Learning bridge feels hard (link)

Here's a post I stumbled across a while ago. It's about learning to write software (the other flavour of blog I frequent) but it applies at least as much to bridge.

Go have a read: You have to get good before you get better.

Paraphrasing:

I think people successfully learn how to play bridge when they treat their progress as an inevitability so long as they put in the work. They don’t track how well they’re doing, and they don’t think about it day to day. They concentrate on learning. On building a base of knowledge.

RKCB for the lose!

On a cold wintery evening while shuffling and dealing for bidding practice (with all the deuces removed) I was handed this:

♠	5
♥	6
♦	A K Q J T 9
♣	A K Q J T

That's a two loser, eleven playing trick hand. Partner opens 1♥.

There are only three likely end points for this auction, 5♦, 6♦ or 7NT depending entirely on whether partner has zero, one or two bullets. How to find out is a different story you see 4NT, is Roman Key Card Sodding Blackwood.

Does anyone have any clever tricks to solve this particular problem?

I'm far from happy with the auction we ended up with which involved me poncing around trying to set diamonds and facing an uncooperative partner gambling that two keycards in hearts might be enough.

♠ 5 ♥ 6 ♦ A K Q J T 9 ♣ A K Q J T		♠ A J 9 7 2 ♥ A J T 6 4 3 ♦ 4 ♣ -

At least dummy has a diamond! Can you imagine hopefully leading towards the ♠5 at trick two, praying for the 3 and 4 to complete the trick avoiding five light?

Making 3NT - the answer

This is the answer to the question posted a few days ago. If you haven't read the problem go here to take a look.


As AA will tell us, the first step is admitting you have a problem. With 29 combined points and every suit double stopped it's hard to believe this contract is vulnerable. As a few people suggested the danger is this:

	♠ Q J T ♥ A Q 8 ♦ K 9 ♣ A J 8 4 3
♠ K 8 7 4 3 ♥ J 9 5 4 3 ♦ A 7 ♣ 5		♠ 9 6 ♥ 7 ♦ T 8 6 5 4 ♣ K 9 7 6 2
	♠ A 5 2 ♥ K T 6 2 ♦ Q J 3 2 ♣ Q T

Against this layout if you play a club before a diamond you go down. Whether you take the club finesse or lead small from the table East will win the first round, fire a spade through and you cannot uncook your goose.

How will you make 3NT?

Playing in a teams match recently the following hand came up. It's a fantastic hand to learn from and a great example of thoughtful bridge.

	♠ Q J T ♥ A Q 8 ♦ K 9 ♣ A J 8 4 3
♠ 4
	♠ A 5 2 ♥ K T 6 2 ♦ Q J 3 2 ♣ Q T

I sat West. South opened a 12 - 14 1NT which sent North into a fit of tsking, and umming. Finally after bidding 3NT they dumped their hand on the table with a plea that South not make 12 tricks.

The lead I made, my 4th highest spade, did not beat the tables Queen.
Now is the time, to pick the best line, how will you make 3NT?

Update: Sorry, the lead is a 4th.

How to win a pairs event

Or at least how to get pushed into game and make it. Last weekend I played two tournaments with regular commentator James. We won the pairs with two sessions in the mid fifties separated by a 68% monster in the middle.

Here's an example of the sort of hand that usually breeds a story:

♠	A 8 6 4
♥	Q 8 3
♦	T 9 6 4
♣	8 7

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	Pass
1♠	2♣	3♠	Pass
Pass	4♣	Pass	Pass
?

Horrible. West bid 4♣ confidently, like it's a certain thing. We're green though and that means if the opponents forget to double we can safely go down two! Lets try:

	♠ K Q T 9 ♥ 7 6 2 ♦ A K Q 8 2 ♣ J
♠ J 2 ♥ K T 9 ♦ J ♣ A K Q T 6 4 2		♠ 7 5 3 ♥ A J 5 4 ♦ 7 5 3 ♣ 9 7 3
	♠ A 8 6 4 ♥ Q 8 3 ♦ T 9 6 4 ♣ 8 7

A♣, K♥, A♥, end. Not sparkling defense but ten tricks and a bunch of matchpoints.



But what say you pick up this:

♠	K 8
♥	A K 9 8
♦	T 4 3
♣	T 8 7 6

And the auction is slower and more tortuous:

South	West	North	East
Pass	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	1♠	2♥	2♠
X	Pass	3♥	3♠
?

You doubled to invite but partner turned you down. The opponents push on and wanting to protect when we hold the balance a 'sacrifice' in game looks like an option...

	♠ A 4 ♥ J T 4 2 ♦ K Q J 8 7 ♣ 9 2
♠ Q T 7 5 3 ♥ 7 5 ♦ 9 ♣ A Q J 5 3		♠ J 9 6 2 ♥ Q 6 3 ♦ A 6 5 2 ♣ K 4
	♠ K 8 ♥ A K 9 8 ♦ T 4 3 ♣ T 8 7 6

On a spade lead all that needs to work is a heart finesse and ten more tricks roll home. Sometimes you just can't bid to the right spot without a little help from you friends. And after all if your opponents played perfectly there would be no chance of getting a trinket like this.

Stepping out

We all have an internal set of rules that guide when and what we bid. Usually we follow them without thinking but from time to time temptation appears and they fall away. Here's a hand I picked up a while ago on a club pairs night:

♠	A J 9 7 2
♥	T 7 3
♦	A K Q
♣	Q 4

My right hand opponent dealt and opened 3♣.

I suspect the expert opinion would favour a pass here perhaps with double as a candidate.

Figuring that everyone else would overcall and not wanting to be left behind I bid 3♠. Partner raised to game, left hand opponent doubled and I went down two earning exactly zero matchpoints.

Lets have a peek at what left hand opponent has:

♠	K T 8 3
♥	Q 4
♦	T 8 7 4 3
♣	9 3

What? Their partner pre-empted and looking at a maximum of two tricks they doubled? How fortunate that the clubs were 7222 around the table and their partner had the AK and the ♠Q.

Call it unlucky but if I'd just passed...

	♠ 6 5 4 ♥ A K 9 8 6 5 ♦ J 2 ♣ 8 5
♠ K T 8 3 ♥ Q 4 ♦ T 8 7 4 3 ♣ 9 3		♠ Q ♥ J 2 ♦ 9 6 5 ♣ A K J T 7 6 2
	♠ A J 9 7 2 ♥ T 7 3 ♦ A K Q ♣ Q 4