Try this hand
For bridge hands of interest
Fust about defence or Fust but not phased
Victorian State Bridge Instructor Jeff Fust created quite a stir south of the border with his electronic techniques for bridge teaching.
The following hand comes from a Swiss Pairs congress in which Fust, sitting East, was partnering Leeron Branicki. It contains a good example of “Creating Extra Trump Tricks”, which Fust calls the Fifth Line of Defence. Can you see the defence?
Dealer West, EW vul.
NORTH
S K7
H AKJ6
D Q9
C AKT72
WEST EAST
S AJ S T5
H 982 H QT75
D AKJ86 D 742
C J93 C 8654
SOUTH
S Q986432
H 43
D T53
C Q
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Branicki Fust
1D Dble Pass 4S
Creating extra trump tricks or Fust but not fazed
Jeff Fust is a Victorian bridge teacher. The following hand comes from a Swiss Pairs congress in which Fust, sitting East, was partnering Leeron Branicki. It contains a good example of “Creating Extra Trump Tricks”, or the Fifth Line of Defence as Fust terms it.
Read more: Creating extra trump tricks or Fust but not fazed
Michaels ready or not...
While a bid of the enemy suit in most auctions is used to show a strong hand, the immediate bid of the enemy suit is used differently, as a Michaels Cue Bid showing a weak 5-5 hand including any unbid major. What would you do with the following hand after an opponent opens 1C or 3C?
S JT9754
H KQJ643
D —
C J
Down 16 on one deal
How can you make 16 tricks less than you bid for, all on one deal? The answer to this conundrum for the new year starts with a question: after your partner opens a Weak 2D and next player overcalls 3C, what do you bid with the following hand at favourable vulnerability?
S 843
H J9543
D 64
C T97
Coping with preempts
The main reason the opponents preempt is to use up bidding space and make it hard for us. You need the right tools to counter their pre-empt and reach a sensible contract. Once you achieve that, you may even find that their preempt gives you information that helps you with the play.
Dealer East, EW vul.
NORTH
S 654
H 75
D AKJ5
C AKT9
WEST EAST
S 93 S KQJT87
H K642 H J83
D 76 D QT4
C 87642 C 5
SOUTH
S A2
H AQT9
D 9832
C QJ3
How do you bid after East opens 2S?
Tough world wide hands
Here are some hands from a past World Wide Bridge Contest, with commentary provided by Eric Kokish. Over 5600 pairs participated.
Board 26. Dealer East, both vul.
NORTH
♠ K4
♥ KJ74
♦ J86543
♣ 2
WEST EAST
♠ AJ8652 ♠ QT973
♥ QT ♥ A532
♦ AKQ ♦ T72
♣ 75 ♣ 9
SOUTH
♠ —
♥ 986
♦ 9
♣ AKQJT8643
