Dark Bridge 006: It's The Law (Of Total Tricks)

Finally, a hand that is not a slam...

The Hand In Question

Dealer: S Vul: Nil KJ107 KJ97 2 AKQ10 A Q10653 J8763 J9 Q863 4 AK1094 532 9542 A82 Q5 8764

South	West	North	East
Pass	Pass	1	1
1	4	All Pass

Dark Bridge 005: It's Going to Be Clubs Whether You Like It Or Not

Welcome to the fifth Dark Bridge hand.  I seem to have a knack for dealing slams...

The Hand In Question

Dealer: S Vul: Nil 1098 A 109 AKQJ1096 QJ2 KJ5 Q8764 75 75 Q9743 J52 843 AK643 10862 AK3 2

South	West	North	East
1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	4	Pass
4!	Pass	4!	Pass
6	All Pass

! Control Showing Cuebid (aka Control Bid)

Dark Bridge Retakes

Occasionally, I'm going to post revisits to some previous columns if I think I made a mistake either in how a bidding sequence went, or in how I explained it.  Today we revisit the question of the Negative Double from Dark Bridge 002 and the overcall vs. takeout double question from Dark Bridge 004.

Before we get started below the cut, I'll also announce a new feature on the blog.  I've posted a list on Amazon.com with a list of Bridge reference books that I use in this blog (and in play).  If you buy one from the link to the right I get some tiny Amazon.com gift certificate, so go ahead.  This is a fancy way of including a bibliography more than anything else.

One final note, I've been told some of these columns are a bit long to read and make sense out of.  I'm going to try tweaking the format a bit to make things clearer, mixing the discussion in with the walkthrough of the bidding, and reprinting some of the pieces of the hand to prevent having to scroll up and down.  Feedback in the comments is welcome!

Dark Bridge 004: Takeout Doubles

The Hand In Question

Dealer: S Vul: Nil J7 10965 52 Q10943 Q9652 AK42 Q A62 A843 8 A1096 KJ85 K10 QJ73 KJ8743 7

South	West	North	East
1	Double	Pass	2
Pass	2	Pass	2
Pass	4	All Pass