Latest This Week in Bridge (TWIB) Lesson - C+

Featured

(641) 2 over 1 Game Forcing: Modern Bridge Standard

2 Over 1 Game Forcing (2/1 GF) bids are the core of a modern approach to bidding. The primary idea is that when partner opens at the 1-level and we bid a new suit at the 2-level (not including jump shifts), this is a game forcing bid – meaning neither Opener nor Responder can pass below game. This allows both players to confidently describe their hands – knowing that all their bids are forcing and they won’t get “dropped” before reaching game.

Latest Webinars

Fundamentals - Opening and Responding Basic

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.

More Suits 2 - Play Part Scores without a Fit with Me

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.

More Suits 2 - Play Part Scores with a Fit with Me

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.

More Suits 2 - Play Game Contracts with Me

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.

More Suits 2 - Play Slam Contracts with Me

12/18/23 (61 min)

Annoying Comp Auctions - Freebids & Follow-ups

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.

Annoying Comp Auctions - Bidding After They Balance

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.

Annoying Comp Auctions - Double Followed by Double

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.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Fundamentals - High Level Response to 1-Major Openings

Fall 2026

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.

Webinar Notes

Fundamentals - Other Responses 1-Level Openings

Fall 2026

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.

Webinar Notes

Fundamentals - Hand Eval after Responder's Jump Shift

Fall 2026

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.

Webinar Notes

Fundamentals - Some Confusing Auctions

Fall 2026

There are some classic auctions that lead to confusion between partnerships. Ones that you should make sure you and partner agree upon.

Webinar Notes

Become a Spades Member — Watch Over 150 Webinars

Robert's Upcoming Seminars

Denver, CO Seminars

Denver, CO Seminars
Denver Metro Bridge Club
August 14-15, 2026
Flyer

Pittsburgh Teaching

Pittsburgh Regional Beginner Bridge Teaching
September 15-20, 2026
Details to be added

CA Teaching Week

CA Teaching Week
September 21-24, 2026
Details - TBD

Coral Beach Club Bermuda Seminars

Coral Beach Club Bermuda Seminars
September 29-October 2, 2026
Details - Members, Guests & Affiliates
Contact Robert for details.

Midwest Teaching Week

Midwest Teaching Week
October 8-16, 2026
Details to be added

Miami Seminars

Riviera CC Seminars
Miami, FL
Oct 29-30, 2026
Contact Robert for details.

DC Teaching

Cosmos Club
November 10-11, 2026
Details - Members & Guests

Latest This Week in Bridge (TWIB) Practice Hands - D+

Featured

Innovative Uses of Transfer Bids - Transfer McCabe

Recent This Week in Bridge (TWIB) Videos - H+

Featured

Hand Evaluation: Counting Points - Before the Auction Begins

Lesson 1 of 8 (25 min)

Video of Robert further discussing the topics in TWiB Lesson #329.

Buy - $10

Play ►

TWiB Lesson

“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. ”

— Robert S. Todd

AiB Memberships

CLUBS

Cost: FREE

The CLUBS Level Membership allows you FREE access to many of Robert’s written bridge materials.

ROBERT’S ADVENTURES IN BRIDGE CURRICULUM, giving you recommendations of what to learn next. This is a 10-level curriculum and includes the UPGRADE YOUR BIDDING SYSTEM structure and ACBL convention cards for each level.
START LEARNING BRIDGE! Page — A page that includes a variety of materials to help you learn to the basics of bridge. This includes ROBERT’S BIDDING BASICS book (digital version) as well as over 140 practice hands to help you learn the basics of bidding.
The THIS WEEK IN BRIDGE (TWiB) LIBRARY with about 500 lessons that you can search for topics, or filter/sort by Level and Category.
—————
ROBERT’S ARTICLES - Many of Robert’s other articles. Including, REASONING WITH ROBERT (ACBL COLUMN), ROBERT’S PLAY HARD, PLAY WELL LIBRARY (SBN COLUMN), and Robert’s Bridgebase Online Columns.
ROBERT’S BRIDGE QUOTES collection. These are bridge saying and quotes, mostly by Robert, that many bridge players find extremely helpful in guiding them to do the right thing at the bridge table.
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKBOOK - This is a workbook of over 500 bidding sequences for you and partner to discuss and come to agreements on for meaning. This well help you understand partner better and allow you both to be in agreement on more auctions.

Sign up for CLUBS

DIAMONDS

COST: $15/month

The DIAMOND level membership includes access to all of the materials from the CLUB level membership with the addition of practice hands.

THIS WEEK IN BRIDGE (TWIB) EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE HANDS for each week’s lesson. You get access to over 2000 practice hands (powered by BridgeBee). An amazing value!

Sign up for DIAMONDS

HEARTS

Cost: $25/MONTH

The HEARTS Level Membership includes CLUBS and DIAMONDS Level Membership plus Robert’s TWiB videos and podcasts.

THIS WEEK IN BRIDGE (TWIB) VIDEOS - For a variety of TWiB lessons, in addition to the lesson and practice hands, you get a video of Robert further explaining the important parts of the lesson. You have access to all of the TWIB videos — over 40 of them.
TWiB PODCAST - You can stream or download the audio podcast for many TWiB videos to listen to at your convenience.

SIGN UP FOR HEARTS

SPADES

Cost: $65/MONTH

The SPADES Level Membership includes CLUBS, DIAMONDS, and HEARTS Level Membership, plus the Webinar Library and more. That means:

GUIDANCE - Recommendation of What to Learn Next

AiB Curriculum for Players of all level - Recommendation of what to learn next

ARTICLES TO READ - Find Everything You Want to Learn

Robert’s Bidding Basics - Overview of the basics
This Week in Bridge Articles -- Over 500 sorted by Level and Category
Many of Robert's Other Articles - ACBL, SBN, BBO
Robert's Bridge Quotes — Guidelines to help improve your game.
Partnership Bidding Workbook — Bidding questions to help you improve your partnership and cut down on bidding mixups.

PRACTICE HANDS (BRIDGEBEE) - Educational Practice Hands

Hands from TWIB Articles - 2000+ Hands
Practice Hands - Seminar and Webinar Hands
Greetings from Robert - Daily Bridge Hands and Discussion

VIDEOS AND WEBINARS - Watch and Learn

ROBERT’S WEBINAR LIBRARY -- 200+ 1-hour videos to help you improve your game
TWIB & Other Videos -- videos & podcasts

SIGN UP FOR SPADES

NOTRUMP

Cost: $200/MONTH

The NOTRUMP Level Membership includes CLUBS, DIAMONDS, HEARTS, and SPADES Level Membership plus a Private Lesson:

PRIVATE ZOOM LESSON - 1-hour lesson with Robert for you each month. You may include your partner and Robert will help you with any part of your bridge game (limited availability).