gerbenbridge.blogspot.com
Gerben's Bridge Blog: November 2005
http://gerbenbridge.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_archive.html
Tuesday, November 08, 2005. ParadoX bids - Transfer's big brother. If you like transfers you will just love ParadoX bids. This term had been around unconciously for a long time but was introduced by Chris Ryall. After partner has made a bid that is either this or that, usually a transfer, these bids apply. Let's see from a simple example what this means: the super-accept after 1NT transfer. 1NT p 2 * p 2 *. NF with or forcing with. Pass if you have the NF variation. 1NT p 2 * p 3 *. 1NT (2 ) 2NT* p 3 *.
gerbenbridge.blogspot.com
Gerben's Bridge Blog: January 2006
http://gerbenbridge.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html
Monday, January 30, 2006. NT ranges 2 - the weak NTs. I know some people would be interested to know more about opening weak NTs. I think it is a winner if you treat it properly. That's a big if! You need to be well-prepared for the part score battles that will take place. In a strong NT system, the weak NT hand type opens and then sits back to see if something good happens. The strong NT hand opens 1NT and does the same. Not so in a weak NT system! Let's look at some different ranges. You can use your f...
gerbenbridge.blogspot.com
Gerben's Bridge Blog: Underleading an Ace
http://gerbenbridge.blogspot.com/2006/09/underleading-ace.html
Wednesday, September 27, 2006. So when do you underlead an Ace in a trump contract? The first rule you learn is: Never! Here are some things that could go wrong:. An opponent could win a trick with the King he would otherwise not get. Even if partner has the King, this might not gain a trick. Partner has the King and it would gain a trick, if only he knew to put it in. He expects declarer to have the Ace and will play accordingly! Against a slam with a void. 1♥) 2♠ (3♥) 3♠. 6♥) All Pass. 4♥ - Pass. Now i...
gerbenbridge.blogspot.com
Gerben's Bridge Blog: December 2005
http://gerbenbridge.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_archive.html
Monday, December 12, 2005. Your sohl or mine? 2NT has never been a popular contract, and rightly so. In many situations it does not pay to play 2NT as natural. Not because a hand that would want to bid it is not possible, but because there are better uses. Some examples are:. 1NT (2♥) 2NT. 2♥) Double (Pass) 2NT. 1♣ 1♠ 2♥ 2NT. Good things: You can also invite in suits lower than opponents except ♣ (opener will decline the transfer with a useful hand), and since you show a good hand, opener can get i...
vangonbridge.blogspot.com
Vang on Bridge: October 2006
http://vangonbridge.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html
Wednesday, October 25, 2006. UPDATE: the books are available at online shop MartensUniversity.com. From one of the 48th European Team Championships. Bulletins I have found out that Krzysztof Martens. One of the best Polish bridge stars, has published five books (in english, thank God! It was difficult to order the books, but after a series of emails with Mr. Martens (kmartens AT poczta.onet.pl), I finally got them. Extra Length transfer bids. 2 - 2NT; (GF, want to play notrump from this side). As the tit...
gerbenbridge.blogspot.com
Gerben's Bridge Blog: October 2005
http://gerbenbridge.blogspot.com/2005_10_01_archive.html
Monday, October 10, 2005. Conventions make the system? A lot of players when building a new partnership work on a list of conventions that they want to play, and think that's it. This is very wrong, let's look at an example from last week's BBO Forum's Bridge Poll Online. With only opponents vulnerable, LHO opens 1♦, partner overcalls 3♠ and RHO passes and you have:. Spades;874 ♥AKT9 ♦K3 ♣A843. What do you bid? Style discussion will bring so much more than any convention you might agree on. Myth 2: It is...
gerbenbridge.blogspot.com
Gerben's Bridge Blog: NT ranges 1 - the strong NTs
http://gerbenbridge.blogspot.com/2006/01/nt-ranges-1-strong-nts.html
Tuesday, January 24, 2006. NT ranges 1 - the strong NTs. I'm sure you all have seen plenty of NT ranges when playing bridge. In some countries you need to announce the range as there is no real standard. However, 15 - 17 is treated as standard for a strong NT, so let's look at some alternatives. I know this used to be popular and is still in many learning books. Don't play this. Don't teach your students this. Pity those who do. Why? With so many pluses, what are the disadvantages? I agree that 16-18 is ...
gerbenbridge.blogspot.com
Gerben's Bridge Blog: August 2005
http://gerbenbridge.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_archive.html
Tuesday, August 30, 2005. Fantunes: why the system works. Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes are the most recent addition to the Italian Open Team. After winning a World Pairs Championship, the European Teams Championship and the Olympiad no one doubts that they are one of the strongest pairs in the World. As such they now also have a nickname as pair (like Meckwell for Meckstroth and Rodwell): Fantunes. These 2-bids come up a lot and although they are not so well-defined they put pressure on the opponents...
gerbenbridge.blogspot.com
Gerben's Bridge Blog: NT ranges 2 - the weak NTs
http://gerbenbridge.blogspot.com/2006/01/nt-ranges-2-weak-nts.html
Monday, January 30, 2006. NT ranges 2 - the weak NTs. I know some people would be interested to know more about opening weak NTs. I think it is a winner if you treat it properly. That's a big if! You need to be well-prepared for the part score battles that will take place. In a strong NT system, the weak NT hand type opens and then sits back to see if something good happens. The strong NT hand opens 1NT and does the same. Not so in a weak NT system! Let's look at some different ranges. You can use your f...
gerbenbridge.blogspot.com
Gerben's Bridge Blog: The importance of system - 1
http://gerbenbridge.blogspot.com/2006/09/importance-of-system-1.html
Saturday, September 02, 2006. The importance of system - 1. Hi, I know it has been a long time since I posted something here but I will try to make more frequent posts now. Recently a pair of not so experienced players in my club started to play a Strong Club system and what happened was frightening: total chaos. So how important is system really? Let's look at an example. Partner opens 1 Heart (natural of some sort), RHO doubles and you have:. Never mind the bidding problem, but if you Redouble here no ...
