The right path

THIS MONTH… THIS MONTH YOU’LL BE PLAYING “WHERE’S WALDO?”, EXCEPT YOU WON’T BE LOOKING FOR THE YOUNG MAN IN THE RED-AND-WHITE STRIPED SWEATSHIRT, BUT RATHER CHARLES, THE KING OF HEARTS(*). YOU ARE SITTING SOUTH WITH THE FOLLOWING HAND: ♠ A10952 ♥ Q83♦ 875♣ K2 (*)…

THIS MONTH… YOU ARE PLAYING TEAMS, SITTING NORTH IN THIRD POSITION AND HOLD THE FOLLOWING HAND: ♠ Q92 ♥ AJ63 ♦ K93 ♣ AQ7 You are prepared to open 1NT when your partner is faster and opens himself 1NT! What do you bid over 1NT?You hold 16HCP…

THIS MONTH… SITTING SOUTH, YOU ARE THE DEALER, NOBODY IS VULNERABLE. YOUR HAND MAY BE ORDINARY, BUT THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SOLVE ARE LESS SO. ♠ 652 ♥ KQ53 ♦ K75 ♣ A52 You open 1♣, North responds 1♠ and East overcalls 2♦. What is your call over 2♦?Some…

This Month… THIS MONTH YOU WILL COMPETE AGAINST ARGINE, FUNBRIDGE’S GAME ENGINE. TAKE ITS PLACE IN SOUTH WITH THE FOLLOWING HAND (DEALER EAST, NONE VUL.): ♠ KQ52 ♥ AK10 ♦ KJ7 ♣ A102 East opens 1♣. What is your call?You are too strong to overcall 1NT (5 points).…

This Month… THIS MONTH, YOU WILL RECONSTRUCT DECLARER’S HAND USING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT FROM THE AUCTION AND FIRST COUPLE OF TRICKS. CAREFUL, THE MOST DIFFICULT QUESTIONS ARE THE LAST ONE (AS IS OFTEN THE CASE) BUT ALSO THE FIRST…

THIS MONTH… THIS MONTH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SHINE IN DEFENSE, SITTING SOUTH (DEALER WEST, NONE VULNERABLE) WITH THE FOLLOWING HAND: ♠ J2♥ KJ5♦ K10985 ♣ Q52 This is the opponents’ bidding, your side not entering the auction: W N E S 2♣ Pass…

THIS MONTH THIS MONTH, YOU’LL HAVE TO DISCOVER YOUR OPPONENTS’ HANDS TO COMPLETE YOUR TASK. AS SOUTH YOU ARE IN FOURTH POSITION (NONE VULNERABLE) WITH THE FOLLOWING HAND: ♠ AQ9632 ♥ K75♦ 65♣ J5 West opens 1♦ your partner passes and East replies 1NT. Do you…

THIS MONTH … THIS MONTH YOU ARE THE DEALER AS NORTH AND YOU HOLD A POWERHOUSE. I WISH YOU INTERESTING HANDS LIKE THIS ONE ALL YEAR ROUND: ♠ 5♥ A63♦ AQ83 ♣ AKQ73 What is your opening bid?You have 19HCP and a good five-card…

THIS MONTH … THIS MONTH, YOU WILL WORK ON YOUR DECLARER SKILLS BY PLAYING THE SAME DEAL FOUR TIMES BUT IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. SITTING SOUTH, YOU ARE THE DEALER AND HOLD THE FOLLOWING HAND: ♠ K7653♥ 4♦ AQ73♣ AK5 You open…

THIS MONTH… THIS MONTH, YOU WILL PUT ALL YOUR EFFORTS INTO EXECUTING A CAREFUL BUT VERY ACCESSIBLE DEFENSE. YOU ARE THE DEALER AS SOUTH AND HOLD THE FOLLOWING HAND: ♠ 93♥ K42♦ A654♣ KQ54 You open 1♦, West overcalls 1♥,…

This Month… THIS MONTH YOU’LL BE SOLVING A WHOLE HOST OF LITTLE PROBLEMS. MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE IN THE SOUTH SEAT. YOU ARE THE DEALER (NONE VULNERABLE) WITH THE FOLLOWING HAND: ♠ A93♥ A8♦ K1094♣ K1097 What is your opening bid?You…

THIS MONTH… TEAMS. YOU ARE SITTING SOUTH, IN FOURTH POSITION, ALL VULNERABLE. YOU HOLD THE FOLLOWING HAND: ♠ KQ984♥ Q10964♦ 2♣ A5 West opens 1♦, your partner passes and East bids 1NT. Do you take any action and if yes,…

THIS MONTH… THIS MONTH, YOU ARE PLAYING A PAIRS TOURNAMENT, A DISCIPLINE IN WHICH BOTH SIDES SOMETIMES FIGHT TOUGH BATTLES DURING THE AUCTION, UP TO VERY HIGH LEVELS. YOU ARE SITTING SOUTH IN FOURTH POSITION, VULNERABLE VERSUS NON-VULNERABLE. HERE’S YOUR HAND,…