LATEST ARTICLES

Broken Suit Play is Correct By Alan Sontag

Fernando Lema -
Source: Daily News – 7 Sep 1979 There is a well-known principle of suit play when you have a broken trump suit and a broken side suit. This...

WBF Youth Online League Championship 2018: Finals Results by Gilad Ofir

Fernando Lema -
1st WBF YOUTH TEAMS ONLINE CHAMPIONSHIPS (March – July, 2018) Team Roster  Semis Articles August 1st, 2018 I am very proud to announce that the official WBF 1st youth...
England: Stamford Inter-Schools Event

England: 2018 Stamford Inter-Schools Event

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://www.ebu.co.uk/ 100 young players have taken part in Stamford Youth Bridge Academy’s 2nd inter-schools event. 10 schools competed in the over-subscribed competition, and received awards from...

2018 Nordic Junior Pair Championship & Junior Camp

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://www.worldbridge.org/ 2018 Nordic Junior Pair Championship & Junior Camp, FALKENBERG, SWEDEN Event Details The Swedish Bridge Federation and the Nordic Bridge Union hereby invite your juniors to...

Forcing Defense by James Jacoby

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Southeast Missourian – 3 Dic 1984 When you have some length in the opponent’s trump, a good strategy is to force the declarer to trump. Eventually...

Seven Important Signals to Play by Gene Benedict

Fernando Lema -
Source: Toledo Blade – 26 Dic 1993 MANY small cards you hold will not be useful in taking tricks, but you can use those cards to give signals...

Hey, That’s My Suit!

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com/
Margherita Chavarria, Giorgia Botta, Paolo Calir & Massimiliano di Franco

An interesting Vienna Coup Double! by Paolo Clair

Fernando Lema -
Circolo del Bridge di Padova. Sunday February 8, 2015. An interesting Vienna Coup double! Atention: not a double Vienna Coup! Christmas Challenge Tournament. Stong turnout (28 tables)....

Hoist by his own Petard by Zia Mahmood

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Guardian Thursday 11 August 2011 A lead directing double with a happy ending. For some reason no expert today believes that his partner is capable...

Good Reasoning Helps a Lot by Steve Becker

Fernando Lema -
Source: Times Daily – 19 Oct 1982 Dealer West All Vul K J A 10 8 3 9 5 4 A K J 10 Q 10 7 2 K 5 K Q J 9 8...

The Trick One by Fred L. Karpin

Fernando Lema -
Dealer South All Vul A Q 3 Q J 10 8 3 K J 10 6 4 8 7 6 7 5 4 2 7 4 A K 9 3 K 9 4...

Entry Management by Frank Stewart

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Dispatch – 2 Ene 1995 When dummy has few entries, declarer must handle them with care. Dealer South N/S Vul 9 5 3 2 Q 4 3 6 5 3 K...

Working on Declarer’s Mind by Ulf Nilsson

Fernando Lema -
Source: Friday 25 June 1999 44th Generali European Bridge Championships When the opponents bid a thin game and everything is working for them, the defenders...

Why do these things happen to me? by Alfred Sheinwold

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Day – 29 Nov 1991 “Why do these things happen to me?” Unlucky Louie pleaded. “What now?” I sighed, knowing I would hear about it whether or...

To Finesse or not to Finesse by Fred L. Karpin

Fernando Lema -
" He who lives by the finesse will perish by the finesse" Dealer East N/S Vul A Q 8 5 Q 5 2 A Q J 9 5 3 J...
Australia Girls

2018 Australian Youth Bridge Week

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://www.abfevents.com.au/ 6-12th January, in Canberra The 2018 Australian Youth Bridge Championships will be a special one. It is the 50th anniversary celebrarion of the Youth Week,...

USA1 Teams for 17 World Junior Championships SUZHOU (CHI) 2018

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://usbf.org/ Photos by Peg Kaplan Photo: USA1 for the Patiño Cup: Adam Kaplan-Christian Jolly, Zach Grossack-Oren Kriegel, Ben Kristensen-Kevin Rosenberg. Under 21, who will be USA1 for the...

Card Reading by Jay Becker

Fernando Lema -
Source: Reading Eagle – 23 Mar 1977 The secret of good dummy play is good card reading. This consists mainly of diagnosing how the unseen cards are likely...

Helgemo’s World of Bridge por Geo Tislevol & Geir

Fernando Lema -
Source: 17th European Youth Bridge Team Championships Monday, 10 July 2000 We have spared no expense in securing permission from Five Aces to publish an extract...

Two, Three, or Four?

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com

The “Rule of Sixteen” by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk Sometimes - often - you can gain more by penalising the opponents than by making your own contract. This is particularly true when an...

In the Practice of Legerdemain by Charles Goren

Fernando Lema -
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – 15 Jun 1948 Dealer South Neither Vul 10 9 7 6 3 Q 4 Q 7 3 Q 8 2 A 5 10 9 8 6 10 9 4 K 9 6...

Win at Bridge By Oswald Jacoby

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Owosso Argus-Press – 20 Jun 1963 Dealer South N/S Vul K J 9 5 6 3 A 9 A Q J 4 3 4 K 9 7 4 Q 10 7 5 2 J...

Thinking outside the box By Phillip Alder

Fernando Lema -
FEB. 6, 2015 There are some bridge players who can, to use a hackneyed term, think outside the box. Geir Helgemo, a Norwegian by birth...

Using Landy By Tor Helness

Fernando Lema -
I would like to inform the players about Landy, a convention in use after the opponents have opened 1NT. A 2 overcall is showing at least 4-4...

Red Light By Mike Lawrence

Fernando Lema -
Source:  July 2014 ACBL Bridge Bulletin I spotted this particular defensive play some time ago and have been waiting for the opportunity to use it. Dealer South...

The Final Problem By Micke Melander

Fernando Lema -
Sherlock Holmes is known for his logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise and his use of forensic science to solve difficult...

Play in Trump Contracts By Melih Ozdil

Fernando Lema -
Source: BBO By Melih Ozdil It is an advantage to choose a suit with 8 or more cards as trump. However, trump play is not as easy...

Generating Swings by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

Consider How Things May Look to Partner by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk/ One the most inherently beautiful aspects of bridge is the partnership element. The true expert nurtures his partner; he anticipates any problems that his...

Justice was Made by Benjamin Robles

Fernando Lema -
A few years ago with my partner Joaquin Pacareu we played in the 2013 Atlanta NABC as part of the d’Orsi team: Ernesto d’Orsi –...

Last Train to Clarksville by Fred Gitelman

Fernando Lema -
IMPROVING 2/1 GF – THE LONG AWAITED SEQUEL In the last issue I wrote my first article about bidding, specifically on improving the way that...

Reducing the Opponent’s Ruffing Power! By Liam Milne

Fernando Lema -
Source: ABF Bulletins You might have heard the advice “lead trumps against doubled part-scores”. This is usually sound advice: if you have doubled the opponents at...

A Real Killer By Easley Blackwood

Fernando Lema -
Source: Schenectady Gazette – 21 Sep 1953 Mr. Meek is a good opening leader. One reason is that he gets plenty of practice. He defends on more...
Australia Girls

ABF Youth Development Officer

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://www.abf.com.au/ To assist in achieving the goals of increasing the quantity and quality of young bridge players, we are seeking Expressions of Interest for the...

If You’re not Sure, Bid One More by Henry Francis

Fernando Lema -
1977 BERMUDA BOWL WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIP MANILA, OCTOBER 20-28, 1977 October 26, 1977 BY HENRY G. FRANCIS IF YOU” RE NOT SURE. BID ONE MORE It doesn”t always work,...

52 Facts of Bridge Life I by Eddie Kantar

Fernando Lema -
Surely a player of your bridge skills is familiar with most or all of the following tips you are about to read. But is...

The World Wide Bridge Contest

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://www.worldbridge.org The 2018 World Wide Bridge Contest will be played on eight different days with simultaneous pairs being held on: Tuesday 27th March & Thursday 29th March Tuesday...

Bridge & Humor: Falling into a well by Alfred Sheinwold

Fernando Lema -
Source: t. Petersburg Times – 5 Ago 1970 For thousands of years, a stock comedy figure has been the man who looks at the stars and falls into...

Junior Channel Trophy 2017 by Kees Tammens

Fernando Lema -
The Channel Trophy is a tournament with four countries (England, Belgium, France and the Netherlands) situated more or less along the Channel, which divides...

Declarer Must Count the defenders’ hands by Frank Stewart

Fernando Lema -
May 7, 2013 “I know declarer must count the defenders’ hands,” a club player said to me. “I try, but I forget what’s been played....

The Art of Card Reading

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Art of Card Reading at Bridge By Fred L. Karpin One of the greatest players the world has ever known was the late Helen Sobel,...

Bridge Yesterday A Vienna Coup by Paul F. Zweifel

Fernando Lema -
Source, www.pzweifel.com I frequently go over to visit my friend (and sometime partner) Lewis Barnett to thumb through his huge collection of old bridge magazines, including...

What A Glorious Hand by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

2017 IMSA Elite Mind Games Chatting with Thomas

Fernando Lema -

The Dean of the Paradoxical Bridge Hands by The Aces

Fernando Lema -
Boca Raton News – Jul 1, 1975 by The Aces Jan Wohlin of Stockholm, the dean of the paradoxical bridge hands, has come up with another gem. Jan...

Helen Sobel Never Did Learn by Oswald Jacoby

Fernando Lema -
Source: Daily News – May 9, 1977 A perfect safety play is one that is going to work against any and all card combinations. Here is one that...

How to be a Lucky Player

Fernando Lema -
Source: robinsbridge.blogspot.nl  This is the title of the new book by Matthew Thomson, Australian professional bridge player. As mentioned previously here, Matthew is the best player...

Test Your Safety Play

Fernando Lema -
Source: Jordan_Br youtube Channel
Stageland, da Rosa, Cruzisio, Hegge

Breaking the 26 Points Barrier by Greg Quittner

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald – 1 Jun 1989 The importance of hand evaluation in bridge is often not taken into consideration by bridge players. The fact that...

Bridge Echos

Fernando Lema -
Source: www.acblunit559.com Smith Echo The Smith Echo is a popular defensive signal against notrump contracts. After declarer wins his first trick, he often leads his own long...
2016 Team Canada

Support our Youth

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://cbf.ca Recognizing that the future of our game depends on attracting young players, more and more effort is being spent to introduce bridge at schools...

WBF visits the Shanghai Xuhui ShengXing Youth Bridge Club

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://www.worldbridge.org The Shanghai Xuhui ShengXing Youth Bridge Club was founded by M.me Kong Xiao Chen on June 23th 2011 and is the only one registered youth bridge...

2017 IMSA Elite Mind Games recap day 2

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.facebook.com/WorldBridgeFederation/
Ben Kompa, Ryan Chan, Kripa Panchagaula, Jonathan Clark

Cambridge A win London Cup for University Teams 2017

Fernando Lema -
Photo: Cambridge A - Ben Kompa, Ryan Chan, Kripa Panchagaula, Jonathan Clark Source: http://www.ebedcio.org.uk University teams this weekend competed for the London Cup, a one day Swiss teams...

Guessing and Finessing by Terence Reese

Fernando Lema -
These experts are so lucky, they always seen to guess right, said the old lady attending her first bridge tournament. And what she said...

2017 IMSA Elite Mind Games – Welcome to Huai’an

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.facebook.com/WorldBridgeFederation/

2017 IMSA Elite Mind Games recap day 1

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.facebook.com/WorldBridgeFederation/

Ruff high, ruff low, or discard?

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com

It’s got to be the most bizarre news story of the year by Susanna...

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Spectator 13 February, 2016 It’s got to be the most bizarre news story of the year: last week, no fewer than 50 Thai...

Suicide Squeeze by David Bird & Martin Hoffman

Fernando Lema -
Source: Inspired Cardplay Here is an example of the suicide squeeze. The deal was played by Brian Senior, who has de distinction of representing both...

Lead Towards Possible Winners

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com

The Plan XLVI by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Dic. 2017 Dealer South N/S Vul 8 8 5 2 6 4 3 2 K J 7 4 3 J 10 6 4 3 4 A K J 8...

The 12 Habits of Highly Effective Bidders II by Karen Walker

Fernando Lema -
How does your partner react when you propose a new addition to your bidding system? Some players have never met a convention they didn’t...

England vs Wales, Part II by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Produced by Conrad Brunner @ConradBrunner

England vs Wales, Part I by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Produced by Conrad Brunner @ConradBrunner

The Plan XLV by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Dic. 2017 Dealer North E/W Vul 10 8 7 A 7 K Q J 10 Q 10 6 4 Q J 4 2 9 4 9 6 4 3 A...

The Only Chance by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

2018 White House Junior International Teams

Fernando Lema -
Kees Tammens is retiring from junior bridge and organising bridge (25 years organising the White House Junior Invitational Teams). Tim Heeres and Bob Drijver...

Breaking The Rules by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

The Plan XLIV by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Dic. 2017 Dealer East Neither Vul 10 7 6 3 K 2 K Q 6 5 J 10 2 K J 9 5 4 Q J 10 8...

Dont Follow rules blindly By Alfred Sheinwold

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Lewiston Daily Sun – 9 Sep 1970 If you could be a good bridge player by just following general rules, there would be 40 million experts...

The Plan XLIII by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Dic. 2017 Dealer South All Vul J 4 A Q J 6 3 K 8 7 5 9 3 K 10 9 6 K 7 5 4 --- A Q...

Don’t Gild The Lily by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Andrew warns against the dangers of recklessly pursuing a game contract, particularly in duplicate pairs. Produced by Conrad Brunner @ConradBrunner

Camrose Best Played Hand by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Top bridge tips from Andrew Robson. This is the Best Played Hand from Oxford Camrose, played by Derek Patterson of Kent and England. Produced...

The Faulty Holdup by Ira Corn

Fernando Lema -
Source: “Play Bridge with the Aces” “The grave’s a fine and quiet place, but no one there will cash his ace” Can the hand be made,...

Challenge Accepted – Frank0 Vs Pete

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

Working Out The Shape by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...
Joris van Lankveld, Berend van den Bos, Wubbo de Boer, Agnes Snellers

Dutch Teams Decide the Swiss in the San Diego by Kees Tammens

Fernando Lema -
Photo Team Snellers: Joris van Lankveld, Berend van den Bos, Wubbo de Boer, Agnes Snellers Berend van den Bos-Joris van Lankveld won no less than three...

Care Reaps a Reward by Ira Corn

Fernando Lema -
Source: “Play Bridge with the Aces” Why do some players recognize the correct play only after it is too late? Sometimes it is discovery of...

A Costly Mistake by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

Taking All Your Chances by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

Different Strokes

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://web3.acbl.org/acbl-results/hand-of-the-week Dealer West N/S Vul A J 10 4 A K 9 8 4 8 A K Q 7 3 2 J 10 7 3 6 3 2 7 4 3 West North East South 1 Dbl Pass 1 2 4 Pass Pass Pass West leads the K...
Dennis Bilde

Dennis Bilde Unofficial Player of the Year Winner

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://news.acbl.org Monday, Dec. 4 12:30 a.m. Danish champion Dennis Bilde is the unofficial winner of the 2017 Player of the Year title, awarded to the player...

Count Your Tricks Not Your Points

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com/

Signals

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia In the card game of contract bridge, partners defending against a contract may play particular cards in a manner which gives a coded meaning or signal to...

Rusinow Leads

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Rusinow leads is a bridge convention used as part of defensive carding. Rusinow leads are commonly used only on the opening lead against a suit contract; nevertheless, some experts use...

Fourth Suit Forcing

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Fourth suit forcing (also referred to as fourth suit artificial; abbreviated as FSF or 4SF) is a contract bridge convention that allows responder to create, at his second turn to bid,...

Multi Coloured Two Diamonds

Fernando Lema -
Produced by Conrad Brunner

Confidence by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk “Fortune favours the bold” is especially true at the bridge table, where confident-sounding bids on slender values reap dividends. Dealer: South N/S Vul K Q J...
Australia Girls

The Plan XVII by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source. IBPA Column Service IMPs:  Dealer South;  E/O Vulnerable 9 7 5 4 3 9 4 A 8 5 10 8 2 --- A K 8 5 3 9 7 A K Q...

Probabilities by John Brown

Fernando Lema -
The percentages given below have been taken from Mr. Ely Culbertson’s : The Red Book on Play 7 cards in opponents’ hands are divided:  4-3...

The Plan XVI by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Column Service IMPs Dealer South Neither Vul A 10 8 7 6 3 8 3 2 K 4 K 4 K 9 5 2 K 7 4 A 9 8...

Cuebidding Slams in Contract Bridge

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.bridgehands.com/bridgeblog

Preparing for a Squeeze by David Bird & Martin Hoffman

Fernando Lema -
Source: Inspired Cardplay To get you into the right of mind for this chapter, let's start with a technical hand that involves several common preparatory...

Defensive Attitude Signals in Contract Bridge

Fernando Lema -
Source: BridgeHands

In 3NT, what to promote?

Fernando Lema -
Source: BridgeHands

Four Of A Major vs 3NT by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Produced by Conrad Brunner @ConradBrunner

Duplicate Pairs Tactics by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Produced by Conrad Brunner @ConradBrunner

With Trump Length, Lead Length by Andrew Robosn

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk There are two diametrically opposite defensive strategies against trump contracts. You can lead from shortage and try to make your trumps by trumping; alternatively...
Giuseppe Delle Cave & Sebastian Ochoa

Choise in the Play by Ira Corn

Fernando Lema -
Source: “Play Bridge with the Aces” by Ira Corn Mike Lawrence of the aces carned a star award for his play of today’s hand. The...

Animated Bridge with Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk

Choice of Trump Suits by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk Dealer South N/S Vul 8 6 4 4 J 8 6 5 4 A Q 6 4 K Q J 7 10 8 5 2 Q J 9 8 3 A 10 9...

Controversial Decisions by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

The Plan XXV by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: Example: 826 IBPA Column Service. Dealer South E/O Vul 9 6 4 2 K 9 A 7 6 4 K 9 4 Q 10 7 3 J 8 Q 10 8 3 A 10...

Cash your sure winners!

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com/

With a NT Contract, count your winners!

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com/

Double Throw-In by Double Throw-In by Nikola Tcholakov

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://csbnews.org/ IMPs  Dealer South All Vul 10 8 5 4 A K Q 10 8 7 A 10 7 A K J 7 7 5 J 5 4 2 K 9 3 West North East South 1 Pass 2 2 Pass Pass 4 Pass Pass Pass Opening lead:...

The final of White House Juniors 2017 between Poland and the Netherlands by Kees...

Fernando Lema -
Many juniors of long ago that reached eventually the top of international bridge, will remember with great joy the twelve fabulous years (1993-2004) in...

A Prayer Answered By Russ Ekeblad

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://csbnews.org Medellin, June 6, 2016 We all know how cruel the bridge gods can be and we often bemoan our fate at their hands. Every once...

Jump Rebid in a new Suit by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk Some bids in bridge are complete “sign off’s” - e.g. 1NT-2. Some are invitational - e.g. 1-3, and some force partner to speak again...

When To Accept Invites by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

Who Has The Club King by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

Indicating Inferences by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk Why was I driving in the slow lane of the motorway? Simple. I was enjoying listening to two of my favourite half-hour radio programmes:...

How To Intrafinesse by Peter Hollands

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

How To Get Better At Bridge – Episode #1 – Journey To The Bermuda...

Fernando Lema -
Peter Hollands is a very talented young bridge player who was a grand master at 23 and has represented Australia and Victoria in open...

Pass or Double? by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.u Our featured deal was the clincher for myself and partner Alexander Allfrey (sitting East-West) in the European Open Pairs. Clincher in the sense that...

The Plan X by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Column Service IMPs;  Dealer South; All Vul 8 4 J 7 6 Q J 10 7 3 7 5 3 J 10 9 6 Q 9 8 3 A 9...

The Plan VII (Timing) by Tim Bourke (AUS)

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Column Service IMPs;  Dealer South;  All Vul 10 5 9 4 A J 7 6 K 9 8 7 6 A J 7 3 A K J 3 10 9...

The Plan XXIII by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Column Service 814 IMP Dealer North N/S Vul A 2 K 4 A Q J 10 9 6 3 10 5 K 7 6 3 Q J 8 6 5...

What Do you Lead? Compare with the Masters by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
Monday, January 11, 2016 59 years ago, in January 1957 the The British Bridge World magazine edited by Terence Reese, published: “This is the hand on...

Support Doubles

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.learnbridge.nyc/weekly-online-bridge-tournament.html

Play Modern Bridge Part 2 with Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk

Keep bidding your long suit or support partner’s long suit?

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com/

The Plan IV by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Aug 2013 MP Dealer North N/S Vul 9 5 9 K J 10 9 8 4 2 9 6 4 A K K Q J 10 8 Q 6 A...
Italian delegarion Opatija 2015

The Plan III By Tim Bourke (AUS)

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Aug 2013 IMPs Dealer South Both Vul A Q 7 K Q K J 8 7 4 Q J 6 K 8 6 A 6 A 10 6 5 3 A...

First Things First by Ira Corn

Fernando Lema -
Source: “Play Bridge with the Aces” Barry Crane, producer of the popular television series “Mission Impossible” is one of the leading tournament players in the...

Find the missing Queen, the easy way! – Sky Bridge Club

Sky Bridge Club -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com/

The Art of Balancing – Sky Bridge Club

Sky Bridge Club -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com/

Brozel Convention

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Brozel is a contract bridge bidding convention used to intervene after an opposing one notrump (1NT) opening bid. It features the following calls: Double...
Margherita Chavarria, Giorgia Botta, Paolo Calir & Massimiliano di Franco

Walsh Convention

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia 5 4 Q J K 9 8 7 3 2 7 Walsh is a convention used in the card game of bridge in response to an opening bid of 1. The convention has...

May 2017 Challenge Hand – Learn to play bridge with Joan Butts Bridge

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.joanbuttsbridge.com/

Renee Cooper – Weekly Free #128

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://bridgevid.com/
Giovanni Donati & Massimiliano di Franco

Rubens Advances

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Rubens advances (also referred to as transfer advances) constitute a bridge bidding method that can be used by a bridge partnership to respond to overcalls. The method was...

Gerber Convention

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Gerber is a contract bridge convention devised by William Konigsberger and Win Nye from Switzerland who published it in 1936; John Gerber of Texas introduced it to North America in...

Top of a Sequence

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com/

No Fit? No Trump!

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://skybridgeclub.com  

XYZ Convention

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia After opener's one of a suit (X), partner's one of a suit response (Y) and opener's 1-level rebid (Z) (a very common sequence),...

Vienna Coup

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia The Vienna coup is an unblocking technique in contract bridge made in preparation for a squeeze play. It is so named because it was originally published by James Clay (1804-1873) after...

Splinter Bid

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia In the card game "contract bridge", a splinter bid is a convention whereby a double jump response in a side-suit indicates excellent support for partner's major-suit opening bid (at...

Smith Signal

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia The Smith signal (also known as Smith echo or Smith Peter) is an attitude carding signal in contract bridge showing additional values (or lack thereof) in the first suit led by the...

Brain Health & Wellness by Jon Saraceno

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://www.aarp.org A Bridge to Brainpower? Playing your cards right can help keep you sharp long after retirement l On the cusp of his 90th birthday, Leonard Melander...

Negative Free Bid

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Negative free bid is a contract bridge treatment whereby a free bid by responder over an opponent's overcall shows a long suit in a weak hand and is not...

Muiderberg Convention

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Muiderberg is a bidding convention in the card game bridge. It is a two-level preemptive opening based on a two-suiter with precisely a five-card major and a minor...

Dummy Reversal

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Dummy reversal (also known as reverse dummy) is a technique in contract bridge whereby declarer uses trump cards to ruff from the hand with more (longer) trumps, and retains the trumps...

Losing-Trick Count

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia In the card game contract bridge, the Losing-Trick Count (LTC) is a method of hand evaluation used in situations where a trump suit has been established and shape and fit are...

Loser on Loser

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Loser on loser play is a type of declarer's play in contract bridge, usually in trump contracts, where the declarer discards a loser card (the one that...

Law of Total Tricks

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia In contract bridge, the Law of total tricks (abbreviated here as LoTT) is a guideline used to help determine how high to bid in a competitive...

Journalist Leads

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Journalist leads are an opening lead convention in the game of contract bridge. The method is designed to solve some problems with traditional agreements regarding opening leads....

Game Try

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia A game try (also called a game trial bid) in the card game of bridge is a bid that shows interest in bidding a game and asks partner to help...

Avoidance Play

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia In contract bridge, avoidance play is a play technique whereby declarer prevents a particular defender from winning the trick, so as to eschew a dangerous lead...

Texas Transfer

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Texas transfer, or simply Texas, is a bidding convention in contract bridge. Originated independently by David Carter of St. Louis and Olle Willner of Sweden, and used in...

Principle of Restricted Choice

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia In contract bridge, the principle of restricted choice states that play of a particular card decreases the probability its player holds any equivalent card. For example,...

The Plan XLII by Tim bourke

Fernando Lema -
Dealer North E/W Vul A Q 3 2 --- A 8 7 4 Q J 9 7 5 --- Q J 10 5 4 10 6 3 2 A 8 6 3 K...

Matters of Entry by Terence Reese

Fernando Lema -
On many hands declarer can count sufficient tricks for his contract but his difficulty lies in being at the right place at the right...

The Illusionist Reloaded by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
In the city of Montevideo (ROU) from May 26 to June 3, 2012 was held the IV South American Transnational Bridge Festival, Montevideo 2012. After...

The Plan XLI by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Dealer North All Vul A A 9 7 6 K 10 9 8 6 Q 8 7 Q J 10 7 10 4 A 7 3 2 K 6 3 8 6 5...

The Plan XL by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Nov 2017 Dealer West All Vul A 10 9 2 5 2 K 9 5 2 A Q 6 8 7 6 J 4 J 10 8 4 10 8...
Ola Rimstedt, Moa Petersen y Johan Säfsten.

A Kind of Discovery Play PO Sundelin, Stockholm

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Nov 2017 I suffered the following recently, in a team match against Ola Rimstedt (East): Dealer West N/S Vul 10 K 7 3 2 K J 10...
Sweden Junior team

Exchanging One Trick for Another by Terence Reese

Fernando Lema -
Declarer can sometines keep a dangerous defender out of the lead by giving up a trick in one suit in exchange for a trick...
Italy Junior Team

Attacking the Danger Hand by Terence Reese

Fernando Lema -
On many no trump hands declarer has to force out two defensive winners before he can run his tricks. It may be essential to...
Italy Junior team

Tactical Moves in Play by Terence Reese

Fernando Lema -
On many hands declarer can count sufficient tricks for his contract but his difficulty lies in being at the right place at the right...
Italy Junior team

Entries Managment by Terence Reese & Rogel Trezel

Fernando Lema -
Source: ” Those Extra Chances in Bridge” Many contracts depend on a particular card being in the hand of the righ opponent. Even so, it...
Bill Gates, Sharon Osberg & Al Levy

Meet the woman who gives bridge tips to Warren Buffett and Bill Gates By...

Fernando Lema -
Source: Washington Post Most of the entrepreneurs I write about use business as a way to pursue their passions, whether it’s philanthropy, culture, sports or...
Danmark Junior team

Adopting the Latter Strategy by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: the IBPA column service August 2013 A Q 7 K Q K J 8 7 4 Q J 6 K 8 6 A 6 A 10 6 5 3 A 8 4 West North East South 3NT Pass 6NT End Opening...

A Double Morton’s Fork Coup by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
IMPs;  Dealer West; All Vul K J 9 4 7 5 J 8 7 5 Q 6 3 A 8 A K 9 8 3 2 10 4 A J 9 10 7...

Rubensohl Convention

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Rubensohl (also referred to as Rubinsohl) is a bridge convention that can be used to counter an opponent's intervention over a 1NT opening bid. After opponent's two-level overcall,...

Takeout Double

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia In the card game contract bridge, a takeout double is a low-level conventional call of "Double" over an opponent's bid as a request for partner to bid his...

A Bridge Lesson by Barry Rigal

Fernando Lema -

Fourth Suit Forcing

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Fourth suit forcing (also referred to as fourth suit artificial; abbreviated as FSF or 4SF) is a contract bridge convention that allows responder to create, at his second turn to bid,...

Checkback Stayman

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia 1m – 1M; 1NT – 2 2Checkback Stayman (or simply Checkback) is used after a 1NT rebid by opener rather than a 1NT opening. It...

Change of Plan by John Brown

Fernando Lema -
Dealer South N/S Vul 8 5 3 J 7 Q 9 A Q J 8 4 3 6 A Q 10 6 K J 10 7 5 2 K 5 West North East South 1 Pass 2 2 3 4 5 Pass Pass Dbl Pass Pass Pass Opening Lead A West ledA...

No Trump Plans and Plays by John Brown

Fernando Lema -
Consider this situation: A 2 K J 6 Q 9 8 A 10 8 7 4 10 9 6 3 A Q K J 10 6 Q J 2 Opening Lead 7 hat would you...

Plan, Count, Plan by David Bakhshi

Fernando Lema -
Salsomaggiore, August 8 2016

Forming a Plan by Terence Reese

Fernando Lema -
In a no trump contract the delcarer’s first concern is usually whether or not to hold up in the suit led; his second, which...

The Trick One by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Dealer West, E/W Vul K 2 K 10 9 K J 6 2 K 8 6 5 Q 10 5 3 Q J 6 Q 8 4 3 A Q West North East South 1 Dbl Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass Opening Lead 6 West led...

The Crocodile Coup by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
The Crocodile Coup is a defense coup, specifically by the second hand that’s playing the trick. The second hand must play a card higher...

The Crocodile Coup

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia he Crocodile Coup is a play in the game contract bridge. It is executed by the defense: specifically by the second hand to play to a trick....
Vuk Trnavac

The Deschapelles Coup by Ira Corn

Fernando Lema -
Source: “Play Bridge with the Aces” by Ira Corn The Merrimac Coup is a fascinating play that involves the deliberate sacrifice of a high card...

Accepting or Refusing Trick Nº1 por Ira Corn

Fernando Lema -
Source: “Play Bridge with the Aces” by Ira Corn “Before you grab the fist one trick – Think, Think, Think" The 1971 World Championship was scheduled...

Extra Care in Slam Play by Ira Corn

Fernando Lema -
Source: “Play Bridge with the Aces” by Ira Corn “Although the bidding was aggressive, the final contract was certainly reasonable.” Dealer South, neither Vul J 10 8...

Watch Your Step Carefully by Nikola Tcholakov (BUL)

Fernando Lema -
It is really a good advice for the declarer not to hurry after the lead when dummy goes down. Don’t be mislead by a...

A Subtle Avoidance Play by David Bird

Fernando Lema -
Almost every issue of International Popular Bridge includes an article by David Bird featuring some bridge in darkest Africa. The players are mostly Africans...

The Endplay

Fernando Lema -
An endplay (also throw-in), in bridge, is a tactical play where a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment, and then has to make a...

Eliminations Play by David Bird & Martin Hoffman

Fernando Lema -
Source: Inspired Cardplay The most familiar type of elimination play is the “ruff and discard elimination”. The defender who is thrown on lead has the choice...

Sanya 2014: A Dennis Bilde Nice Defense Hand

Fernando Lema -
Dennis Bilde is playing with Christina Lund Madsen in the Mcallister team in the Mixed Teams Championship in Sanya 2014. Watch the young star...

Aboard the Black Arrow by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
On Thurday 4th of January I was kibitzing Jimmy Cayne’s usual team match on BBO and I enjoyed this hand, interesting and instructive. Alfredo...

A Just Decision by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
Medellin, May 29 2016 Under the VI South American Transnational Championships, Medellin 2016 we present you the Hand of the day, in this case explained...

The Hidden Dummy by Mel Colchamiro

Ana Roth -
Source: ACBL Most players learn early on that a way to make extra tricks is to “ruff losers in the dummy.” For example, if we have...

Count, Add, Substract By Shepard Barclay

Ana Roth -
Source: The Free Lance-Star – 25 Feb 1946 Counting the known cards in a suit held by various players, next adding their amounts together and then subtracting...

Don’t Stop Counting When Auction Ends by Alfred Sheinwold

Ana Roth -
Source: The Morning Record – 19 Sep 1964 During the action you count your points and add them to the, points shown by your partner’s bids. The total...

Counting the Hands by W. M. McKenney

Ana Roth -
“Counting the hands” that is, determining the distribution of a suit in all four hands, is one of the things in bridge play which...

Maneuvers to Learn to Count the Hand by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Dealer: South North/South Vunerable A K J 10 2 A 4 3 2 K 3 5 3 --- K J 9 6 5 Q 10 8 6 Q J 9 2 9 8...

The Impossible 2 Spades by Billy Miller

Ana Roth -
Source: The Coolest Gizmos and Gadgets; January 2010 ACBL Bridge Bulletin What could be more fun than having a cool gizmo or gadget come up at...

Win at Bridge by Alan Sontag

Ana Roth -
Source: The Times-News – 3 Sep 1980 Dealer North N/S Vul 10 5 A J 10 6 2 Q 9 3 A K 2 K 9 9 K 10 8 4 2 J 7 6...

Access by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: 2014 Canberra the Summer Festival, Bulletin 2 Dealer North E/O Vul Q J 7 8 6 A Q 7 A 9 6 4 2 A K 6 5 4 A K...

The Hand is Quicker than the Eye by Alfred Sheinwold

Ana Roth -
Source: St. Petersburg Times – 4 Jul 1977 Stage magicians are fond of saying “The hand is quicker than the eye,” but what they really mean is...

A Long Dummy Suit Shouldn’t be Ignored by C. Goren

Ana Roth -
Source: Toledo Blade – 11 Dic 1960 Dealer West Neither Vul A K 10 6 9 6 4 3 2 5 2 A 5 8 4 A 10 7 5 A Q 8 K J...

A Vital Entry by Robert Darvas

Fernando Lema -
Source: Spotlight on Card Play by Robert Darvas and Paul Lukacs Q J 5 A 8 3 J 10 4 A 7 5 2 8 3 2 K 10 7 K Q 6 2 K Q ...

Hold Our Bridge Hands by Alfred Sheinwold

Ana Roth -
Source: Eugene Register-Guard – 1 Oct 1969 Now that the weather’s a bit cooler, we can play more bridge. A bridge player uses his brains so furiously...

The Power of Two at the Bridge Table.

Fernando Lema -
Source: Moscow-Pullman Daily News – 11 Abr 1994 Do you have a particularly close rapport with someone? Does each of you always know what the other is thinking?...

Sifting Through the Evidence By Mel Colchamiro

Ana Roth -
Source: Sifting Through the Evidence Mel Colchamiro: ACBL Bulletin, Jan 2006 It’s all in the news. Prosecutors, possible wrongdoing in high places, political leaders, reporters, accusations, denials....

Bridge & Humor: According to Culbertson

Ana Roth -
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – 29 Jul 1939 “Dear Mr. Culbertson: The following hand, which I noticed in a recent rubber game, may be interesting to some of your...

Counting Hand Maneuvers by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
May 17, 2013 On Thursday 16 in a match training, we shared the table with two Great South American Masters: in West Marcos Toma member...

Bridge By Charles H. Goren

Ana Roth -
Toledo Blade – 17 Jun 1951 Dealer South Neither Vul A 4 Q 10 7 A K 9 5 A 8 6 2 K J 6 5 9 4 3 J 7 2 K Q...

Peeking over another Shoulder By Phillip Alder

Fernando Lema -
The Prescott Courier – 7 Dic 1992 In 1989, James Kauder wrote a book called “The Bridge Philosopher.” It is an “over the shoulder” book. The reader...

A Gizmo for the Defense! By Billy Miller

Fernando Lema -
The Coolest Gizmos and Gadgets; October 2010 ACBL BRIDGE BULLETIN 59 This column has focused on suggestions for some terrific bidding gizmos and gadgets, especially ones...

Conventions: The Leaping Michaels

Fernando Lema -
Source: THE VILLAGES DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB A convention commonly used over preempts is the Leaping Michaels convention. It is a conventional overcall made in defense to...

An Instructive Deal by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: THE ANDREW ROBSON BRIDGE CLUB MAGAZINE Autumn 2010 There is much more to discarding than sending a message to partner. You must make sure you...

Squeeze: Pincer Play has Drama by Sam Gordon

Fernando Lema -
The Spokesman-Review – 30 Sep 1936 The squeeze play has many of the earmarks of a drama. It is a plot including detectives, third degree, fall guy,...

Responding to Negative Double – Gadget by Billy Miller

Fernando Lema -
Source: Responding to Negative Double – Gadget (Billy Miller) The Coolest Gizmos and Gadgets: The magical level The first auction: You open 1 or 1. Left-hand opponent overcalls 1....

“El Firulete” by Ana Roth y Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
The “El Firulete” is one of the most known tangos, writen in 1958; its lyrics refers to the tango importance over the new music invasion...

A Miracle in London By Zia Mahmood

Fernando Lema -
Thursday 8 September 2011 The strongest tournament in England for a great many years was staged by TGRs bridge club last weekend. The teams were...

In Massimiliano di Franco’s Seat by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
Many times, when dummy lies down;  the declarer realizes he is playing a higher contract than he would like;  the issue is to have...

Playing as Dad taught me by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
7th European Open Championships Bulletins      Videos    EBL Facebook   Mixed Teams July 8, 2015 Tromso Norway Vicky is the daughter of Gustavo Chediak, the South American Tournament...

“Pico” Syrup By Fernando Lema & Ana Roth

Fernando Lema -
Buenos Aires, March 20, 2016 Yesterday were played the 2016 Vanderbilt Cup semifinals, where team “Lavazza”, the number one seed, faced the team Bertheau, this hand was the third...

Playing in the 4/2 fit by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
Buenos Aires, January 23, 2017 Yesterday was played the Australian National Open teams Championship, Canberra Bridge Festival (AUS), with a field of 126 teams. The two...

Between 50 and 75 by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
Buenos Aires, May 26, 2017 A few days ago I found the following card play which I found very instructive. Dealer East. Neither Vul K Q 9...

Planning the Play by Ira Corn

Fernando Lema -
“The Jack That Souldn’t Have Stayed in the Box” This deal was one of the most interesting hands of the 1970 World Bridge Championship. Bob...
Alessandro Gandoglia, Paolo Clair, Giacomo Percario, Giovanni Donati, Giuseppe Delle Cave

The True Story of the King of Club by Eddie Kantar

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://www.clairebridge.com/ The world championship in Bermuda two weeks ago was my second. I had played in Rio de Janeiro in 1969, when we finished third,...

Keep a Close Watch on Splits by Alan Truscott

Fernando Lema -
Source: Moscow-Pullman Daily News – 3 Oct 1995 What, according to Leon Trotsky, is the most unexpected of all the things that happens to a man? In bridge, the...

Unblocking by Sam Gordon

Fernando Lema -
The Spokesman-Review – 19 Sep 1936 Dealer South. Both Vul A Q 10 Q 8 6 7 6 5 4 9 5 3 9 7 4 3 2 5 K Q J 3 2 8...

There are Two Sides to Every Question by Terence Reese

Fernando Lema -
Source: CAC 1976 Bulletin  April 1976 There are two sides to every question, it is said, and certainly there are two sides to the Bols...

Lyon 2017 A Hand from R 19 by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Sep 2017 Dealer North. Both Vul K Q 10 8 3 J 9 2 K Q 6 2 6 J 9 7 4 2 A 5 7 A Q 10...

Lyon 2017 a Hand from R 9 by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Sep 2017 Dealer South. Neither Vul A 8 5 J 9 6 4 K 7 5 A 10 5 J 9 6 2 7 3 10 8 3 K J...

Lyon 2017 Round 7 England-USA Venice Cup match by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Sep 2017 Dealer East. Both Vul K 10 9 5 3 A 5 7 4 3 7 4 3 8 6 Q 8 7 6 4 A Q Q J...

Board 18 from Round 16 in Lyon by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Sep 2017 Dealer West. N/S Vul A 6 3 K J 8 6 Q J 6 5 7 5 9 5 2 7 3 8 4 K Q J 10...

Thinking Bridge: Defense! by Eddie kantar

Fernando Lema -
Source: Philadelphia NABC Bulletins Dealer South. E/W Vul Q 8 6 Q 8 7 A K Q J 10 6 5 A K J 7 4 6 5 4 --- K Q 10 8...

Do We Know the Whole Story? by Lynn Berg

Fernando Lema -
I am always sorry for players who shy away from playing notrump – not just because the rewards are greater for tricks in notrump,...

Later is too Late by Terence Reese

Fernando Lema -
Source:  Positive Declarer Play By Terence Reese & Julian Pottage Dealer West. E/W Vul A 7 4 Q 7 4 3 A Q 8 A 9 4 K Q 10 9 5...

“A Dummy Reversal by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Oct 2017 Dealer South. E/W Vul J 10 9 6 4 8 6 4 K 6 4 7 6 8 5 K J 9 7 3 J 8 K J...

A More Experienced Operator by Tim Bourke

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Oct 2017 Dealer West. Both Vul A 10 A J 10 3 K J 8 7 5 A 2 Q 6 5 3 2 7 5 4 10 9...

A Safe Twelfth by Tim Bourke (AUS)

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Oct 2017 Dealer East. Neither Vul 5 3 A 10 9 2 J 8 4 3 A K 5 10 4 2 5 3 7 5 2 Q J 9...

Extra Chance by Tim Bourke (AUS)

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin Oct 2017 Dealer North. E/W Vul A Q J 9 K Q K Q 4 J 8 5 4 5 2 10 5 4 10 8 5 3 10 9...

Proper Management of Entries By Charles Goren

Fernando Lema -
Proper management of entries is one of the keys to successful declarer play. South failed to appreciate that on this hand and squandered one...

Treat Irrelevant small Cards as Neutrinos by Bobby Wolff

Fernando Lema -
Source: Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns This deal from the 1993 Epson Simultaneous Pairs was played at the top of the Post Office Tower in...

Bridge & Humor: I thought you had it by Dick Cummings

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald – 8 Oct 1978 How you avoid losing a trump trick when you hold KJ102 in hand opposite A983 in dummy?” It is...

Suit Combinations and Entries By Jim O’Neil

Fernando Lema -
Source: Suit Combinations and Entries By Jim O’Neil One of the most frustrating things that can happen to a declarer is to have several good tricks...

A Double Revoke by Laurie Kelso

Fernando Lema -
42nd World Bridge Teams Championships Chennai, India • 26 September – 10 October 2015 Official Site  Results  Participants  Bulletins  LiveBrige.net The 42nd World Bridge Teams Championships and the 10th World Transnational...

Entry Management by Frank Stewart

Fernando Lema -
South Dealer, N/S vulnerable 9 5 3 2 Q 4 3 6 5 3 K 7 3 A Q 7 6 10 9 8 7 J 8 8 4 2 8 4 6 5 2 Q...

Chennai 2015: Play Problem # 6 by Yiting Li

Fernando Lema -
42nd World Bridge Teams Championships Chennai, India • 26 September – 10 October 2015 Official Site  Results  Participants  Bulletins  LiveBrige.net The 42nd World Bridge Teams Championships and the 10th World Transnational...

Dummy Reversal does it by Oswald Jacoby

Fernando Lema -
Dummy reversal (also known as reverse dummy) is a technique in contract bridge whereby declarer uses trump cards to ruff from the hand with more (longer) trumps, and retains the trumps in...

Mental Simulation by Justin Lall

Fernando Lema -
Source: Justin Lall Most auctions start with each partner describing their hand to the other until one of them is able to take control. Taking control...

The Importance of the Valet by Dick Cummings

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald – 22 Oct 1989 ACES and kings are jolly good things but today’s column features the important role of an honour card...
Dennis Bilde & Thomas Paske

Taking a Trick Cheaply at a High Cost by John Brown

Fernando Lema -
Source: Winning tricks The Hand: Q J 8 10 5 Q 10 9 7 4 2 K 8 A 10 2 A K 3 2 A J 8 Q 10 3 South played this...

Placing the Lead by John Brown

Fernando Lema -
The instrument of placing the lead is often closely associated with the hold up play, in that the decision of whether or not to...

Partner Robbing Partner of a Tempo-Value by John Brown

Fernando Lema -
Dealer East N/S Vul J 5 10 3 Q J 9 8 6 10 8 7 4 10 4 J 8 7 6 5 K 5 J 9 6 5 A 9 8...

Guess leads to Missplay, Lost Game by Alfred Sheingold

Fernando Lema -
Source Eugene Register-Guard – 18 Nov 1971 The sort of hand shown today is never misplayed by the true experts but is often mishandled by quite successful...
Argentine Junior Team 2007

These Hands Really Do Come Up By George Cuppaidge

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://www.qldbridge.com/bulletin/qba/QBAJan08.pdf Some readers may have heard of Jeff Rubens. In his younger days he produced a bridge masterpiece called “Secrets of Winning Bridge.” Anyone who...

How NOT to Play Bridge – Evaluation By Mike Dorn Wiss

Ana Roth -
Source: How Not to Play Bridge The enigmatic Professor parted the curtain at the rear of the auditorium stage and strode proudly to his podium. He...
Salsomaggiore 2016 openning ceremon

Finessing the Finesse By Charles Goren

Fernando Lema -
Source: www.si.com January 30, 1961 Lee Hazen, a New York lawyer, is frequently quoted in bridge columns, and with very good reason, for he has been one...

Defense Best Offense in Bridge

Fernando Lema -
This fine example of defensive bidding and defensive play is from the 1968 Blue Ribbon. Dealer East Neither Vul --- 5 4 3 2 9 8 6 4...

The Hand of Adversity By Charles Goren

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Hand of Adversity By Charles Goren It’s an ill blow that winds up doing good to no one. The bad bidder contributes unwittingly to the...

With a Beautiful Turn of Phrase by Phillip Alder

Fernando Lema -
Source Ocala Star-Banner – Jan 27, 1998 My favorite bridge writer is Albert Dormer. Seemingly a confirmed Londoner (despite a short sojourn in New York...

Not According to Hoyle by Robert B. Hutchinson

Fernando Lema -
The admonition not to trump your partner’s Ace may seem to be a waste of time on the part of the bridge teacher. Almost...

Strip and End Play

Fernando Lema -
To decide your plan of play in any deal, follow the order of choice of plays. Somewhere in that list will be the play...
French Girls team 2014

My Favorite Safety Play By Sam Fry

Fernando Lema -
Ludington Daily News – 23 Ago 1956 The somewhat esoteric jargon of bridge players—and, we admit, more particularly bridge writers—includes such as “grand coup ” “Deschapelles coup,”...

Tempo Matters by Yuan Shen

Fernando Lema -
Source: Tempo matters by Yuan Shen June 19, 2015 for bridgewinners Visit Yuan Shen Bridge site For once, I don’t mean bidding/playing tempo and hesitations. Rather, I’d like to...

Making a Plan By David Baker

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Kibitzer Fall 2014 This deal is from the Friday night Worldwide Pairs game held at our club. It contains many instructive lessons in both play...

Careful Evaluation by Charles Goren

Fernando Lema -
Toledo Blade – 16 Oct 1966 Both Vul. Dealer South. 6 K 8 7 2 K 5 K 10 8 7 5 3 Q 8 7 5 J 6 5 10 7 3 A Q...

Nuances of Minor Suit Openings by Amit Chakrabarti

Fernando Lema -
Source: acblunit391 Bridge Theory for the Practitioners by Amit Chakrabarti Hence, I am writing about our minor suit openings first. Before I write about specific sequences, let...

The Time To Finesse A Partner By Jim & Oswald Jacoby

Fernando Lema -
Source: Eugene Register-Guard – 23 Mar 1966 Oswald points out to Jim that deliberate failure by third hand to play a high card, not necessarily the highest, but...

Win at bridge By A. Sontag y O. Jacoby

Fernando Lema -
Source: Herald-Journal – 2 Abr 1982 Here is another hand from “International Popular Bridge” to show an unlucky expert at his worst, South’s four club cue bid was...

The Uppercut

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia In contract bridge, an uppercut is a defensive play that involves one of the defenders ruffing high in the knowledge that an overruff by the...

Interesting points By Barry Rigal

Fernando Lema -
Source: ORLANDO-FALL NABC 2016 daily bulletin. This deal from the second final session of the Nail Life Master Open Pairs produced numerous points of technical...

Problems on Conventions By Alan Truscott

Fernando Lema -
Source: The New York Times N/S Vul. Dealer North. J 10 9 3 A K J 10 8 7 A Q 8 --- K Q 7 4 2 J 9 K Q J...

When Manure Gets in the Way by Amit Chakrabarti

Fernando Lema -
Source: When Manure Gets in the Way An alien comes from outer space and wants to pick a human being randomly to take back to planet...

IT can be Easy to Overlook Something by Liz McGowan

Fernando Lema -
Source: Bridge – The Scotsman 29/06/13 IT can be easy to overlook something which in retrospect appears obvious. Can you find the careful play here? E/W Vul....

Danger!!! Experts at Play by Jay Becker

Fernando Lema -
Beaver County Times – Mar 11, 2007 The best players are capable of wondrous technique. But they can also perpetrate monstrous errors. In a team championship,...

Draw the Inference by Frank Stewart

Fernando Lema -
Source: Sun Journal – Sep 25, 2008 In 1966, Hugh Kelsey made his reputation as an author in one stroke with ‘Killing Defense at Bridge’ but that was...

The Power of Tens by Andrew Robson

Fernando Lema -
Source: Hand Evaluation – the power of ten By Andrew Robson When Mr. Milton Work invented the point-count method, ace = 4, king = 3, queen =...

Planning Ahead in the Auction by David Lusk

Fernando Lema -
Source: Australian Bridge Federation;  April 2001 Gaining advantages in competitive auctions is often geared to considering future problems when the opponents compete or are likely...

A Nine is a Terrible Card to Waste by Ira Corn

Fernando Lema -
Source: Lakeland Ledger – 1 Dic 1997 by The Aces Good defenders use conventional signals to help guide a touchy defense. For example when West leads fourth best at...
EUSA bridge 2017

Purely Elementary my dear Watson

Fernando Lema -
Source: WelshBridge Noviembre 2012… “Purely Elementary my dear Watson” I was recently in Canada on holiday and came across an interesting article written by Steve...
EUSA bridge 2017 Italy

Defensive Strategy: Trump Leads

Fernando Lema -
Source: richmondbridgeassociation.org A lot of misconceptions surround trump leads. Here are the times when it is most attractive to make an opening lead of a trump: ...

The Right Time By Omar Sharif

Fernando Lema -
Gettysburg Times – 30 Ene 2004 Both Vul. North deals. 7 6 3 A K Q 8 2 A Q 10 9 7 10 9 2 5 2 Q J 7 6 4 3 8 6 A...

Coming Down to the Right Size By Omar Sharif

Fernando Lema -
Star-News – 19 Ene 1997 North-South vulnerable. North deals. Q 10 9 2 A K Q 2 A 5 3 2 9 7 5 J 10 9 8 K Q 10 7 6 4 8 J 6...

Gleaning Clues from the Bidding and Play By Omar Sharif

Fernando Lema -
Dealer South All Vul. he full hand was much as we anticipated: K 4 K 8 K 9 7 6 5 A K 3 2 J 9 7 5 Q 3...

Jettison by Omar Sharif & Charles Goren

Fernando Lema -
Toledo Blade – 6 Ago 1986 In nautical terms, to jettison means to throw, cargo overboard in an attempt to save as endangered ship by lightening its...

Mr.Blackwood…Next Time Perhaps.

Fernando Lema -
As we know the Blackwood convention is currently of universal use: is part of almost every known and unknown bridge bidding system. Above you...

Principle of Restricted Choice

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia In contract bridge, the principle of restricted choice states that play of a particular card decreases the probability its player holds any equivalent card. For example,...

Overcalls By Joan Butts

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://qldbridge.com WHEN teaching the topic of overcalls, and points required for making them, it’s good to highlight the difference between the one-level, eg 1(1) and...

Bridge with Liz McGowan

Fernando Lema -
Source: The Scotsman 18/09/12 Dealer East, All Vul 6 2 A Q 9 7 4 2 J 5 3 10 2 Q 9 8 4 3 A K 10 A J 8 5 3 A...

Bridge the Right Way by Migry Zur Campanille

Fernando Lema -
Source: BRIDGE THE RIGHT WAY Those of you who are regular readers of this column have realized how playing a bridge hand is the closest you...

Are You A Good Technician? by Alan Truscott

Fernando Lema -
Do you think you know the standard safety plays?  Here is a small collection of simple suit combinations that are regularly mismanaged by competent...

Benito Garozzo in Action by Alfred Sheinwold

Fernando Lema -
Source: Spokane Daily Chronicle – Feb 11, 1981 When an opponent has bid with doubtful strength you should suspect that he has good distribution. Dealer South, Both Vul A 10...

From the “Bridge Academy Best Hands Gallery” by Avi Cohen

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://info.ecatsbridge.com In Boynton, an exclusive small town outside Palm Beach, Florida, in the USA, there is a very peculiar museum annexed to the local bridge...
16th World Youth Bridge Championships Salsomaggiore 2016

An Early Lesson in Humility by Eric Kokish

Fernando Lema -
Source: http://info.ecatsbridge.com I started to play seriously in 1967, at the Summer North American Championships in Montreal, my home town. As I had less than 100...

The Hand of a Lifetime

Fernando Lema -
Source:  Newsletter of Trumps Bridge Center , March 2006 South was Henri Svarc who for many years was one of the best French players. See if...

An Intrafinesse Example by Fernando Lema

Fernando Lema -
The WGM Gabriel Chagas, once explained the way to play this kind of weak suits, he called the technique the Intra-Finesse. Dealer West All Vul. West North East South Pass 1 Double Pass 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass Pass  Pass When...
French Girls Team Lyon 2017

The Deschapelles Coup

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia The Deschapelles Coup, named after a 19th century french chess and whist player Alexandre Deschapelles, is the lead of an unsupported honor to create an...

Merrimac Coup

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia The Merrimac coup (also known as Hobson's coup or Hobson's choice) is a contract bridge coup where a player (usually a defender) sacrifices a high card in order to eliminate a...

Trump Promotion

Fernando Lema -
Trump Promotion:  Occurs when declarer is forced to ruff high in front of a defenders card to prevent an over ruff, and, in the...

Loose Lips Sink Ships By Paul Marston

Fernando Lema -
Source: www.qldbridge.com Paul Marston has been one of Australia’s leading bridge identities for close to thirty years. Apart from his ownership of the exceptionally successful Grand...

Redemption Song by Eric Kokish

Fernando Lema -
Source: 1st European Open Bridge Championships. Bulletin 4 – Wednesday, 18 June 2003 Adversity lurks at every turn. Even an optimist like you knows that...

Loser on Loser Play

Fernando Lema -
Source: Wikipedia Loser on loser play is a type of declarer's play in contract bridge, usually in trump contracts, where the declarer discards a loser card (the one that...

Stand on your Head by Phillip Alder

Fernando Lema -
Dealer South All Vul. J 9 8 A K J 8 6 4 A 7 6 2 6 3 2 6 5 A 10 9 2 K Q J 10 7 5 Q 10...

A Scissors Coup by John Brown

Fernando Lema -
IMPs Dealer West All Vul. 6 4 A Q 10 8 7 Q J 9 3 A K A K J 8 3 K 9 6 4 3 A 5 9 Q 9...

The Angel Coup by Jose Le Dentu

Fernando Lema -
6th World Bridge Championships 1982, Biarritz An endplay cannot happen unless an opponent can throw you in. Usually there is no defense except when the...
The Endplay

The Endplay by John Brown

Fernando Lema -
An endplay (also throw-in), in bridge, is a tactical play where a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment, and then has to make a...

Bridge Logic: The Real Expert by Sanjoy Bhattacharyya

Fernando Lema -
Sources: Forbes India Here is a gem played by Bob Hamman at the 2008 Boston National Championships. After some fairly non-descript bidding, the many time...

Have You Discussed? – Jump Openings, Overcalls and Responses by Barry Rigal

Fernando Lema -
Source: Gold Coast Congress Boletin 2 I’m guessing the majority of partnerships play weak twos and weak-jump overcalls, without specifically discussing what the constraints on a jump...

Elimination and End-plays By Brian Senior

Fernando Lema -
A FINESSE is a 50 and 50 proposition and even a double finesse, for example, 5-4-3 opposite AJ10 is only about 75%. How much better...

Against Stolen Bids By Mel Colchamiro

Fernando Lema -
Source: ACBL Bulletin, Dec 2008 – Apr 2009 Mirror, mirror on the wall … … Who is the fairest one of all? That famous line uttered...

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them by Brent Manley

Fernando Lema -
Source: www.qldbridge.com Failing to Discuss and Use Defensive Signals, Part 1 I play occasionally at the main bridge club in Memphis. It’s the largest club in the...

Strengthen Your Game By Brent Manley

Fernando Lema -
Source: www.qldbridge.com If you want to improve your scores in duplicate, especially in pairs, it’s important to have a firm grasp on competitive bidding strategies....

The Cross-Ruff By John Brown

Fernando Lema -
The Cross-Ruff By John Brown. Example of: “Winning Tricks” by John Brown In cross-ruff the aim is to make your trumps separately. Throughout the play of...
009 Juniors

Physical Attributes for Bridge By Phillip Alder

Fernando Lema -
Moscow-Pullman Daily News – 9 May 1997 The uglier a man’s legs, the better his golf game, H.G. Wells observed. It’s almost a law, he added. I...

“Counting the Hands.” by W. M. McKenney

Fernando Lema -
“Counting the hands.” by W.M. McKenney Secretary, American Bridge League “Counting the hands” that is, determining the distribution of a suit in all four hands,...

IBPA Column Service by Tim Bourke (AUS)

Fernando Lema -
Source: IBPA Bulletin No. 865 August 7, 2017 Example: 865 Dealer: North. East-West Vunerable   Q 6 6 4 2 J 10 6 5 A K Q 5   9 8 7 5...

The Mechanics of Counting (Part 1) By Tim Bourke & Marc Smith

Fernando Lema -
Source: Countdown to Winning Bridge By Tim Bourke, Marc Smith How do you count to thirteen?’ This may seem like a silly question, but in this article...

The Right Technique by James Jacoby

Fernando Lema -
Right Technique Rewarded in Par Bridge Championship  The North American Collegiate Bridge Championship is a par contest, responsibility for preparation of the deals rests with...

Plan, Count, Plan by David Stern (AUS)

Fernando Lema -
During the 4th World Youth Open Bridge Championships, Opatija 2015 Mr. David Stern (AUS) explained this example.

Plan, Count, Plan by Paolo Clair (ITA)

Fernando Lema -
During the 4th World Youth Open Bridge Championships, Opatija 2015 Mr. Paolo Clair (ITA) explained this example.

Plan, Count, Plan by Phillip Alder (ENG)

Fernando Lema -
During the 4th World Youth Open Bridge Championships, Opatija 2015 Mr. Phillip Alder (ENG) explained this example.

Bols Bridge Tips: When, as a Defender… by Rixi Markus (ENG)

Fernando Lema -
" When, as a defender, you are about to attack from a holding such as J-x, Q-x or K-x, consider the possible advantage of...
2016 Australian Youth Team

Bols Bridge Tips: Give Declarer Enough Rope, By Tim Seres (AUS)

Fernando Lema -
BOLS BRIDGE TIP– Give Declarer Enough Rope By Tim Seres. (Thomas Peter Seres) "When you can see that declarer is bound to succeed by normal...

Bols Bridge Tips: The Secret is in the Timing by Pedro Paulo Assumpçao (BRZ)

Fernando Lema -
In most deals the declarer soon identifies the plays he must make for the contract, such as establishing a suit, knocking out an entry,...

Bols Bridge Tips: Hold Up the Ace of Trumps”, by Giorgio Belladonna (ITA)

Fernando Lema -
“Whenever you, as a defender, include the Ace of trump among your assets, you should consider whether to hold up this card when trumps...

Bols Bridge Tips: Be Bold When You Are Defending by Per-Olov Sundelin (SWE)

Fernando Lema -
” Be bold when you are defending. If you can’t see yourself defeating the contract by winning the trick, DUCK IT even at the...

Bols Bridge Tips: The Power of the Closed Hand by Tony Forrester (ENG)

Fernando Lema -
"Make use of the power of the closed hand. It is declarer’s biggest edge. Try to lead from dummy as often as possible, even...

Bols Bridge Tips: If you Take Up Boxing you Must Expect a Few Bloody...

Fernando Lema -
"If you are to amount to anything at this game, you must build up a picture of the unseen hands." Robert Hamman is a name...

Bols Bridge Tips: I Love Finesses by Gabriel Chagas (BRZ) Part 1

Fernando Lema -
” When You have to develop a shaky suit, consider whether you can prepare for an intra-finesse by ducking with an 8 or 9...
Mikael Rimstedt

Counting Distributions by Mikael Rimstedt

Fernando Lema -
Saturday February 8, 2014, Sweden A few days ago I was playing a match on BBO with my brother (Ola Rimstdet) against two grandmasters: Benito...

England: Westminster School wins Schools Cup at Young Bridge Challenge

Ana Roth -
Source: EBU 6 MAR 2017 The Young Bridge Challenge took place in Loughborough on Saturday 4th March with young players from over 20 schools enjoying an...

2024 French school bridge championships!

Fernando Lema -
Source: Fédération Française de Bridge FB Wall 302 middle school students made great memories in Lyon during the national final of the French school bridge...

8th World Youth Transnational Championships: the Winners

Fernando Lema -
Source: WBF The 8th World Youth Transnational Championships were held in Wroclaw (Poland) from 13 to 18 July, 2024. Event’s Microsite The Winners: Teams – U26 Open Hellas...

Bridge and its benefits

Fernando Lema -
Source: EBU Why do people play bridge? "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest...

2024 Panhellenic Bridge Championship (U26) & (U16)

Fernando Lema -
By Vassilis Virvidakis Last weekend (April 26 to 28) Hellenic Bridge Federation (HBF) organized the National Championships U26 & U16. Although the U26 Championship has...

Panhellenic Bridge Championship Youth (U26) & Childen (U16) 2024

Fernando Lema -
Source: Όμιλος Αγωνιστικού Μπριτζ Λάρισας FB Wall 56 children from all over Greece (13 pairs in U26 and 15 pairs in U16) participated in the...

Promoting Bridge

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://bridgemindsport.org/promoting-bridge/ Bridge needs to innovate in order to move forward and grow. BAMSA has a new report on promoting and marketing bridge which has...

Uganda – UMEA Solidarity Games 2024

Fernando Lema -
Source: https://ugandabridgefederation.com/ In an exciting development for the world of mind sports, the Uganda Bridge Federation (UBF) has been granted a coveted slot in the upcoming...

France: Mathematics Week from March 13 to 20

Fernando Lema -
Source: Fédération Française de Bridge FB wall Maths week continues successfully... Yet another successful event with this intergenerational bridge tournament Tuesday March 19 at the Town...

Know Any Potential Young Bridge Players?

Fernando Lema -
Source: Australian Bridge Federation Incorporated FB Wall Know Any Potential Young Bridge Players? For a limited time, the ABF are offering a Learn Bridge Online Course...

FISU World University Championship Mind Sport 2024

Fernando Lema -
Source: UBF FB Wall As we get close to the last 100 days to the FISU World University Championship Mind Sport 2024 The IUIU University...
123...326Page 1 of 326