Issue 19 - Standard American

Editorial by Paul Bowyer

Welcome to the nineteenth 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 three of them we are looking at defense. Well, let’s face facts, you defend hands twice as often as you are declarer and defense is difficult; it requires co-operation and accurate signalling.

In the bridge world at large good declarers are plentiful but good defenders are rarer than rocking-horse droppings. These series, specifically the two six-deal series on third-hand play, will greatly aid your understanding. The aim (as ever in defense) is to give declarer nothing. No cheap tricks, no gifts, nothing that isn’t declarer’s by right.

Two series include the use of the Rule of Eleven to help you in third seat (as partner of the opening leader). If you get all these hands right first time round you can congratulate yourself. Not that they are particularly difficult but the way of thinking about your defense may be unfamiliar.

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, again on defense. What theme? We aren’t saying! We also have a quiz for you to try. Ten questions on making slam tries by cue-bidding. There’s plenty for you this edition – enjoy!

Series #2504 - Third Hand Play - Part I (SA)

This series of six deals (and another series to be found in this edition of V-Blue) is all about third hand play in defense. The basic idea is well known from that oft-quoted phrase "Third player plays high", an adage that comes to us from the days of whist. However, there is much more to this aspect of defense that simple phraseology.

Series #2504 - Third Hand Play - Part I (SA):

Cue-bidding Quiz

Cue-bids are a way of exchanging information en route to a possible slam.

We already know of one method of slam bidding (Blackwood) which is question-and-answer session regarding the number of Aces and Kings partner holds. Sometimes, though, Blackwood does not help us locate whether we might be missing two quick losers or not. The essential question might be "Does partner hold the right Ace?"

A cue-bid shows a control in a side-suit and invites partner to co-operate by showing where his controls are. Rather than tying partner down and asking questions (which is what Blackwood does) a cue-bidding sequence is essentially a co-operative venture; a conversation between partners.

Click here to run the Quiz.

Series #2505 - Third Hand play - Part II (SA)

The previous series focused on No-trump contracts. In this series we have some suit contracts as well for you to consider.

Series #2505 - Third Hand play - Part II (SA):

Series #2510 - David Bird's Hands (SA):

Series #2512 - General Hands (SA):