Issue 23 - Standard American

Editorial by Paul Bowyer



Welcome to the twenty-third and penultimate edition of V-Blue Year 1, the interactive magazine for those learning the fascinating game of bridge.

In this issue there are three important series for you to enjoy. Two series (of six hands each) are on declarer play and feature The Hold-up. No, nothing to do with daylight robbery; the issue here is: how do you deal with the situation in No-trumps when the opponents hit you in your weak spot? Essentially what you have to do is to break the links between the defenders, cut the ties that bind. How? Well, play the deals and find out. It’s all a matter of timing and when you take your tricks. The first series is relatively straightforward (we did not say “easy”). The second series focuses on which defender is the danger hand. What does that mean? We will try to make that clear.

When you have absorbed the lessons here you may care to try out our “General Series” of eight assorted deals. These are designed for you to see what you have gained from previous editions of VuBridge. You can’t improve at this game without lots of practice and these deals give you plenty of opportunity for that.

Finally, you might like to try out the quiz. This is all about open 2C, the strongest bid in the book. It is also about what to do when partner opens 2C.. Let’s see how you do.

Enjoy these deals, you have a mighty feast in this edition.

Series #2619 - Hold-Up - Declarer-play - Part I (SA)

This series (and its close relative to be found elsewhere in this edition of V-Blue) is focusing on hold-up plays. A hold-up play is when declarer refuses to win the first trick but instead retains his stopper (usually an Ace), saving it for later use.

Used wisely hold-up plays can reduce or eliminate the damage the defense can do to declarer. Be careful, though, because using a hold-up play in the wrong circumstance might make things worse for declarer, sometimes much worse.

Series #2619 - Hold-Up - Declarer-play - Part 1 (SA):

Vu-Bridge Quiz: Opening 2 Clubs

The opening bid of 2♣ is used to show a very powerful hand and tells partner that game is in sight, even if responder has garbage. Click here to run the Quiz.

Series #2620 - Hold-Up - Declarer-play - Part II (SA version)

This series is the second one in this edition that is focussed on hold-up plays. We hold-up a high card (generally an Ace) to cut communications between defenders.

Here, in these six (more tricky) deals, you will have to decide whether to win the first trick or not. Much depends on which defender you regard to be the danger hand and which the safe hand.

>Series #2620 - Hold-Up - Declarer-play - Part II (SA):

Here are eight general practice hands on the themes that we have been looking at in VuBridge. They are in no particular order, just enjoy them as they come...

Series #2829 - General Hands: