ASB
Robert Todd
Advanced Slam 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 Slam 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

Fits and More Hand Set 3 - 526

Fits and More Hand Set 3 - 526

Raising Partner’s Suit

When partner makes an overcall then we have a variety of ways to raise partner's suit. Let's look at our options so we are on the same page with partner in these competitive auctions.

Fits and More Hand Set 2 - 525

Fits and More Hand Set 2 - 525

2-Way Reverse Drury

When partner opens in 3rd or 4th seat and we have a good hand, we do not want to go jumping around to show it – partner may have no game interest for their opening bid. We want to have an effective way of describing our good hands cheaply when partner opens in 3rd or 4th seat.

Fits and More Hand Set 1 - 524

Fits and More Hand Set 1 - 524

Raising Partner in Competition

One of the most important parts of bridge is raising partner. We try to raise partner whenever possible. We may choose not to support partner immediately if we feel we have something more pressing to communicate, in which case we can respond in our own Major, use a negative double, or bid some number of notrump. But in general we strive to “support with support.”

NT Opening Auctions Hand Set 9 - 523

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: 3C 5-card Stayman (Set 9 of 9)

Here we look at a 3C response to 1NT used as 5-card Stayman, a nice modern addition to your bidding system. This, in combination with a 2C Stayman response, creates an effective system for communication.

Practice Hands

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 523.

NT Opening Auctions Hand Set 8 - 522

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: 2S SIZE ASK RESPONSE (Set 8 of 9)

When we respond to partner's 1NT opening it is nice to have transfer bids available. Here, we look at an upgrade to 4-suited Transfers, called Size Ask, and see how it improves our bidding.

Practice Hands

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 522.

NT Opening Auctions Hand Set 7 - 521

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Responder’s 2S Rebid After Stayman (Set 7 of 9)

We can use a Stayman response, followed by a 2S rebid to show an invitational hand with length in the majors. But this bidding sequence can be useful with other invitational hands as well. Let’s see how else it can be used.

Practice Hands

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 521.

NT Opening Auctions Hand Set 6 - 520

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Opponents Double our Stayman or Transfer Bid (Set 6 of 9)

When we open a NT and partner uses artificial conventional responses, like Stayman or Transfers, then the opponents might double as lead directing. We want to use this double against them. Here, we discuss our options for bidding after this double.

Practice Hands

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 520.

NT Opening Auctions Hand Set 5 - 519

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Trick Showing Bids: Gambling 3NT and More (Set 5 of 9)

Gambling 3NT is a powerful preemptive opening bid that can cause the opponents a lot of difficulty as well as describe our hand to partner in a highly precise way. It is also one way we can show a hand that can take a lot of tricks with a solid suit.

Practice Hands

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 519.

NT Opening Auctions Hand Set 4 - 518

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Superaccepting Jacoby Transfers (Set 4 of 9)

When we open the bidding with NT one of partners favorite bidding tools is the Jacoby Transfer. When partner transfers to a major suit and we have an excellent fit we have to decide about super-accepting. Here we look at our options for what to do and how to use our judgment about doing so.

Practice Hands

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 518.

NT Opening Auctions Hand Set 3 - 517

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding:Responding to 2NT with the Minor (Set 3 of 9)

Bidding slam is extremely difficult after partner opens the bidding 2NT — much of our valuable bidding space had been taken away. This is especially true when it comes to finding minor suit slams. But we do have some gadgets that are designed to help us do this.

Practice Hands

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 517.

NT Opening Auctions Hand Set 2 - 516

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Responding to 2NT with the Majors (Set 2 of 9)

When partner opens the bidding 2NT then we have far less space to investigate for a major suit fit. It is important that we make good use of our limited space below 3NT in order to determine if we have a Major suit fit.

Practice Hands

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 516.

NT Opening Auctions Hand Set 1 - 515

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: Modern 2NT Openings (Set 1 of 9)

When we open the bidding with 2NT then if we find a major suit fit ( 4-4, 5-3, or 6-2), we get to declarer this from the hand that opens 2NT — the strong side. That makes it opening 2NT something we should strive to do. The modern style is to stretch to open 2NT, even with many good 19 HCP hands.

Practice Hands

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 515.

Thinking & Responding Hand Set 9 - 514

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: 1-minor - 2NT Auctions (Set 9 of 9)

When partner jumps to 2NT after our 1-minor opening, we don’t have a lot of space to communicate below 3NT. It is important to have good agreements about the follow-up bidding.

Practice Hands

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 514.

Thinking & Responding Hand Set 8 - 513

This Week in Bridge Practice Hands

Thinking and Responding: 1-minor - 1NT Auctions (Set 8 of 9)

When we open the bidding partner often responds with 1NT. It is important for us to have good agreements about common auctions. Here, we look at auctions that start with a minor and hear partner respond 1NT. We look at what to expect and how the auction might continue.

Practice Hands

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 513.

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.

Practice Hands

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.

Practice Hands

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.

Practice Hands

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.

Practice Hands

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.

Practice Hands

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.

Practice Hands

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.