First Lessons

General Advice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson Two

Leading.

When leading from a suit in which you hold a high sequence or near sequence eg   KQJx, QJ10x,  J108x – lead the top card.  This tells your partner you hold the card immediately below it and probably the card below that too – or next one down.  It serves two purposes – it knocks out one of declarer’s stoppers (maybe the only one) and gives partner a safe return if she gets in.

When leading a doubleton lead the top one.  Also when following to partner’s lead, play high low with a doubleton (unless it’s Kx or Qx). 

Bidding.

When opening with a balanced hand with both majors (4 card suits) and 15+ points – open 1 heart.  This gives you the best chance of finding a 4 – 4 fit in a major and if not you play in notrumps.  Partner with 4 hearts can raise immediately.  With 4 spades he bids 1 spade and you can jump to three spades.  If he bids anything else rebid notrumps. 

‘Reopening’ the bidding.  If the opponents open the bidding but stop at the 2 level, eg 1 club – 2 clubs unless you have length in their suit it is usually right to bid something.  Even if you are quite short on points you can be sure partner must have something otherwise why would they stop at 2 clubs?  If you don’t have a 5 card suit try a takeout double.  In pairs you will get a better score doing this.  You either bid and make something or push the opponents up a level and maybe defeat them.  Partner should remember, though, that you are ‘bidding her hand’ as well so shouldn’t get too excited even with 12 points.      

Transfer bids by opponents

If the opponent on your left opens 1NT and her partner bids 2 hearts (transfer) and you hold a good heart suit sitting over the artificial bid – say ‘double.’

This lets your partner know you hold the heart suit and she can bid it with values or lead it if the opponents end up in a contract.  You can also do it with an opposing Stayman bid when you hold a good club suit.

Raising a major suit opener with three card suit

If your partner opens 1 of a major and you have a weak hand (6-9 points) with 3 cards in the opened suit it is best to bid two of the major rather than 1 notrump. 

Transfer Bids

If partner opens 1NT and you hold a 5 card major – always transfer into it whatever your strength.   Partner now knows you hold 5 cards in that suit.  You now have a choice of what to do.  With less than 11 points – pass.  With a semi-balanced 11 or 12 points bid 2NT.  With more bid 3NT.  Partner now has the choice of playing in the major with 3 or 4 cards in it or staying in notrumps. 

With 6 cards in the major and 10+ points bid it again (jump to 4 with 12+)

With and unbalanced hand and game values transfer into the major then rebid your other suit – this is game forcing and tells your partner your shape.

K. J Sharp 2007