Latest This Week in Bridge (TWIB) Lesson - C+
Another approach for using 2♥ and 2♠ responses to 1-minor suit opening bids is to use these bids to show a variety of problematic hands that have length in both Major suits. This method, called Reverse Flannery, is particularly effective after a 1♦ opening bid. It originally comes from Precision where 1♦ is the only “natural” 1-minor opening bid. Let’s look at how this works and see what types of hands these agreements can help us bid better.
9/2024 (62 min)
Here we review some fundamentals of opening bids and look more deeply into your thought process before we open the bidding. Then we pivot to the responder’s actions and make sure that we are prepared to construct a good auction with some problem situations.
11/20/23 (61 min)
When we win the contract in a part-score and do not have an 8-card fit it is usually because we either have more HCP than the opponents or there was an auction that kept the opponents from getting into the bidding. Let's make sure that we know how to play these hands.
12/4/23 (61 min)
When we play a part-score deal and we have a trump fit it usually means that we have more trump the opponent's do. Making use of our trump suit is a key part of good declarer play, especially in a part-score deal.
12/11/23 (61 min)
When we have enough points to bid game and we are playing in a trump suit then we need to make sure that we make use of our trump in the best ways we possibly can. Here we look at some examples and see how we can then best play the hand.
12/18/23 (61 min)
When we have enough points to bid game and we are playing in a trump suit then we need to make sure that we make use of our trump in the best ways we possibly can. Here we look at some examples and see how we can then best play the hand.
10/23/23 (61 min)
After we open the bidding, if our LHO makes an Overcall this makes Responder's bidding more difficult. Here we look at Responder's freebid options and what they new to hold in order to freely bid a new suit.
10/29/23 (63 min)
When we think we are going to win the contract, but suddenly one of the opponents balances back into the auction this can lead to some strange bidding situations. Here we look at the meaning of our subsequent bids in these auctions.
11/6/23 (61 min)
A double eary in the bidding is usual has a meaning that we have discuss with partner. But later doubles can be a bit confusing. And this is even more true with they are our second double of the auction. Here we look at the meaning of these second doubles.
July 2025 - Coming Soon!
When partner opens the bidding with 1-Major then we normally go slow and make a low level response. But we can also use some immediate jumps to high bids to describe some interesting and difficult hands. Let’s look at the meaning of this high-level jump responses.
July 2025 - Coming Soon!
Here we look at some other complex auctions and special responses to 1-level opening bids. We focus on some jump shift responses to 1-Major and 1-minor and then turn out focus to NT responses to minor suit openings.
July 2025 - Coming Soon!
When Responder makes a jump shift, either a weak jump shift or a 3/1 invitational jump shift, then Opener is left to figure out what to do next. Here we look at what types of hands Opener should bid with (like) and when they should be conservative and Pass.
July 2025 - Coming Soon!
There are some classic auctions that lead to confusion between partnerships. Ones that you should make sure you and partner agree upon.
Highlands Falls, NC Seminars
Highlands Falls Country Club
August 11-12, 2025
Details - Members & Guests
Woman's Athletic Club of Chicago Seminars
WAC Seminars
October 9, 2025
Details - Members & their guests
Ocean Reef Seminars
Key Largo, FL
January 8-9, 2026
Details - Members & their guests
Jupiter Island Club Seminars
Jupiter Island Club, FL
January 11-14, 2026
Details — Members & Guests
Belleair Country Club
Belleair, FL
January 18, 2026
Details - Members & their guests
Cabo, MX Bridge Seminars
Cabo Mexico - Querencia Golf Club
February 7-13, 2026
Details - Members, Guests, & Friends
Oasis in RB
17170 Bernardo Center Rd. San Diego, CA 92128
March 13-14, 2026
Details TBD
Latest This Week in Bridge (TWIB) Practice Hands - D+
Responder's Bidding Tools
New Minor Forcing is an excellent convention for continuing the auction when Opener has shown a balanced hand that is weaker than opening 1NT. But after a New Minor Forcing bid, the auction often gets complicated if we don’t go straight to game. It can be confusing whether we are inviting game or trying to make a slam try – which bids are forcing and which bids are non-forcing? 2-Way New Minor Forcing is an upgrade to New Minor Forcing that allows Responder to better describe their hand and simplify and clarify the rest of the auction.
Recent This Week in Bridge (TWIB) Videos - H+
Lesson 1 of 8 (25 min)
Video of Robert further discussing the topics in TWiB Lesson #329.
“Bridge is the greatest of all card games. It’s both entertaining and challenging at the same time. Here you can get started learning to play this great game or work to improve your game, no matter your level of bridge experience. ”
Regional At Sea
Nov 16-23, 2025 (7 Nights)
Roundtrip from Galveston, TX
Harmony of the Sea
Regional At Sea - Flyer
Regional at Sea
Augst 23 - September 26, 2026 (14 Nights)
From Lisbon to New York
Regional At Sea - Flyer
Millpond Seminars
Thomasville, GA
March 22-25, 2026
Private Event