| Introduction |
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xi | |
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1 If there is a misfit, it is for both sides-and you want to defend |
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1 | (2) |
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2 A leap to Game in partner's suit is weak |
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3 | (2) |
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3 A 1NT response does not promise a balanced hand |
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5 | (1) |
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4 You must hold two stoppers in the opponent's suit to bid NTs |
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6 | (2) |
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5 If three suits have been bid, you must have two stoppers in the unbid suit to bid NTs |
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8 | (2) |
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6 If you like what you're hearing but don't know what to say-bid the opponent's suit |
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10 | (2) |
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7 Always support no-trumps with a long minor suit |
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12 | (1) |
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8 Don't open 4-4-4-1 hands with 12 or 13 points |
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13 | (1) |
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9 When very weak, bid immediately opposite a weak NT |
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14 | (1) |
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10 Open the weaker of two four-card minor suits |
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15 | (1) |
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16 | (2) |
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12 Look at the texture of your hand to help you judge the contract |
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18 | (1) |
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13 How many points must you have to use Stayman? |
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19 | (1) |
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14 You must have exactly four cards in a major suit to use Stayman |
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20 | (1) |
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15 Don't let the opponents play at the 1-level |
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21 | (1) |
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16 Don't let the opponents play at the 2-level if they have found a fit |
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22 | (1) |
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17 When is a double for take-out and when is it for penalties? |
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23 | (2) |
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18 A double of 1NT should always be for penalties |
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25 | (2) |
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19 Over opponent's vulnerable 1NT, compete if you think your side holds the minority of the points; pass and defend if you think you hold the majority |
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27 | (2) |
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20 Never use Blackwood with a void |
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29 | (2) |
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21 Upgrade to Roman Key-Card Blackwood |
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31 | (2) |
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22 Keep your pre-empts pure first and second in hand |
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33 | (2) |
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23 Three mini-tips on pre-empts |
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35 | (1) |
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24 Having pre-empted, never bid again |
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36 | (2) |
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25 Responding to a pre-empt-the key elements |
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38 | (1) |
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26 After opponent's pre-empt, don't stretch to bid Slam contracts |
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39 | (2) |
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27 Responding to an overcall |
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41 | (2) |
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28 Never bid at the 5-level without 10 trumps between you |
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43 | (1) |
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29 The Gambling 3NT Opener is a gamble in your favour |
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44 | (2) |
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30 If you discover a misfit-stop bidding. Don't bid no-trumps! |
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46 | (2) |
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31 If you don't know what to bid in an uncontested auction, bid the fourth suit |
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48 | (2) |
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32 The simple Losing Trick Count |
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50 | (1) |
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33 Add points for shortages only once you have found a fit |
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51 | (1) |
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34 Overcall 1NT with unbalanced hands too |
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52 | (1) |
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35 Make very aggressive overcalls if your suit is spades |
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53 | (1) |
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36 Pre-empt more aggressively overcalls if your suit is spades |
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53 | (3) |
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37 Support partner's major suit on three cards rather than responding 1NT |
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56 | (1) |
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38 After an intervening take-out double, support partner at least one level higher than usual |
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57 | (1) |
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39 Doubling opponent's no-trump contract asks partner to lead dummy's first bid suit |
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58 | (2) |
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40 Doubling opponent's no-trump auction asks partner to make an unusual lead |
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60 | (2) |
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41 A double of the opponent's conventional bid shows that suit |
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62 | (1) |
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42 Use an `Unassuming Cue-bid' to discover more about your partner's hand |
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63 | (1) |
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43 In response to partner's take-out double, bid to the full strength of your combined hands |
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64 | (1) |
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44 With 6-10pts, respond with your four-card major in response before anything else |
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65 | (2) |
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45 If your target is Game, bid bad suits; if your target is Slam, bid good suits |
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67 | (1) |
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46 Your hand improves if you hold length in the suit bid on your right, or shortage in a suit bid on your left |
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68 | (2) |
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47 As opener, if your right-hand opponent bids, you don't have to bid again |
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70 | (2) |
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72 | (1) |
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49 Describing big two-suited hands |
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73 | (1) |
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50 Be prepared to re-bid no-trumps with a singleton in partner's suit |
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74 | (2) |
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51 Listen to what your opponents have bid and count the hand |
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76 | (2) |
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52 Listen to what your opponents have not bid and count the hand |
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78 | (1) |
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53 Analyse the lead (1): Is another suit more dangerous? |
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79 | (1) |
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54 Analyse the lead (2): Why have they not led their suit? |
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80 | (1) |
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55 Analyse the lead (3): Counting the hands from the opening lead |
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81 | (2) |
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83 | (2) |
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57 Avoidance (1): If one opponent is a danger to you, keep him off lead at all costs |
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85 | (2) |
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58 Avoidance (2): Don't finesse into the danger hand |
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87 | (1) |
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59 Avoidance (3): Strand the safe opponent on lead |
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88 | (2) |
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60 As declarer, play deceptively |
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90 | (2) |
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61 Make your plan before touching dummy |
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92 | (1) |
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62 Retain entries in the hand with the long suit you plan to establish |
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93 | (2) |
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63 Look out for the loser-on-loser play |
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95 | (2) |
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64 Safeguard your contract-look for the safety play |
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97 | (3) |
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65 Planning suit contracts (1): Count your losers |
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100 | (1) |
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66 Planning suit contracts (2): If you have too many losers, hesitate before drawing trumps |
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101 | (1) |
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67 Planning no-trump contracts-count your winners |
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102 | (2) |
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68 Keep finesses as a last resort; try to plan an elimination endplay |
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104 | (2) |
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69 Make the hand with the most trumps the master hand-automatic dummy reversal |
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106 | (2) |
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70 In a 4-3 trump fit, take care to keep control |
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108 | (2) |
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71 Put yourself in the mind of the defender to help you place the missing cards |
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110 | (2) |
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72 Finesses (1): Never lead an honour without the card beneath it |
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112 | (2) |
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73 Finesses (2): What to do when you know where a card lies |
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114 | (2) |
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74 On lead (1): Lead top of a sequence rather than fourth highest |
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116 | (2) |
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75 On lead (2): Don't lead fourth highest without an honour |
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118 | (1) |
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76 On lead (3): Against no-trump contracts, if you are very weak, don't lead your own long suit |
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119 | (2) |
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77 Jettison high cards to show your partner his sequence is complete |
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121 | (1) |
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78 Ruff high to promote your partner's trumps |
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122 | (2) |
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79 Play the card you are known to hold |
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124 | (2) |
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80 Unblock the flow of a suit by playing the high card from the shorter holding |
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126 | (2) |
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81 Don't win a finesse immediately if the declarer must take it a second time |
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128 | (2) |
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82 Show count if declarer is playing to a long suit in an entryless dummy |
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130 | (2) |
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83 Make a suit-preference signal whenever the count is irrelevant |
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132 | (2) |
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84 When discarding, throw away the suit you are least interested in your partner leading |
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134 | (2) |
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85 Don't cover an honour with an honour if you can't promote a trick for your side |
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136 | (2) |
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86 Always lead a trump after opponents have shown simple preference |
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138 | (1) |
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87 When a singleton is led from dummy, play small even if you hold the Ace |
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139 | (1) |
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88 Think about the bidding and declarer's likely plan before choosing your lead |
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140 | (1) |
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89 Drop your Queen under partner's Ace to guarantee that you can win the next trick |
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141 | (1) |
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90 Make declarer trump in his own hand |
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142 | (2) |
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91 What to lead when your partner has bid |
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144 | (1) |
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92 The lead of an honour is top of a sequence: the lead of a high card shows disinterest: the lead of a little card expresses interest |
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145 | (3) |
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93 Against suit contracts, never make an opening lead away from an Ace-unless the much greater strength is on your left |
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148 | (2) |
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94 Never lead a doubleton-unless your partner has bid |
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150 | (1) |
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TACTICS, DUPLICATE TIPS AND MISCELLANEOUS ADVICE |
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95 Don't play with a trump suit if you can't do any trumping |
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151 | (2) |
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96 Keep aiming for no-trumps: Stopper-Showing Bids for no-trump contracts |
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153 | (2) |
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97 Re-bid no-trumps with a long minor, if unbid suits are covered |
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155 | (1) |
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98 At Rubber, Teams and Chicago, don't double the opposition for penalties if you think that they are only going one down |
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156 | (1) |
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99 Double for penalities, not on points but on distribution |
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157 | (1) |
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100 Don't eat crudites at the bridge table |
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158 | (1) |
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101 Introducting the `Pudding Raise' |
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159 | (1) |
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102 `Splinter Bids' pinpoint perfect distribution |
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160 | (2) |
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103 With a long minor suit, always support NTs |
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162 | (1) |
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104 Responder's re-bids show six-card suits |
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163 | (2) |
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105 Avoid overcalls in the sandwich position |
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165 | (1) |
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106 If you must guess, set a snare |
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166 | (1) |
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107 Discuss part-score situations with partner-and solve the problem before it arises |
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167 | (1) |
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108 Bid up at Rubber and Chicago-it's the only way to win |
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168 | (1) |
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109 Keep your entry safe when establishing a suit in no-trumps |
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169 | (1) |
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110 The leader's partner must be ready to perform his vital role |
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170 | (1) |
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111 Second hand does not always play low |
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171 | (2) |
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112 A double of a freely-bid Slam asks for an unusual lead |
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173 | (1) |
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113 To open, have 12 high-card points-or a six-card suit |
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174 | (1) |
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114 Know your re-bid before opening the bidding |
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175 | (2) |
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115 Slams at Duplicate: highest scoring at 6-level; safest at the 7-level |
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177 | (1) |
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116 Use Quantitative Raises to bid no-trump Slams |
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178 | (1) |
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117 Three mini-tips for successful Duplicate play |
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179 | (2) |
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118 Your opponents do not know what you have in your hand; don't tell them |
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181 | (1) |
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119 Remain alert, however poor your hand |
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182 | (1) |
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120 Anticipate what contract your opponents might make-then, stop them! |
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183 | (2) |
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121 Social bridge evenings-key information |
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185 | (2) |
| Top Tips Quiz |
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187 | (5) |
| Quiz answers |
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192 | (3) |
| About the author |
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195 | |
