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| No More Sit-Outs! | |
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We have devised a method to do away with sit-outs, for once and for all. When we have a half-table in the game, we enter the computer as a participant in the game, in order to make a full table.
When it would otherwise be your turn to sit out, instead you play against the computer. Your score vs. the computer counts in the game. The computer is always disqualified, so it doesn't take away your masterpoints - in fact, the awards actually increase because the game is larger. |
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Replay At Home  You can replay the boards you've played at the club - in the comfort of your own home. Replay the exact same hands with any of several commercial bridge programs such as GIB or Bridge Baron if you own one. If you have not purchased one, we have a free program for you to download. Click the button for instructions. |  |
| Free Bridge Lessons | |
Rich answers your questions every Tuesday prior to the game.  |
Thursdays, we have a vugraph presentation. Rich reviews interesting deals of the past week. Each board in question is projected onto our large video screen for all to see as we discuss it. |
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 | A Deal from "The Wednesday Game" |
We held our first "Wednesday Game" this week. This game is played by various bridge clubs across the country. We will continue to run it on the first Wednesday of every month.
Today, we cede analysis of this week's Big Deal to Brian Gunnell from the Wednesday Game. Here are Brian's comments about the very first board of this month's set: |
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♠ A K Q 10 4 3 2
♥ K 10 7 2
♦ K
♣ A
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West
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North
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East
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South
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Pass
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2♣
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Pass |
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2♦
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?
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After opening 2♣ with the East hand, and hearing a 2♦ "waiting" bid from West, what would be your rebid?
Scroll down for Brian's analysis. |
| Interclub Match Tomorrow |
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We will play our sixth interclub challenge match vs. Exeter Bridge Club in England this Monday, September 6.
Come out to help us regain the "Hands Across the Pond" trophy. We currently lead the series 3-2. |
| Par Contest Returns |
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Due to popular demand, we are bringing back the "Par" bridge contest on Friday, September 10. You can learn about par bridge contests here. |
| Solution |
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The three obvious possibilites are:
- 2♠: This keeps the bidding low and is a reasonable choice.
- 3♠: This sets Spades as the trump suit and asks Partner to start cue-bidding. But East does not really have the kind of hand where controls are all-important ... there is also the small matter of those slow Heart losers to consider.
- 4♠: Shows a self-sustaining suit and a minimum 2♣ opening, which is pretty much what East has. But it's hardly an informative bid and consumes a huge amount of space.
So, let's say that East bids a simple 2♠. Now what is your choice as West? Let's assume that you have available a "second negative" of 3♣ for use with really bad hands. That means that anything else shows something, let's say at least a King. That being so, West can choose between:
- 3♥: Yes, there are five of them, but what a rotten suit!
- 3♠: West will probably support Spades later but there's no rush to do so with a doubleton, it's quite possible that East has only a 5-card suit.
- 2NT: This is a fairly wide-ranging bid, showing some values but denying support or a suit worth bidding. Exactly what West has!
Now, after East bids 3♠, West can and should support Spades. But not by bidding 4♠, it's better to bid 4♦. As West did not bid 3♦ when he could, this bid is clearly a cue-bid in support of Spades. Now East tries a cue-bid of 4♥, and West has done his all, so he simply bids 4♠.
That was not a bad auction, and slam in Spades (or Hearts) is not a great proposition. The Hearts must be picked up for one loser and that's just a 20% chance (needs onside Ace and a 2-2 split). But the overbidders will triumph here, demonstrating once again that there is not always justice in bridge. Unless, that is, that South manages to find ... ... a stunning lead!
Suppose that you are South, on opening lead against 6♠. What is the lead that beats the contract? Before you say "There isn't one!", consider the effect of leading the ♥J! That's the ticket! Declarer will surely finesse on the second round! Of course, unorthodox leads run the risk of misleading Partner, but this one looks relatively safe, and is unlikely to cost. Stunning, indeed! The entire deal: |
| ♠ 9 6
♥ A 5
♦ 10 8 6 5 4
♣ J 8 6 3
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♠ J 7
♥ 9 8 6 4 3
♦ A 3 2
♣ Q 10 2
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♠ A K Q 10 4 3 2
♥ K 10 7 2
♦ K
♣ A
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| ♠ 8 5
♥ Q J
♦ Q J 9 7
♣ K 9 7 5 4 |
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You can follow the play with the Bridge Movie on our website. |
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  P.S. For those of you who subscribe to Audrey Grant's Better Bridge Magazine, be sure to check out "Come to the Party" in the next issue.
You might recognize the featured bridge club!
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The Nicest Club
815 NE 15th Ave
