r/bridge

With the help of NotebookLM I created this short video showing the practical way to start counting during a bridge hand.

Have fun

I've been playing for a few years. Is it just me or have the bots seem to have gotten worse in playing of the hands? It could be that I've just gotten better but was curious what others thought about this.

My partner and I have had an odd situation hit us today and thought we could use some advice.

I hold 5 / AX / QJX98752 / 52, a clear weak diamond opener. Usually that would be grounds to open a pre-emptive 4D but I went with 2D to give my partner a chance to bid Ogust should she have the values. My plan was to rebid 4D as a pre-empt if we were overcalled, and with a good chance of making 2D of everyone passed.

We talked about it afterwards and it exposed a dilemma. If I bid that hand or similar hands at the 2 level, it doesn't immediately tell her enough about my hand and we may not find a fit (she had one diamond and I only showed six). However, if I bid at the 4 level (or even 3 level in some cases), it shuts her out and prevents us finding something potentially better - game perhaps, or NT if the long suit is a minor.

What is the community's thought on this?

Given the following hands:
N: KXXX.KQX.AXX.QXX

S: AJ.AXXXX.KXX.T98

Board 10, All, Dealer=E

E	S	W	N
-	1H	-	2C*
-	2NT	-	3H
-	4H	=

2C: 2+C, GF

Lead=DT (0/1)

What would the highest percentage play here?

I know the club finesse is slightly (<1%) better than the spade one, so one should probably try the club finesse first. Are there any additional considerations above that?

It looks like if the trump doesn't break 3-2, then both black suits have to be favorable to the declarer. Is that true?

Any other considerations due to the lead choice?

Thanks.

I'm trying to find a copy of a Terence Reese essay (probably from the 1960s or 1970s). I recall that I read it in a white hardback book - probably it was a collection of his magazine articles.

It asked what to bid if you deal and pick up all thirteen clubs. I recall that he considered the merits of opening 1♣, 2♣, 3♣ … up to 7♣. Does anyone recognise the source?

In any case, what would you bid?

Is there a library of .pbn files in general and specifically ones for beginners? I've created a group of 12 practice deals for the group I'm playing with and wanted to know if there's already a library out there.

If you're a beginner and would like to have a look at the group of 12 practice deals I've created, please let me know. If you're not familiar with .pbn files, they are a standard file format that you can use on most bridge web sites and apps to practice the same deals multiple times.

I created this group of practice deals after reading Audrey Grant's Bridge Basic 1. A few of the deals are from the book, but most of the deals I made on my own. I used Bridge Solver to create the .pbn files. I specifically created this group of deals to practice opening, responding and rebidding in the same strain when opening 1NT and 1 of a major.

Hi there,

Are there any free bridge web sites or apps that would allow me to create the hands I see in bridge books so I can practice them?

I find it easier to understand if I can practice it and it also sinks in better.

Thanks in advance.