Issue 7 - Standard American

Editorial by Paul Bowyer

Welcome to the seventh edition of V-Blue, the e-magazine for those learning the wonderful game of bridge.

In this issue there are (as ever) three excellent series for you to get your teeth into. Two series (of six hands each) are on suit opening bids and limit raises. Here, we are looking at what it means when partner raises your suit bid to the two-level or the three-level. What do you do next? Most of these deals will be played in suit contracts and here we are reinforcing one of the basic principles of card-play – that is: when in doubt draw trumps. Naturally enough, this involves a bit of counting... well, what part of bridge doesn’t? The first six deals in this topic are, we think, easy enough, the next six are just a little tastier.

When you have absorbed the lessons here you may care to try out our “General Series” of eight assorted deals. These are designed for you to see what you have gained from previous editions of VuBridge. You can’t improve at this game without lots of practice and these deals give you ample opportunity for that.

Finally, (or perhaps earlier) you might like to try out the quiz. Here we are looking at just what makes an opening bid. Points? Well, it’s not only that – as you will see...

Series #2179 - Suit openings and limit raises - Part I (SA)

This set of deals is all about limit raises. In general, a raise by partner of your suit is a limit bid – it tells you that partner likes your suit but also that he has a certain strength of hand. Armed with this knowledge it is your decision how high to bid.

The card-play reinforces the idea of drawing trumps.

Series #2179 - Suit openings and limit raises - Part I (SA):

Vu-Bridge Quiz: Is this an opening bid?

What hands are worth opening and what hands should be Passed?

Well, this is a grey area - a very grey area. A lot depends on the proclivities and inclinations of the players. Put another way, it's a question of STYLE. We are going to try to give some examples of marginal opening bids here and say what we think. Please bear in mind that some players will disagree with what we say here. Well, that's life... it doesn't make them right (or us right, come to that). We start with the basic idea that most 12 point hands should be opened and some 11 point hands. But which ones? Maybe it's time you took the quiz... Is this an opening bid? Click here

Series #2180 - Suit openings and limit raises - Part II (SA)

This set of deals is a follow-up to the previous set on limit raises. In general, a raise by partner of your suit is a limit bid - it tells you that partner likes your suit but also that he has a certain strength of hand. Again, armed with this knowledge it is your decision how high to bid.

The card-play once more reinforces the idea of drawing trumps.

Series #2180 - Suit openings and limit raises - Part II (SA):

Here are eight general practice hands on the themes that we have been looking at in VuBridge. They are in no particular order, just enjoy them as they come...

Series #2796 General Hands: