::MadeSix::




Thursday, January 29, 2009

Training's on next thursday, 5 Feb. Venue's C11 at 3pm. There's probably a class using it before that, so I'll try to find another classroom to start earlier at 230pm, but for next thursday, follow the above.

hongaik madesix at 8:24 PM
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Hmmm. Seems like it was too easy.

Well, the key play is to overtake the Q with the A on the first trick, preserving the diamond Ace as an entry. Nothing much after that.

Here's a slightly harder one, I think.

Dummy

S J82
H QJT76
D KQ4
C AQ

Declarer

S Q74
H AK852
D A72
C 43

Contract 4H. Lead is the Ten of diamonds.

(One line of play will guarantee the contract on ANY layout.)

In addition, here are some more bidding problems.

A) 1D-2C-2D-2NT-3NT

B) 1D-2S-3S-4C-4H-4S

C) 1S-2NT-3S-3NT

D) 1H-1S-2NT-3S-4S

E) 1C-1H-2NT-3S-3NT

hongaik madesix at 9:29 PM
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Monday, January 26, 2009

Heh. Let's have something new for a change. A declarer play problem.

North (dummy)

S AK432
H AK32
D 654
C Q

South (declarer)

S 65
H 654
D A32
C AJT98

Contract is 3NT. West leads the club 5 and your club Q holds, with East contributing the 2. Think about how to make your contract. This can be made on best defence (i.e. 100%). If you need clues please ask on the tagboard. I'll be posting the answer in a few days time.



Did you know?
Conventions such as stayman and jacoby transfers were named after their inventors.

hongaik madesix at 1:00 AM
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Happy Chinese New Year folks! I'm here to publish the answers.

A) 2C-2D-3NT-4C-4NT-6NT

2C: Any 23+ HCP hand OR 19+ HCP with 8.5+ tricks
2D: Any 0-7 HCP hand
3NT: 25-27 HCP balanced, no 5 card major
4C: Gerber (I realised this should be Stayman. In future, sequences like this will be Stayman)
4NT: 3 Aces
6NT: To Play

B) 1D-2C-2H-2S-3NT

1D: 12+ HCP, 3+ cards, no 5carded major
2C: 10+ HCP, 4+ cards, may have 4carded major
2H: Reverse - 16-18 HCP, 5-4+ D-H, gameforcing
2S: 4+ S
3NT: To play

*2S isn't artificial because 2H is already gameforcing (16+10). Alternatively, you might want to play it as asking for stopper to play NT since partner is unlikely to be 5-4-4-0.

C) 1S-1NT-2H-2S

1S: 12+ HCP, 5+ S
1NT: Any 6-9 HCP hand, no 3card S
2H: 12-18 HCP, 5-4 S-H, non-forcing
2S: To play, 2card S

*There could be two reasons for bidding 2H. One, opener might have genuine game interest if responder has maximum values. Two, opener does not want to play in NT. In this case he likely has more than 5-4 in majors, perhaps 6-4 or 5-5. Since responder does not know which case is it, he should strive to keep the bidding alive lest it's case 1, unless he has minimum values (6 HCP) and knows game is impossible. In this sequence he shows a preference for spades over hearts.

D) 2H-3H

2H: Preempt, 6card H.
3H: Further preempt, to play.

*Remember that conditions for preempting (no 4card major, void etc.) are to be adhered when in 1st/2nd seat but are more flexible in 3rd seat since no game is possible and the objective is to disrupt opponents bidding. Also note that 'preempting' in 4th seat shows 12-15 HCP and 6+ cards. Reason is if you are weak can just pass out. 3H in this case merely eats up opponents bidding space. Check out the vulnerability when preempting too.

E) 1S-2C-2S-4S-4NT-5H-6S

1S: 12+ HCP, 5+ S
2C: 10+ HCP, 4+ C, may have S support
2S: Waiting
4S: 13+ HCP, 3+ S, to play
4NT: Blackwood
5H: 2 Aces
6S: Sign off

*2S is 12-15 HCP with 6+ S only when responder responds at level 1. At level 2, it's a waiting bid. Bid 2S when you don't have the following:
1) 12-13 HCP, balanced (2NT)
2) Second suit to show (shift/jump shift)
3) 16-18 HCP, 6+ S (3S)
4) 16-18 HCP, 5 S, balanced (3NT)
5) 15+ HCP, 4+ C (3C)

People might do a waiting bid even with 5). Waiting bids do not promise anything more. Examples would be 6+ S, 12-15 HCP. By standard convention, 3S after 2S shows minimum 10-12 HCP with 3card support (not 3+ else would have 3S after 1S) wherelse 4S shows 13+ HCP, 3+ S and is essentially to play if opener does not have much more. However, if opener has say 19 HCP with 7 S he will have slam interest and would do the waiting bid as well, hence the Blackwood bid. However more often than not will you get a hand where slam is so visible. Takes a decent amount of judgement for a slam try when you have an intermediate hand (maybe 16 HCP). Good judgement comes with lots of practise :)

Cheerios.

hongaik madesix at 12:10 AM
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Friday, January 23, 2009

Exercise 2 :)



A) 2C-2D-3NT-4C-4NT-6NT



B) 1D-2C-2H-2S-3NT



C) 1S-1NT-2H-2S



D) 2H-3H



E) 1S-2C-2S-4S-4NT-5H-6S



Oops :) Enjoy!

hongaik madesix at 10:41 PM
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Here's the answers to the previous posts.

A) 1H-1S-3H-4H
1H: 12+ HCP, 5+ H
1S: 6+ HCP, 4+ S, may or may not have H support
3H: 16-18 HCP, 6+ H, no 4card S
4H: To play
(With 19-20 HCP and 5 H/6 bad H, rebid 3NT. 21-22 HCP can open 2NT. With 19-22 HCP and 6H, consider opening 2C or rebidding 4H. Alternatively, you can fake a suit by jump shifting.)

B) 1C-1S-2NT
1C: 12+ HCP, 3+ C, no 5card major
1S: 6+ HCP, 4+ S
2NT: 19-20 HCP, balanced, may or may not have S support since 19+6=25 (Gameforcing)
(With 19-22 HCP unbalanced, jump shift will show 19+ HCP and also gameforcing.)

C) 1NT-2C-2H-2NT-4S
1NT: 16-18 HCP, balanced, no 5 card major
2C: Stayman, asking for 4card major
2H: 4card H, maybe 4card S
2NT: Invitation to 3NT
4S: To play, since responder must have 4card spade for stayman

Any further queries please use the tagboard. FYI, this is not "homework", it's just some revision to refresh your memories. You can simply write down your answers somewhere and check when answers are up. If you have any further questions then please feel free to use the tagboard or email me. Of course, if you prefer to send me your answers I'll be glad to have it and I'll give you a more detailed reply.

Cheers and Happy CNY! :)

hongaik madesix at 10:08 PM
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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Training's cancelled on 29 Jan. Will resume on 5 Feb unless there's CCA walkabout, which then will resume on 12 Feb.

I'm trying to get a new classroom because the H3 Math students are using it 415pm. So for now assume everything status quo unless otherwise informed.

Thanks!

hongaik madesix at 8:51 PM
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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Let's just start with easy things - Bid explanation.

Explain each of the following bids in this sequence, including HCP promised, number of cards promised and other information it may show. Include things that the particular bid denies as well.

Example: 1C-1H-1NT-3NT
1C: 12+ HCP, 3+ cards, denies 5carded major
1H: 6+ HCP, 4+ cards
1NT: 12-15 HCP, denies 4 card H and 4 card S
3NT: To play


A) 1H-1S-3H-4H

B) 1C-1S-2NT

C) 1NT-2C-2H-2NT-4S

Use the tagboard for enquiries!

hongaik madesix at 6:36 PM
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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Hello. This is going to be the contract bridge blog of our club. There'll be many interesting things you can find on this site; random did-you-know facts, declarer play deals, double dummy analysis, and bidding problems.

Announcements will also be posted here, so do check this blog often!

hongaik madesix at 8:38 PM
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Testing...

1C, 2H, 3H, 4D, 7NT!

Sherman madesix at 12:53 AM
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