Count Signals
Count signals are used to tell partner and declarer how many cards you hold in the suit being led by declarer or dummy. If you play Standard signals, a relative high card shows an even number of cards and a relative low card shows an odd number. Once your partner knows how many cards you have in the suit, he knows how many declarer has and can improve his count of the distribution of all 4 suits around the table. Giving count is very important when you have supported partner’s suit Here is an example:
N – Q85
W – AKJ94 E – 10732
S – 6
Partner has bid the suit and you supported. Partner leads a high honor and needs to know how many you hold to decide how to continue the defense. Here you play the 7 to show you raised with 4 pieces. Partner knows declarer has a singleton and plays accordingly.
Posted 2/11/19
Responding with Two 4-Card Majors
When responding to an opening bid with two four-card majors, respond 1H giving partner a chance to bid 1S. If partner doesn't bid 1S, assume partner does not have four spades and bid accordingly.
You hold: S. AJxx H. KQxx D. Jx C. xxx
Partner You
1D 1H
2C ?
Bid 2NT and limit your hand to 11-12 HCP. Do not bid 2S. Partner does not have four spades and bidding the ‘fourth suit’ has a special meaning. It is frequently used as an artificial force when no other rebid describes the hand.
Posted 1/10/19
Trump Leads
- Don't even think of leading a trump when the opponents are in the throes of a misfit.
- Holding a balanced hand with broken strength in each suit, a trump lead from two or three small when dummy has given a single raise is usually best
- With a strong sequence in trump (KQJ, QJ109), a trump lead is usually best
- If partner is marked with a singleton trump, there is no point in leading a trump from Kxx because neither of you will be able to continue the suit. Try another lead and hope that partner will find the trump switch, if necessary.
www.kantarbridge.com
posted 11/30/18
Leads versus a Doubled Contract
When partner doubles the final contract, partner either:
- Thinks that the combined defensive strength between the two defenisive hands is enough to defeat the contract.
- Has a strong trump holding.
- Can tell from the bidding that it is a touch and go contract and that YOU have trump length. This double is an effort to give declarer a false impression of who has the missing trumps. These are called "offside" doubles and require a special relationship with partner when they don't work.
- Is trying to direct your lead to a particular suit, a suit you might not otherwise have led. These 'lead directing doubles' particularly apply vs. slam contracts when partner has preempted or against notrump game or slam contracts that usually call for the lead of dummy's first bid suit.
www.kantarbridge.com
posted 11/30/18
Hand Evaluation
When the opponents bid and support each other, and you have the jack or queen of their suit and are considering bidding, don’t count points for those honors. They are usually worthless.
www.kantarbridge.com
posted 11/9
Rebidding NTs
When opener has opened or rebid NT, the strength and shape of his hand is known. Therefore responder will normally know whether or not the values for game (25 partnership points) are present. If they are, then the only outstanding issue is which game to play. The order of desirability is:
- 4 ♥, 4 ♠ with an eight-card fit.
- 3 NT.
- 5 ♣, 5 ♦
Every effort should be made to locate an eight-card major fit. Say the bidding has begun 1 ♥-2 ♣-2 NT (15-16). What next with:
| Hand (a) | Hand (b) | Hand (c) |
♠ K 7 3
♥ 4
♦ J 9 6
♣ A Q 9 8 5 3 | ♠ A J 9 6
♥ 7 3
♦ 10 6
♣ A K 8 6 3 | ♠ 8 7 3
♥ Q J 7
♦ Q 4
♣ K Q 8 6 3 |
(a) 3 NT. No point in bidding more clubs. 5 ♣ is a long way away.
(b) 3 ♠. May still have a spade fit (partner would bid this way with 4 ♥s-4 ♠s and 15-16 balanced).
(c) 3 ♥. This delayed support shows three hearts (with four you would support immediately). Partner may have have five hearts in a 5332 shape, in which case he will raise to 4 ♥. With just four hearts, partner will prefer 3 NT.
www.andrewrobson.com.uk
posted 11/10
Responder's Bid
A book worth owning and reading is “A Treasury of Bridge Tips” by Eddie Kantar. In it he offers the following advice:
“As responder, when you have a game going hand respond to your partner’s opening bid in your longer suit first! Re-read this!” Partner opens the bidding 1C and you hold:
S - AK32
H – 42
D – AQ765
C – 32
Respond 1D intending to rebid 2S after partner’s next bid if it is not 1 Spade.
Hand Evaluation
When the opponents bid and support each other, and you have the jack or queen of their suit and are considering bidding, don’t count points for those honors. They are usually worthless.
www.kantarbridge.com
Posted 10/14/18
Third Hand Play – Eddie Kantar writes in his book “Modern Bridge Defense” about what to do when you win the trick as third hand. If you choose to return partner’s suit, give count by leading back as follows:
- With 2 remaining cards lead the higher
- With 3 cards return the lowest
- With more than 3 cards, return your original 4th best.
- With an honor sequence return the higher
www.kantarbridge.com
Posted 9/23/18
Card Combinations -- As declarer, many times the ability to make a contract depends on playing one of the suits in a way that maximizes our chance to take tricks. The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge by ACBL has a section on playing card combinations. Here is a combination from the Encyclopedia that I hate to have as declarer:
K x x x
J x x x
Lead Low to the King hoping West has the A Q doubleton. If it is covered, return to dummy and lead to the Jack. Only a 3% chance of 3 tricks. To maximize chances for 2 tricks, Lead low to the King. If the Q fails to appear, duck, When you regain the lead, return to hand and lead low to the King. 50% chance of 2 tricks.
Posted 8/18/18
Third Hand Play – Eddie Kantar writes in his book “Modern Bridge Defense” about third hand play. We’ve all heard the axiom “third hand high”, but that is not always correct.
When partner leads a trump and you have an honor that might be used to overtrump dummy, save your honor. Spades are trump:
S – 985
H - K
S – K4 S – J32 (you)
H – Q10972 H – J3
S- AKQ107
H – A8654
Eddie Kantar writes: “Partner anticipating heart ruffs in dummy leads a trump. You can “see” that you can overtrump the third round of hearts with the Jack, if you keep it.”
www.katarbridge.com
Posted 7/26/18
NT Response to a takeout double
A 1NT response to a takeout double shows 6-10 HCP. A 2NT response to a takeout double shows 10-12. Some 10 point hands are better than others because of strong intermediates. You cannot be a slave to point count. Intermediates count!
Notrump responses to a takeout double guarantee at least one stopper (hopefully two), in the opponent’s suit.
www.kantarbridge.com
Posted 7/14/18
Takeout Double by a Passed Hand -- Eddie Kantar
A takeout double by a passed hand shows 9-11 HCP with shortness in the opener’s suit. If the opponents have bid two suits, the double promises at least four-card support in the other two suits.
You hold: S - AJxx H - xx D - KJ10xx C - xx
South (you) West North East
Pass 1C Pass 1H
X (Your double shows diamonds and spades. A 2D bid might lose a spade fit.)
www.kantarbridge.com
Posted 7/4/18
