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
