All of the E/W pairs got to the spade game but the trouble with the match pointed pairs scoring method is that you do not know what your target is. 

The way the scoring works is the board is scored a second time. At this second scoring you get 2 points for every score that you beat and 1 point for every score that you draw with.

This means that if all pairs are in 4♠ and everyone but you make 10 tricks you score all of the points on the board. That is, you get a top.

Let us look at board 7 from last Thursday. All player led a diamond but only one led the correct card, that is, the 5. This is second highest. On this hand it makes no difference however, it will increase partner's trust if you lead the correct card consistently.

Now back to the hand. You are certainly going to lose the trump Ace and the number of hearts that you lose depends whether toy guess to play small to the Queen or small to the 10 after you have drawn their trumps. But you should all be making 10 or 11 tricks. On the actual hand one pair score 11 tricks and all the points and one pairs went down and scored zero.

Now what is a bit harsh with the scoring method is look at the East/West scores. Pair 12 did nothing when their opponents misplayed the hand but they score all of the match points.

Pairs is a tough game!

Lots of points about this weeks hand.

1. just look at the South hand. 14 points and a 5 card suit. But count your losers. 2 spades, 2 hearts, 1 diamond and 2 clubs. 7 but one off for more than you share of Aces. 6 losers. Most 1NT openers are 8 losers and you are two better than that. Open 1♦ aiming to rebid 1NT. Do not be too focused on points alone.
2. The next point is the 2♣  rebid by responder. This is checkback and game forcing. The 2♦  response says opener has not got 3 hearts or 4 spades. 3♦ is forcing.
3. With only 4 diamonds opener would have 4 clubs  or be 4-3-3-3 and bid 3NT and so 3♥  shows a fifth diamond and a heart control.
4. The final point is a good agreement with Blackwood. After the response to 4NT and bid of 5NT not only asks for Kings but promises the all 5 key cards and the trump queen are held. Now North can count 13 tricks. 5 spades, 5 diamonds, 1 heart and 2 clubs.

We hope this helped

This hand from this week shows good bidding at one table but the play let them down.

First let us look at the bidding. 1♦  is the easy opening bid and the 1♥ reply standard. Now the 3♦ rebid shows a good 6 card suit and extra values. Now the important bid because 4♦ MUST be forcing and looking for slam (Why aim for a part score that is passed the 3NT game?) Now 4♠ is a cue bid (don't cue bid a shortage in partner's main suit). 4NT is Roman Key card and the slam is bid.

You now need to make it after they lead a diamond. Before you touch a card make a plan. You have a club loser and at least one spade loser. You can  get rid of a club loser on the second heart but you still have a club loser. You choices are - 

1. Play for the ♥Q to drop
2. Win the first trump in hand and play Ace and ruff a heart. Play a trump to the Ace and run the hearts
3. Finesse the ♥J

As you can see both of line 2 and line 3 works as the cards are but which should you take? Make a plan before looking at the answer.

Todays hand was board 7 on Thursday. The first problem is just what do you open?

Some of you have been taught to open 2NT with 19-20. The main problem with that is how do you then show your 5 card spade suit without adding so complicated bidding (Puppet or Muppet Stayman)?

Okay then if your 2NT is 20-22 all that you are left with is 1♠.

Now we come to responding. We teach that responder must bid with 6 points. However, we add that you may bid with fewer. Should you bid on this hand? We think "Yes" If partner is a minimum and you pass surely they will protect and maybe outbid you. So you must bid but just what are you going to bid? We have a simple agreement. If you choice is to respond with 1NT or to raise partner to the 2 level in their major with 3 cards we raise". So 2♠  it is.

Back to opener. West counts their losers. This is a 5 loser hand, partner should have a 9 loser hand. 5+ 9 = 14. 18-14 = 4. So, bid 4 ♠ and then make it.

Just how do I make a game try when partner has raised me to the 2 level? This is an important question that occurred on hand 6 this week.

First, just look at this hand ♠ 8  ♥ K Q J 9 8 7  ♦ A 7 5 2 ♣ 6 4. So you decide to open 1♥ and partner raises to 2♥ .What now?

If you pass any opponents with a pulse will bid and they might well have a spade game. Against that 3♥ will probably make. However, you can only bid 3♥   if partner will pass whatever they hold. So a re-raise to the 3 level should be preemptive.

Now then what do you do if game might be on?

You make a help suit trial bid. That is you bid a new suit which carries the message, "Partner if you are maximum bid game in our agreed suit. If you are not maximum but can help in this suit bid game else sign off at the 3 level.

The first problem with this week's hand is just what do you rebid with the East hand. You have 15 points and so are you allowed to rebid 1NT with the singleton Ace in partner's suit.? If the answer is "yes" then that is your bid. If that is not allowed can you bid 2♥? This is a reverse and do you play it forcing 1 round or, as Dave & Marion teach it as forcing to game? If it is game forcing you have not got enough and so the only bid left is 2♣. 

Now back to responder. Your rebid depends on opener's rebid. What do you rebid if partner has rebid

a) 1NT

b) 2♥ 

c) 2♣ 

Now look at the club suit. When you play the King South plays the Jack. How do you play clubs now?

The principle of Restricted choice now says that you should play North for the rest of the clubs and play a club and cover what North plays.

In the bidding different people  have different ideas. Jill & I have a simple philosophy, "if you use conventions it should come up often and then you won't forget it". We also love a convention that keeps us out of trouble

This is why we use  the Asptro over their 1NT opening. This is

1. 2♣ shows hearts and another suit, if the other is spades they will be longer
2. 2♦ shows  spades and another, If the other is hearts they will be longer
3. 2♥ /♠ show a 6 card suit
4. 2NT shows the minors

Why does it come up more often than other defences to 1NT? While 2 minor shows 5/4 or longer in the 2 suits they can be either way round

In the gentle session this week we used the convention 3 times the first of which was board 1 it would have worked for North to show they do not like hearts by bidding 2♦ and then would have played there. It is difficult to take more than 6 tricks against this contract but even 2 off would have been a top as 1NT makes with an overtrick.

If you would like to know more about Asptro email bridgebug@gmail.com

When the bidding starts like this, just what would West bid with their hand? 2NT

If your agreement is that it shows the minors (Unusual notrump) you are stuck.

Our advice in this position is that it should show 2 places to play and that agreement is ideal on this hand

Okay, let us assume that is what happens how should the bidding continue?

If you get to game can you make it? 

Try to answer before clicking the answer tab