Bidding commentary: As North, the system opening is 1♦ with this hand pattern. This is the only distribution one should have for a short diamond opening.

A 1♦ opening with this distribution occurs about 5% of the time 1♦ is opened.

As responder, assume your partner has four or more diamonds when you hear partner open 1♦. Don't play for exceptions!

If you do, you will be wrong 95% of the time!

West's passed-hand takeout double shows 9-11 high-card points with four cards, minimum, in each of the two unbid suits.

South is entitled to reevaluate upwards with a likely nine-card spade fit (worth an automatic 2-point upgrade) plus wild side-suit distribution, worth another 2 points.

The South hand logs in at about 13 revalued points and is worth a shot at game. If 4♠ seems a bit rich for your blood, try 3♠. North, with a maximum, will raise to 4♠.

Defensive commentary: As East, assuming the lead of the king is from the K-Q and not the A-K, tend to encourage holding the jack.

However, with your diamond holding, it is better to discourage in clubs (♣2) to encourage a shift to diamonds.

Play commentary: As South, fearing a diamond shift, win the ♣A, cross to the ♠A and run the ♥K to West’s ace, discarding a diamond.

Assuming West wins and shifts to a diamond, win the ace, discard your remaining two diamonds on the ♥Q-J and concede a club.

The most you can lose after this is maybe a spade trick.

The idea is not to cash the ♠K before the dummy is void in clubs. If you do, and the player who wins your club exit is able to cash the ♠Q depriving you of a club ruff in dummy, down you go.

You could lose two clubs (instead of one) the ♥A and the ♠Q. Be careful about surrendering trump control (♠K) until dummy is void in the suit you plan to ruff.

How to Play:

There is a Chinese saying:
'An image is worth 1000 words!'

You may want to take the
Online Player Guided Tour

1 - Bidding: Click the 'Play' button in the middle of the page to display the bidding box.

When you are ready, click the 'Start Bidding' button.

When a bid is alerted, it is shown on a yellow background. You can then click that bid to display the related alert.

When there is a comment or a question about your own bid, you can read it on the bidding box comments pane, and then, click the 'Ok' button to continue bidding.

Click 'Close Bidding Box' to proceed to playing the hand.

2 - Playing: The lead is automatic if you are declarer, otherwise you'll see the 'It's your lead' warning in the center pane.

You will play your cards and dummy's as if you were at a live table.

2.1 -Touching cards are considered equivalent! e.g. if you have 876 and you play the 7 while Vu-Bridge expects you to play the 6, then the 7 will blink and the 6 will be played.

2.2 -Sometimes there will be a comment or question during the play.
You should read it and click the 'Click to continue' button at the top of the comment text.

If its a question, there will be a 'Show Answer' button to click at the bottom of the comment panel.

2.3 - When a comment bears a 'Finish flag' button, you can click it to reveal hidden hands and continue playing. We use this to explain technical coups like end-plays, squeezes etc.

2.4 - You can review the last trick by clicking on the last won or lost trick (back of card) at the bottom of the screen. The last trick will show during 3 seconds and then play will continue.

2.5 - You can click the 'Undo last trick' button at the left of the screen in order to redo one or several tricks and review the attached comments.
You can review the auction by clicking the 'Auction' tab in the same area.
3 - Moving the comment panel:

When the mouse hovers the dark green background of the bidding box or the comment panel, you'll see a crosshair cursor and you can drag and move it around the page.

The left and right arrows on the top left corner of the comment panel allows you to increase or reduce the width for better readability.

4 - When a hand is finished, you can click the 'Board List' at the top of the comment panel, and play other hands From the same Series.

To play other Series, visit the Vu-Bridge's home page and click the 'Bridge Hands' button.