Issue 15 - Standard American

Editorial by Paul Bowyer

Welcome to the fifteenth edition of V-Blue, the interactive magazine for those “experienced learners” of the fascinating game of bridge.

In this issue there are four series.

In two of them we are looking at declarer-play. Specifically, we are looking at how you can set up and make use of a long suit in the dummy. This is common practice in No-trumps, of course, now we are showing you how to ruff out a suit in a trump contract. As usual we have easy deals and we have – um - some less easy deals.

When you have worked your way through these two series you may care to head for the two “General Series” of six and four hands respectively.

The first series has been written by our famous guest author from across the ocean in Britain, the prolific David Bird. There’s no theme to these half a dozen deals and the level of difficulty varies from hand to hand. That’s precisely as it should be of course - when playing the game in practice some hands are easy and some... aren’t.

The final set of four deals comes with a theme, on declarer-play. What theme? We aren’t saying!

We also have a quiz for you to try. Ten slightly tricky questions on “giving preference”. This – as you may well know – is a way of trying to kill the auction at a low level. A sort of “Drop dead, partner” bid.

There’s plenty for you this edition – enjoy!

Series #2403 - Setting up a side-suit - Part I (SA)

In this series, you're going to learn a magic trick – how to create tricks where none seem to exist. You'll be the talk of the town. You will also violate one of the "rules" that you will have been taught earlier. Well, that's life.

Series #2403 - Setting up a side-suit - Part I (SA):

>Giving preference: Hard examples Quiz

The idea of giving preference in the auction is an important one.

We have looked at this idea before - the basic idea of putting partner back to his first-bid suit is an attempt to kill the auction.

This quiz has some harder examples of the genre. Remember, though, that the message that you want to send when giving simple preference is "stop the world - I want to get off". If you don't want partner to stop bidding - make another bid! Giving preference Quiz: click here

Series #2404 - Setting up a side-suit - Part II (SA)

This is the second series of deals on defensive signals. The first series can be found elsewhere in this edition of V-Blue.

The basic principle here is that a high card by third hand encourages partner to continue the led suit. A low card, though, suggests no interest in that suit (and may suggest that there are better prospects elsewhere).

Series #2404 - Setting up a side-suit - Part II (SA):

Series #2396 - Improve your Card Play by David Bird (SA):

Series #2395 - General Hands (SA):