Bridge with larry cohen

In his new series Larry Cohen takes an in-depth look at the basic principles of bidding. Direct-seat doubles of 1NT or higher Last month, RHO opened 1♣, 1♦, 1♥ or 1♠ and we doubled (usually showing about 12–17 “total points” and support…

In his new series Larry Cohen takes an in-depth look at the basic principles of bidding. Direct-seat doubles at the one level The takeout double is the oldest convention in bridge. Soon after the concept of the double was introduced…

RESPONDER’S REBID CONTINUED So, back to 1♠-2♥-2♠-3♠. Here, the 3♠ bid guarantees at least three-card support. AND shows extras. With a dead minimum, responder would have “signed off” in 4♠. So, 3♠ could show something like either of these two hands. ♠ K42♥ AQ876 ♦ A2♣ K32 or…

Larry Cohen continues his series about the most popular bidding system, this month examining opener’s rebid after the response of 2♣. Opener’s Rebid After 1♦-2♣, opener bids naturally. If you’ve been reading this series, it won’t surprise you to hear…

Larry Cohen continues his series about the most popular bidding system, this month examining opener’s rebid after the response of 2♦ or 2♥. In recent months we’ve been discussing the 2♣ response to 1-of-a-major. What if the response is 2♦ or 2♥? Not…

Larry Cohen continues his series about the most popular bidding system, this month examining the response of 2♣. Opener’s Jump after 1 of a MAJOR-2♣ In recent months we’ve been discussing the 2♣ response to 1-of-a-major. Last month, we covered Opener’s…

Larry Cohen continues his series about the most popular bidding system, this month examining opener’s rebid after the response of 2♣. Last month we examined the 2♣ response to 1-of-a-major. This month we examine opener’s follow-ups.  This month, our auction is:…

Larry Cohen continues his series about the most popular bidding system, this month examining the response of 2♣. Part 6 (Finally 2/1 auctions!) In the previous five months we laid the groundwork for the 2/1 GF system. Now, we can get…

Part 5: MORE RESPONSES TO 1-LEVEL OPENINGS (1♦, 1♦, 1♠) Larry Cohen continues his series about the most popular bidding system, this month examining more responses to 1-level opening bids. Last month we started to examine when we are in…

Larry Cohen continues his series about the most popular bidding system and poses the question: when is the 2/1 in effect? In the first month of this series, we introduced the reason for playing responder’s 2-level bids (in a new…

Larry Cohen continues his series about the most popular bidding system by looking at the awkward 1NT response. To completely understand this month’s discussion of 1NT Forcing (and/or Semi-Forcing), I suggest printing this out and reading it several times. It’s…

Last month, we started our exploration with a look at 2/1 auctions. We left many loose ends which will be revisited in future months. This month, we forge right ahead to the worst part of the system – the 1NT…

This month Larry Cohen introduces what is probably the most popular bidding system in the world, 2/1 game forcing. Over the next twelve months he will examine every aspect of the system. Did any of you play bridge in the…

This month we are looking at two conventions that are designed to provide important information during the early bidding exchanges, the relatively new XYZ and the well- established concept of fourth suit forcing. XYZ XYZ is a convention whereby the…

After an opponent opens the bidding it’s a good idea to be able to show a two-suited hand. One of the first conventions players learn is the “Unusual Notrump.” A jump to 2NT over the opponent’s opening bid shows the 2 lowest…

Even experienced players can get confused (or forget) when it comes to opener’s jumpshifts and reverses. Opener’s jumpshift into a (new) suit is game forcing. A jumpshift is a skip of level and a change of suit. That means a really…

Should I open 1NT with a 5-card Major? This is the #1 question. If bridge teachers had a dollar for every time this question is asked, they’d be wealthy people. Let me start by saying that there is no “right” answer…

My mother used to say there are no bad questions. So, I felt comfortable asking a woman, who had leaned down to talk to me, “Why do you smell awful?” I contend this is an early example of my perfume…

This popular convention is used when the Opener rebids 1NT or 2NT. Responder bids the “new” (unbid) minor as an artificial way to ask about (or “check back” on) the majors. Examples of auctions:  OPENER RESPONDER 1♦ 1♥ 1NT 2♣…

DEALING WITH DOUBLES In the concluding instalment of this three-part series Larry Cohen looks at the effect of double by either side. Auctions with Doubles The Opponents Double If we open and the opponents make a takeout double, it is…

Opener’s Rebids and Overcalls In this three-part series Larry Cohen explains the difference between bids which are forcing for one round, forcing to game or non-forcing. Rebids Raises of No-Trump (even 4NT) are natural and not forcing. Repeating a previously…

In this three-part series Larry Cohen explains the difference between bids which are forcing for one round, forcing to game or non-forcing. Due to (constant) student request, I have given in and written about this annoyingly tricky topic. How hard…

As my friend Marty Bergen says, he advises students to pray that reverses don’t come up. Basically, a “reverse” is when opener’s rebid (second bid of the auction) meets both A & B: Just those two simple lines are enough…

The idea of using bids below 4NT to ask for keycards is becoming increasingly popular. Optional Roman Key Card Blackwood In this variation you use 4♣ as an optional request for partner to show their keycards. If they are not interested,…

With Larry Cohen taking a well-earned break this month we look at a way of asking for keycards when you are contemplating a minor suit slam. Minorwood Applied correctly Blackwood is one of the most useful conventions when it comes…

CONTROL BIDDING Most players are familiar with general HCP guidelines such as: Small Slams: 31-33HCP.Grand Slams: 35-37HCP. These are approximate and surely depend on distribution. At No-Trump, you usually need to be towards the high end of the ranges above…

Larry Cohen focuses on the aids to slam bidding, starting with a first look at one of the most famous conventions of them all. Once a partnership is in the slam zone, either player might use Blackwood. “Regular” (or “Plain”)…

COMFORT ZONE I’m a firm believer in making the game as enjoyable as possible but that doesn’t mean I have to let the opponents have a comfortable time during the auction. So, here’s an auction that almost never occurs when…

In the previous months, we examined (amongst others) Takeout, Negative, Responsive, Support, and DSI Doubles. Game-Try (Maximal) Doubles This double is used by opener to make a game try. This allows opener the ability to compete to the three level…

In the previous months, we examined Takeout, Negative, Responsive, Support, and DSI Doubles. This month, we wrap up with a few more doubles which are part of modern bidding. Lead-Directing Doubles Whenever the opponents make an artificial bid, your double…

This month, we cover some low-level doubles, starting with one which has many different names. DSI DOUBLES This isn’t an official name, but maybe it will become so. “DSI” stands for “Do Something Intelligent.” Others might call it “Card-Showing” or…

In previous months, we reviewed the two hugely important topics of Takeout and Negative Doubles. We then moved on to Responsive Doubles made by Advancer (the partner of the Takeout Doubler or Overcaller).This month, we cover what I consider the…

We have previously studied Takeout and Negative Doubles. A Takeout Double is made after the opponents open. A Negative Double is made by responder after an overcall. This month, we move into a very important family of Doubles, starting with…