Bridge with larry cohen

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…

NEW MINOR FORCING 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♦…

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 a matter of…

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…