Hand of the Week #176 ♥
N E S W 1♥ P 1♠ P 2♦ P 3♣* P 3♦ P 4♦ P 5♦ P 6♦ P P P West opens 1♥ based on the rule of 20 (always open the higher ranking of two 5 card suits) and East responds with a simple
Hand of the Week #175 (Solution) ♣
N E S W 1♠ P 1NT P 2♠ P P P When playing in a misfit (as this definitely is!) the best bet is often to draw the trumps. This goes against most player's instincts as you tend to want to avoid situations that look unappealing,
Hand of the Week #175 ♣
N E S W 1♠ P 1NT P 2♠ P P P South starts off the bidding with 1♠ to which North replies 1NT denying a spade fit and showing 6-9 points. South's rebid of 2♠ promises 6+ spades and a minimum opening hand (up to 15
Hand of the Week #174 (Solution) ♠
N E S W 1♥ P 1♠ P 1NT P 2♣* P 2♠ P 3♦* P 3♥* P 4♣ P 4♥ P 4NT P 5♣ P 5♦ P 6♥ P 7♠ P P P Upon first sight of the dummy you would be forgiven if you felt like
Hand of the Week #174 ♠
N E S W 1♥ P 1♠ P 1NT P 2♣* P 2♠ P 3♦* P 3♥* P 4♣ P 4♥ P 4NT P 5♣ P 5♦ P 6♥ P 7♠ P P P East-West bid their way to a grand slam in this auction, with North-South
Hand of the Week #173 (Solution) ♦
N E S W 1♣ P 1♦ P 1NT P 3NT P P P Counting top tricks in this 3NT contract, we have: 2 spades, 2 hearts and 2 clubs. We have been given an extra heart trick straight away with East's heart lead, as this promotes our
Hand of the Week #173 ♦
N E S W 1♣ P 1♦ P 1NT P 3NT P P P North starts off the bidding with 1♣, East passes, South responds 1♦ West also passes and North completes their two bid plan with a rebid of 1NT (15-17 balanced). South has 9 HCP
Hand of the Week #172 (Solution) ♥
N E S W 2NT P 3♣* P 3♦* P 3♥* P 3♠ P 4♠ P P Looking at possible losers in West's hand, we have: no trumps, 1 heart, possibly 2 diamonds and 1 club. The losers in hearts and clubs are pretty inevitable as we
Hand of the Week #172 ♥
N E S W 2NT P 3♣* P 3♦* P 3♥* P 3♠ P 4♠ P P West opens their strong balanced hand 2NT (20-22), East replies with 3♣* which this East-West pair are playing as 5 card puppet Stayman so West's response of 3♦* doesn't
Hand of the Week #171 (Solution) ♣
N E S W 1NT P P P The best way to think of a NT contract is usually to look at what tricks you already have (often referred to as 'top tricks') and then look at what tricks you can establish. 'Establish' in this context usually