Barbara Seagram’s Books · BARBARA SEAGRAM’S BOOKS BARBARA SEAGRAM SCHOOL OF BRIDGE, TORONTO,...

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BARBARA SEAGRAM’S INTERMEDIATE CHEAT SHEET A detailed summary of bidding that you can keep on your lap and refer to as you play. Opening the bidding Responder Rebids by opening bidder No Trump bidding Overcalls Take-out double Big hand bidding Stayman convention Pre-emptive bidding Weak 2's Opening leads Bids Leads Playing a hand $10.00 USD / $10.00 CAD BARBARA SEAGRAM’S CONVENTIONS CHEAT SHEET A detailed summary of conventions that you can keep on your lap and refer to as you play. Takeout Double Support Doubles Negative Double Responsive Double Penalty Doubles Splinter Bids Lead-Directing Doubles Jacoby 2NT Roman Keycard Blackwood Raising Partner's Overcall Responding to Partner's opening Bid Balancing Texas Transfers Gerber Cue bidding First Round Controls Unusual No Trumps Michaels Cue Bid Fourth Seat Forcing to Game $12.00 USD / $ 12.00 CAD BARBARA SEAGRAM’S DEFENCE CHEAT SHEET A summary of signalling & defensive strategy. Suit Preference Signal Queen From Queen Jack Signal Rule of Eleven Count Signal Discarding Strategy When Defending Alternate Methods Defensive Methods Showing Your Attitude Third Hand Play Second Hand Play $12.00 USD / $12.00 CAD BIDDING AT BRIDGE: A QUIZ BOOK Declarer Play at Bridge: a Quizbook, by the same author team, was named the 2013 Book of the Year by the American Bridge Teachers’ Association. Building on the success of that title, this book gives the near- beginner a chance to practice the principles on which sound bidding is based, from the opening bid onward. This is not just a series of problems, however. Each section contains a brief introduction to its topic, and the ideas are reinforced with carefully explained solutions and helpful tips throughout. Bridge teachers and students will find this book invaluable. $16.00 USD / $16.00 CAD DECLARER PLAY AT BRIDGE: A QUIZ BOOK This book is very gentle and is written for less experienced players. There are many, many practice hands within. The first page always has the problem and the second page has the solution. Detailed planning for playing hands in suit contracts and in No Trumps. This is Barbara's 18th. published book. $16.00 USD / $16.00 CAD DEFENSIVE PLAY AT BRIDGE: A QUIZ BOOK Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand, by the same author team, was named the 2010 Book of the Year by the American Bridge Teachers’ Association. Building on the success of that title, this book gives the near-beginner a chance to practice the principles on which sound defensive play is based, from the opening lead on. This is not just a series of problem hands, however. Each section contains a brief introduction of its topic, and the ideas are reinforced with carefully explained solutions and helpful tips throughout. Bridge teachers and students will find this book invaluable. $16.00 USD / $16.00 CAD PLANNING THE PLAY OF A BRIDGE HAND Winner of Book of the Year Award 2010 Do you get that terrible sinking feeling when you first see dummy? Does your mind go blank as everyone waits for you to play to the first trick? If so, you're not alone. Beginning bridge players are taught some of the basic techniques of declarer play: suit establishment, ruffing losers, the finesse, and so forth. The hard part is learning what to do when. In the dreaded moment following the opening lead, the typical novice declarer has no idea where to start. Yet the key to success is simple: before playing from dummy at Trick 1, make a plan. In this book, two of the world's best bridge teachers/authors explain how to go about making a plan as declarer — using a simple step-by-step process. Readers will learn how to decide what to do on a given deal, both in notrump contracts and suit contracts. By the end of the book, even the most inexperienced declarer will be comfortable with more advanced material, such as entry management and counting the hand. $20.00 USD / $23.00 CAD PLANNING THE PLAY: THE NEXT LEVEL Barbara's first book in this series (also co-authored by David Bird) won Book of the Year Award by the American Bridge Teachers' Association: Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand. It introduced the basic concepts of how to go about making a plan as declarer for beginning and improving players, and is a popular text for bridge teachers. This sequel extends the plan to more complex situations, and covers ideas such as safety plays, avoidance play, trump control, dummy reversal, and endplays. It will appeal to players who have a good grasp of the basics of declarer play, and are looking to improve from there. $20.00 USD / $23.00 CAD PLANNING THE DEFENSE (2019) Ten years after their award- winning Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand, Seagram & Bird tackle the hardest part of the game: defense. Using the same step-by-step approach, they guide the reader through the minefield of signaling, making a defensive plan and, above all, counting – points, tricks and distribution. $20.00 USD / $25.00 CAD PLANNING THE DEFENSE: THE NEXT LEVEL Part 2 Advanced Using the same step-by-step approach, they guide the reader through the minefield of signaling, making a defensive plan and, above all, counting – points, tricks and distribution. $20.00 USD / $25.00 CAD Introduction to Declarer's Play An Eddie Kantar Bridge Classic Completely revised by Barbara Seagram 2019 The classic first book on declarer play at bridge, covering the topic with clarity, skill and humor. More than fifty years after its first publication, this book has been revised and updated to bring it into line with modern methods of play and bridge education. $14.00 USD / $18.00 CDN Introduction to Defense An Eddie Kantar Bridge Classic Completely revised by Barbara Seagram 2019 The classic first book on defensive card play at bridge. Learn everything from hold-up plays, to second hand play, third hand play and defensive signalling which is almost like cheating but it is legal. $14.00 USD / $18.00 CDN Or BOTH Kantar books: $28.00 USD /$34.00 CDN These two books are the very best bridge books ever written Cheat S heet Cheat S heet INTERMEDIATE BARBARA SEAGRAM'S 416-487-8321 [email protected] | www.barbaraseagram.com © May not be reproduced without permission Also recommended; Cheat Sheets: Conventions, Defence, Doubles, Two Over One, Pocket Guide to Bridge, Pocket Guide to Conventions You Should Know VERSION 5.1 Cheat S heet Cheat S heet BARBARA SEAGRAM'S DEFENCE 416-487-8321 (H) [email protected] | www.barbaraseagram.com © May not be reproduced without permission Also recommended: Intermediate, Advanced, 2 Over 1 & Doubles Cheat Sheets Pocket Guide to Bridge (Barbara Seagram/Ray Lee) VERSION 2.1 VERSION 2.2 CONVENTIONS Tel: 416-487-8321 [email protected] www.barbaraseagram.com © May not be reproduced without permission Also recommended: Intermediate, Defence, Doubles, 2 Over 1 Cheat Sheets and all our Pocket Guides. Barbara Seagram School of Bridge Toronto, Ontario, Canada 416-487-8321 [email protected] www.barbaraseagram.com If you wish to order, please email Barbara Seagram with your postal address at [email protected], and she will mail it to you. No tax charged on orders from Barabara Barbara Seagram’s Books CAD CAD Or BOTH Kantar books: $26.00 USD / $34.00 CAD BARBARA SE AGRAM’S BRIDGE TIPS Part One: Bidding Tips Part Two: Declarer Play Tips Part Three: Defensive Tips $24.95 CAD (on special: $21.95) $19.95 USD Tips to take your game to the next level. Everything you need to know about life and more!

Transcript of Barbara Seagram’s Books · BARBARA SEAGRAM’S BOOKS BARBARA SEAGRAM SCHOOL OF BRIDGE, TORONTO,...

  • BARBARASEAGRAM’SBOOKS

    BARBARASEAGRAMSCHOOLOFBRIDGE,TORONTO,ON,[email protected]

    Ifyouwishtoorder,pleaseemailBarbaraSeagramwithyouraddressatbarbaraseagram@gmail.comandshewillmailittoyou.NotaxchargedonordersfromBarbara

    BARBARASEAGRAM’SINTERMEDIATECHEATSHEET

    Adetailedsummaryofbiddingthatyoucankeeponyourlapandrefertoasyouplay.

    • Openingthebidding• Responder• Rebidsbyopeningbidder• NoTrumpbidding• Overcalls• Take-outdouble• Bighandbidding

    • Staymanconvention

    • Pre-emptivebidding

    • Weak2's

    • Openingleads

    • Bids

    • Leads

    • Playingahand

    $10.00USD/$10.00CAD

    BARBARASEAGRAM’SCONVENTIONSCHEATSHEET

    Adetailedsummaryofconventionsthatyoucankeeponyourlapandrefertoasyouplay.

    • TakeoutDouble• SupportDoubles• NegativeDouble• ResponsiveDouble• PenaltyDoubles• SplinterBids• Lead-DirectingDoubles• Jacoby2NT• RomanKeycardBlackwood• RaisingPartner'sOvercall• RespondingtoPartner'sopeningBid• Balancing• TexasTransfers• Gerber• CuebiddingFirstRoundControls• UnusualNoTrumps• MichaelsCueBid• FourthSeatForcingtoGame

    $12.00USD/$12.00CAD

    BARBARASEAGRAM’SDEFENCECHEATSHEETAsummaryofsignalling&defensivestrategy.

    • SuitPreferenceSignal• QueenFromQueenJackSignal• RuleofEleven• CountSignal• Discarding• StrategyWhenDefending• AlternateMethods• DefensiveMethods• ShowingYourAttitude• ThirdHandPlay• SecondHandPlay

    $12.00USD/$12.00CAD

    BIDDINGATBRIDGE:AQUIZBOOKDeclarerPlayatBridge:aQuizbook,bythesameauthorteam,wasnamedthe2013BookoftheYearbytheAmericanBridgeTeachers’Association.Buildingonthesuccessofthattitle,thisbookgivesthenear-beginnerachancetopracticetheprinciplesonwhichsoundbiddingisbased,fromtheopeningbidonward.Thisisnotjustaseriesofproblems,however.Eachsectioncontainsabriefintroductiontoitstopic,andtheideasarereinforcedwithcarefullyexplainedsolutionsandhelpfultipsthroughout.Bridgeteachersandstudentswillfindthisbookinvaluable.

    $16.00USD/$16.00CAD

    DECLARERPLAYATBRIDGE:AQUIZBOOKThisbookisverygentleandiswrittenforlessexperiencedplayers.Therearemany,manypracticehandswithin.Thefirstpagealwayshastheproblemandthesecondpagehasthesolution.DetailedplanningforplayinghandsinsuitcontractsandinNoTrumps.ThisisBarbara's18th.publishedbook.$16.00USD/$16.00CAD

    DEFENSIVEPLAYATBRIDGE:AQUIZBOOKPlanningthePlayofaBridgeHand,bythesameauthorteam,wasnamedthe2010BookoftheYearbytheAmericanBridgeTeachers’Association.Buildingonthesuccessofthattitle,thisbookgivesthenear-beginnerachancetopracticetheprinciplesonwhichsounddefensiveplayisbased,fromtheopeningleadon.Thisisnotjustaseriesofproblemhands,however.Eachsectioncontainsabriefintroductionofitstopic,andtheideasarereinforcedwithcarefullyexplainedsolutionsandhelpfultipsthroughout.Bridgeteachersandstudentswillfindthisbookinvaluable.

    $16.00USD/$16.00CAD

    PLANNINGTHEPLAYOFABRIDGEHANDWinnerofBookoftheYearAward2010Doyougetthatterriblesinkingfeelingwhenyoufirstseedummy?Doesyourmindgoblankaseveryonewaitsforyoutoplaytothefirsttrick?Ifso,you'renotalone.Beginningbridgeplayersaretaughtsomeofthebasictechniquesofdeclarerplay:suitestablishment,ruffinglosers,thefinesse,andsoforth.Thehardpartislearningwhattodowhen.Inthedreadedmomentfollowingtheopeninglead,thetypicalnovicedeclarerhasnoideawheretostart.Yetthekeytosuccessissimple:beforeplayingfromdummyatTrick1,makeaplan.

    Inthisbook,twooftheworld'sbestbridgeteachers/authorsexplainhowtogoaboutmakingaplanasdeclarer—usingasimplestep-by-stepprocess.Readerswilllearnhowtodecidewhattodoonagivendeal,bothinnotrumpcontractsandsuitcontracts.Bytheendofthebook,eventhemostinexperienceddeclarerwillbecomfortablewithmoreadvancedmaterial,suchasentrymanagementandcountingthehand.

    $20.00USD/$23.00CAD

    PLANNINGTHEPLAY:THENEXTLEVELBarbara'sfirstbookinthisseries(alsoco-authoredbyDavidBird)wonBookoftheYearAwardbytheAmericanBridgeTeachers'Association:PlanningthePlayofaBridgeHand.Itintroducedthebasicconceptsofhowtogoaboutmakingaplanasdeclarerforbeginningandimprovingplayers,andisapopulartextforbridgeteachers.

    Thissequelextendstheplantomorecomplexsituations,andcoversideassuchassafetyplays,avoidanceplay,trumpcontrol,dummyreversal,andendplays.Itwillappealtoplayerswhohaveagoodgraspofthebasicsofdeclarerplay,andarelookingtoimprovefromthere.

    $20.00USD/$23.00CAD

    PLANNINGTHEDEFENSE(2019)Tenyearsaftertheiraward-winningPlanningthePlayofaBridgeHand,Seagram&Birdtacklethehardestpartofthegame:defense.Usingthesamestep-by-stepapproach,theyguidethereaderthroughtheminefieldofsignaling,makingadefensiveplanand,aboveall,counting–

    points,tricksanddistribution.

    $20.00USD/$25.00CAD

    PLANNINGTHEDEFENSE:THENEXTLEVELPart2AdvancedUsingthesamestep-by-stepapproach,theyguidethereaderthroughtheminefieldofsignaling,makingadefensiveplanand,aboveall,counting–points,tricksanddistribution.$20.00USD/$25.00CAD

    IntroductiontoDeclarer'sPlayAnEddieKantarBridgeClassic

    CompletelyrevisedbyBarbaraSeagram2019

    Theclassicfirstbookondeclarerplayatbridge,coveringthetopicwithclarity,skillandhumor.Morethanfiftyyearsafterits

    firstpublication,thisbookhasbeenrevisedandupdatedtobringitintolinewithmodernmethodsofplayandbridgeeducation.

    $14.00USD/$18.00CDN

    IntroductiontoDefenseAnEddieKantarBridgeClassic

    CompletelyrevisedbyBarbaraSeagram2019

    Theclassicfirstbookondefensivecardplayatbridge.

    Learneverythingfromhold-upplays,tosecondhandplay,

    thirdhandplayanddefensivesignallingwhichisalmostlikecheatingbutitislegal.

    $14.00USD/$18.00CDN

    OrBOTHKantarbooks:$28.00USD/$34.00CDNThesetwobooksaretheverybestbridgebookseverwritten

    L E A D S

    PREFERRED OPENING LEADSDEFENDERS: Note that these preferred leads exist all the waythrough the whole hand, not just on the opening lead.

    When Defending Against Trump Suit ContractAKx (our favourite lead) Watch for partner’s attitude!Top of PERFECT SEQUENCE: e.g. KQJ QJ10 J109Top of BROKEN SEQUENCE: e.g. KQ10 QJ9 J108Top two honours must be touching

    We prefer to lead1. Top of a sequence2. Partner’s suit3. Singletons4. Suit unbid by opponents5. Bottom of something e.g. K752 (also called 4th best)

    Don’t underlead an Ace vs. trump suit contract6. Top of nothing e.g. 952

    B.O.S.T.O.N. = Bottom Of Something & Top Of Nothing

    When Defending Against a No Trump ContractTop of PERFECT SEQUENCE: e.g. KQJ QJ10 J109Top of BROKEN SEQUENCE: e.g. KQ10 QJ9 J108Top of INTERIOR SEQUENCE: e.g. KJ10x AQJxWithout any of the above, then lead the 4th best of your longest and strongest

    e.g. Q642 Bottom of somethingor 952 Top of nothing B.O.S.T.O.N

    When you are part way through the hand &do not know what to lead:a) When dummy is on your right, lead to the weakest suit in sightb) When dummy is on your left, lead through heft (strength)It must be “broken strength” e.g. KJx, not AKQ. This one is not as important as ‘a)’.

    4PTS. NEEDED IN COMBINED HANDS TOPRODUCE REQUIRED NO. OF TRICKS:

    20 pts. in combined hands will produce 2C, 2D, 2H or 2S23 pts. in combined hands will produce 3C, 3D, 3H or 3S26 pts. in combined hands will produce 4C, 4D, 4H or 4S25 H.C.P. in combined hands will produce 3 N.T.29 pts. in combined hands will produce 5C, 5D, 5H or 5S33 pts. in combined hands will produce 6C, 6D, 6H or 6S/33 HCP:6NT37 pts. in combined hands will produce 7C, 7D, 7H or 7S/37 HCP:7NT

    Confucius say:“When both sides lead the same suit, somebody crazy.”

    P R E - E M P T I V E B I D D I N G

    These are the opening bids of 3 or 4 in a suit. These bids are made with longsuits & weak hands. These bids are designed not to be fulfilled but merely toconfuse your opponents & take away their bidding space.

    REQUIREMENTS TO OPEN WITH 3 OF A SUIT10 or fewer H.C.P. & a 7 card suit of quality. If you can evaluate your handup to 13 pts. including distribution, do not open with 3, open with one of asuit or you will be showing a very weak hand.Not vulnerable: “Partner, I expect to go down 3”Vulnerable: “Partner, I expect to go down 2”(To open 4 of a suit: as above but a good 8 card suit)

    PARTNER OF PRE-EMPTIVE OPENING BIDDERIf you bid a new suit in response to a pre-empt, you must have a good hand(at least 13 points) & this new suit forces partner to bid again. You may raisepartner to game if you have the required number of tricks that he promisesto go down PLUS another trick.

    COMPETING AGAINST OPPONENTS’PRE-EMPTIVE BIDEither overcall or make a Take-Out Double (Must have at least 13+ pts. for both)

    W E A K 2 ’ S

    To open with 2S, 2H or 2D: You need 6-10 HCP + a 6 card suit with 2 of top 3honours or 3 of top 5 honours

    Responses: e.g. Partner opens 2S. You may1. Pass2. Raise to 3S with a very poor hand and 3 trumps3. Raise to 4S with a poor hand and 4 trumps4. Raise to 4S with a good hand, expecting to make 45. Bid 2NT asking p. for a feature (A or K in another suit)

    when: you are not sure of game: you want to fill in the “holes” in your hand.

    F O R C I N G / N O N - F O R C I N G B I D S

    New suits by responder are always forcing. Opener HAS to bid again.Old suits (suits which have been bid before by opener or responder) arenever forcing and can be passed, even when someone jumps.

    No Trump bids are not forcing. 1H – 1S1H – 2H not forcing or 2H – 2S (2S is not forcing)

    B I G H A N D B I D D I N G

    Since opening bids of 2S, 2H & 2D are weak bids (you are playing weak 2s) then2 Clubs is your only strong bid as an opening bidder. If you have a big unbalancedhand, open with 2C & then bid your real suit when it is your turn to bid again. Ifyou have a big balanced hand, see “No Trump Bidding” section.

    STRONG TWO CLUB OPENING BID21+ pts. & a 7 card suit.23+ pts. & a 6 card suit or 23 pts & 2 five card suits

    RESPONSES TO A STRONG TWO CLUB BIDPartner MUST bid until game is reached (even with 0 points)0-7 H.C.P. Bid 2D. This is called the 2D waiting bid.Note that bidding a new suit immediately shows a good 5 card suit + 8 H.C.P.Thus 2D shows either 0-7 H.C.P. or 8 or more H.C.P. & no good 5 card suit.WITH 8+ HCP AND A GOOD 5 CARD OR LONGER SUIT• With a good 5 card (or longer) suit headed by 2 of top 3 honours, bid that

    suit right away.• Without that, bid 2D (waiting bid)Opening bidder will now name his real suit.RESPONDER TO STRONG TWO CLUB BID AFTER OPENER HAS LATER BIDHIS REAL SUIT:• If you, as responder, have support for opener’s suit, you must raise her suit now.• With 0-4 pts, support for her suit and no ace or king in hand, raise to 4.• With 6+ pts (or 3-5 and an ace or king in hand), and support, raise her suit

    one level.• With NO support for opener and 6+ pts, bid your own long suit or N.T.• With NO support for opener, 0-4 HCP and no Ace or King in your hand, bid

    your cheapest other minor (usually 3C). This is called a second negative.

    BLACKWOOD CONVENTION(Asking partner for Aces)This is used when a trump suit has been agreed upon.The bid of 4 NO TRUMP asks partner how many Aces he has.Reply: 5 Clubs = 0 or all 4 Aces 5 Hearts = 2 Aces

    5 Diamonds = 1 Ace 5 Spades = 3 AcesIf you now discover that your side has ALL 4 ACES AND that there’s a hope of agrand slam, then you may ask partner how many kings he has:5 NO TRUMP… Responses are the same as above (at the 6 level)

    P L A Y I N G A H A N D

    PLAYING A HAND IN A TRUMP SUITCONTRACTAfter the opening lead is made & dummy comes down, stop and COUNTYOUR LOSERS!

    If you have too many (you always will!), then make a plan for disposing of yourlosers. Then decide whether it is safe to draw the opponents’ trumps beforebeginning your project. If it is safe to draw trump, this must be your preference.

    Projects:1. Can you create a void in the dummy & trump losers from declarer’s hand

    with DUMMY’S TRUMPS? (Don’t pull trump first)2. Do you have extra winners in dummy on which you can throw away

    losers from declarer’s hand? (Useful discards)3. Do you have extra winners in declarer’s hand so that you can make

    useful discards from dummy?NOTE #2 + #3: If you have quick losers and no ace of trump, don’tpull trump first. Make discards first.

    4. Can you set up a long suit in dummy on which to throw away losers fromdeclarer’s hand?

    5. Can you finesse?

    PLAYING A HAND IN A NO TRUMP CONTRACTAfter opening lead is made, count your sure winners which will win withoutlosing the lead. If you haven’t enough, try to develop extra tricks in the suitin which you have the most cards in the combined hands. NOTE: Whencounting winners: no ace; no winner.

    Sometimes in N.T. if the opp’s have led a suit in which you have only 1 stop-per, you may have to use the HOLD-UP PLAY. Hang on to your stoppersuntil one of your opponents is out of the suit.In N.T. declarer must attack her project suit immediately and finish herproject before cashing winners in other suits.

    TIP: Your project suit is often the suit in which you have the most cards inthe combined hands, OR a suit in which you have high cards but no ace.

    4TIP FOR DECLARER PLAYAlways “use up” the high honour (card) from the short side first,

    e.g. A 3 o KQ2

    Play the Ace first so that you will own a small card to get to the K&Q

    NOTE: You do not have to LEAD the high card from the short side first, youjust have to “use it up”.

    1 1

    Unbalanced Hands

    Cheat Sheet Cheat Sheet

    I N T E R M E D I A T E

    BARBARA SEAGRAM'S

    [email protected] | www.barbaraseagram.com

    © May not be reproduced without permission

    Also recommended; Cheat Sheets: Conventions,Defence, Doubles, Two Over One,

    Pocket Guide to Bridge,Pocket Guide to Conventions You Should Know

    VERSION 5.1

    T A K E O U T D O U B L E

    THE TAKEOUT DOUBLESometimes, when you have 13 or more points and cannot overcall because youdo not have a 5 card suit, consider whether you can make a takeout double.The takeout double asks partner to bid & describe her hand. Anydouble made below game, at first opportunity, when partner hasnot bid, is a takeout double (T.O.D.) All other doubles are for penalty.

    REQUIREMENTS FOR MAKING A TAKEOUT DOUBLE1. At least as many points as Opening Bidder (usually 13+ pts.)2. A.T.S. for all the unbid suits (if you only have 13-17 pts.)3. With 18 or more pts. the hand can be any shape as the doubler is

    allowed to bid again.NOTE: Do not double when you have 4 or 5 cards in opponent’s suit

    RESPONSES TO TAKEOUT DOUBLEWith no intervening bid, responder to T.O.D., must respond, even with 0 pts.If there is an intervening bid, responder must have 8 or more pts. to respond.0-8 pts. Bid best suit at cheapest level9-11 pts. Jump in best suit.12+ pts. With a 5 card major, jump to 4 of that major.With 10+ pts. + 2 four card majors, cue-bid the opponents’ suit to makepartner choose his longest major.

    RESPONSES IN NO TRUMPS TO TAKEOUT DOUBLE8-10 H.C.P. With 1 stopper in opponent’s suit, bid 1 N.T.11-12 H.C.P. With 1 stopper in opponent’s suit, bid 2 N.T.13+ H.C.P. With 1 stopper in opponent’s suit, bid 3 N.T.NEVER respond to a T.O.D. in N.T. if you could respond in a major.

    REBIDS BY THE TAKEOUT DOUBLERWhen the responder to T.O.D. only bids his best suit at cheapest level:Doubler with 13-15 pts. must pass at his turn to rebidDoubler with 16-18 pts. can raise partner 1 level (with A.T.S.)Doubler with 18+ pts. can now bid their 5 card or longer suit.Doubler with 19-21 pts. can raise partner by jumping 1 levelDoubler with 22+ pts. can bid game in partner’s suit.PASSING THE TAKEOUT DOUBLEYou may pass the T.O.D. only if you have 3 trump tricks & an outside Ace.

    REDOUBLEWhen partner’s opening bid has been doubled for takeout, there is only onestrong bid you can make: “REDOUBLE”. The Redouble says: “Partner, thishand belongs to us.” REQUIREMENTS TO REDOUBLE: 10+ H.C.P. Ifyou cannot redouble, then try to raise partner as high as possible if you likehis suit.

    ACTION BY PARTNER OF T.O.D. AFTER REDOUBLEHe will usually bid his longest suit. He is known to have a bad hand.

    ACTION BY TAKEOUT DOUBLER AFTER REDBLHe must bid again if bidding goes Redouble - P - P to him.

    KEY CARD BLACKWOODWhen you gain more experience, you will learn a fancier version of Blackwood,called 1430. No rush to learn this yet.

    BS H69794 Int rm Ch at Sh t V5p1-r2 2020-02-11 10:30 AM Pag 1

    Cheat Sheet Cheat Sheet

    BARBARA SEAGRAM'S

    D E F E N C E

    416-487-8321 (H)[email protected] | www.barbaraseagram.com

    © May not be reproduced without permissionAlso recommended: Intermediate, Advanced,

    2 Over 1 & Doubles Cheat SheetsPocket Guide to Bridge (Barbara Seagram/Ray Lee)

    R U L E O F E L E V E N

    The Rule of Eleven is very useful and helps you in third seat to determine whatpartner is holding in her suit. It can also be useful when used by declarer whenplanning what card to play at trick one of a suit.Note that a “9” is never fourth of her longest and strongest and thus you neveruse the Rule of Eleven when partner has led a 9. The lead of a 9 is always the “Topof Nothing.”How to Use the Rule of Eleven? Subtract the spot of the card that had been ledfrom the number 11. The resulting answer tells you how many cards there are inthe remaining three hands that can beat that card. You as a defender can seethe dummy and your own hand and can thus determine how many cards declarerhas that can beat the card led.If the math does not add up and you can SEE more cards in dummy and in yourhand that can beat the card led, then partner’s card was NOT THE FOURTH OF HERLONGEST AND STRONGEST. It was merely TOP OF NOTHING.The Rule of Eleven ALWAYS works if partner has led fourth of her longest andstrongest. It allows you to be FRUGAL (economical) in your card play. This rule isbased on easy mathematics. If face cards had numbers, the Jack would be an 11,the Queen a 12, the King a 13 and an Ace: 14. If you subtract any card from 14,you will discover how many cards there are that are higher in the suit.WHEN A FOURTH BEST card is led, the opening leader has in his hand 3 cards high-er. SO now you subtract from 11 to see how many cards there are in the OTHERTHREE HANDS that can beat that card.e.g.

    K627 led AJ93 You

    You are East with AJ93. There are 4 cards remaining in the North, East and Southhands that can beat the 7 (which was led) You can see all of them. Thus, you(EAST) can see that South cannot own any cards that can beat the 7. If declarerplays the 2 from dummy, you (East) will play the 3 knowing that west’s 7 will win.We wish to keep west on lead so that she can keep leading the suit. If you had wonthe Ace and led back a small one, then South will eventually score a trick with theK in dummy.Do remember that we only lead fourth of our longest and strongest• When we do have an honour card in the suit.

    If we had 86532, we must lead the 8 (top of nothing)• When we DO NOT HAVE a good sequence to lead.

    i.e. when you have QJ104 of Spades and also the K752 ofDiamonds, you should lead the Q of Spades, NOT the 2 ofDiamonds. The top of a sequence is the best lead in bridge.

    • NOTE: When your partner leads a 2, she will never have a 5 card suit or shewould have led a card that is higher than the 2.

    C O U N T S I G N A L C O U N T S I G N A L

    When your partner is leading a high card in a suit, you signal with a high card toshow her you like her lead. This is called showing your attitude.

    When declarer or dummy is leading a suit, it would hardly ever be of any valueto give an attitude signal. Your side, as defending opponents, would seldom wish tocontinue leading a suit that the declarer has attacked. When declarer or dummyare leading a suit, experienced defenders give the COUNT SIGNAL.

    You as a defender play LOW with an ODD number of cards (like 3 or 5 and it isusually 3: LOW = 3 letters = 3 cards.You as a defender play HIGH with an EVEN number of cards (2 or 4).

    Experts give the count signal almost always whenever declarer (or dummy) leads asuit for the first time. This way, each defender always know exactly how many cardsdeclarer has in that suit because their partner has given them count in all the suits.Do you ever find yourself at the end of a hand not knowing what card to keep andwhich to discard? Do you ever discard the wrong one??? This would never be a prob-lem for an expert player because they use the count signal all the time.

    Remember: When defender is leading a suit, you as his/her partner give attitude.When declarer is leading a suit (or dummy) you give count.

    Will you get confused? Sure you will. Here is what I would suggest. At this stage ofyour career, if you have never heard of this before, you may not find the count sig-nal as useful. So don’t worry too much about it for now. However, there is one timewhen you MUST give count and that is when DUMMY HAS A LONG SUIT ANDNO ENTRY.

    When dummy has a long suit (without the highest card) and no entry, you as thedefender without the missing high card (usually the Ace) must give count. Thisway, the player with the Ace knows exactly when they should play their ace so thatdeclarer’s communication with the dummy is severed.e.g. ™432

    ♥632®KQJ109ßA4

    ™KJ65 ™987♥109 ♥QJ85®82 ®A73ßJ10987 ßK63

    ™AQ10♥AK74®654ßQ52

    (continued...)

    S W N E1NT P 3NT All Pass

    (...continued)West leadsß Jack. Declarer counts her tricks. If she ducks the firstß trick, she issure to get two ß tricks. One ™ trick for sure and two ♥ tricks. That makes a totalof five tricks. She needs 4 more tricks. Her project suit is the® suit.

    Meanwhile, back at the ranch, East winsß King. East must now lead backß 6,driving out dummy’s last remaining entry, theß Ace. Declarer now leads ® Kingfrom dummy. (When you want to encourage them to win the trick, play a big one,they are more likely to be tempted to win it now!)

    East should routinely duck the first round, watching to see what partner (West)plays. West plays® 8, a high card showing either 2 or 4 cards in the® suit. If it isa singleton, then declarer owns four cards in that suit and there is no stopping herfrom achieving her contract. If West had 4 cards, then declarer started with a single-ton. (She bid 1NT as her opening bid, thus she cannot have a singleton.) You, East,now know that you have to duck your® Ace twice, winning it at the moment thatdeclarer is running out of the suit. Declarer can now only score 7 tricks. Down two.

    Note that if East had played their® Ace on trick one or two, then declarer wouldstill have a small ® with which to get to dummy and make her contract. Now let'schange things around a bit:e.g. ™432

    ♥632®KQJ109ß42

    ™J1065 ™987♥109 ♥QJ85®842 ®A73ßJ1098 ßK63

    ™AKQ♥AK74®65ßAQ75

    On this hand, South has 7 tricks, on the opening lead of aß. She attacks her ®suit. She only needs two ® tricks to make 3NT. If East ducks till the third round of®, declarer makes her contract. West must signal on first round of® with ®2. Eastdoes the math. West played®2 which shows an odd number of ®. Thus, since shehas three®, south must have only two. East wins second round of ® and thusSouth is down one.

    Remember that learning new stuff in bridge is like learning to play the piano. Youhave to make do with playing chopsticks before you can manage Mozart.

    S W N E2ß P 2® P2NT P 3NT All Pass

    D I S C A R D I N G

    A discard is what you, as an opponent, throw away when you CANNOT follow suit.You will attempt to communicate certain information to partner at this time. Whenyou are unable to follow suit and either cannot or will not trump in, you must per-force throw away a card.Attitude discards: A high card in the suit discarded encourages the lead of thatsuit and a low card discourages it. This is not a command to partner to lead this suit;it may or may not be sensible to do so; that depends on many things. But you arehelping partner to unravel some of the mysteries of the jigsaw puzzle that is yourhand. Making a discard is a privilege; try to discard something that will help yourside.Let’s say partner leads♥ AKQ against the contract of 2 ™. You have ♥ 92. Yousignal high-low (9 then 2) and next have to make a discard. You have ® A103.Discard ® 10. Partner has ® K42. She now leads ® 2 to your ® Ace. You leadback ® 3 to her ® K and now she leads a third® for you to trump. Down 1!Sometimes, especially against No Trump contracts, it would be wiser to not discard ahigh card in a suit you DO wish led, as by so doing, you may waste a trick. Thus,you should often choose to discard low cards in suits you do NOT wish led. This way,partner will be able to figure out what you DO wish led.e.g. ™J1054

    ♥Q65®A76ßK65

    ™A9863 ™—♥432 ♥AKJ9®J10 ®95432ßJ104 ß8732

    ™KQ72♥1087®KQ8ßAQ9

    S N1NT 3NT

    Thus versus No Trumps, a negative discard isoften the best strategy, saving our high goodcards for defeating the contract.

    When you need to make discards, do try to keep the appropriate number of "bodyguards" for your honour cards. e.g. You hold Qxx in a suit. Your Q needs two smallcards to protect it from being "eaten" by the Ace and King. Do not pitch one of thesecards. Same goes for Kxx. You can afford to discard ONE of these small cards withthe King but not both. The J needs 3 small cards to be guarded (Jxxx).

    S T R A T E G Y W H E N D E F E N D I N G

    At trick one of™ lead by partner, Ehas no™’s and wishes to tell partnerto lead a♥. If he discards the♥ 9,West will indeed lead a♥ to East.BUT then East will have squandered atrick in♥’s.

    Instead, especially because this is NoTrumps, East should discard the® 2(She could discard first theß 2 butsince it is a black card on west’s blackcard, then West might notnotice…better to discard the 2®!!)Then discard theß 2 next. W willlead a♥ next: 5 tricks for thedefence.

    • We are programmed to lead 4th of longestand strongest when we do not have asequence. The bidding has gone 1NT onyour right and 3NT on your left. You holdthis hand:AJ92AJ53KJ492

    • When you as a defender can count and seethat declarer clearly has enough tricks tomake her contract (having checked outdummy), it is often right to now shift toanother suit in an attempt to thwart herplan. e.g. There is a long good quality suitin dummy)

    • When you lead an Ace against a NT contract, you will usually have AKJ10x inthat suit. This is a special lead against NT. If your partner has the Q, she shouldplay it (unblocking) and if not, she should now give count to show how manycards she has in that suit (High card if she has an even number and low card ifshe has 3 cards). This will help you to determine whether to continue leadingthe suit from your side or if to try to get partner on lead to lead the suitthrough declarer's Queen.

    • THINKING DEFENCE: ™76♥Q863®KQJ5ß864

    ™J32 ™95♥109542 ♥AJ7®9832 ®76ßJ ßAKQ1072

    ™AKQ1084♥K®A104ß953

    W leads ß J. East overtakes with the ß Q and cashes the ß Ace and King. On the2nd. round of ß’s, W discards a small ®. On the 3rd round of ß, W discards asmall ♥. W has now shown a lack of interest in ® and in ♥. E must now cash the♥ Ace. E now leads a fourth ß and W's ™ Jack will be promoted into winning atrick. However, before leading the fourthß E must cash that ♥ Ace or declarer willpitch her ♥ K on the 4th Club.

    S W N E1™ P 1NT 2ß3™ P P All Pass

    What should you choose as an open-ing lead? While it is tempting to leadthe™ 2 or the♥ 3, you must countto determine how many points yourpartner can possibly have. Sincedeclarer and dummy together haveapproximately 26 HCP (since theylanded in 3NT) and you have 14 HCP,you now know that partner has noth-ing. He is a pointless partner! . THEREARE ONLY 40 HCP in the deck. If youlead a ®, a♥ or a™, you will begiving declarer an extra trick. Make apassive lead:ß 9. Then declarer willhave to attack all those other suitsherself, giving you tricks along theway. This is called passive defense.

    A L T E R N A T E M E T H O D S

    All signalling so far discussed has been STANDARD. At the start of each round,when you head out to play, your opponents will ask: "What is your carding?" and"What are your leads?" If you subscribe to the methods mentioned in this guide,your answer should be "Standard".

    Note that there are several other methods used by other players that you shouldbe aware of.

    i.e. We teach you that when partner leads a high card, you play a high one toshow that you like her lead & can help with that suit. That is standard attitude.Same with discards: Discard a high card to say "I like that suit" and a low one tosay: "I don’t like that suit".

    Some other players use a method called "Upside Down Attitude". i.e. They do theopposite of what has been suggested herein. They play a low one to say they likeand a high one to say they do not like.

    Others use a method called "Odd Even Discards". They discard an odd card toshow encouragement and an even numbered card will show discouragement.

    There is yet another called Lavinthal Discards. If you subscribe to this method, itonly is relevant on your very first discard. You do not discard in a suit you likebut discard in one of the other suits.

    Let's say Hearts are trumps…You are unable to follow suit. You wish a Club led.You discard a low Diamond to ask for the lower ranking of the two remainingsuits. If you had wanted a Diamond led, you would discard a high Spade, askingfor the higher ranking of the two remaining suits. Or a low Club.

    So you see, there is no perfect method since sometimes you are not dealt theperfect cards with which to signal. But you do the best with what you have andDISCUSS WITH PARTNER beforehand to decide which method you wish to use.Remember that you are in a very dark forest when defending and you are part-ner's guiding light. You must help her as much as you can, showing her how totake the most tricks possible on defence.

    Bridge is a game of mistakes. Those who make the fewestmistakes win. When you make one, try not to repeat it!

    Don’t just play bridge with people of your own level. Playamongst more experienced players. Sure, it’ll be humbling but

    you can always ask a stronger opponent how you could have donebetter and this will send your learning curve upwards!

    When partner has bid a suit & you ha e NOT raised her suit:If you ha e 3 or 4 small ones, lead small e.g. 952, lead the 2. This way, she willknow you do not ha e a doubleton. If you HAVE raised her, lead the 9. She willknow you would ne er raise with a doubleton.

    VERSION 2.1

    VERSION 2.2

    CONVENT I ONS

    Tel: [email protected] www.barbaraseagram.com

    © May not be reproduced without permissionAlso recommended: Intermediate, Defence, Doubles, 2 Over 1 Cheat Sheets

    and all our Pocket Guides.

    Barbara Seagram School of Bridge Toronto, Ontario, Canada416-487-8321 • [email protected] • www.barbaraseagram.com

    If you wish to order, please email Barbara Seagram with your postal address at [email protected], and she will mail it to you. No tax charged on orders from Barabara

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    REDOUBLES

    Cheat Sheet Cheat Sheet

    D O U B L E S

    BARBARA SEAGRAM'S

    [email protected] | www.barbaraseagram.com

    © May not be reproduced without permissionAlso Recommended: Intermediate, Defense & Advanced Cheat Sheets

    Pocket Guides to: Bridge, Defense, Declarer Play, Conventions

    RESPONSIVE DOUBLE The responsive double occurs when your LHO has opened the bidding with one of a suit and partner has overcalled a suit. RHO has raised the opener’s suit. If you double now, this is a responsive double. The responsive double also occurs when LHO has opened the bidding with one of a suit and partner has made a takeout double and RHO has raised the opener. The responsive double says you have no clear-cut bid to make and suggests you have the other two suits, usually at least 4 in each. It shows 8 or more points, including distribution.

    PENALTY DOUBLES These most often occur at the game level or higher. It takes place more often when your opponents are sacrificing. If your double cannot be a TOD or a Negative double or a support double or a responsive double, then it must be a penalty double!!! S W N E 1S 2D P 2H P 3D Dbl This is a penalty double. N E S W 1S 1NT 2C P 2S Dbl This is a penalty double. N E S W 1S 1NT Dbl This is a penalty double. It shows approx. 9 + HCP.

    LEAD DIRECTING DOUBLES Lead directing doubles occur most often when opponents have made an artificial bid e.g Stayman or Transfers or responding to Blackwood. Dbl by you after the “fake” bid on your right is lead-directing & commands partner to lead that suit if she gets on lead. Lightner Double is made by the partner of the opening bidder after opponents have reached a slam. It asks for an unusual lead, often dummy’s first bid suit.

    REDOUBLES

    There are many uses for the word “Redouble”. I am only going to give you the simple version of the commonest use of the Redouble. Later, you can change your use of it or add it to other scenarios. When your partner opens the bidding, showing at least 13 points, if the guy on your right says “double”, then he also has at least 13 points. That already is a chunk of the deck’s high card points accounted for. If you in that next seat have 10 or more H.C.P. it is now very important to tell partner that you have those missing points. That way she will know that the guy on your left is marked with 0-5 points only. 1 H (13+)

    Double (13+)

    Redouble (10 + HCP) (YOU) By saying “Redouble”, you are really saying to partner (opening bidder): “Partner, you opened the bidding and our opponent made a take-out double, but don’t worry about them, this hand belongs to us and we have most of the points our way on this hand.” Note that you may have trump support or may not have trump support; the redouble merely says” I have 10 or more H.C.P.” There are more fancy methods (e.g. Jordan) but if you have not agreed to play those, then this method is the simplest. Here’s how it all proceeds after this: The player on your left (L.H.O. left hand opponent) is now marked with very little. He knows that his side is in trouble. He will bid if he has a 4 card or longer suit that is not the opponents’ suit. This will tell his partner that he has a four-card suit (at least) which may provide a safe haven if their side has to play the hand, because at least they will have lots of trumps, if not many points. Remember that the doubler has promised support for ALL unbid suits by making the double, so if the weak 0-5 hand names a 4-card suit, at least together they will have 7 or 8 trumps for their side. OK, now it rolls back to the opening bidder…Let’s say that west has passed. The auction has so far gone:

    N E S W 1H Dbl Redbl Pass If opening bidder passes, he may end up playing the hand in 1H doubled and redoubled. ?? That would be his dearest wish come true as their side has lots of points and he will make the contract most of the time. Having been doubled and redoubled, he will score lots of extra points on the score sheet. (You get extra pts for insult when doubled and lots more for being redoubled). As a result, opening bidder usually says “Pass”. The doubler cannot allow North to play this hand in 1H doubled and redoubled as he knows that Opener will make the contract and get a great score. Therefore, the Doubler MUST bid again. What does he bid? He picks his best suit, the one in which he is least likely to get into trouble. e.g. N E S W 1H Dbl Redbl P P 1S East may have S AKxx H xx D Axxx C Qxx The redoubler MUST now bid again. With S xx H Axx D KQJx C xxxx Redoubler would now bid 2H. North will know that South has 10 or more H.C.P. as he redoubled to start with. In other words, redoubler now just makes a natural bid to describe his hand…a new suit by redoubler will be 100% forcing. If the redoubler has the following hand as SOUTH, however, he has other things on his mind: S QJ1098 H Axx D xx C AKJ

    0-5 pts

    N E S W 1H Dbl Redbl P P 1S DBL (PENALTY)

    RESPONSIVE DOUBLE The responsive double occurs when your LHO has opened the bidding with one of a suit and partner has overcalled a suit. RHO has raised the opener’s suit. If you double now, this is a responsive double. The responsive double also occurs when LHO has opened the bidding with one of a suit and partner has made a takeout double and RHO has raised the opener. The responsive double says you have no clear-cut bid to make and suggests you have the other two suits, usually at least 4 in each. It shows 8 or more points, including distribution.

    PENALTY DOUBLES These most often occur at the game level or higher. It takes place more often when your opponents are sacrificing. If your double cannot be a TOD or a Negative double or a support double or a responsive double, then it must be a penalty double!!! S W N E 1S 2D P 2H P 3D Dbl This is a penalty double. N E S W 1S 1NT 2C P 2S Dbl This is a penalty double. N E S W 1S 1NT Dbl This is a penalty double. It shows approx. 9 + HCP.

    LEAD DIRECTING DOUBLES Lead directing doubles occur most often when opponents have made an artificial bid e.g Stayman or Transfers or responding to Blackwood. Dbl by you after the “fake” bid on your right is lead-directing & commands partner to lead that suit if she gets on lead. Lightner Double is made by the partner of the opening bidder after opponents have reached a slam. It asks for an unusual lead, often dummy’s first bid suit.

    REDOUBLES

    There are many uses for the word “Redouble”. I am only going to give you the simple version of the commonest use of the Redouble. Later, you can change your use of it or add it to other scenarios. When your partner opens the bidding, showing at least 13 points, if the guy on your right says “double”, then he also has at least 13 points. That already is a chunk of the deck’s high card points accounted for. If you in that next seat have 10 or more H.C.P. it is now very important to tell partner that you have those missing points. That way she will know that the guy on your left is marked with 0-5 points only. 1 H (13+)

    Double (13+)

    Redouble (10 + HCP) (YOU) By saying “Redouble”, you are really saying to partner (opening bidder): “Partner, you opened the bidding and our opponent made a take-out double, but don’t worry about them, this hand belongs to us and we have most of the points our way on this hand.” Note that you may have trump support or may not have trump support; the redouble merely says” I have 10 or more H.C.P.” There are more fancy methods (e.g. Jordan) but if you have not agreed to play those, then this method is the simplest. Here’s how it all proceeds after this: The player on your left (L.H.O. left hand opponent) is now marked with very little. He knows that his side is in trouble. He will bid if he has a 4 card or longer suit that is not the opponents’ suit. This will tell his partner that he has a four-card suit (at least) which may provide a safe haven if their side has to play the hand, because at least they will have lots of trumps, if not many points. Remember that the doubler has promised support for ALL unbid suits by making the double, so if the weak 0-5 hand names a 4-card suit, at least together they will have 7 or 8 trumps for their side. OK, now it rolls back to the opening bidder…Let’s say that west has passed. The auction has so far gone:

    N E S W 1H Dbl Redbl Pass If opening bidder passes, he may end up playing the hand in 1H doubled and redoubled. ?? That would be his dearest wish come true as their side has lots of points and he will make the contract most of the time. Having been doubled and redoubled, he will score lots of extra points on the score sheet. (You get extra pts for insult when doubled and lots more for being redoubled). As a result, opening bidder usually says “Pass”. The doubler cannot allow North to play this hand in 1H doubled and redoubled as he knows that Opener will make the contract and get a great score. Therefore, the Doubler MUST bid again. What does he bid? He picks his best suit, the one in which he is least likely to get into trouble. e.g. N E S W 1H Dbl Redbl P P 1S East may have S AKxx H xx D Axxx C Qxx The redoubler MUST now bid again. With S xx H Axx D KQJx C xxxx Redoubler would now bid 2H. North will know that South has 10 or more H.C.P. as he redoubled to start with. In other words, redoubler now just makes a natural bid to describe his hand…a new suit by redoubler will be 100% forcing. If the redoubler has the following hand as SOUTH, however, he has other things on his mind: S QJ1098 H Axx D xx C AKJ

    0-5 pts

    N E S W 1H Dbl Redbl P P 1S DBL (PENALTY)

    OK, so what happens if your partner opens the bidding, RHO doubles and you cannot redouble because you do NOT have 10 or more HCP…. now what? You just bid naturally. e.g. Bid a new suit or raise partner. Sometimes, if you have a 5 card major, you may just bid the major, even if you have 10 or more HCP, in the world of modern day bridge. Most people play that if you bid a new suit at the one level in this situation, it is forcing for one round. e.g. N E S W 1H Dbl 1S My bridge teacher used to teach: “If you cannot redouble, then bid as high as your conscience will allow!” e.g. N E S W 1H Dbl 3 H (This is weak, because you do not have 10+ HCP) You can definitely be frisky in this scenario! This bid would show at least 4 Hearts at least though. In modern day bridge, it is common to play JORDAN. 1 of a major – Dbl – 2NT by you shows 10 or more HCP & 3 or more of partner’s major. If you agree to play this, then the Redouble shows 10 or more HCP and NO support for partner. NOTE: Jacoby 2NT does NOT exist after a Double. e.g. N E S W 1S Dbl 2NT* *If you are playing Jordan, this will show 10 or more HCP and at least 3 of partner’s Spades. N E S W 1H Dbl Redbl** **If you are playing Jordan, this will show 10 or more HCP and 2 or fewer Hearts. i.e. no support.

    NOTE FROM BARBARA This summary cheat sheet cannot possibly cover all modern uses of doubles. Modern bridge is amazingly inventive and you will stumble across many other uses of the term “double” but in the meantime, this will stand you in good stead.

    AN ALTERNATE APPROACHFOURTH SUIT FORCING TO GAME (FSF )REBIDS BY RESPONDER AFTER 1ST BIDDING 1NT FORCING NT QUIZ FOR OPENER & RESPONDER ANSWERS TO FORCING NT QUIZ R AISING PARTNER’S MAJOR

    Cheat Sheet Cheat Sheet

    T W O O V E R O N E

    B A R B A R A S E A G R A M ' S

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    Sheet (Conventions) / Defence Cheat Sheet / Pocket Guide to Bridge & Pocket Guide to Conventions

    We have discussed that playing the Forcing 1NT can be a problem for the minimum opening bidder who has a balanced hand. e.g N Kxx M AJxxx L Kx K Qxx

    When he opens with 1H and hears 1NT from Responder, he would strongly prefer to now pass but playing traditional 2/1, you may not (since Responder could have 11 or 12 points)

    We suggest that you implement a modified version of 2/1 and use a

    SEMI-FORCING ONE NO TRUMP RESPONSE TO OPENING BIDDER’S BID OF ONE OF A MAJOR

    If you adopt this, then the only time anything changes from the 2/1 system presented herein is:

    When you are Responder with 10-12 points and have THREE card support for Opener’s major, jump shift into OTHER major (WEIRD but read on!!)

    1H - 2S*

    or

    1S - 3H*

    NOTE THAT IF YOU AGREE TO PLAY THIS, THEN RESPONDER WHO BIDS 1NT IN RESPONSE TO 1 OF A MAJOR WILL NOW BE DENYING 3 CARD SUPPORT FOR THE MAJOR & SHOWING 6-12 POINTS. HE HAS 2 OR FEWER. IT IS MOST USEFUL TO KNOW THIS.

    N AJxxx M Ax L Qxx K Qxx and you open 1S…If partner responds 1NT & if you have agreed to play semi-forcing NT, now you can PASS his semi-forcing 1NT. This will show a minimum balanced hand.

    The 1NT semi-forcing is alertable.

    Be kind to your partner & to your opponents. You can be competitive & friendly all at the same time. When your opponents leave your table, you want them to be pleased to have met you & not glad that the round is over with.

    Fourth suit forcing is a convention. When Responder bids the 4th suit, he may well not have that suit. i.e. it could be artificial (fake). Requirement to bid FSF: 13+ points.

    Neither opening bidder nor Responder now needs to jump in auc-tion since a “game force” situation has been created. Neither can pass till game has been reached.

    Example of a hand where we frequently encounter problems in the bidding and land in the wrong contract.

    1D Op. Bid

    N AQ10xx

    M xx

    L KQx

    K QJx

    The OPENING BIDDER must now describe his hand:

    First obligation: • With 3 of partner’s major, Opener must now raise partner’s

    suit (NO JUMPING)

    Second obligation: • If Opener has a stopper in the “fourth suit” just named by

    Responder, he must now bid No Trumps.

    Third obligation: • If Opener has 4 cards in the “fourth suit” he can now bid that

    suit. (If this suit is a major, you should bid this suit before choice # 2 )

    Fourth obligation: • If Opener has none of the above, then he should bid naturally,

    AN EXAMPLE OF FSF USED IN A 2/1 AUCTION:

    1S - 2C Responder’s hand: 2D - N 32 M 32 L AQ76 K AK852

    Responder bids 2H, hoping to hear that Opener has a M stopper. If so, you can next bid 3NT.

    These are just some examples of Responder’s next bid:

    RESPONDER WITH 6-9 POINTS

    Opener bids a major and Responder bids 1NT (forcing). Opener now bids 2 of another suit. Responder must now choose one of Opener’s 2 suits.

    This is called Simple Preference.

    e.g. 1S - 1NT 2D - 2S will show 6-9 pts & only two N

    (With three spades, Responder would have raised to 2S immediately.)

    If Responder preferred L, he could pass 2D

    Remember that Opener could have only three L

    RESPONDER WITH 10-12 POINTS

    1S - 1NT 2D - 3S shows 10-12 and 3 card N support

    or

    1H - 1NT 2C - 2NT 11-12 HCP, stoppers in unbid suits & only 2 M

    or

    1S - 1NT 2C - 3D shows 10-12 and long L

    or

    1H - 1NT 2H - 4H shows 10-12 & 3 card support

    You know Opener has 6 card suit

    DUMMY POINTS

    With 3 card support for partner: Void = 3, singleton = 2, doubleton = 1

    With 4 card support for partner: Void = 5, singleton = 3, doubleton = 1

    With each of these hands, you have opened 1S and partner has responded 1NT (Forcing) What is your rebid?

    1. AQ1073 2. AK1097 3. KQJ642 Q84 AQ AQJ7 AQ AQ1054 8 KJ6 2 53

    4. KQ10784 5. KQ843 Q85 KJ10 AJ6 A83 4 92

    With each of these hands, you have opened 1H and partner has responded with a forcing 1NT. What is your rebid?

    6. AKJ9 7. KJ84 8. AQ74 AQ1084 AK753 KQJ62 K107 Q86 95 3 7 J3

    With each of these hands, you have responded with a forcing 1NT to your partner’s opening bid of 1S.

    Opener now rebids 2C. Now what?

    9. Q4 10. K95 11. 6 J95 AJ32 K105 K10864 8542 Q864 Q82 K6 J10853

    12. 4 13. 5 14. J3 K108642 A103 AQ95 J95 AQ10974 KJ108 Q82 842 1064

    OPENING THE BIDDING

    With N A542 M AK64 L Q52 K 54 Open 1L

    i.e. It is only 4% of the time that you have to open 1D with only 3 L.

    Do not open 1C with only two K.

    1. Raise to 2NT. This shows balanced 18-19 HCP as well as 5 card N suit.

    2. Jump shift to 3D. (18 +)

    3. 2H. Your N are good but so are your M. When you hold six N and four M, your rebid should be M. Offer partner a choice.

    4. Rebid 2S. Guarantees 6 or more N IF partner responded 1NT.

    5. 2D. You may NOT rebid your 5 card major unless you have 6, when partner has bid 1NT (forcing).

    6. 2S. A reverse, promising five M at least and four N AND 17 OR MORE points.

    7. 2D. NOT enough points to reverse. Bid your longest minor (As opener: With 3-3 in minors, choose to bid 2C. With 4-4- in minors, bid 2D.

    8. You do not have enough points to reverse. The books say to rebid 2C. Ugly and horrible. Choose the little white lie versus the big whopper! Rebid your major even though it shows 6 cards. You decide! WE VOTE FOR THE LATTER. Rebid your major.

    9. 2S. This shows 6-9 points and exactly two N. If you had 6-9 and three N‘s, you would have bid 2S the first time around.

    10. 3S. Limit raise in N with 3 card support. NOTE THAT IF opener had rebid his suit, you would now have to JUMP TO 4S.

    11. Pass. Shows 6-9 points, short N and long K.

    12. 2H. Shows 6-9 points and long M.

    13. 3D. 10-12 points (including distribution) and a 6 card L suit.

    14. 2 NT. 10-12 HCP and stoppers in both unbid suits.

    Hands by Max Hardy: Standard Bidding for the 21st. century

    In a duplicate game, the Director is your friend. Call the Director whenever an irregularity takes place at the table. You should not make your own rulings at the table. The correct way to call is in a gentle voice: “Director, please.”

    (You are playing Bergen raises) Points always include distribution

    NOTE THAT WITH 13 or MORE POINTS & 4 card or longer support for partner’s major, you MUST use Jacoby 2NT or a SPLINTER BID. These are alertable. All above bids marked with an * have to be alerted by the partner of the person making this bid.

    * These bids are 100% alertable as they say nothing about the suits named. You can call this “Criss Cross” raises.

    You bid 1S in response to partner’s 1D opening bid. He next bids 2C. Do you now bid 3NT? What if your side has no M stopper? What if partner had 3 small N all along and your side could make 4S but not 3NT? You have a problem. Playing FSF you will now bid 2H which says nothing about M and asks partner to further describe his hand. This is alertable since 2H does not promise M.

    7-9 pts & 4 of partner’s major Bid 3C in response to partner’s major

    1H - 3C* [Bergen Raise]

    or

    1S - 3C* [Bergen Raise]

    6-9 pts & 3 of partner’s major Bid 2 of partner’s major

    1H - 2H

    or

    1S - 2S

    10-12 pts & 4 of partner’s major Bid 3D in response to partner’s major

    1H - 3D* [Bergen Raise]

    or

    1S - 3D* [Bergen Raise]

    With 4 card support for partner’s major & 2-6 pts jump raise partner’s major. This is weak & pre-emptive now in light of all the above bids.

    1H - 3H*

    or

    1S - 3S*

    10-12 pts & 3 of partner’s major, bid 1NT first then jump in partner’s suit after they bid a new suit

    e.g. 1S - 1NT* BUT 1S - 1NT* 2D - 3S 2S - 4S (because you know p has 6)

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