Editorial by Paul Bowyer
Welcome to V-Blue issue 2, the e-magazine for those of you who are fresh to the game of bridge.
In this second edition we are focussing on how to develop tricks in No-trump contracts. The most common error that inexperienced players make is that they just take all the available tricks as quickly as they can. Big mistake!
How should it be done? Well, you need to develop your suits; to establish them (or set them up).
We will show you how this is done, step by step. There are two sets of deals on the same theme, one slightly harder than the other. Each set is of six deals, leaving a dozen hands to practise this vital technique.
The bidding, incidentally, should be familiar to you as it all centres around opening 1NT.
As well as these two series we have a gentle quiz (How do you respond to 1NT?) and a set of eight easy hands based on issue #1. Well, if you don’t find them easy we are here to help.
Vu-Bridge is your indefatigable teacher by your side, always giving useful hints and nudging you in the right direction. You can’t fail to learn with VuBridge.
Series #2058 - Play of the cards in NT - Part I (ACOL)
Almost all deals played in No-trumps contain top tricks and suits that must be developed into tricks. Whenever dummy comes into view declarer should pause to consider the hand as a whole and count his tricks.
The usual mantra that declarer needs to chant (silently, naturally) is Count - Plan – Execute. So... Count your tricks, make a Plan as to where the "extras" are coming from and, having determined what you are going to do, put your plan into action (Execute).
It is foolish for declarer to play too quickly at trick one - can you really assimilate 26 cards and work out a plan in the blink of an eye? Of course not! So, no matter how obvious the first card might be don't play it until you are good and ready.
Here we are going to ask you about opening the bidding with 1NT.
In ACOL methods such an opening bid shows 12-14 points and a balanced hand.
All you have to do is to answer Yes or No to these questions - meaning YES, this hand should be opened 1NT or NO, this hand should not be opened 1NT.
Easy enough? Let's go!
Responding to 1NT (Balanced Hands): click here
Series #2059 - Play of the cards in NT - Part II (ACOL)
This set of six deals continues from the previous set of six - it is all about developing tricks in No-trumps.
Remember, in No-trumps most hands contain top tricks and suits that need setting up for the extras. Your main aim is to get your "slow tricks" established as soon as you can.
This set of eight deals is a gentle introduction to VuBridge and shows you how this program can help you learn how to play the cards at bridge. We can give you a useful nudge with the bidding, too...
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