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Partner’s Right…even when they are Wrong! (Part 2) Perhaps in yesterday’s problem, the partner of the player who made the penalty double had no reason to pull the double. They had accurately described their hand as a Weak 2.... read more here

Partner’s Right…even when they are Wrong! That’s part of the package when you play Bridge. You are in it together and you just have to go along with what they decide to do, even though you feel they are wrong. Nowhere is this... read more here

                     Leave the lady alone. It could come down to a finesse.. and if the finesse works, you will be recording a plus score in your... read more here

The embarrassing three imp gain. It’s Sunday, maybe a day of rest. Not rest from bridge, though. There’s 3NT to be made! It seems quite straightforward and indeed it is. Not too hard but if you are a newish player, not so easy to find... read more here

A few weeks ago, four friendly bridge players were engaged in their favourite pastime. The bidding, naturally, was competitive. East, who will not remain nameless for long, Dave, had bid 4 over North’s 3 call and this had indeed got passed... read more here

We have said this before and it is worth repeating. The Board of New Zealand Bridge wants the National Congress to happen if at all possible, starting on September 26th. Previously, we have said the final decision will be made on Friday September... read more here

Third Player Plays….Right! So, partner leads a fourth highest, fifth highest, who knows how many highest. Actually, you probably know the answer to that question, or nearly. They led opener’s suit and opener had promised at least... read more here

On style and judgment. Two questions revolving around one hand today. The first is how one is best to take action when the opposition start with the awkward bid of 2NT, showing a weak hand with both minors. The second is a judgment call when the... read more here

Happy Ending? Well, it could have been, should have been…despite the gloomy outlook. What declarer did was not stupid and, on some days, might have worked, except not this one….and there was a little hopeful clue that they seemed to... read more here

A Way to 10 tricks. The opposition got off to the best lead..for them! Yet, your rather reluctantly bid game contract is there to be made as long as you tread the right path. One little slip and +790 would become -200. Watch…... read more here

“Hotting up” the action.  So, do you like most hands to be 4333 shape or do you like some of them to be a little “spicier”? Today’s deal has a touch of both types about it, eventually! First up, we seem to have... read more here

Nowhere to hide? I enjoy playing the Weak No Trump. I like defining that hand type in one bid meaning when I open a suit at the one level, I do not have that hand-type. I do not, though, enjoy, its “Achilles” when the opponents take... read more here

STILL HOPING FOR A NATIONAL CONGRESS. As per previous years, we ask that full Congress registrations and those who take NZ Pairs/ Restricted Pairs and NZ Teams/ Restricted Teams packages will pay for their packages by the end of... read more here

(Jo making a Limoncello Spritzer). Who remembers the programme called “not the 9 o’clock news”? by Jo and Sam Simpson. Well, Saturday 22nd August was the day that we were supposed to start playing the World Bridge Champs in... read more here

You hope! Finding the Ending. Some boards which seem easy to play end up as unmakeable because of opposition ruffs or bad breaks. Others which initially seem to have very little chance can turn out to be quite straightforward, as long as you... read more here

Or is it too late?  Bidding or Leading? That is frequently the question when you are in the “pass out” position, whether it be in the part-score or game zones. Would you do better by keeping the auction open, by pushing the... read more here

Zoe and Milla with one good reason for live bridge! see below. There has certainly been a “make up for lost time” attitude to bridge in Top of the South since lockdown 1 restrictions were eased.  The appetite for face to face... read more here

No “walk in the park”. A decent dummy with excellent trumps augurs well for the making of our heart game. Yet, there are some disturbing features. The opposition’s 2NT bid showing the minors not only signalled that there could... read more here

                     Our Youth are Playing. Naturally, there will be a bridge hand but today’s article is more about highlighting our young... read more here

Ugly and Uglier? That was the title we left you with yesterday. You never had much of a hand but it did not get any better when partner opened in your singleton suit. You had an easy bid, first up, when you could call the other major at the one... read more here

Unmakeable or Unbeatable? The declarer took a long time to play a card to trick 1, longer than normal. Was it just that the auction had worn them out? It was a “battle of the minor suits” with clubs coming out on top! They had a... read more here

Damage Control. Bridge is a fascinating game in that you can lose and yet win at the same time! This is especially true when playing for match-points. On the following deal, the declarer could hardly believe he had scored a 76% board when he... read more here

August 2020           Chris Marshall   Picton. Our Volunteer this month is a huge contributor at Regional and Club level. The nomination comes from the Picton Club Committee with words... read more here

A DEAL TO PROVE THE RULES Often, boards written up create exceptions to what seem to be the rules or guidelines created to help us through a particular deal. It’s fun seeing when and how and why we should “break” those rules.... read more here

Any Action? With today’s hand, the above comment could apply equally to the opening bidder and to their opponents. We focused in our question as to what might happen after the bidding started with a 3H pre-empt but should there have been a... read more here

We really hope the news about this year’s National Bridge Congress is and remains good. The best news we can give this year is that it will take place as scheduled between Saturday 26th September and Saturday 3rd October at the Sir Don... read more here

a happy team from Whangarei...see why below. Greetings to all from “Whangarainy”. I normally say the "Winterless North" and although we are not cold, boy has it been wet. A devastating flood here July 17 saw many homes and businesses... read more here

To Win the Yeh Cup Online Teams. “Slowly but Surely” Were this a normal year, then the prestigious Yeh Bros Invitation Teams would have been taking place. This is no normal year and an on-line invitation Teams event took place over... read more here

Down to the Wire. The National Rubber Bridge competition has been an important if not over-popular part of our bridge calendar for many years. It presents a very different way of playing the game. We hand deal, really want to pick up lots of... read more here

         WRONG BUT ALL RIGHT. A couple of days ago, we gave an example of being “wrong” but “right” in the bidding. Here, we look at a play problem where being wrong did not mean that... read more here

     Wrong but Right. Can you be both right but wrong? Five imps in in a Teams match sounds a fair pick-up but were you a little fortunate? Our Panel thinks so:         East... read more here