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July 28, 2025
Constructive: Opener
Robert Todd
(588) Kokish Game Tries

When we find a Major suit fit and we are interested in game (specifically in the auction 1M – 2M), we want to have a good way to explore or invite game.  The traditional way to do this is to ask for help in a side suit, using a Help Suit Game Try, HSGT.  We additionally have 2NT available to make a general try for game (some play it as trump suit GT) and a raise to 3-Major to mean 1-2-3 Stop (or generally quantitative/general GT.)  This structure is reasonably effective in exploring game.  But it has two significant downsides:

(588) Kokish Game Tries
July 21, 2025
Constructive: Responder
Robert Todd
(587) XYZ

When the auction begins 1X – 1Y – 1NT (where X and Y are different suit bids), the modern treatment is to play Two-Way New Minor Forcing.  This approach uses both 2♣* and 2♦* as artificial and forcing bids by Responder.  2♦* is an artificial game forcing bid, while 2♣* is generally used to start invitational bidding sequences.

(587) XYZ
July 14, 2025
Constructive: Responder
Robert Todd
(586) 2-Way New Minor Forcing and Wolff Signoff

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. 

(586) 2-Way New Minor Forcing and Wolff Signoff
July 7, 2025
Constructive Bidding
Robert Todd
(585) Modified 2-Way Reverse Drury

The concept of having a conventional bid like Drury available to show a limit raise in support of partner’s Major suit when we are a passed hand is a regular part of most partnerships’ passed hand bidding structure.  Given that making a 2/1 bid into a minor suit is not that attractive (or even possible!) by a passed hand, it makes sense to allocate both 2♣ and 2♦ as artificial raises of Opener’s third seat (or fourth seat) Major suit opening bid.  Many partnerships that play Drury play 2-Way Drury, using one bid to show a 3-card limit raise and the other a 4-card limit raise.  But a more sophisticated structure can allow us to describe even more hand types in the same bidding space.

(585) Modified 2-Way Reverse Drury
June 30, 2025
Constructive Bidding
Robert Todd
(584) Exclusion Keycard

When we are interested in slam in a suit contract but have a void in one of the side suits, it adds some complexity to our slam bidding.  We may be able to make a slam missing two Aces (or a grand slam missing an Ace), if partner does not have the Ace opposite our void.  When exploring slam, we want to know if partner has that Ace or has the “good Aces”, the ones opposite our losers.  One way that we find out about the location of partner’s Aces is by using control showing bids. This is especially effective if we use them to show first round control (if we play that our control showing bids could be 1st or 2nd round, then we know less about which Aces partner hold).  There is a gadget that we can use in some auctions that allows us to try to solve this problem.  This convention, called Exclusion Keycard, asks partner for their number of Keycards (or Aces if we play Blackwood), excluding one particular Ace – the place where we are void. This Exclusion allows us to find out if partner has enough of the “right Aces” for us to make slam. 

(584) Exclusion Keycard
Robert Todd
May 24, 2021
Constructive: Opener

(371) 2 over 1 Game Forcing: Opener's Rebids

Robert Todd
May 24, 2021
Constructive: Opener
(371)  2 over 1 Game Forcing:  Opener's Rebids

After a 2/1 GF bid is made by Responder, Opener has to make a rebid. These rebid agreements are vital to continuing the auction and determining the best final contract.

Tagged: S-2/1GF, S-Tricks, 5

Robert Todd
May 17, 2021
Constructive Bidding

(370) 2 over 1 Game Forcing: 1D - 2C Auctions

Robert Todd
May 17, 2021
Constructive Bidding
(370)   2 over 1 Game Forcing:  1D - 2C Auctions

This week we look at one of my least favorite auctions in all of bridge: the minor suit 2/1 GF auction.

Tagged: S-2/1GF, 4

Robert Todd
May 10, 2021
Constructive: Responder

(369) 2 over 1 Game Forcing Responses

Robert Todd
May 10, 2021
Constructive: Responder
(369)  2 over 1 Game Forcing Responses

The modern system of responding to our partner’s opening bids is 2 over 1 Game Forcing. Let’s look at the fundamentals of how we make these responses and what they promise.

Tagged: S-2/1GF, 3

Robert Todd
May 3, 2021
Competitive Bidding

(368) Responder's Rebids After LHO's Overcall

Robert Todd
May 3, 2021
Competitive Bidding
(368)  Responder's Rebids After LHO's Overcall

After we respond with a suit, if LHO overcalls we need to have some good agreements about the meaning of our rebids.

Tagged: S-RR, 5

Robert Todd
April 26, 2021
Constructive: Responder

(367) Responder's Rebids After Making a Redouble

Robert Todd
April 26, 2021
Constructive: Responder
(367)  Responder's Rebids After Making a Redouble

As Responder, your redouble shows 10+ points. Your follow-up bidding is important to fully describe your hand.

Tagged: S-RR, 4

Robert Todd
April 19, 2021
Constructive: Responder

(366) Responder's Rebids After Making a Freebid

Robert Todd
April 19, 2021
Constructive: Responder
(366)  Responder's Rebids After Making a Freebid

After we make a freebid on the first round as Responder, our rebids on the second round of the bidding in these auctions are important.

Tagged: S-RR, 5

Robert Todd
April 12, 2021
Constructive Bidding

(365) Responder's Rebids After Making a Negative Double

Robert Todd
April 12, 2021
Constructive Bidding
(365)  Responder's Rebids After Making a Negative Double

As Responder we can use a negative double with a variety of different hand shapes and strengths. Here we look at how we use our rebid to clarify to partner what type of negative double we made.

Tagged: Level: 2, S-RR

Robert Todd
April 5, 2021
Constructive: Responder

(364) Responder's Rebids After a Support Double

Robert Todd
April 5, 2021
Constructive: Responder
(364)  Responder's Rebids After a Support Double

This week we look at how Responder continues the auction when they hear Opener make a support double.

Tagged: S-RR, 6

Robert Todd
March 29, 2021
Constructive: Responder

(363) Responder's Rebids After Opener's Strong 2-Suited Hand

Robert Todd
March 29, 2021
Constructive: Responder
(363)  Responder's Rebids After Opener's Strong 2-Suited Hand

Here we look at how Responder continues the auction after Opener shows a strong 2-suited hand with a Reverse or Jump Shift.

Tagged: S-RR, 6, 8

Robert Todd
March 22, 2021
Constructive: Responder

(362) Responder's Rebids After Opener's 2-Suited Rebids

Robert Todd
March 22, 2021
Constructive: Responder
(362)  Responder's Rebids After Opener's 2-Suited Rebids

Here we look at how Responder continues the bidding when Opener shows a 2-suited hand.

Tagged: S-FF, S-RR, 5

Robert Todd
March 15, 2021
Constructive: Responder

(361) Responder's Rebids Opposite Opener's 1-Suited Rebids

Robert Todd
March 15, 2021
Constructive: Responder
(361)  Responder's Rebids Opposite Opener's 1-Suited Rebids

Here we look at how Responder continues the auction after Opener starts the bidding with one suit and rebids that same suit.

Tagged: S-FF, S-RR, 6

Robert Todd
March 8, 2021
Constructive: Responder

(360) Responder's Rebids Opposite Opener's NT Rebids

Robert Todd
March 8, 2021
Constructive: Responder
(360)  Responder's Rebids Opposite Opener's NT Rebids

This week we look at how we continue the bidding after Opener shows a balanced hand by rebidding NT. This includes corrective, invitational, and game forcing bids.

Tagged: S-FF, S-RR, 5

Robert Todd
March 1, 2021
Competitive: Doubles

(359) Other Types of Doubles

Robert Todd
March 1, 2021
Competitive: Doubles
(359)  Other Types of Doubles

This week we look at a variety of other doubles that are helpful in allowing us to compete in the bidding or better defend the hand.

Tagged: Competitive Bidding Webinar, S-X, 9, 10, S-CompLater

Robert Todd
February 22, 2021
Competitive: Doubles

(358) Second Round Doubles

Robert Todd
February 22, 2021
Competitive: Doubles
(358)  Second Round Doubles

This week we look at how we use the double card to compete in the bidding later in the auction.

Tagged: Competitive Bidding Webinar, Important Competitive Bidding Webinars, S-X, 6

Robert Todd
February 15, 2021
Competitive: Doubles

(357) Non-Takeout Doubles: Card-Showing, Maximal, Penalty, Lead-Directing

Robert Todd
February 15, 2021
Competitive: Doubles
(357) Non-Takeout Doubles: Card-Showing, Maximal, Penalty, Lead-Directing

This week we look at doubles that are not takeout. These are not just penalty doubles, but the modern card-showing double and much more.

Tagged: Competitive Bidding Webinar, S-X, 6, 7

Robert Todd
February 8, 2021
Competitive: Doubles

(356) Balancing and Reopening Doubles

Robert Todd
February 8, 2021
Competitive: Doubles
(356)  Balancing and Reopening Doubles

This week we look at when we are the last line of defense and how we choose to double to keep the auction alive — a Reopening Double.

Tagged: Competitive Bidding Webinar, Important Competitive Bidding Webinars, Conventions in Competition Webinars, S-X, 5

Robert Todd
February 1, 2021
Competitive: Doubles

(355) Support Doubles

Robert Todd
February 1, 2021
Competitive: Doubles
(355)  Support Doubles

This week we move all the way around the table to the Opener and look at how they use a double - the support double.

Tagged: Competitive Bidding Webinar, Opener Bidding Problems Webinar, Conventions in Competition Webinars, S-X, S-FF, 5, 9

Robert Todd
January 25, 2021
Competitive: Doubles

(354) Responsive Doubles

Robert Todd
January 25, 2021
Competitive: Doubles
(354)  Responsive Doubles

This week we move around the table to Advancer and look at their double for competing in the bidding - the responsive double.

Tagged: Competitive Bidding Webinar, Opener Bidding Problems Webinar, Conventions in Competition Webinars, S-X, S-APO, 5

Robert Todd
January 18, 2021
Competitive: Doubles

(353) Negative Doubles

Robert Todd
January 18, 2021
Competitive: Doubles
(353)  Negative Doubles

This week we look at one of the most important conventions in all of bridge, the negative double. This is certainly the most important of competitive bidding tools.

Tagged: Competitive Bidding Webinar, S-X, 3

Robert Todd
January 11, 2021
Competitive Bidding

(352) Takeout Doubles

Robert Todd
January 11, 2021
Competitive Bidding
(352) Takeout Doubles

This week we look at the most fundamental of doubles, the Interferer’s takeout double.

Tagged: Competitive Bidding Webinar, Important Competitive Bidding Webinars, Level: 1, S-X

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Fundamentals - High Level Response to 1-Major Openings
Fundamentals - High Level Response to 1-Major Openings

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.

Webinar Notes

Fundamentals - Other Responses 1-Level Openings
Fundamentals - Other Responses 1-Level Openings

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.

Webinar Notes

Fundamentals - Hand Eval after Responder's Jump Shift
Fundamentals - Hand Eval after Responder's Jump Shift

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.

Webinar Notes

Fundamentals - Some Confusing Auctions
Fundamentals - Some Confusing Auctions

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.

Webinar Notes

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