Hand of the Week #225 (Solution) ♦
N E S W 2♥ X 4♥ P P P Given that we have managed to steal the contract with our aggressive bidding, it is likely that we will struggle to make our contract, but that is okay! Had we not been so bold in the auction,
Hand of the Week #225 ♦
N E S W 2♥ X 4♥ P P P North opens a weak 2 in hearts to start of the auction, East intervenes with a takeout double and South leaps to 4♥ based on the level of the fit (10 trumps means bid for 10 tricks!).
Hand of the Week #224 (Solution) ♥
N E S W 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 3♥ P P P As mentioned before, given that we have stolen the contract in the bidding, so even going off in 3♥ could be a good score. Damage limitation, if you will. Counting our potential losers in hand, we
Hand of the Week #224 ♥
N E S W 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 3♥ P P P West starts the auction with a 1♦ opener, North intervenes by overcalling 1♥, East replies 1♠ (promising 5+ spades as a negative double would have shown 4 spades) and South leaps to 3♥ based on the
Hand of the Week #223 (Solution) ♣
N E S W 1♥ P 1♠ P 2♣ P 2NT P P P Usually, the best plan in a NT contract is to count your top tricks and then see where you can establish more (usually in your long suits). For this hand we only have
Hand of the Week #223 ♣
N E S W 1♥ P 1♠ P 2♣ P 2NT P P P South starts off this auction with a 1♥, West passes and North replies with a simple 1♠ (remember, no need to rush as responder if you are bidding a new suit as it
Hand of the Week #222 (Solution) ♠
N E S W 1♥ P 2♣ P 2♦ P 2♠* P 3♣ P 5♣ P P P Examining our potential losers in hand, we have: 4 spades, no hearts, no diamonds and no immediate clubs. The problem on this hand is, therefore, quite clear: how do
Hand of the Week #222 ♠
N E S W 1♥ P 2♣ P 2♦ P 2♠* P 3♣ P 5♣ P P P An East-West only auction sees them end in the rather unusual contract of 5♣. East starts the auction by opening their unbalanced hand 1♥, to which West replies 2♣.
Hand of the Week #221 (Solution) ♦
N E S W 1♠ P P X 2♥ 3♣ 3♥ P P P As mentioned previously, at first glance this hand looks rather simple. Draw the trumps, dislodge the ♠A and then run all our spade winners. The problem with this overview is that it fails
Hand of the Week #221 ♦
N E S W 1♠ P P X 2♥ 3♣ 3♥ P P P North starts us off with a 1♠ opener and this is passed all the way round to West who doesn't let the bidding end as they make a light takeout double. This is