Topics from Talks and Play
Pre-Session Talks
- 12th October 2015
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Refresher: a whole evening to dust off a summer away from the table or build on first steps in the main game. Topics: no-trump shapes, finesses (again) and doubles.
- 7th May 2015
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A Little Finesse: how to tell finesses from those plays that aren't.
- 26th March 2015
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Leads and Signals: slides from the presentation; the whys and wherefores of standard leads, avoiding bad leads and an introduction to 'ace for attitude, king for count'.
You can also print a PDF of the slides. That's the bare text without colour which made it hard to read (and no doubt, expensive to print).
- 26th February 2015
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- Strong Hands: notes on opening and responding to 2.
- Seven good hands: suggested bidding sequences for the seven deals inserted into the evening session.
- 19th February 2015
Other Interventions: no-trump overcalls and takeout doubles.
- 12th February 2015
Overcalling a suit: rationale and continuations.
- 22nd January 2015
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Weak Two-Bids (2) – more examples and responding dos and don'ts:
- Do raise partner; bid game if you think you an make it (even with just two trumps), raise to the 'level of the fit'.
- Don't bid new suits unless you really mean it, remember opener has six - do you have six?
- Don't bid on misfits
- Use 2NT as an equiry – but only when you think you can make game but aren't sure.
For more see the developing the auction again in the Weak two-bids page.
- 15th January 2015
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Weak Two-Bids (1) – introduction
- "It's all about vulnerability and position at the table"
- Remember a weak-two is a pre-empt, an attempt to disrupt the opponents, be careful you don't hurt your side.
For more information, see the general comments on pre-empting in the page on Weak two-bids (below).
- 4th December 2014
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- Managing the auction as responder; when to make a jump-shift, misfits and what to bid on awkward hands.
- On the lookout for overtricks; plays when your contract is assured.
System
- System card
- This is the system card relevant to the last course we taught. It is very much in line with the EBU course books (but including weak-twos as below).
- Weak two-bids
- Of the three two-year classes at Ipswich & Kesgrave, the first and the third taught weak-twos, the second strong-twos, reflecting the proportion in club play. This document is a digest of how to approach weak-twos from the third class.