced players sitting in the passout seat, we will compare and contract three bidding variations.  Sure, in the balancing seat we always strive to be partner’s hero and rummage up a bid after “borrowing a King” from partner.  Yet with questionable values, sometimes we will not have the anticipated story book ending.  And how about you – do you feel lucky?  One way or the other, let’s see how this story turns out for the declarer and the would-be defenders.

Visitors – please click here to view Part 2 of the Teaser

Premium and ULTRA Members click here to view Part 2 of the 14 minute video

We hope you enjoy the show!

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Happy Trails,

BridgeHands

Filed Under: Advanced

Social Lesson 4 – More Major Suit Game Bidding using Losing Trick Counting

January 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Once again, after opener opens in a major suit with 12-21 points and a 5 card suit, with 6 points and a 3+ card suit it’s time for responder either make a signoff 2 level bid, invite game with a 3 level bid or drive to a 4 level major suit game.  Fair enough, yet even when responder makes a minimum call, opener may have extras – either a medium or maximum hand, and push onward toward game.  We normally define openers minimum/medium/maximum hand as 12-14 HCP, 15-17 HCP or a good 18-21 High Card Point hand.  Better yet, in this episode we will see how Losing Trick Count hand valuation can help propel us to game when traditional HCP hand valuation falls short.    But wait, there’s more!  Both the declarer and defenders will have their work cut out for themselves doing their level best to make or defeat the declarer’s auction.   So sit right up and tune in to our BridgeHands videos!

Premium and ULTRA members are welcome to enjoy both lesson segments as well as the Advanced Part 2 lesson on Freebids.  Better yet, check out the hundreds of hours of videos in our archive by clicking “Index to Videos” on the navigation above or simply click this link.

General Audiences – click here to view Part 1 of our Teaser

Premium and ULTRA Members click here to view Part 1 with 31 minute of video

In session 1 of our Social Lesson, opener aggressively jumped directly to a major suit game with what some would call a “medium hand” with 15-17 High Card Points. How so?  Using Losing Trick Count and only 5 losers, of course.  So far – so good, but now the proof of the pudding is in the eating and its time prove our meddle during declarer and defender play.  We will include three play variations, identifying the good, bad, and the ugg!

General Audiences – click here to view Part 2 of our Teaser

Premium and ULTRA Members click here to Part 2 with 23 minutes of video

In this lesson we will cover Losing Trick Count and Cover Card hand valuation, the perils of not covering an honor with an honor (most of the time), ensuring transportation and entries to promotable suit, avoiding giving declarer a ruff and sluff, preventing a “dangerous” opponent from gaining the lead, planning a contingency plan when defender’s trump break 4-1, listening to the opponents bidding before blindly trying a finesse and more.

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Happy Trails,

BridgeHands

Filed Under: .Social