Theme Weeks
Some weeks, my columns are on a particular theme. In case you would like to find them, here are the themes covered in the columns available at the moment:
01.21.08-01.26.08: some trump-suit declarer-play techniques
02.18.08-02.23.08: find the opening lead by listening to the auction
03.03.08-03.08.08: the Rule of Seven and its exceptions
03.31.08-04.05.08: guidelines for finding the best opening lead
04.07.08-04.12.08: declarer reads the opening lead
04.14.08-04.19.08: third hand reads the opening lead
04.21.08-04.30.08: dummy's job and declarer's card from dummy at trick one
05.05.08-05.10.08: bidding with weak responding hands
05.12.08-05.17.08: bidding with game-invitational responding hands
05.19.08-05.24.08: bidding with game-forcing responding hands
05.26.08-05.31.08: how the auction affects a hand's strength
06.16.08-06.21.08: blocked suits
07.07.08-07.12.08: defensive techniques
08.04.08-08.09.08: more defensive techniques
08.18.08-08.23.08: generating extra tricks as declarer
09.15.08-10.03.08: takeout doubles
10.06.08-10.11.08: other doubles: negative, responsive, support and snapdragon
10.13.08-10.18.08: penalty doubles
10.20.08-10.25.08: help-suit game-tries and slam-tries
02.04.09-02.07.09: splinter bids
03.23.09-03.28.09: reverses
05.04.09-05.09.09: redoubles
05.11.09-05.16.09: defensive tips
07.27.09-08.08.09: suit-preference signals
08.24.09-08.29.09: declarer counts points to place the defenders' cards
08.31.09-09.05.09: defenders count points to place the declarer's cards
11.02.09-11.07.09: second hand low
11.09.09-11.21.09: third hand high
12.07.09-12.12.09: pluses and minuses of a simple overcall
12.14.09-12.19.09: advancing a simple overcall
01.04.10-01.09.10: using your trumps with effect
04.12.10-04.17.10: defense against notrump contracts
04.19.10-04.24.10: defense against suit contracts
05.10.10-05.15.10: eight ever, nine never
05.24.10-06.05.10: being a tough defender
06.07.10-06.12.10: being a tough declarer
Alder Transfer Preempts
To find out about the transfer preempts that I devised back in 1972, click on this link:
Alder Transfer Preempts. These opening bids have two big advantages: they right-side contracts and they are hard to play against.
Responses to a One-Notrump Opening
To see my comments about responding to one notrump with various basic methods (no transfers, transfers only into the majors, and four-suit transfers), please click on this link:
Transfers.
Balanced Hands — What Ranges and Why?
To read my discussion of balanced-hand ranges, please click here:
Balanced-Hand Ranges.
The Losing Trick Count
For further details about the Losing Trick Count (mentioned in the columns for September 19 and 20, 2003), please click on the link here:
The Losing Trick Count.
To contact me by e-mail, please click on the Contact box to the left.
I am particularly happy to receive deals suitable for the column. If you submit one, please give (if possible) the dealer, the vulnerability, the auction, the play, and the names of the key players. Also, indicate if you would prefer your name not to be given in the column.
I prefer deals with an instructive point, especially in the play, not wild layouts that come down to guesswork.
Good luck with bridge and life!
