Vubridge Expert Kit
Lesson #16 - When to Duck, When to Win

Editorial by Paul Bowyer

Welcome to the sixteenth edition of Vubridge Expert Kit. In this edition we take a look at the topic of winning or ducking early tricks. These two series of six deals each are all about: When to win, When to Duck, with some fairly simple examples and some more subtle instances. Much depends on how you intend to go about playing the hand, on the timing and on the tempo. Maybe it bears repetition that everything boils down to your initial plan, made on the sight of dummy. How many contracts are wrecked by careless play at the beginning of the hand? Hasty play on the first couple of tricks and then ten or eleven tricks-worth of regret…

The third series, as ever, contains eight further deals on the subject of counting. As usual, these are a mixture of straightforward and difficult hands where you have to locate missing honors. Quite a few are Find the Lady type hands. These deals are constructed and written by British expert Ben Norton, whose thorough analysis provides invaluable instruction. A vital part of your skill set that needs constant practice.

This issue has been written in December 2020 – so have an excellent festive season and a great New Year!

When to Duck, When to Win - Part I

This series of six deals is all about whether to win early tricks or whether to duck them.

Much depends on how the play is going to proceed, on your all-important Count and Plan.

Series #5912 - When to Duck, When to Win - Part I

When to Duck, When to Win - Part II:

This series of six deals is all about deductions in the bidding to locate missing cards.

Some of these deductions are fairly elementary, some are more subtle. Are you Sherlock Holmes or Dr Watson?

Series #5913 - When to Duck, When to Win - Part II:

Series #5895 - Counting the Hands:

Here, you have eight assorted deals to play, with a theme of Counting the Hand.