Julian Foster’s hand commentary provides a good read every week. He picks up an interesting hand for commentary (sometimes from an SBC duplicate, sometimes from elsewhere). His column starts with a basic analysis of the hand then lists some key points to note as a quick summary to take away. It then ends with some more advanced points if you progress well with this laddered reading.
Julian is a many times NSW representative, he has an impressive bridge career as an individual player and coach!
- Is there any chance left?
Sometimes your contract looks completely hopeless. At that point you have to consider is there any chance left? Today’s hand was an example where there was – but it’s not that easy to see. It’s also so obscure that it’s questionable whether it’s even worth … Continue reading - Stoppers and Lebensohl
On some hands it’s essential to play no-trumps from one direction. Today’s hand (taken from the Newcastle Congress played the weekend of June 13-14) is an example. 3NT played by West is hopeless because North can lead ♦Q and the defence will take the first … Continue reading - When it’s dangerous to come into the auction
There are times when it’s quite dangerous to come into an auction. Today’s hand taken from the Newcastle congress held over the weekend of June 13-14 is an example. The bidding at the table began Pass 1NT (11-14) P 2♣. 2♣ was Stayman and West’s … Continue reading - Cover honours but not touching honours
A theme in bridge is to “cover an honour with an honour” – the idea being to promote lower value cards in either your, or your partner’s, hand into winners. That’s good advice. But, like all bridge “rules”, it’s not as simple as that. In … Continue reading - Bidding in 4th seat after 2 passes
If a 1 level opening bid is followed by 2 passes, the situation is not the same as it is directly over the opening bid. Today’s hand taken from a recent congress looks at why not. East opened 1♠. South couldn’t really bid over that … Continue reading
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