ASB
Robert Todd
Advanced Same Bidding 1 - 576

Kokish Over Strong 2C

Balanced hand bidding is relatively easy. We can usually describe our hand to partner by opening 1NT or rebidding 1NT. This lets partner know both our points and our hand type with either our first bid (when we open 1NT, the best situation) or with our second bid (when we rebid 1NT).  However, if we have a big balanced hand then we need to have tools for describing our hand as well.  These usually involve the use of 2NT – as a rebid, an opening bid, or even a rebid after having opened the bidding 2♣.  But this does not solve all our bidding problems when we have these large balanced hands.  Let’s look at these auctions in detail, see some of the issues, and then look at a useful gadget called Kokish to help us bid better.

Advanced Same Bidding 1 - 576
EMCB
Robert Todd
Even More Competitive Bidding 9 - 575

Freebids by a Passed Hand

When partner makes a bid, and we choose to bid a suit of our own, this is called a freebid. In most normal situations freebids show values (called positive freebids) and are often forcing 1-round. We’ve all heard the saying -- a new suit is forcing by an unpassed hand.  Unfortunately, this is not always true, but it is often our agreement. Let’s look at freebids made by a passed hand and see how the fact that we are passed changes these situations.

Even More Competitive Bidding 9 - 575
EMCB
Robert Todd
Even More Competitive Bidding 8 - 574

Fit -Showing Jumps

One of my favorite sayings is “2NT is a convention, not a contract.” In specific situations, Responder can use 2NT as conventional raise of Opener’s suit. Sometimes we need to choose between several different conventional methods for competitive auctions. Here we look at our options for how to best use 2NT.

Even More Competitive Bidding 8 - 574
EMCB
Robert Todd
Even More Competitive Bidding 7 - 573

Bergen Raises

One of my favorite sayings is “2NT is a convention, not a contract.” In specific situations, Responder can use 2NT as conventional raise of Opener’s suit. Sometimes we need to choose between several different conventional methods for competitive auctions. Here we look at our options for how to best use 2NT.

Even More Competitive Bidding 7 - 573
EMCB
Robert Todd
Even More Competitive Bidding 6 - 572

Bergen Raises

When responding to partner’s 1-Major opening bid, Responder tries to apply the Law of Total Tricks (LOTT) – getting to the size of the partnership’s fit as quickly as possible. This is particularly true in competitive auctions but is also useful in constructive auctions. Responder must balance showing the size of their fit with showing their values. This LOTT bidding is especially effective when our side has a 9+card fit. In this case, the auction is likely to become competitive if the opponents have some values as well. Predicting this to happen, we would like to be able to compete to the 3-level with a 9+card fit as quickly as possible, eating up the opponents’ bidding space while showing our values. Bergen Raises are a set of conventional bids Responder can use when responding to a 1-Major opening bid with 4+card support (at least a 9+card fit). Let’s see how this system works.

Even More Competitive Bidding 6 - 572

Thinking & Responding Hand Set 7 - 512

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Jump Shifts after 1-Level Openings (Set 7 of 9)

Jump Shifts by Responder have a variety of different meanings in different situations. Their means can change based on the level they are made at and if they are in competition. Make sure you have good agreements with your partner about the meaning of these jump shifts.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 512.

Thinking & Responding Hand Set 6 - 511

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Walsh & Extended Walsh (Set 6 of 9)

When we respond to opener’s bid, we have a priority of finding major suit fits. Opener also has a priority of showing their hand type if they do not find a major suit fit. The Walsh style of bidding and rebids are an important improvement in modern bidding.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 511.

Thinking & Responding Hand Set 5 - 510

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Western Cuebids (Set 5 of 9)

We start out the auction seeing if we have a major suit fit. But after that, we try to get to 3NT. When the opponents bid in our auction we have a good idea of what they are going to lead. We can use the Western Cuebid to help find out if we can get to NT. Let’s see how it works.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 510.

Thinking & Responding Hand Set 4 - 509

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Vulnerability Tactics (Set 4 of 9)

When we are at favorable vulnerability, we have a lot of different options for how to get into the auction. When we are in the 3rd seat, this is even more true. Here, we look at how we can use this situation to give us a license to attack.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 509.

Thinking & Responding Hand Set 3 - 508

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: 4th Seat Openings (Set 3 of 9)

If your auction goes 3 passes around to you, then you have a choice to open the bidding or pass the hand out. If you choose to open the bidding, you have some different bidding tools in the 4th seat. Here, we look at our options and how to help us make this decision.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 508.

Thinking & Responding Hand Set 2 - 507

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: 3rd Seat Openings (Set 2 of 9)

When we open the bidding in the 3rd seat, we have lots of options for how to attack the opponents. Here, we look at how we can make the opponent’s life more difficult and make the best opening bid for our side.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 507.

Thinking & Responding Hand Set 1 - 506

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Problem Opening Bids (Set 1 of 9)

There are certain strengths and shapes that are difficult to describe as opening bids. In order to have a chance of showing this problem hands we have to start the auction off best. Here we look at some of these problem opening bids.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 506.

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 1 - 498

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Which Honor to Cover or Capture (Set 1 of 8)

Here we look at defensive situations in the middle of the hand - we start with a look at covering the opponent's honors -- which one to cover?

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 498.

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 2 - 499

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Getting Our Ruffs (Set 2 of 8)

When you can ruff one of Declarer’s tricks it is extremely satisfying. Here, we work on techniques that will allow us to do so as often as possible.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 499.

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 3 - 500

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Getting Our Ruffs (Set 3 of 8)

Here we look at how we defend in the middle of the hand, with a focus on leading a new suit -- how and when to do so.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 500.

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 4 - 501

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Return Lead or Shift? (Set 4 of 8)

Should we return partner’s lead? Show we shift to a different suit? This is always a difficult decision! Here, we look at how to make this decision and help our partnership take the tricks we are entitled to.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 501.

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 5- 502

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Splitting Honors (Set 5 of 8)

When we have touching honors which one we play depends on the situation and what information we are trying to communicate. Here we look at splitting our honors on defense.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 502.

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 6 - 503

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Surround Plays and Power Shifts (Set 6 of 8)

When you are behind the dummy and attack it you should be able to do so in ways that show your partner a very strong holding. These surround plays and power shift help partner know the strength of your holding.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 503.

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 7 - 504

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Card Combinations (Set 7 of 8)

When we are defending a hand there are many important situations that we need to know about when to attack a suit and when it may cost to do so. These card combinations and how to play to get the most out of them are an extremely important part of good defense.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 504.

Defense in Middle of the Hand Set 8 - 505

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Middle of the Hand Defense: Discards Later in the Play (Set 8 of 8)

Discards are an important way to communicate with partner. But not just the first discard, every discard matters. Here we look at discards later in the play.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 505.

Advanced Card Play Set 1 - 489

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Advanced Card Play: Combine Your Chances (Set 1 of 9)

Finding the best line of play as Declarer is always a challenge. Instead of trying to determine the better of line of play A and line of play B the best play is often to choose a combination of the two. Here we look at how to improve you declarer play by combining your chances.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 489.

Advanced Card Play Set 2 - 490

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Advanced Card Play: Optimistic vs. Pessimistic Play (Set 2 of 9)

Having the right mindset is an important part of approaching a declarer play problem. When you are in a good contact start to consider “What could go wrong?!?” and when you are in a bad contract start to make assumptions that good things are going to happen for you!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 490.

Advanced Card Play Set 3 - 491

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Advanced Card Play: The King-Jack Guess (Set 3 of 9)

When we are defending and the Declaring side holds the King and the Jack in a suit then they will often have to guess the layout of the suit in order to take their most tricks. Here we look at the art of giving them the most difficult guesses we can!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 491.

Advanced Card Play Set 4 - 492

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Advanced Card Play: Misfits and Moysians (Set 4 of 9)

Finding a fit makes declaring a hand much easier. When we are playing a hand without a fit it is much more challenging. Here we look at some strategies for playing hands that have less than an 8-card fit.

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 492.

More Competitive Bidding 2 Set 1 - 480

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Competitive Bidding: Michaels Cuebids (Set 1 of 9)

When the opponent’s open the bidding and we have two long suits it is useful to be able to show them both immediately. This is especially true when we have a weak hand. Here we look at Michaels Cuebids and see how they help us do this!

You (and your partners) can sign up for Robert Todd's This Week in Bridge (TWiB) lesson emails for free at https://www.advinbridge.com/twib-signup This set accompanies TWiB 480.