https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCdN5-RSsfo After partner opens 1NT showing 15-17 hcp and we have a wonderful hand with 9 hcp and an 8-card club suit. What are our options for responding? How high…
Don’t let the name confuse you! As well as being called negative doubles, these have a couple of other names that you may hear, which are “Sputnik double” and “Responder’s…
When your partner opens 1NT, you know almost exactly what kind of hand he holds. It is one of only 3 possible shapes: 4333, 4432 or 5332 - the balanced hands. And it sits in a very narrow point range: 12-14 if you are playing Acol; or 15-17 if you are playing Standard American.
You might be wondering why I’m asking you to use the force, so maybe I should explain! The key to understanding bidding is to know which bids are forcing and…
Responder’s 1NT, often called the “Dustbin 1NT”, often causes confusion in bridge learners. Many people remember the bid to mean “6-9 HCP”, “no fit in Partner’s suit” or “any old rubbish”. The truth is that these are all part of the answer: but not the whole answer! The bid should not be thought of in terms of what it shows but what it denies. It simply means “I couldn’t do anything else”. No wonder it’s so difficult to get your head around!
Take-out doubles are extremely useful and versatile but often forgotten. Most of the time we will like one of the options partner has given us, but what do we do…
Bajir gives Adam a very tricky 3NT hand, where declarer has to be careful counting his tricks and managing his entries.