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Sitouts Banned! 
We have done 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. Everybody appreciates playing against "Ace O'Matic." In fact, some people are disappointed when we have full tables of "flesh & blood" players and they don't get to play the computer! You can learn more about how this works by clicking here. | |
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Replay At Home  You can now 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 here 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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Many of you noticed The Full Deal did not match this week's hands. Indeed, it was the deal from last week, which I negelected to update. I have rectified it now - if you scroll down, you'll see the actual deal. |
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Greetings!
This Deal of the Week is board 9 from the Wednesday Game last week. I was asked Thursday how to bid the West hand. I'll let you read Brian's comments before I tell you my answer. |
 | A Monster Hand |
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EW Vulnerable
Dealer: North
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West |
North |
East |
South | |
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Pass | 1♦ |
Pass | | | | |
1♥ |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass | | | | |
??? |
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West has a monster three-loser hand opposite an opening bid. How do you suggest that he progresses towards slam?
Scroll down for the answer. |
| The Wednesday Game |
In association with The Wednesday Game, we run a special game on the first Wednesday of every month. This game features expert hand anaylses of the deals you play that day.
On the first Wednesday of each month we play a set of computer-dealt hands, as we normally do. After this game, however, you can visit the Wednesday Game website for expert hand analyses, bidding quizzes and play problems for the hands you have just played. |
| Interclub Matches Catching On |
A couple years ago, Bridge Ace got together with Exeter Bridge Club in England to hold the first ever international match between two clubs. We have held the "Across the Pond" match quarterly since then. We have since played matches against clubs in California, Colorado and Pakistan.
This has stirred up some interest in the bridge world, as evidenced by articles in the New York Times, ACBL Bulletin and Better Bridge Magazine, among others.
Recently, I received the following e-mail:
Hi Rich:
I'm Bob Simpson manager of the Westwood Bridge club in Massachusetts. I'm trying to organized an International 'Post Card' competition. So far we've got 2 clubs in MA and 2 clubs in Australia committed to play, and I'm looking to add more, including clubs from the UK.
We've already selected dates (the second Thursdays of the month in February, March, April, and May). Each month all clubs must send a post card to the club where the winning pair came from, also post cards will be sent to the clubs where the top 3 individual finishers play. (Best 3 out of 4 avgs win the individual.)
However, ultimately the idea is for all clubs involved to receive post cards from the other clubs involved. If your club doesn't win anything, winning clubs should send 'consolation' post cards (gloating is allowed!)... and vise versa if you were to sweep everything.
I'm having made up a 'Post Card Trophy' (OK, it might be a post card with a picture of a trophy on it) which in addition to the other post cards will be sent to the winning club.
If you're interested in joining this competition please let me know!
Bob Simpson
I replied that we would participate in this competition as well. |
| Brian's Answer |
The first step is to establish the trump suit and we can see no reason for West to flirt with Spades. Once East rebids 1NT, Spades are a 5-3 fit at best (and also, why help the opponents find the right opening lead?). So we'd set Hearts as trumps in order to simplify the auction. But that's easier said than done. 3♥ here is generally not played as forcing, so let's say that West tries a New Minor Forcing bid of 2♣, just to get the ball rolling. East will respond 2♦ (denying 3-card Heart support), now what should West do? 2♥ is not forcing here (it would show an invitational hand with 6+ Hearts), but 3♥ certainly is, so that's West's choice. Now East will presumably raise to 4♥, and West is not much the wiser, he'll probably just boot out 6♥.
Of course, what West really wanted to do was to use Exclusion Key Card (a leap to 5♦, asking for Key Cards, but excluding the ♦A). But that's hard to bring about when (a) Partner opens Diamonds, and (b) Partner rebids 1NT. On reflection, there's something to be said for: 1♦ 1♥, 1NT 6♥! Anyway, West does well not to bid Spades, they are a red herring, and bidding that suit will serve no useful purpose, other than to make it easier for North to find the opening Club lead (holding Declarer to just 12 tricks, with other leads resulting in 13 tricks). |
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My Answer
At the club, I answered similarly. Assured of a nine-card heart fit (by East's 1NT rebid), I would ignore the spade suit - there is no point in bidding it.
My choice for West's second bid was the same as the last comment Brian made: 6♥ |
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You can follow the play with the Bridge Movie on our website. |
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