Hand of the Week #191 ♣
N E S W 1NT 2♦ P 3♦ P P P South opens 1NT (12-14 balanced), West overcalls 2♦ which this East-West pair are playing as natural (not Asptro or Multi-Landy!), North passes and East raises their partner's overcall to 3♦ based on the level of the
Hand of the Week #190 (Solution) ♠
N E S W 1♦ X 1♥ P 1NT P P P Just before we take a look at our top tricks and where our extra tricks are coming from, first I think we should think about the points in this hand. We have 23 HCP so
Hand of the Week #190 ♠
N E S W 1♦ X 1♥ P 1NT P P P East starts off the bidding with 1♦, South doubles for takeout, West responds 1♥ and North passes. East's rebid of 1NT promises a balanced hand with 15-17 points and no other player has any further
Hand of the Week #189 (Solution) ♦
N E S W P 1NT P 2♦* P 2♥ P P P Given the length of dummy's trumps it will be easier to concentrate on the losers there and how to reduce them (often called a 'dummy reversal'). Therefore, looking at setting up the table, we
Hand of the Week #189 ♦
N E S W P 1NT P 2♦* P 2♥ P P P As dealer North passes, East opens their balanced 12-14 hand with 1NT, South passes and in response to East's opener West employs a red suit transfer. North passes once more and East 'does as
Hand of the Week #188 (Solution) ♥
N E S W 1♥ 1♠ 2♦ 2♠ P P X P 3♥ P P P Looking at our hand for potential losers we have: 3 spades to deal with, 0 hearts, 1 diamond and potentially 2 clubs to lose. The diamond loser looks somewhat inevitable given
Hand of the Week #188 ♥
N E S W 1♥ 1♠ 2♦ 2♠ P P X P 3♥ P P P West starts off the auction with a 1♥ opener, North intervenes with 1♠, East replies 2♦ and South raises their partner's overcall to 2♠ (presumably based on the level of the
Hand of the Week #187 (Solution) ♣
N E S W 1♦ P 1♥ P 1♠ P 2♠ P P P Looking at your losers is a good plan in a trump contract, so looking at South's hand here we have: 1 certain spade, 1 certain heart, 1 potential diamond and 1 certain club.
Hand of the Week #187 ♣
N E S W 1♦ P 1♥ P 1♠ P 2♠ P P P South opens 1♦ to start the auction, West passes, North replies with 1♥, East passes, and South rebids 1♠ showing their 5:4 shape. North raises this to 2♠ but South has no aspirations
Hand of the Week #186 (Solution) ♠
N E S W 1♦ P 1♥ P 1NT P 3♥ P 4♦ P 4NT P 5♣ P 6♥ P P P At first glance this hand looks rather straight-forward. We have no losers in spades or diamonds and just the 1 obvious loser in clubs, so