Forthcoming Course Information

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Buliding on the first declarer play course, this will further develop your skills when playing the hand. Topics will include: 

·         How to play suit combinations

·         Blocking the opponents’ communications

·         Communication and entry problems

·         Using trumps

 

·         Trump control

·         Detective work by declarer

·         Introduction to squeeze play

·         Simple elimination play

This course, presented in the standard format, is Ideal for those who have attended the earlier declarer play course, and also for the slightly more experienced player who needs to find out how to make that elusive extra trick.

Tricks With Trumps (1)

We all know how to ruff losers with trumps, but there are many other ways of effectively using our chosen trump suit. In this session, the first of two on ways of using trumps to best advantage, we shall look at using the trump suit for entries and establishing a side suit, and also the very satisfying (but often misplayed) crossruff. Also, we will consider the vital question of how to avoid losing trump control.

Re-opening and Balancing

This covers two important areas of competitive bidding. The first occurs when you open the bidding, there is an enemy overcall and this is followed by two passes. When is it right to bid again – and (if you decide to bid again) what is the best way to compete? 

The second situation is the question of how to compete when the opponent on your left opens the bidding and this is followed by two passes. How should our bids be modified? What do overcalls and doubles now show? What impact do any changes have on partner’s subsequent bids and the development of the auction? This is an area of bidding that no partnership can afford to ignore.

Signals and Discards

When we are defending we need to be on the same wavelength as partner. Sometimes we need to be able to steer him in the right direction, on other occasions we need his help to know what to do. The only (legitimate!) way of achieving this is through our signals and discards. 

We shall examine how (and why) our signals change depending on whether we are following suit to partner’s lead or to a suit played by declarer. We shall look at suit preference signals and the clear cases where these point the way to a winning defence. Also, the difficult question of discards will be examined. Become a better defender – defeat more contracts!

The Danger Hand and Avoidance

During the play of a hand, it is often necessary to lose a trick. In many cases it would be better to have one opponent rather than the other on lead.
                                                                                                     
Recognising which of the opponents represents the “Danger Hand” and then finding a way to avoid him gaining the lead is a vital part of planning any hand. Techniques such as Avoidance Plays and the Hold-Up are only two of the weapons available to declarer.

If you can learn to recognise these situations then you will find yourself making contracts that previously would have failed.

Negative Doubles

Bidding today is more competitive than it used to be. Players realise that opponents usually bid well if left to themselves, and are therefore more inclined to get involved in the bidding. Even a simple overcall can make life more difficult for the enemy.

One way to try to counter this interference is the Negative Double. Using this helps to minimise the nuisance caused by the competition – in fact, there are sequences where the enemy bidding can be used to help you make a more descriptive bid than was otherwise possible.  

Everyone recognises the importance of the takeout double. The negative double, a close cousin, has become almost as indispensable in the modern game.