All News

Twice in a Lifetime? Well, it’s not for me. I am still waiting for the first time. At a time when I thought every South would be reaching for a little used convention locked deep far down in their box of favoured conventions, few did. Would... read more here

The Danger Hand. There was an interesting tussle recently between the declarer and the defence on the following board. Generally, the declarer came out on top but that was more because many defenders gave East a relatively easy ride. We will not... read more here

or is it? Not Quite So Simple. When your contract seems very straightforward, you should take extra-special care. Maybe it is not as simple as it seems. West DealsBoth Vul ♠ J 8 2 ♥ 6 5... read more here

The Problem Solver. That’s a brave, maybe even foolish, statement to make about a bid but the suggestion today may help. So, what would you bid as North in this position?     ♠ K J 10 9 8... read more here

It’s Fri  Day… for those new to the game. Hold up for your Contract! “Hold up” or else you will be forced to give up your contract! That’s the message in today’s deal. See below what we mean.... read more here

In Search of the Perfect Pre-empt. Does it exist? Am I dreaming? This is the story of my last week of pre-empts. I had found, or partner did, to be exact, that Q8 to 7 was not the perfect suit. I opened 3 (there was a little more hcp on the... read more here

  Do you believe them? Today, we have a recent real bidding problem (actually, all our problems are recent and real!). We have a “taster” question first of all which hardly anticipates the drama that was soon to unfold. So, try... read more here

The Hot Seat. That was the case of those players who sat North in one match of last Sunday’s Auckland Provincial Teams. Yesterday, we gave you the problem of what to open with 9 diamonds to the AJT and HA. The opening bid dictated the type... read more here

Slow or Fast? There is no right or wrong way to bid a hand like the following. There is the way that works and the way that does not! How would you start the bidding at Teams Nil Vul?    ♠ J 4... read more here

This area will be full of coffee drinkers and bridge players reminiscing during the National Congress. Saturday October 1st until Saturday October 8th 2022 Are you?  That’s just about 2 and a half months away. It’s getting... read more here

It's Fri Day  for our newer players One Wrong Takes It Light but Two Wrongs Makes It Right! We’re going to show you all four hands from the start today which should help you with the problem for declarer, which suit to play at trick... read more here

Getting Better and Better and even Better Still! You started with a good hand, 18 hcp. It got better when your partner opened the bidding at the 1-level. The news got better still when you discovered a 4-4 fit (maybe partner has more than a... read more here

A Few Fingers Needed. Something was needed to stop the declarer making a seemingly impossible nine tricks. A last-minute check maybe when it all looks so easy for a defender. There was a big clue that West missed on the following deal.... read more here

David and Goliath repeated? More “Giant Slaying” at Rubber? A couple of months ago, we reported how last year’s National Rubber Bridge winners, Anthony Ker and Russell Dive, were beaten by a pair very much the Juniors in the... read more here

So simple but so hard to find. I just love today’s deal because of the simple solution involved in making your contract. Just take a look. Your 4S bid after your right-hand opponent’s 1C opening seems the obvious thing to do.... read more here

It’s Fri   Day  for our newer players. Finessing Twice Over! Remember your bridge teacher saying “Be brave” when you lead towards the AQ of a suit. Put in the queen and if that scores a trick, then it pretty... read more here

             great shape…but is that enough? Shape without Substance. When one’s partner raised the opponent’s pre-empt by one level, especially a minor pre-empt, I... read more here

or as close as you can! Pushy Partner says “Play it Perfectly, Please!” You have got to go for your vulnerable games, or so they say, playing Teams. Well, our partner certainly did when they used Stayman and then invited in no... read more here

Just the best! Diamonds are a girl’s (and boy’s) best friend. Today we look at a slam hand from the National Teams last weekend. Thanks to GeO Tislevoll, one of the event winners, for providing the deal and his analysis. Firstly, he... read more here

Fri Play... for those new to the game.  Be Careful: It’s a hold up! The bidding seemed very straightforward. What about the play? South suddenly realised that they were the declarer! Pressure. Let’s hope not too much.... read more here

Chances Aplenty. 33 hcp, a 5-4 trump fit with all the honours present and just one ace along with a key queen in a different suit missing. We have all been in far far worse slam contracts than that. Nevertheless, there’s work to be done to... read more here

nearly that many! How to handle all those hearts! A hand like the following has been seen many times before but there seems a wide difference of opinion on how it should be treated. Many who held this hand and their partners did not seem to be... read more here

but strange. That seems to sum up our feature deal for today. There was a little sting in the tail for some of the East-West pairs when this deal was played out. Firstly, we gave you a slightly strange question to East who held:  ... read more here

Think before you pick. It’s 3NT. It’s trick 1. It’s vital. I am sure you have been there many times. Just take a couple of deep breaths before you play. That might be our ultimate message today but our initial problem is the... read more here

Fri   Play…for those new to the game. The Exception to the Rule. We are told it is usually a very good idea to draw the opposition’s trumps as soon as possible so that they cannot use them for winning tricks. Yet, that... read more here

Sour Grapes? Perhaps that is indeed how I feel about today’s problem which seemed to be a problem for a good many defenders less than a week ago. So, it’s your turn. North DealsBoth Vul ♠ Q J 9 7... read more here

Lost and Forgotten! A shame but there is one suit that does not get a look-in in many auctions….and that may be to the cost of one partnership in today’s deal. Would you feel like taking a bid with this sparkling collection in this... read more here

Attack or Go Passive but not both. There are deals where the defence has to find a dramatic switch part way through in order to beat a contract. The signs are ominous if you do not, like declarer running a long suit. Yet, that is not always the... read more here