August 26, 2013 – When Should We Double Partscores?

August 27th, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  1 Comment 

The short answer to my title question, at IMPs, is never.  Read the rest of this entry »

August 21, 2013

August 22nd, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  1 Comment 

Hi, everyone.  I have been moved to your group this week.  I am Steven Bloom, and love to write about and analyze bridge hands.  I am a retired mathematician, and spend much of my time these days writing for the Junior program, for http://www.bridgewinners.com, and for http://www.DoubleDummy.net.  Please, check out those sites if you haven’t already.  Each week, I will pick a few hands from Sunday’s session, and focus on the card-play.  Read the rest of this entry »

July 29, 2013

July 30th, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  1 Comment 

Let’s continue with our suit combination theme:  Try both of these club suits.

and

In both cases, find the best line to win four tricks, and the best line to win all five tricks.

Read the rest of this entry »

July 22, 2013 – Tempo

July 23rd, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  2 Comments 

I haven’t given you any suit combinations in a while.  Time for another:  This is your spade suit,

 
What is the best way to play this suit if you need to win four tricks in spades?

For that you need a miracle.  Suppose you only need three winners, what is the percentage play?

Read the rest of this entry »

July 16, 2013 – Am I Good Enough to Pull Off a Squeeze?

July 17th, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  No Comments 

Squeeze play, to many, is the hardest element to master in bridge.  My wife, and regular partner, swears that she cannot play a squeeze.  Still, I have seen her land 100’s of contracts via a squeeze, and the later conversation always goes like this:

Steve:  Nicely played.  I thought you didn’t do squeezes.

Betty:  I don’t.  I lucked into it.  Besides, the cards were marked, so the play was easy.

That last is the real key – most squeezes are no different than any other aspect of declarer play – they involve counting, placing cards, keeping track of the cards played, and picturing the ending.  Can you pull one off?  Yep.

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July 7, 2013

July 9th, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  2 Comments 

The play has been pretty strong for a couple of weeks, so we were due for a letdown, and so it was.  The play was quite off last night.  That might be because of the unfamiliar board-a-match format, or the head up competition, but our squad got killed, and earned most of the losses.  Read the rest of this entry »

July 1, 2013 – Where’s Perry Mason When We Need Him?

July 2nd, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  No Comments 

Before getting into the card play from last night, I want to make one bidding observation – successful contracts depend on both high card power and on shape.

Read the rest of this entry »

June 24, 2013 – Is Down One Good Bridge?

June 25th, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  4 Comments 

There is another bridge adage – down one is good bridge.  What does that mean?  Well, as you know, at IMPs, the odds favor bidding games fairly aggressively.  In a strong match, both teams will bid game contracts that are marginal, and, if the defense is sharp, many of these will be set.  So, when a number of thin games are bid, and set, the standard of play seems to be high – down a trick, high level bridge. Read the rest of this entry »

June 17, 2013 – IMP Odds

June 18th, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  No Comments 

The boards last night were pretty quiet, which is just as well, since I am tired from a long tournament, and couldn’t say a lot even if the hands were lively.  I thought I would focus a bit on IMP odds today.  In the KO tactics handout, you were told to bid fairly aggressively for games, bidding vulnerable games with at least a 40% chance, and 50% non-vulnerable games, but to bid more conservatively in the slam zone.  Good advice.  Every wonder why? Read the rest of this entry »

June 10, 2013

June 11th, 2013  ~  Steve Bloom  ~  No Comments 

The play last night was strong, leaving me little to carp about.  I’ll focus on two defensive positions. 

On the first, board 7, West held

The auction went, with both sides vulnerable:

     
What is the best opening lead? Read the rest of this entry »