Three Tips For Defending - Weekly Free

In this weekly free instant tournament I focus on how to defend.

[@amazonianm8876]

On board 2 I would have opened 4 s because the opponents can make a cheap save in diamonds as happened at some tables.An opening 4 is very difficult to bid over. Regards from Redruth Arnold

[@pmarjora]

A horror set for me, but it’s only fair to post the bad weeks as well as the good, so here goes: Board 1: Same Board 2: Pulled trumps straight away and went down 1 when neither clubs nor trumps broke. The line you took never occurred to me, but is obviously better. 18% Board 3: Same. Board 4: Defended 3C-1 for 86%. Board 5: Played 5C= for 39%. Board 6 I did bid 2S over E’s 2D, and got raised to 4S. Down 3 for 25%. Board 7: I just led a low H without thinking it through. As predicted, it went poorly. 7%! Board 8: Same. 40% overall. Ouch!

[@howardcottrell9596]

What is best response to openers 2NT

[@stuarttwhite9775]

On the first hand, I doubled 2 clubs. I ordinarily wouldn't do that with the lack of spades, but I knew west couldn't have too much because it's a best hand tournament. Also, east didn't bid, so I had a feeling that north had some points. I was mildly concerned he would bid spades, but I figured if he had four diamonds or hearts he would bid them. I couldn't think of too many hands that north would be bidding spades on. I also really disliked the idea of defending 2 clubs. I don't know. Maybe it was a terrible idea.

[@ligafftheindifferent3495]

This is a bit of a hack. It cannot be extended to randomly dealt games. But you are right that your partner was guaranteed to have values and therefore far more likely to have a club stack.

[@smerriman]

On board 5, was there any reason you didn't consider bidding 3S over 3H? The description wasn't a cuebid, just 13+ total points and forcing; but after the robot's 4H response you can cuebid 4S. Sadly, the robot then launched into Blackwood. Happily, you still make 6H+1.

[@ligafftheindifferent3495]

1S on hand 6 should never play in 2S. West might pass, but after 2S - P - P, West should 100% balance. I would bid 3D, but even double is better than passing. North will bid 3S (the law) and E will not consider 4D for a variety of reasons. I also don't see why we should open 1NT with this and risk missing fits and proper level in Spades. Maybe if we played puppet Stayman over 1NT, but I suspect that has some serious flaws.

[@janie7242]

Not really smart moves though!😁