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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

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Quiz How much do you know about this page? Quiz

Quick summary

You and your partner should focus on getting to a "game" on every hand possible, so you can get the 400 to 600 points for victory. The penalty for failure is usually small.

Check if your hand is balanced
Find out if you have 25 points between you
Do you have an 8-card match ?

With 25 and balanced, bid NT game.

With 25 and Major fit, bid Major game.

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

	West
	K 8 3
	K 5
	A 3 2
	K 10 9 7 6

+	North
	2
	J 10 9 6 4
	10 8 7 5
	8 5 2

+	East
	A J 10 9 7 6
	8 7
	K Q 4
	Q J

+	South
	Q 5 4
	A Q 3 2
	J 9 6
	A 4 3

Example Deal

You: West
Dealer: West
Vuln: N-S

# 126019

Choice of suit in a game going hand.
..
Go to quiz (& full page) of deal # 126019
***

Click the + buttons to peep

Click on "q1" below to see question 1, and on "A1" to see the answer.

Question 1

As West would you open with NT ? And how many ?

Question 1

As West would you open with NT ? And how many ?

Answer

Well, you have a balanced shape with 13 points. Seems like a natural weak 1NT opening. And you've got stoppers in all 4 suits. A bit short in hearts. Let's hope your partner has long hearts.

Question 2

Have a peep at East's cards. East, you've got 13 points. What should you bid ? 3NT, or are you tempted to have a go at spades ?

Question 2

Have a peep at East's cards. East, you've got 13 points. What should you bid ? 3NT, or are you tempted to have a go at spades ?

Answer

A good question. After all, 8 Spades are guaranteed. And there can be no more than 2 heart losers if you play in Spades. Seems as if a game is possible in Spades.

What about NT ? With West promising 13 points and a balanced hand, 3NT seems like a reasonable bet too, but at East you're a bit exposed in Hearts, perhaps, and your clubs are also a bit short. 3NT can be better, given that fewer tricks are required, and given also that you win more prizes on the first trick. But we'd have to hope the opposition don't run off too many clubs and heart tricks before we get in.

(An unknown worry to you at East: if partner's King of Hearts is covered by an Ace, you could be in trouble. 4 Spades seems safer, with hindsight).

And probably wiser for a sensible East with foresight, such as you.

. . . .

Some subjects to follow up on
Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25"
After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced
Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT
After 1NT, 11+ balanced

#1	+	<-- click the + to show/hide one possible Bidding Sequence
West			North	East	South
???
1NT			p	4S	p
p			p
-			System: Acol (Benji)
suggest a different Bidding Sequence

bid	explained at....
#2	+	<-- click the + for explanation of relevant Bidding Techniques
1NT	Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT
4S	After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced




			Hand evaluation

#3	+	<-- click the + for ideas on the Opening Lead
Opening Lead: South , 6 Reasons, when playing in Suit contract: 1. don't under-lead an Ace, when playing suits. 2. unbid suit

« 0001 »

Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25"

The essential things you really need to know

When you bid, the main things you are trying to communicate to each other about your hands are, in order of importance, whether you have:

balanced or unbalanced hands;
a fit either in a Major suit , or in No Trumps (NT), or failing these, a minor suit ;
sufficient trumps between you for game in a suit: 8 needed for game;
sufficient points between you for game: 25 is the minimum you need for a game in "No Trumps", or in a Major suit. (28 for a minor if you must!)

If you find you have balanced hands, with stopper in all suits, you can play in NT. With NT, both of you need to be (and you can be) very specific about the number of points you have. If you have 25 points, you should bid up to game (3NT). Bid to game in the knowledge that 25 points should win the game 75% of the time (but with 24 the odds are against you).

If you are unbalanced and therefore must play in a suit, then 25 points is also a good initial guide for bidding up to game (a bid of 4, provided it's in a Major suit). But note, when counting points with a suit contract, shape is important. Credit needs to be given for length and for voids and singletons, unless the short suits are in trumps of course! For a minor, reckon on 28 to be able to bid the 5 tricks needed for game. . . (but in any case try to find something easier to bid, such as 3NT).

How can you be so specific ? The bidding pages & charts explain in detail how. Look out for the thin blue line below the menu bar. There is a simpler version for beginners and revision - with a green line below the menu bar.

1. Bidding strategy
1	Check if your hand is balanced	no voids / singletons, max 1 doubleton, max one 5-card suit, long minor useful
2	Do you have an 8-card fit ?
3	Find out if you have 25 points between you	include shape points (and shortage points only if you have 8 trump fit)
Decision	a). with 25 and balanced:	bid NT game
	b). with 25 and Major fit:	bid Major game
Add to your customised cribsheet

Now try the quiz

Can you put all this into action ? Try the quiz for this subject by clicking on the link at the top left of the page, just below the main menu.
(You can try quizzes for any other subjects too while you're there. Look out for the thin red line).

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday

Quick summary

Bridge Venue

Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25"

The essential things you really need to know

Now try the quiz