Online bridge update 45

For Monday’s seminar (March 8th) I am offering a back to basics session that perhaps I should have offered before – one that involves going through a whole range of card combinations and explaining what is the best way to play them, starting with the simplest and moving on to more complicated examples. For example, are you sure that you know the best play to play A43 opposite Q102 or QJ52 opposite A63? How about A10632 opposite J4? Does it make a difference if one of the hands has a 9 instead of a small card?

I will also be looking at combinations such as AJ43 opposite K952 where the answer will depend on how many tricks you need to win to make your contract. Are there safety plays available? Which card combinations are ones that you are happy for the opponents to lead but should avoid leading yourself if possible? All these topics will be covered in the seminar. If you do join this session please bring a pack of cards (remember what they look like?) with you – in my experience the best way to practise handling suits is by playing them through with real cards.

The Tuesday morning supervised play session will be running as normal again this week (9th March), starting at 9.30am. I look forward to seeing you all. Please let me know as early possible that you intend to join, ideally by early Monday evening as it makes it so much easier to arrange the tables and reduce the risk of having to turn one of you away. The maximum number we can currently handle is 20 and that has been working very well recently, with some lively hands and keenly contested match ups.

All the group coaching sessions continue as normal this week.

All the best

Jonathan