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What is 'Puppet' in Puppet Stayman? |
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 07:00 |
As from today we start publishing some of the most interesting questions by visitors of the Dutch sister site (Bridgevaria.nl). The first one is from Peter (not our Peter...), who wants to know the meaning of 'Puppet' in Puppet Stayman.
Ed and Peter Ed do their utmost in order to find the answer. They even contacted Jeff Rubens of the Bridge World for an answer. Read all about it here (Have a question?) |
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Unblocking - Exercise 1** |
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Tuesday, 09 March 2010 07:00 |
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This exercise is a follow-up of the article: 'Unblocking' (published 02 March 2010 in Varia **). | E/NS | ♠ | A 9 5 3 | | | | ♥ | 7 6 5 | | ♦ | 8 4 3 | | ♣ | J 6 5 | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | ♠ | Q 2 | | | ♥ | A K | | ♦ | A K Q J 10 9 | | ♣ | A 4 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
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| - | - | pass
| 2♦1 | pass
| 2NT2 | pass | 3♦3 | | pass | 4♦3 | pass
| 5♦ | | pass | pass | pass | |
1 Strong, natural, forcing for one round
2 Weak
3 Not forcing, as a consequence of 2
4 Invitational (but why in heaven's name does North go over 3NT when holding a 4-3-3-3?) 'Skilfully' NS have avoided bidding 3NT - which is on ice - in order to bid the more challenging contract of 5♦ (probably the worst bid was 4♦ - 3♠ would have been better - but South is not innocent either: he probably had better opened 2♣ and rebid 3NT).
West leads the ♠J, declarer ducking in dummy. East wins with the ♠K and switches to a small club. How should South play? |
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Solution
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Monday, 08 March 2010 07:00 |
S/-
| ♠ | J 6 2 | | | | ♥ | A K 3 | | ♦ | K 5 4 | | ♣ | J 6 5 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ♠ | A Q | | | ♥ | Q 4 2 | | ♦ | A Q J | | ♣ | A K 8 7 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
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| - | - | - | 2NT | | pass | 4NT1 | pass | 6NT | | pass | pass | pass | |
1 Quantitative: 'partner, pass holding a minimum; if not bid 6NT' West leads the ♥J. How should South play? |
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Solution
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The basis of the bidding* (2) |
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Sunday, 07 March 2010 11:14 |
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This bidding section is meant for beginners and those players who like to keep it simple. Test your knowledge. | W/All | | | ♠ | 5 4 | | | ♥ | K J 8 4 3 | | | ♦ | A 8 3 | | | ♣ | J 9 4 | |
| West | North | East | South |
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| 1♦ | double | pass | ?? |
What should South bid? |
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Solution
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Bidding with 4-5 in spades-hearts after their 1♦ overcall |
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Saturday, 06 March 2010 07:00 |
Stig Rune Ofstad sees his partner open 1♣ and his right hand opponent overcall 1♦. What should he bid holding four spades and five hearts? Does the strength of his hand influence his decision?
He asks Peter directly, so 'Orkanger' is first to reply for once. After that the 'Barcelona' reply is not relevant of course. Or is it? Read all about it here. |
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| Edgar Kaplan: |
| As Levin, West, suspected, there was no duplication of values, but there weren't many values. |
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Barry & Harry (1) No loser, still... |
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Friday, 05 March 2010 07:00 |
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July 1995: Barry & Harry make their first appearance in Dutch magazine 'BRIDGE'. Quickly the twins become known to Dutch bridge players. The format of the column is simple: Barry & Harry learn to play (better) bridge from their Granddad, who explains them how they could have done better. He does so in a calm, understanding and non-confronting way.
Many years later Ed Hoogenkamp, their spiritual father, claims to understand how they think, feel and what moves them: 'Barry quickly turned out to be a tearaway, unhesitatingly blurting out his opinion. Harry showed more restraint, he developed into the thoughtful, quiet half of the twins.'
Readers looked upon Barry & Harry — and Granddad too — as real, living people, as can be seen from numerous e-mails and their figuring in a newsgroup on the internet. Once Ed was even welcomed in his Spanish language class in Barcelona with a cheerful: 'All the best from Barry & Harry'. Yep: fellow Dutchman...
In December 2005 the twins made their last appearance. But since then requests have been pouring in for their return. Therefore Bridgevaria.nl (our Dutch sister site) started publishing their adventures in December 2009. And now, March 2010, Bridgevaria.com follows suit.
Upon reading this introduction Ed Hoogenkamp reacted with laughter: 'Don't you think the return of the twins is a consequence of all these requests. I'm missing them, I want them back myself!'
Whatever, we hope you will enjoy the adventures of the twins and Granddad. Below you will find the first one. Barry & Harry (1) No loser, still... 'One down, good bridge', Barry laughs while they walk into the garden. Harry doesn't laugh.
'That was one fantastic opening lead, that lead of mine, right?' Barry continues.
'Yeah, sure, if you say so Barry, brilliant lead', Harry says crabbily. |
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Read on
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Thursday, 04 March 2010 07:00 |
| S/EW | ♠ | A 3 | | | | ♥ | K 5 | | ♦ | Q 9 4 3 2 | | ♣ | K 10 3 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ♠ | K 6 | | | ♥ | Q 7 6 4 | | ♦ | K J 5 | | ♣ | A Q J 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
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| - | - | - | 1NT | | pass | 3NT | pass | pass | | pass | | | |
West leads the ♠Q.
How should South play? |
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Solution
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 07:00 |
| ♠ | A K 6 5 | | | ♥ | 10 6 | | | ♦ | A 9 6 3 | | | ♣ | A Q 8 | |
You open 1NT. What is your rebid over partner's response of 2♣ (Stayman), 2♦ (Jacoby-transfer), 2♥ (Jacoby-transfer), 2♠ (weak, long minor suit), 2NT (natural), 3♣ or 3♦ (both natural, slam invitational or stronger) respectively? |
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Solution
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