Partner bids a strong 2NT, and you have a moderate hand with 5 spades and 4 hearts. This shape has always been a bugbear: it seems impossible to construct a method that allows a choice between 3NT, 4H and 4S.
The partner who yells the most or the loudest doesn't necessarily win the argument. It just means that they are a bully, or that they are more strong willed.
A philosopher may spend his whole life distinguishing between the important and the unimportant. Bridge players have a simple test: important tricks are those that have a bearing on the contract; all others are unimportant.
We have frequently stressed the thesis that the ideal trump holding is four trumps faced by four in the dummy, particularly where there is a five card suit on the side that may be used for discards.
In 1989, James Kauder wrote a book called "The Bridge Philosopher." It is an "over the shoulder" book. The reader listens to Kauder's thoughts during the play of 61 deals.
Assume you become declarer at four spades after West opens the bidding with one heart. West leads the king of hearts and shifts to a trump. How would you play the hand?
While I'm a firm believer in the defensive mantra that 'aces are made to capture kings and queens, knowing when to use one of those prime cards to win a trick while capturing a monarch can be just as important.
As declarer, you should absolutely love it when the opponents tell you they play "jack denies a higher honor and 10 or 9 promises zero or two higher" as their opening lead convention.
A sure indication a declarer can have that he is up against top-class opponents is that his attempts to force out their high cards early will meet with failure. Most defenders recognise the advantage of...
