| Bridge Lessons at KOP |
Please Note: Scroll down for Expert Analyses of Selected Deals by Mark Henderson.
Bridge Lessons for Spring 2024! Whether you're a beginner, intermediate or advancing player, we have a full program of classes to continue improving our bidding and play in 2024.
1. Advanced Beginner Bridge with Linda O'Malley
This class is for those who have completed an introductory bridge lesson. Continue learning with Linda in her second 6–Lesson bridge series, either Monday evenings from 7:00–9:00 PM beginning April 8, or Wednesday mornings from 9:30–11:30 AM beginning April 17. Advance registration is suggested; a minimum of 8 students are required for a class to run. Email Linda with any questions or to register at LindaForBridge@gmail.com or call 484–919–0425. Click here for the flyer and complete details.
2. Lessons with Lisa
Lisa Mita will offer an additional 5–Lesson series on Thursdays from 9:30–11:30 AM beginning May 16. Topics include Forcing Bids by Opener and Subsequent Auction, Forcing Bids by Responder and Subsequent Auction, and Defensive Signals: Attitude, Count, & Suit Preference. Advance registration is recommended. A minimum of 8 students is required for the class to run. Email Lisa with any questions or to register at BridgeWithLisa@gmail.com or call the Club at 610–232–2250. Click here for the flyer and complete details.
3. Interfering over 1NT with John Dickenson
Join John for a new 3–Lesson series on intefering over an opponent's strong opening 1NT, as well as how to handle the opponents' interference over your partner's opening 1NT. Lessons will take place from 9:30–11:30 AM on Tuesdays beginning June 4. The fee for each lesson is $30, attend any or all. Advance registration is recommended; a minimum of 8 students is required for the class to run. Email John with any questions or to register at dickenjb@gmail.com or call the Club at 610–232–2250. Click here for the flyer and complete details.
North Penn Duplicate Bridge Club also offers bridge lessons from experienced instructors. Click here for more information.
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| Board 12 May 7 “They Bid and Made a Grand” |
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Partner opens 1NT (15–17); you Texas transfer to ♠4 then find out through Key Card Blackwood that partner holds the two missing aces and two missing kings. You can count 12 tricks. Should you stop at ♠6 , bid 6NT, or bid ♠7?
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I’ve heard it said that you should never bid a grand slam unless you can count 13 tricks. That may be true for those playing bridge for money, but it’s not good match point bridge.
Here partner has opened 1NT, and shown 14 HCP from the keycard information. Partner should have another point or two. If it’s a queen that’s the 13th trick, If it’s a jack there is a 50% finesse that may succeed. Partner also may hold a doubleton diamond, creating a thirteenth trick with a ruff. Let’s assume there’s a 50% chance partner holds a queen, a 50 % chance of a successful finesse, and a 10% chance partner has a doubleton diamond. Doing the math there’s a 78% probability of making 7♠. (Can you figure out how to arrive at this number?) Being right 78% of the time is good bridge.
So how come Nancy and Linda were the only ones to bid and make 7♠ ? Where’s my field protection?😎
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| Board 26 Tuesday May 7 “Unblocking on Defense” |
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East dutifully leads the ♠7 and declarer is in big trouble. It appears declarer must lose 4 spades and a diamond. But there’s a “fly in the ointment “. Can you spot the defensive problem and overcome it to set 3NT?
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West covered dummy’s ♠8 won by declarers ♠K . When West was back in with ♦K he lead ♠A . That dropped declarer’s ♠Q . East followed with the original 4th best spade , dummy contributes the ♠10. When the ♠9 is led next the spade suit is blocked.
Both east and west have a full count on the spade suit after West’s spade overcall . When West plays the ♠A East should carefully preserve the low spade for the fourth round. West is guilty as well. After seeing the ♠Q drop, partner is known to have the 2 remaining spades. So lead low next, retaining the ♠9 to unblock the suit.
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| Board 17 Sunday May 12 “It’s Not a Simple Game” |
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South bids to 5♣; West leads the ♠A and switches to the ♣7. And everyone pauses to…..think 😎. Declarer: I need help! ♦K onside, ♣K onside, ♥s breaking? I can’t afford to draw trump if hearts don’t break so I have to keep both cross ruff and setting up hearts in play.
East: Declarer is fortunate that both Kings are finessible. But ♥s are breaking badly , so the defense should try to draw trump, but how?
Who should win this battle and how are they going to figure it out?
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East wins one for the defense. When declarer rises with the ♣Q (begging East to cover); East says NO! Declarer wins, tests hearts. On the third heart dummy ruffs with the ♣9 but east has retained the ♣K to over ruff and return a trump. Now Declarer can only claim 10 tricks.
It’s not an easy game 😎 |
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| Board 23 Sunday May 12 “The Doubleton Honor” |
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Here’s a hand that is easy to play until the end. How do you keep from losing two club tricks?
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It’s situations like this that make bridge a fascinating game, both as declarer and defender. As declarer you first realize there is an arrangement of defenders' cards that will allow you to lose only one club. And as you are about to lead low toward the ♣J ( playing south for both the ♣K and ♣Q , when they win they are endplayed), you realize there is another choice……what if North holds a doubleton honor? Now playing the ♣A first and then a low club, will endplay North 😎.
Which choice is best? The probabilities are about equal. Some say always play for split honors when faced with these choices.
Knowing that you have a winning option that you can execute successfully puts you in the top 10% of most fields.
its not an easy game 🤯
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| Board 15 Tuesday May 14 “The Law in Action” |
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North’s 4♣ is a “splinter bid” showing a singleton or void, forcing to game. It’s your bid: do you Pass, Double, or bid 5♣?
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West has made an aggressive overcall of 2♣. Your choice? West is showing partner where his values are, and there is very little risk of being doubled for penalty.
East now has a decision to make. Using “The Law”: Our side has at least 10 trumps, the opponents 8+. I’ll estimate 19 total. Assuming NS is making 4♥ that leaves 9 tricks for EW. At this vulnerability, even if we do get doubled that’s –300, vs –620, so I’m bidding 5♣ !
What if NS can’t make 4♥ ? Then you might lose ….this time. You should assume, however, that your opponents, who have freely bid game, expect to make it. |
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