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Bridge & other card games/Questions Answered by Expert Andrew Gumperz
| Subject | Date Asked |
| bidding | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: When can you bid a preemptive (sp?) bid?? Can you be the 4th person bidding & want to show your ... A: Interesting question. The short answer is that jump openings in a suit are preemptive when made in ... | |
| Standard american bridge | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: I am a serious beginner!! Could you please answer a few questions? 1. Who is called a responder and ... A: Welcome to bridge! I hope you are enjoying learning this game. 1. Who is the Responder? Who is the ... | |
| bidding | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: My partner opened with 4 diamonds (she had 7 diamonds and 19 points) I had 9 points and one diamond ... A: Your partner's 4D call opening bid is normally played as a weak preemptive call. I would expect a 4D ... | |
| Point Count | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: When opening a NT can you count the points for a Q when your holding in that suit is Qx ? A: The answer is "yes, you can count two points for your Queen, even when you hold Qx." For the purpose ... | |
| bridge overcall | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: my right hand opponent opens 1D my hand is: S AK94 H Q D AQJ84 C 842 What is my bid? A: I would over call 1S. Your diamonds are well positioned and you have plenty of high cards to justify ... | |
| # of cards needed for response over opponent overcall | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: When responding to partner's open, after an interference bid by opponent, must I have 5 cards in a ... A: The answer depends on the auction and on your bidding agreements. Today, almost every one plays ... | |
| Rebidding a 5-card major | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: Partner opens 1D. I, with 7HCP: Kxxxx, Axxx, xx,xx -- bid 1 Spade. Opener rebids 1NT and I pass. ... A: Your Hand S: Kxxxx H: Axxx D: xx C: xx Your correct rebid is 2H, not 2S. 2H shows 4+ hearts, 5+ ... | |
| Bidding question | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I open with 1 NT on the following hand we open 1NT with 15 - 18 pts QJXofS AQX of H AJxx of D ... A: Auction 1NT -- (P) -- 2H! -- (3H) 3S -- (P) -- ? Responder has a super hand on this auction and ... | |
| Renege scoring | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: What is the penalty for a reneg in bridge. One of our players thinks that if it is done by the non ... A: Sorry to take so long to get back to you. Unfortunately, the answer is not a simple one. It depends ... | |
| Overcalls | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: The opener says 1 club; I have 11 points and 4 good diamonds but no 5 card suit so I pass; the ... A: Auction (1C)-P-(1H)-P (2C)-? Interesting question. The short answer is "No, you are not obligated ... | |
| Response to Convenient Minor | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: If my partner opens what I consider to possibly be a convenient minor and I have only one or two ... A: My recommendation is that when: partner opens 1C and you hold 0-5 HCP, a 5+ card major and fewer ... | |
| overcalls | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: When playing the negative double, if opener bids one club and RHO bids one diamond, why shouldn't ... A: When the auction has begun 1C-(1D) a negative double shows length in both majors. Most experts play ... | |
| Opening or not? | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: Gumperz! I would like to ask you about your opinion over a hand - do we have to open it or do we ... A: Spades: x; Hearts: AQx; Diamonds: Q10; Clubs: QJ10xxxx; I would happily open this hand 1C. It has a ... | |
| reneg | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: a spade is led and the second and third person follow suit. The last person drops an Ace of hearts ... A: Sorry to take so long to get back to you. This situation is not a called a renege since the person ... | |
| 4 d? | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: w n e s p 1s 2c 2h p 3h p 4d p p p I played e s-q,9,8,5,4 h-j,9,2 d-k,4 c-a,k,q ... A: I apologize for taking so long to answer your question. Unfortunately, life got in the way of ... | |
| bidding | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: My partner opened with 1 club. I answered 1 spade with 9 points and 4 spades. She rebid 2 clubs with ... A: I apologize for taking so long to respond to your question. Unfortunately, life temporarily has ... | |
| bidding auction | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: Bidding went as follows: RHO - 1D MYSELF - PASS LHO - 2C PARTNER - PASS RHO - 1NT ... A: I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. Unfortunately, life got in the way of answering ... | |
| Reneg | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: Does a reneg have to be caught immediately or can you be penalized at any time? A: No it does not. A renege can be caught anytime prior to the beginning of the next hand. If you are ... | |
| Team matches - IMPs | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: How is this type of match different from match point games ? What should I be doing differently - ... A: IMPS is a form of total point scoring. At matchpoints, the size of a win or loss does not matter. * ... | |
| renege in duplicate bridge | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: North & south had a contract of 3NT. East got the lead & started his string of 6 spades.(north ... A: A renege is defined as a failure to follow suit when you have a card of the suit in your hand. So ... | |
| take-out-double after a 3heart prempt | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: ....My hand was balanced......I had 21-22 high card points...I had only one stopper in hearts....but ... A: Interesting question. I'd need to see you full hand to give you an opinion on your call, but I can ... | |
| scoring party bridge | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: We play 4 hands and then switch partners, so we score the 4 hands and then move on. If one side wins ... A: If you play four deals and then move on, I suggest you adopt Chicago-style scoring which is the ... | |
| Bridge | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: What is the difference between a support double and a negative double, and how can your partner tell ... A: Interesting question. I can understand why you are confused since the distinctions are subtle. A ... | |
| bidding over a 5 card major | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: Over a 5 card major opening by my partner, i.e. 1 Heart, having 5 spades to the Ace and 8 points, I ... A: I hope you were not reprimanded too harshly because your partner is misinformed. With 8 points and 5 ... | |
| game forcing overcalls | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: Are there bids that can be used after an opponent opens that will force your side to bid game? I ... A: Fifty years ago, a direct cuebid was indeed a gameforcing, or near game forcing, call. However, ... | |
| Bridge | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: what would be the proper response if your partner opens with 2 of a major suit? I have 7 points. A: The proper response depends on what 2 of a major shows. Strong 2 If 2M is strong, then partner ... | |
| Jump shift | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: Both sides are vulnerable. Partner opens 1H. Opponent bids 2D, I have 18 pts. What is my response? ... A: 50 years ago, the standard advice would have been to make a strong jump shift. However, since then ... | |
| overcalls 1NT | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: If opposition opens 1NT how many points do I need to overcall their bid? is this different to a ... A: My rules for overcalling a 1NT opening are: 1. An overcall against any NT opening promises either ... | |
| What's the correct bid? | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: We play basically standard american. How should this be bid? West | North | East | South 2 H ... A: If I had held the advancer's hand, we would be playing 3D since I would have passed 3D. Advancer has ... | |
| partnership's secret bid | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: What is the general meaning of North opening 1 spade, south answering 4 clubs. This couple later ... A: South was using something called the Gerber convention. Playing Gerber, a jump to 4C is ace asking. ... | |
| "allowances" in bridge | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: I play regular social bridge. Several people have stated that it is "allowed" to review a trick ... A: The laws concerning inspection of a complete trick differ in rubber and duplicate bridge. In rubber ... | |
| Response to Opener's 2NT call | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: What action (approace) do you recommend with this hand (using standard methods) when partner opens ... A: This is a tougher problem. Previously, if we left 2NT behind we were only leaving a partscore. This ... | |
| Response to Opener's 2NT call | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: What action (approace) do you recommend with this hand (using standard methods) when partner opens ... A: Tough hand. Whatever you do will be a guess and will not work out some of the time. The options are: ... | |
| Was I asking for Aces? | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: My partner and I play "short club" where a 1D response to 1C means a bust hand and 2D means a ... A: Your Hand Kxx Q xxx AKQJTx Auction 1C -- 2D 4C -- .. 4C is not asking for aces. Your side ... | |
| Strong two answers (strong two system) | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: Two questions: Is the proper bid 2nt after partner has opened 2 of any suit (strong) if I have ... A: Strong 2 Bids The negative response to a strong 2 is indeed 2NT. It does promise 7 or fewer high ... | |
| Responses to third- and fourth suit opening bids following take-out double by LHO | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: Sitting in First or Second position after your partner opens and RHO makes a take-out double do the ... A: Being a passed hand changes responder's bidding somewhat, but the takeout double is more or less ... | |
| 5/5 majors | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: My partner opens with 5 spades and 5 hearts with 15 pts, 2 diamond, 1 club. He bid 1 spade and I ... A: Auction S -- N 1S -- 1NT 2H -- 2NT ? South: 5-5-2-1 with 15 HCP North: 1-3-4-4 with 9 HCP You ... | |
| Revised question on overcalling an opening bid of 1NT | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: "Dear Bridge Expert, I just sent you my question with an error in it! Sorry. Here is the correctMy ... A: My advice does apply to defending a weak NT opening. When your opponents open with a weak NT, ... | |
| Bridge rotation | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: Bridge eight players plaese give seating and rotation plan A: I'd suggest that you take a look at this online publication by Marvin French. It should tell you ... | |
| Revised question on overcalling an opening bid of 1NT | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: "Dear Bridge Expert, I just sent you my question with an error in it! Sorry. Here is the correctMy ... A: The minimum high cards needed to overcall 1NT varies by shape. The more shapely the hand, the fewer ... | |
| protocol | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: In duplicate, what is the etiquette and protocol regarding the convention card. In a recent game, I ... A: Good question. The purpose of the convention card is to inform the opponents about your methods. ... | |
| response to convenient minor opening bid | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: I open with 1 diamond (convenient minor). Does my partner respond with 1 spade if she has 7,6,5, and ... A: Playing 5-card majors, the normal advice is to respond 1S even on 4-small. Opener should only raise ... | |
| How to score renege | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I play rubber Bridge with Goren rules. I would like to know how do you score when you renege on a ... A: he rules for resolving reneges are quite complicated. The process depends on: 1. When the renege was ... | |
| reverses | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: Why do you need a longer first suit to reverse? Why not 4 clubs and 4 hearts for example?sfdrd A: There are two reasons. * 4-4 hands generally have an alternative rebid * Searching for slams ... | |
| bidding | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I started this question and my comp. had a hiccup so I am starting again. I hope that you didn't ... A: When you make a 2/1 response and then rebid in a new suit you create a game force. So this sequence ... | |
| bidding slam | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: Please critic the following bidding. My hand: S - Axx H - 10xxxx D - Ax C - Qxx Bidding: N ... A: I have several comments. Responder correctly evaluated that her hand was worth bidding a slam ... | |
| bidding | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I started this question and my comp. had a hiccup so I am starting again. I hope that you didn't ... A: I would rebid 3C. I don't expect to play in clubs since partner is probably 5-2-3-3, but 3C is both ... | |
| bid out of turn | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: "Correct" opener's partner "open" 3 spades out of turn. What happens then? A: When your partner opens out of turn, here are the steps: 1. Bidder's LHO has the option to accept ... | |
| Quality of the 5 card major | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: My partner claims that even with 13 points, she will not open a 5 card major unless 1 or 2 honors. I ... A: A 5-card major is a biddable suit regardless of suit quality; even 5-small is acceptable for a 1M ... | |
| Reaching Correct game with 6-5 distribution-Corrected | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: How would you bid the following hand using Standard American with no competitive bidding? North ... A: 1. "Can you see a different continuation after my fourth suit forcing 3H bid." Yes. Opener can ... | |
| Meaning of 4NT over a T/O double of 4H | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I liked your discussion about the handling of a 4H preempt. What does in your opinion ... A: There are two reasonable treatments to choose from: 1. 2-suiter 4NT 2. "Good-bad" 4NT 2-suiter 4NT ... | |
| Reaching Correct game with 6-5 distribution-Corrected | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: How would you bid the following hand using Standard American with no competitive bidding? North ... A: North (Dealer) S H D C Q Q -- A J ... | |
| laws of duplicate bridge | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: When an offender with a penalty card has the lead, does his partner have the right to remind him of ... A: Law 9 Section A, Part 3 of the ACBL's Laws of Duplicate Bridge (2008) states: "...Any player, ... | |
| 6 & 5 Card Majors | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: We play very casual rubber bridge, pretty much beginners and don't even score yet. My partner ... A: re: responding 1H first Sorry, I did not state my point clearly. If you respond 1H and you wish to ... | |
| Acceptance of invitational bid guidelines | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: My partner passed following this bidding sequence 1C-1H-2H-3H with 14HCP but with a perfectly flat ... A: Those guidelines are approximately right if opener's raise to 2H guarantees 4-card support. However, ... | |
| Acceptance of invitational bid guidelines | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: My partner passed following this bidding sequence 1C-1H-2H-3H with 14HCP but with a perfectly flat ... A: Auction 1C -- 1H 2H -- 3H P? I can't give a definitive answer without knowing partner's actual ... | |
| 4 card heart suits | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: Are there any instances when a 4 card heart bid can be used other than as a response to partner's ... A: Are you asking whether a natural bid of hearts by responder at the 2-level always promises a 5+ card ... | |
| bridge bidding | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: The last time I played bridge was 30 years ago and started again several months ago so I'm thinking ... A: Richard Pavlicek has an excellent web site with much great advice on standard bidding. This page ... | |
| military bridge rotation | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: how do I find a roation for 48 players A: You need a director for your bridge game. Unfortunately, running a bridge game can be quite tricky ... | |
| 6 & 5 Card Majors | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: We play very casual rubber bridge, pretty much beginners and don't even score yet. My partner ... A: Your hand: AKxxx Txxxxx x J Auction 1C -- 1S 2C -- ? This is not an easy hand to bid, so I am not ... | |
| Revoke | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: After revoke by defender has been established and trick is awarded to declarer, does the declarer ... A: A game bonus is only awarded if a successful contract would result in a game bonus. For example, if ... | |
| Rummy | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: Can you lay off cards on another players turn. A: You can find the rules of Rummy at this site: http://www.pagat.com/rummy/rummy.html#basic From my ... | |
| bridge jump shift | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: Please tell me partners responce if she had 3 points. she had king and 5 clubs. I opened 1 club then ... A: A strong jump shift is indeed a demand bid that guarantees the partnership will reach at least a ... | |
| 3 nt opening bid | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: after dealer passed, my partner opening 3 no-trump. I held 11 points in my hand but unwillingly ... A: There is no right or wrong answer to this question. The meaning of 3NT is strictly a matter of ... | |
| Marathon Schedule | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I need to come up with a schedule where each couple plays all other couples once during the year. ... A: I am sorry but rotations are outside my skillset. However, I can recommend some resources to you: ... | |
| Bridge Group Scoring | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: I play with a group that plays four hands against each pair sitting the same direction, uses chicago ... A: I agree with you that using only the positive score is not a sufficient disincentive to bad bidding. ... | |
| last nights hand | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: North-1 club(sayc)South 2 spades, North-3clubs(he later said he missed the jump), South ... A: Auction 1C - 2S 3C - 3D 3NT - 4NT I would interpret this auction as a quantitative ... | |
| NT bidding with unprotected suits | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: Almost everyone I play with does this citing 16-18 hcp and a balanced hand make it a must. Their ... A: Charlie Goren had quite a lot of success playing your style and you can't argue too much with that. ... | |
| NT bidding with unprotected suits | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: Almost everyone I play with does this citing 16-18 hcp and a balanced hand make it a must. Their ... A: Back in the day, the experts recommended that NT opening bids required stoppers--or some semblance ... | |
| on-line rubber bridge (pogo.com) | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: Is it ok to ask your partner or ops. during bidding process if their 2 opening is strong or weak? A: Your opponent's bids It is always OK to ask your opponents what any of their bids mean as long as ... | |
| Forcing ? | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: Andrew: In the bidding sequence 1D , 1S , 2D , 2H , 3D , 3H. ( the opponents did not bid at all ) ... A: 1D-1S 2D-2H 3D-3H 4H Good question. Responder's 2H rebid created a 1-round force only. Opener was ... | |
| 2 d (waiting) response to strong 2 c opening | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: Where can I find the proper response to a 2d response to a 2c opener. I know it entails more than ... A: You can find this topic discussed in most system books. Marty Bergen's book "Better Bidding with ... | |
| Bridge Rotations | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: I am chair for 6 tables of rubber bridge for six months play. We play once a month... I have ... A: I would start by reading this publication by Marvin French: ... | |
| bidding | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: My question concerns table talk during bidding. I was taught that the proper way to bid is to say ... A: Of course you are correct--the proper way to bid is to make your bid's without other remarks, pained ... | |
| strong 2C opening | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: Can you give several examples of hands which can open strong 2C? Is it only long strong suit + 1 ... A: A strong 2C bid can be opened on two types of hands: * Strong and balanced 22+ HCP * ... | |
| Why named rubber | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: In contract bridge plays are made in rubbers. Why or how was the term rubber derived? Why call it a ... A: I did not know the answer to this question. I found the quoted text below in an answer to a similar ... | |
| Opener's Rebid | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a question about opener's rebid in this scenario: Opener has 17 point hand with 3 spades ... A: Yes a 3D call would be natural and forcing for one round. After an auction begins: 1M-(P)-2M-(P) any ... | |
| bridge game | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: how do you answer a 4 NT (blackwood) A: The responses to 4-Ace Blackwood are: 5C = 0 or 4 Aces 5D = 1 Ace 5H = 2 Aces 5S = 3 Aces However, ... | |
| How to open this hand | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: I'm in the first seat. This is my hand. What is the proper opening? Hearts A K Q J 10 9 ... A: So your hand was something along the lines of: S: -- H: AKQJTxxxx D: KQx C: K I would open the hand ... | |
| Military Bridge | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: My sister and I went to a Military Bridge fundraiser event at one of the Elementary Schools. We ... A: The ACBL publishes a guide for club directors that contains information on movements: ... | |
| IMP duplicate scoring | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: andrew....I understand scoring and IMPs in duplicate. what I do not understand is which partnership ... A: IMP scoring is used primarily in team games. A team consists of 1 E-W and 1 N-S pair. So N/S (table ... | |
| LEADS | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: N/S: NON VUL E/W: VUL N: P - 1D - P - 2D (GF) 2S - 2NT - P - 3NT PARTNER HAS THE A OF S THIRD. IS HE ... A: I can't give an authoritative answer without seeing the entire hand. In general, when your partner ... | |
| Lebensohl ove weak 2's | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: It seems that many articles don't agree about the following bid: 2S/2H - dbl - P - 3NT. Steve ... A: Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was referring to a 3NT bid by advancer (the player ... | |
| Lebensohl ove weak 2's | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: It seems that many articles don't agree about the following bid: 2S/2H - dbl - P - 3NT. Steve ... A: Expert advices differs because there are two separate situations categorized as "Lebensohl". The ... | |
| new to bridge | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I am new to this game and don't want to seem too much like a "dummy." What is the difference ... A: Bridge has the most confusing rules of any card game I know, so no one can blame you for being ... | |
| responding to opener's bid | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: partner opens 1D. After a pass it comes to me & I hold Kxxxx, Kxxxx, x, xx. I responded 1H, having ... A: Hand S: Kxxxx H: Kxxxx D: x C: xx Auction 1D-(P)-? The standard rules are that with: * 4-4 in ... | |
| Responding with various length in majors | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: Playing 2/1 The opener bids 1C or 1D: The responder has 10/11 points. If the responder has 4 4 in ... A: As you say, with 4-4 responder bids up the line and with 5-5 responder bids spades first. With 5-4 ... | |
| honor points | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: Can honor points be claimed by the dummy position or are honor points only counted when they are in ... A: Honors can be claimed wherever they are located so long as they are all in one hand. For holding ... | |
| Bridge problem | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: Ops open 1 diamond,I overcall(14 points) 1 heart no bid from my left,my partner responds and says 1 ... A: A 1NT response to an overcall nominally promises: 1. 8-11 HCP 2. A stopper in the opponent's suit ... | |
| response to 2 clubs | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I do not know why all the books I have read indicate positive response of 2 clubs need 8 points. It ... A: Good question. Standard methods do not handle 4-4-4-1 strong hands well and this may force you to ... | |
| western cue | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: over 1 NT (15-17) my partner x, I alert and bid 2C. She now bid 2 H nd I had 19 HcP ... so I bid 3 ... A: ***Hand 1*** A direct cuebid by responder at her first opportunity at any level always shows a ... | |
| Pre emptive vs. standard 1 open | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: How do you value this hand as dealer? S J,9; H AK86432; D Q; C 10,7,2. My partner, counting ... A: Interesting question. The best bid depends on your preemptive style. If you normally use hyper ... | |
| Bridge Questions | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: my question is: When your partner opens a strong 2 clubs. What is your response as his partner. I ... A: There are several popular responding schemes to a 2C opening. Here is a simple one I can recommend: ... | |
| Singleton A | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: We've been trying to sharpen our duplicate game so we often play in a foursome and discuss many of ... A: My apologies for getting back to you late. Every hand offers two source of tricks: --its high cards ... | |
| BLACKWOOD | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: My partner bid 4 no-trump and as I had no aces, I bid 5 clubs. Then my partner bid 5 no-trump. How ... A: Interesting question. After Blackwood, A call of 5NT guarantees that the partnership has all 4 aces ... | |
| Bidding Question | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a specific scenario where I am puzzled. My partner is the declarer and bids 1 clubs. I have ... A: Interesting question. You seem to be thinking about the right things. I could give you a simple ... | |
| convenient minors | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: What is a correct response to an open bid of 1 club or 1 diamond? Is it a demand bid? Must you ... A: In Standard American bidding, an opening bid of 1C or 1D is a natural and non-forcing call. You are ... | |
| bidding | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: We played with friends recently and my husband opened with 3-Diamonds ( a pe-emptive bid?) His ... A: A preemptive opening shows a weak hand containing a long suit. Some typical examples are: x, xx, ... | |
| response to 2 clubs | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I do not know why all the books I have read indicate positive response of 2 clubs need 8 points. It ... A: There are several popular response schemes to 2C. Two popular alternatives to consider are: 1. 2D ... | |
| Short Club bid | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: how many clubs should you have and how many of these should be honors? A: Whenever possible, if you: --have no 5-card major --can not open 1NT --can not open 2C or 2NT You ... | |
| Invention of New Outdoor and Indoor Games | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: My Hobbies are 1. Cricket. I love to watch this Outdoor Game. In my school days, i was playing ... A: This question is rather outside my area of expertise! However, I understand your point. The shape ... | |
| dont | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: over 1 NT (15-17) my partner x, I alert and bid 2C. She now bid 2 H nd I had 19 HcP ... so I bid 3 ... A: If partner has full minimum values for her bid, I suspect you will score better by leaving the ... | |
| Honors | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: Can you declare honors after the next hand is dealt? A: You can declare honors at any point before the net rubber score has been settled, as long as a ... | |
| dont | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: over 1 NT (15-17) my partner x, I alert and bid 2C. She now bid 2 H nd I had 19 HcP ... so I bid 3 ... A: She is right in one sense: It is OK to compete on a light hand with good distribution. However, her ... | |
| meanings of cue bids | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: Can you please review the most common uses of cue bids? My ptn and I can only seem to understand ... A: Unfortunately this is not an easy question to answer. Cuebids have a wide ranging of meanings, ... | |
| marathon couples rotation | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I have 12 couples that play 8 months / year. There are 3 couples each couple did not play last year. ... A: Well, for each pair, you need the records of who they played and missed last year. Now invest in 12 ... | |
| interference over a 2Cbid in Bridge | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: 2C open: 2D overcall responder holds: K10xx - J10xx - x - Aqxx What should responder due after that ... A: It depends on your bidding agreements with partner. Do not bid a suit. A new suit bid would ... | |
| renege on spades | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: What is the cost for the opposite side(B) for picking up the wrong book if the they call the renege ... A: Can you clarify the question for me? It's not clear to me exactly what happened. 1. Are you asking ... | |
| defence to preempts | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: Looking for a bidding structure over opponents preemptive bidding 4C,4D,4H,4S and and partner's ... A: Good question. Before I give you a structure, I will say that any system will involve tradeoffs. on ... | |
| military bridge | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: Could you just let me know. if you play with one deck at each table of 4. How many cards do you ... A: 1. You deal out all 52 cards, 13 to each player. 2. A trick is a packet of 4-cards, one played by ... | |
| military bridge or pan | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: We are having a fundraiser for women. There will be about 24 of us. We wanted to play a game that ... A: Sounds like fun! However, I would not recommend contract bridge game for a group that has has no ... | |
| Bridge Marathon, 18 couples, 7 months | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: Since you have done so well with other rotation questions, how about a rotation for a marathon ... A: Presumably participants will want to play matches in one another's homes. Since you only have 7 ... | |
| bridge double | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: North has bid 2 spades which East has doubled. South and West Pass. What are North's options? Can he ... A: Auction 2S-(dbl)-P-(P)-? My assumptions are that: 1. 2S was a weak 2-bid showing about 6-10 HCP and ... | |
| Bridge | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: "My partner has 20 points with four diamonds, four hearts, three spades and two clubs. The majority ... A: I have several thoughts. 1. 4-4-3-2 is a balanced hand pattern. Among tournament players, holding ... | |
| party bridge tournament | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I need a schedule for party bridge where 10 people play each other for 8 months. We play once a ... A: I am not a director, so bridge movements are not my forte. However, I can recommend a few resources ... | |
| bridge rotation | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I need a schedule for a 22 couple rotation for 8 months. This is stumping me !Basicly we meet 8 ... A: I am sorry to take so long to reply. I have a question for you: Do you have 22 couples or 22 ... | |
| rotation | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: we normally have 12 persons for a bridge evening,but tomorrow only five couples can come....any ... A: Perhaps you could play a 3-table round robin with one sit out. Assuming that you normally play 4 ... | |
| bidding | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: Dealer opens 1 heart. I am the opponent to his left and I open with 2 No trump(I have 24 points). ... A: Holding 24 HCP, your first move should be to double. Double is for takeout, i.e., partner is ... | |
| 4 NT over a 4 spade pre-empt | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: all: non vul - LHO opened 4 S - pd holds: no sp - AJ10xxx - AJ10 - AK10x - she should have bid 5 ... A: Holding this hand, the three possible actions are: 5H, 4NT and double. I'll discuss each below. The ... | |
| Responding to 1 club, possibly short club | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: My partner opens 1 club.(we play the short club gambit) At that point I cannot know if it is a short ... A: So facing yor partner's 1C opening, you held something along the lines of: S: KJx H: Ax D: QTxx ... | |
| 14 rotation | 8/15/2009 |
| Q: I need a schedule for a 14 couple rotation for eight months. Can you provide one. Thanks. A: Before I can answer the question I need more information. How will the event be played? Is everyone ... | |
| responses to opening bid | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I play 5 card major openings. I also beleive in bidding up the line. Recently while playing with a ... A: You ran into an idea known as Walsh responses to a 1C opening. This idea is not universally accepted ... | |
| demand or forcing bids | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: Today I played with a partner who opened the bidding with one club. I had 4 hearts to the ace, 4 ... A: J. Your hand: S: xxxx H: Axxx D: Jxx C: Jx Auction 1C-(P)-? There are two questions here. 1. Is ... | |
| party bridge scoring | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: In party bridge when one side makes a game and becomes vulnerable do they remain vulnerable after ... A: I am sorry but I am not familiar with how party bridge scoring differs from standard rubber bridge ... | |
| need rotation for 6 couples to play 12 times | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: Can you help with the rotation? A: I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. I suggest that you check out this publication: ... | |
| Revoking/reneging | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: If the revoker catches the revoke before the trick is taken, is there a penalty? If the opponents ... A: If a revoke is caught before the trick is complete, there is no penalty however the incorrect played ... | |
| 1 Club bid | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: What is the response to my partner's opening 1 Club (short club) bid when I have a total of 4 ... A: A 1 club opening is not a demand bid, even if it may be short. You are free to pass with 0-5 HCP if ... | |
| Doubling | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: East opens 3 diamonds, I as south double (I have no diamonds 5 clubs, 4 spades, 4 hearts four ... A: Sounds like a spot of redouble trouble. Unfortunately, it is not legal to double a redoubled ... | |
| bridge rotation schedule | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I need a rotation schedule for card flight for 7 couples playing 8 months A: Here is a schedule that I devised. I am no director, so you might want to contact the ACBL to get ... | |
| What to bid ? | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: Here is my hand: Q J 10 10 2 A K J 10 9 x x x Void Vulnerability is none What is my bid in first ... A: There are three options you can consider: 1D, 4D and 5D. Some decent players do prefer to bid these ... | |
| Pre-emptive bid | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: Are we right in thinking that if a pre-emptive bid of 7 cards and low points follows the opponents ... A: When you hold a weak hand with a long suit, an opening bid on your right does not generally change ... | |
| Renege Penalty | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: Opponents had bid 4C. My partner reneged by not following suit. We lost that trick and gained no ... A: Your opponents were mistaken. The penalty should have been either 0 or 1 trick depending on whether ... | |
| schedule for 13 couples-9 or 10 months | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: Where can I get a schedule for a bridge marathon for 13 couples for either 9 or 10 months. I have ... A: I would suggest emailing or calling the ACBL. Their customer service line is: 800-467-1623 Or you ... | |
| Pre-emptive bid | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: Are we right in thinking that if a pre-emptive bid of 7 cards and low points follows the opponents ... A: You are correct. After the opponents open at the 1-level, holding a weak hand with a 7-card suit you ... | |
| Marathon Bridge | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: Where can I find a marathon bridge rotation for 22 couples in 8 sessions? A: I would suggest emailing or calling the ACBL. Their customer service line is: 800-467-1623 Or you ... | |
| opening 1 club bids | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I was b erated by a director when I bid one club on a hand with 14 points, and 4 spadesd, 4 hearts, ... A: You have entered the confusing and counter-intuitive domain of bridge law. There is nothing illegal ... | |
| pre-emptive bidding | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: After opening with a 3 preemptive bid, and the bidding comes around to youi again, can you bid again ... A: After opening with a preemptive bid, you should virtually never bid again. The only exception is ... | |
| legality of 2 Clubs opening | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: Our director ruled that my partner's opening 2 Clubs bid was illegal, and penalized us. Was she ... A: A 2C opening is extremely reasonable on the given hand which contains both the offensive and ... | |
| short diamond | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: As opener with 19 points, 3d, 2C, 4H, 4S and you open 1D. The LHO passes as does the responder as ... A: Responder's Pass A responder is not forced to respond to a limited opening bid. So even though the ... | |
| response to 2 club bid | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: If my partner opens with 2 clubs (22+points), what is my response with 5 or less points? What is my ... A: Good question. The answer depends on your agreements. There are several methods used among ... | |
| help or cueing aces | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: How do I know if my partner is bidding a new suit to cue aces in that suit or to ask for help in ... A: My apologies for replying late. I just returned from the national bridge tournament which concludes ... | |
| response to one of a suit after double | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: I have learned that after a 1 of a suit and double by LHO the responder redoubles when he/she has 10 ... A: With only 7-8 points XX is out. Your options are: 1. 1-of-a-suit. A bid of a new suit promises 4+ ... | |
| Reponding to a one spade opening | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: When the opener bids "one spade" and the responder bids "two hearts" is the responder promising 5 ... A: In Standard American bidding the auction 1S-2H does promise a 5+ card heart suit. If it did not, it ... | |
| keeping score | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: In party bridge what score do you get for 1 spade doubled, redoubled, and you end up making 4 spades ... A: The score depends upon whether or not your side is vulnerable. Not Vul Trick Score (30 x 4) = 120 ... | |
| hand on bidding box out of turn | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I was to have been opener. My partner put her hand on bidding box & was stopped before ... A: I am no director so if you want an authoritative review of the ruling I suggest you contact ... | |
| intervening bids | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: In general is it permissable to intervene with a good four card major suit and 14 points in the ... A: It is permissible to overcall on a 4-card major occasionally. However, the guidelines for when to do ... | |
| Intervening bids | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: W opened 1NT, (12-14points) N (my partner) passed E bid 2D (weak takeout bid) S (myself) intervened ... A: white on white Auction (1NT)-P-(2D)-2S (P)-? I cant say for sure partner's best bid without ... | |
| bridge Bergen raise | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I am holding S = KQx; H = Axxxx; D = AK10x and C = Q Ibid 1H, partner gives me a bergan raise of 3H; ... A: Hand KQx Axxxx AKTx Q Auction 1H-(P)-3H!-(P) ? 3H = preemptive raise showing approximately 4-6 HCP ... | |
| Bridge | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: When a revoke has been established, does the hand have to be played out, or can it be thrown in and ... A: At a tournament the hand would always be played out and a penalty assessed by the director upon ... | |
| response to one of a suit after double | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I have learned that after a 1 of a suit and double by LHO the responder redoubles when he/she has 10 ... A: Imagine that you held this hand: Hand x, KTxxx, AQx, Qxxx Auction 1D-(X)-XX-(3S) P-(P)-? How do ... | |
| honors | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: If the partner not playing the hand has 100 honors all in his hand can you score 100 for honors? ... A: I checked the ACBL's published laws of contract bridge. The laws do not specify that the player ... | |
| Re: Spades Renege | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: My mother and I were playing a game of spades. During this game, my opponent cut with a spade when ... A: Here is the relevant rule: > Renege (Revoke) > If a player discards or trumps when able to follow ... | |
| Bidding One and Not Play | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: I seem to remember in my old bridge playing days that in Contract Bridge if the final bid is one of ... A: Your memory is accurate. When I played rubber bridge, the practice was to throw in one-level bids, ... | |
| bridge bidding | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: How do i bid a pre-empt club bid after a one diamond opening bid by opponent? A: i take it you are asking what to bid holding a hand like: x, xx, xxx, KQJxxxx after RHO has opened ... | |
| bridge transfers | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: If my partner bids 1nt and op bids 2c can I then bid 2d and I also alerted them on line that I was ... A: When the overcall is specifically 2C, it is possible to play that: Dbl = Stayman 2D/H = Transfers ... | |
| pre-empts | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: None of my bridge books tells me how responder bids after a weak 3-pre-empts. And none of my bridge ... A: Sorry to take so long to get back to you--I just got home today from a business trip. When partner ... | |
| Renig | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: If I renig but catch it before anybody else catches it do I still get penalized for it? A: Unfortunately, there will often still be a penalty. If a penalty is assessed and the severity ... | |
| Cutting cards for dealer | 7/5/2009 |
| Q: Is it proper/acceptable when cutting the cards for the dealer to replace them back in one pile? A: The relevant law is: Law 5 – The Cut The pack must be cut immediately before it is dealt. The ... | |
| Bidding | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: Opponent bids 1diamond, I hold Spades- AKQ9, Hearts AK, Diamond 72 Clubs J10652 Would you double ... A: This is a difficult hand because all actions are flawed: 1. 1S normally shows a 5-card suit 2. 2C ... | |
| major over intervening minor | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: If my partner and I play that 1M over partner's club opening and intervening bid of 1D shows 5 does ... A: There are problems with this bidding plan. Hand 1. AKJx xxx xxx xxx How will you feel about ... | |
| Rules of Bridge | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: If a player can see the cards in another players hand - what are the rules? ANSWER: Hi Ray, The ... A: The situation is different at rubber bridge. The rubber bridge laws do not ban you from taking ... | |
| dealing bridge | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: What is the rule when a dealer exposes a card dealt to him or herself or to anyone? A: At duplicate bridge the applicable law is this: Law 6 Section D "New Shuffle and Redeal 1. if it ... | |
| Rules of Bridge | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: If a player can see the cards in another players hand - what are the rules? A: The content of another player's hand is unauthorized information. If a player accidentally exposes ... | |
| major over intervening minor | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: If my partner and I play that 1M over partner's club opening and intervening bid of 1D shows 5 does ... A: I checked the ACBL alert guidelines and did not see this specifically covered. However, I would ... | |
| Reneg | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: In four hand spades ( partners) we were down to our last two cards. In my hand I had a 10 of ... A: Wow, that sounds like no fun! If I understand correctly here is what happened--holding one spade ... | |
| convenient minors bidding | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I have not played bridge for several years, but am getting back into it. What is the convenient ... A: Welcome back to the bridge world. What is a Convenient Minor? A convenient minor opening is an ... | |
| Precision Bridge alerts | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I understand 1 club is alertable for artificial and 16> points. Is 1 spade/heart/diamond alertable ... A: In the United States, the rules for what is and is not alertable are determined by the ACBL, and I ... | |
| Bidding | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: Rho has preempted 3h. I have S-AKJx H-void D-AKxxxxx C-AK. What is the best bid? Should i try a cue ... A: Wow, I never get these hands--I want to be your partner! S: AKJx H: -- D: AKxxxxx C: AK The ... | |
| bridge | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: where can I find rotation for swiss teams played in the homes. 4 teams play at one localation with ... A: The ACBL's web sites has many good free resources for people organizing a game. Here is a link to ... | |
| 5 person rotation in chicago scoring | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: I have 5 people playing, scoring Chicago, how do I rotate the 5th person in? A: I found a web site that explains the procedure for playing Chicago with 5 people: ... | |
| scoring doubles | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: When playing Quick Bridge (500 pts for bid and made fast game and 300 points for bid and made slow ... A: I agree that bridge scoring is not internally consistent. I don't know for sure, but I suspect the ... | |
| scoring doubles | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: When playing Quick Bridge (500 pts for bid and made fast game and 300 points for bid and made slow ... A: From your description, it sounds like Quick Bridge is another name for Chicago, or 4-Deal Bridge. ... | |
| scoring doubles | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: When playing Quick Bridge (500 pts for bid and made fast game and 300 points for bid and made slow ... A: I have never played quick bridge so I can't say for certain. In ordinary contract bridge, its not ... | |
| opening light 3rd seat | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: How many points so you need to open light in 3rd seat? A: Opinions vary about how much and how often to open light. Some people never do it. Some people shade ... | |
| bidding | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: I was second hand playing w bidding S W N E P 2D DBL 2S MY HAND S-8, H-J,5 C- ... A: This is a sequence where you need an agreement. The standard method is to ignore the double and ... | |
| renege | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: After play of the hand and cards were being picked up to be reshuffled, opponent accuses me of ... A: No, she can't collect a penalty for a revoke after the cards have already been mixed. Once the cards ... | |
| Pedro | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: I have heard that if dealt a hand in Pedro that does not have a point card or a face card that it is ... A: I am not an expert on the game of Pedro, but I did find this web site: ... | |
| Bridge | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: What is the extended rule of 25 for opening 2 club hands? A: A hand complies with the rule of 25 if: (HCP) + (combined length in two longest suits) >= 25 the ... | |
| covering an honor with an honor | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: Bid is 4 diamonds by East. On the 2nd or 3rd trick, East (declarer) led Q of diamonds. Me, south, ... A: I need more information before answering that specific case. 1. Was this the trump suit? 2. Was ... | |
| renege in spades | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: how long can a player wait to call a renege in a single hand ? example: if a player throws off ... A: There are two flavors of revoke, based on when they are identified: * non-established * ... | |
| covering an honor with an honor | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: Bid is 4 diamonds by East. On the 2nd or 3rd trick, East (declarer) led Q of diamonds. Me, south, ... A: Good question. It's not always clear when to cover an honor or duck. Here are some guidelines: ... | |
| Bridge card game revoke | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: What is the difference in contract bridge and duplicate bridge for revoke penalty? A: I looked at the ACBL's published Laws of Contract and Duplicate bridge and could not identify any ... | |
| bidding | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: If you hold this hand, Kxxxxx of hearts, Kxxxx of spades, xx diamonds, void in clubs, would you open ... A: Interesting question. S: Kxxxx H: Kxxxxx D: xx C: -- It is virtually impossible to hold this hand ... | |
| Strong two club opener | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: My hand was S AKXX H AKXX D A C AQX. Partner S XX H XXXXX D KQJXX C Kx. I have read that some ... A: Facing xx, xxxxx, KQJx, Kx, I'd expect one of the following auctions: 1C Auction 1C - 1H 4NT - 5D! ... | |
| Strong two club opener | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: My hand was S AKXX H AKXX D A C AQX. Partner S XX H XXXXX D KQJXX C Kx. I have read that some ... A: Opener's hand above has only 12 cards. I assume that the 13th was a small club and that his shape ... | |
| Cue Bid | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: My partner and I used an immediate cue bid and the opponents said that we must announce the cue bid ... A: You don't need to alert a cuebid. A cuebid is considered a "self-alert" since it is an unusual bid ... | |
| Rebid After Partner Responds to My TOD... | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: Yesterday, at matchpoints and at favorable vulnerability, I doubled a 1D opening bid. Responder bid ... A: The short answer is I agree with you that 3H should be competitive and not invitational. However, ... | |
| ace answering with void | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: Is there any way you can tell partner you have a void in a particular suit after he has asked you ... A: Void-Showing responses are a part of the Roman Keycard Blackwood convention (either 0314 or 1430), ... | |
| defensive bid | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: In a tournament recently, my partner opened 1 NT. Her left hand opponent overcalled 2C and his ... A: The HELLO convention is one of a myriad of new and complicated NT defenses. I am unconvinced that ... | |
| Bridge | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: Who moves the cards from left to right for the dealer? Is it the dealer her/his self or does the ... A: Here is the entire procedure: * the first deck is shuffled by the player sitting to the dealer's ... | |
| takeout double | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: Could you please settle an argument my husband and I cannot seem to settle? We agreed to play ... A: Short Answer Your partner should respond 1D. He absolutely must bid something. Even though his hand ... | |
| Bridge | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: Who moves the cards from left to right for the dealer? Is it the dealer her/his self or does the ... A: Question 1--Dealing procedure A game of Chicago bridge typically uses two decks of cards. When a ... | |
| Question | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: Can a player taking the bid and holding all four aces claim honors? If so, and assuming the player ... A: When the final contract is played in no trump either a declarer or a defender may claim the honors ... | |
| renege--penalty | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: Declarer is down two tricks when opponent renigs. (The declarer had played a good card from the ... A: The law for calculating the trick penalty is complicated: ... | |
| doubling then bidding | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: RHO opens 1C, I double, LHO passes, my partner bids 1H, RHO passes, I bid 1 spade. How many points ... A: Double-then-bid auctions promise a hand too strong to overcall. Today most experts have high ... | |
| reverse | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: If opener has AQ86 spades, K10954 hearts, A87 Diamonds and K Clubs (singleton) is it strong enough ... A: Hand S: AQ86 H: KT954 D: A87 C: K Auction: 1H - 1NT ? I agree with your valuation.--IMO, this hand ... | |
| Reneging in playing setback or pitch | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: I run a Pitch League during the winter and need to know what the penalty is for reneging while ... A: I am not an expert in the game of Pitch, but I can tell you how revokes are handled in Bridge. 1. A ... | |
| continuing bidding | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: I opened 1D. Oppenent doubled and then my partner responded 1H. Opponent responded 2C to the double. ... A: Hand S-A,J,7,5 H-void D-A,K,J,8,4 C-J,10,9,2 Auction 1D-(X)-1H-(2C) ? This is not an easy ... | |
| Bidding | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: Playing weak twos, I dealt and held AKQX, AKQ10XX, xx and K. Which is the better first bid, 1 Heart ... A: Any hand that has game in its own hand, or very close to it, can consider a 2C opening. A 2C bid ... | |
| Bidding | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: Playing weak twos, I dealt and held AKQX, AKQ10XX, xx and K. Which is the better first bid, 1 Heart ... A: There are three options: 1H Your hand is very powerful hand holding 10 tricks. It is too strong for ... | |
| Bidding | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: Playing Stong Twos partner opened 2 Spades, RHO passed. I held xx, KQxxx, Jxx, xxx. What should I ... A: Playing Strong 2's, you have two options: 1. 2NT. 2NT is the negative response in your system, ... | |
| military bridge | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: i would like to know how to play the game, rules, various rounds, needed materials. i was asked to ... A: The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) has the information needed to run a bridge game on their ... | |
| bridge | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: My right hand opponent deals and passes, I pass, my left hand opponent bids 1 club, and my partner ... A: You have raised an interesting topic. When an opponent opens and you or partner skip the biding that ... | |
| Response to partner's opening bid | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: If partner opens 1H and as his partner, I have 3Hs and an opening bid. Do I go directly to 4Hs and ... A: Good question. In Standard American bidding the raise to 4H is normally played as preemptive ... | |
| bridge bidding | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I am sitting south. East opens the bidding. South and West pass. My partner, north, doubles. ... A: Your partner's balancing double is for takeout. Unless you hold a long and strong holding in the ... | |
| Bridge bidding | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I open 1 spade and my partner responds 2 clubs, 2 diamonds, or 2 hearts. How many points is my ... A: Your friend is correct. Playing Standard American a 2/1 responses promises: * a lower limit of ... | |
| Response to opening 1 club bids | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: There seems be 2 common responses to a 1 Club bid. The first is called a convenient minor bid, ... A: I am not sure where you play, so I will outline the common rebidding schemes in Standard American ... | |
| Rebid your 5 card suit, major or minor, opener or responder | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: My partner wants me, as a responder, to rebid a 5 card suit so that if she has 3 in that suit she ... A: Rebidding with a 5-card suit is awkward and involves exceptions and judgment calls. I have created ... | |
| Honors in Defesive Bridge Hand | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: A simple question of fact. Do honors in a defensive bridge hand holding four or five honors recive ... A: The Laws of Contract Bridge, version 2003, state on page 43 that honors can be claimed by either ... | |
| bridge card game | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I read in a bulletin that on opening lead a doubleton is usually not advised tell me the reason why A: In Bridge there are few general rules. When it comes to opening leads, general statements are ... | |
| opening 2 bid | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: MY HUSBAND AND I ARE DUPLICATE PARTNERS. WE DISAGREE ON THE OPENING OF THIS HAND: ... A: Hand 1: S: AK10 H: QJxx D: AK C: AKxx In modern Standard American bidding, a 2NT opening shows ... | |
| Bridge bidding | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: partner opens 1H, after a 2D overcall I made a neg dbl with S-QJ10xxx, H-xx, D-KJxx, C-x, intending ... A: This was a thought-provoking question because the answer revolves around planning your future ... | |
| Bridge bidding | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: partner opens 1H, after a 2D overcall I made a neg dbl with S-QJ10xxx, H-xx, D-KJxx, C-x, intending ... A: As long as you can handle the likely follow-up auctions, I don't have a problem with negative ... | |
| RESPONSE TO TWO OPEN | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO A TWO OPEN IN A SUIT IS YOU HAVE A BUST HAND (ONLY 1 OR 2 POINTS AND NO TRUMP) A: When you say a two open I assume that you mean a strong two bid, promising game in its own hand. ... | |
| Bridge bidding | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: partner opens 1H, after a 2D overcall I made a neg dbl with S-QJ10xxx, H-xx, D-KJxx, C-x, intending ... A: That is a good question without a simple answer. Negative doubles are a matter of style and you will ... | |
| Gerber? | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm first to bid and open 1 NT. West passes. Partner bids 3D. East passes. I bid 3 spades. West ... A: So the auction is: 1NT-(P)-3D-(P) 3S-(P)-4C-(P) And the question is whether 4C is natural, a ... | |
| overcall response | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I have many books on Defense and cannot find anything on the subject of responding to the partner's ... A: Let me start by recommending a book to you. "The Complete Book on Overcalls" by Mike Lawrence ... | |
| Response to NT open | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: Using Stayman and Jacoby transfers conventions, partner (E) opens 1 NT , (S pass), you (W) hold the ... A: Auction (E) (S) (W) 1 NT pass ? West's Hand: S: J-10-x H: x-x D: ... | |
| Bidding after opponent's preemptive bid | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: North deals and bids three hearts. East is holding 23 point and has a strong spade suit. Does East ... A: If you can send me the exact hand. I'll give you a specific opinion. Without it, I can only give you ... | |
| bridge splinter bids | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: I am a passed hand with 11 HP,4-4-4-1 distribution with a singleton heart. Partner opens One Spade. ... A: If you can send me the actual hand, I will give you a specific opinion. Without it, I can only speak ... | |
| Bidding Conventions | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: Please explain using and responding to a "Convenient Minor" bid. I was told I could not bid 1 Club ... A: Convenient minors are confusing for many players. Part of the problem is the name, which does not ... | |
| bridge | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: My partner opens 2D, pre-emptive. I have opening points, 13-15, and a good 5 card major. Is there ... A: If you can send me the entire hand, I can give you an opinion. Without it, I can only speak in ... | |
| bidding | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: How many points should I count when holding a singleton or doubleton K,Q or J Thanks ANSWER: Hello ... A: You can still count for the shortness as long as you remember to devalue the honors as I suggested ... | |
| Bridge | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: If I am doubled and make the bid, can I be doubled into game. ... A: It depends on the level and strain. Doubled Contracts Contract Game if it makes? 2HX ... | |
| bidding | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: How many points should I count when holding a singleton or doubleton K,Q or J Thanks A: My apologies for being late with my answer. This is not a straight-forward question to answer. It ... | |
| Bidding After a 4-Level Preempt | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: West passed, north said 4 hearts; east doubled; south passed; west has a 7 card 9 high diamond suit ... A: Bidding after a 4-level preempt is challenging and even the experts don't get all those decisions ... | |
| transfers | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: Can you please generally explain what is a transfer, when and how to use it? Thanks, Bill A: Interesting topic. Here is an answer to your question. WHAT IS A TRANSFER? A bid that promises ... | |
| Passing the deal | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: Our bridge group has a question regarding when a hand is passed out. We always pass the deal but ... A: I am assuming that your group plays rubber bridge at home. I found an answer in the Laws of Contract ... | |
| bid the major ??? | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: My RH opponent opens with 1 diamond. I have: KQ10x - AJ AJ10xxxxx How should I bid this ?? Double ... A: Interesting problem. This is a powerful hand which could make game opposite very little. The bidding ... | |
| Contract Bridge | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: Please explain the 2 over 1 rule A: a two-over-one call is a minimum response to an opening one bid made in a lower-ranking suit. All of ... | |
| play of cards | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: Is a card considered played as soon as it is touched? A: Let me preface my answer by saying I am not a director and I recommend that you speak to your local ... | |
| Wrong side plays hand in bridge | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: If by mistake the dummy plays the hand instead of legal declarer is there a penalty after the hand ... A: I will preface this answer by saying that I am not a certified director, and I recommend that you ... | |
| bridge | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: i am a new bridge player.if i have less than opening points,but 7 diamonds how do I open A: As with most bridge questions, unfortunately, the answer is "it depends." Most often, with ... | |
Andrew Gumperz
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Bridge Bidding using the Standard American or 2/1 Game Forcing bidding systems. Declarer play and defense problems, defensive signals. I am not an expert on questions concerning bridge law, but I do my best to answer them.
Experience
I have been playing bridge competitively at a high level for 25 years and professionally off and on. I have won several regional events and have played as the partner of two world champion players.
Organizations
American Contract Bridge League (ACBL)
Publications
Scottish Bridge News
Education/Credentials
Undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley
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