BILManager (Lobby): hi is there a topic or play and discuss?? ->BILManager: hi, more NT defense BILManager (Lobby): => Club: !D!DGrizz's Lesson Table is now open in the BIL. Topic is "More NT Defense" All members are invited to attend this very informative lesson!H!H grizz: Hi everybody, thanks for attending another of a series of lessons on Defense. PedroG: I have a small question about third hand play grizz: sure PedroG: imagine that y lead low grizz: as 1st hand, ok PedroG: and partner can try win the trick but has sequence JT9, should he play low or high? PedroG: dummy has nothing grizz: always play the lowest of equals, with one exception grizz: reason is, pd can then deduce location of honors grizz: and some spot cards too grizz: if 3rd hand plays the 9, he denies the 8 grizz: and if declarer must win with a major honor, pd can deduce that you have the T (and maybe J too) Karen10: what was the exception??:) grizz: so cover with your cheapest card, and lead your most expensive from a sequence grizz: or, highest when leading, lowest when following grizz: exception is when you want to send a strong message grizz: e.g. you have doubleton AK, and pd leads the suit grizz: according to the general rule, you win as cheaply as possible grizz: you are going to win anyway, but you want to tell pd that you have only 2, and can ruff the 3rd round grizz: so in that case you win the A, return the K, and then switch grizz: pd should get the message grizz: does that answer the question? grizz: there are lots of 'rules' in bridge, but the meaning of the rules is what matters grizz: as to opening leads, the most important question that 3rd hand must answer is: grizz: 'if I get in, should I continue that suit or switch?' grizz: because we must remember, opening leader took his best shot at a defensive plan, but did not yet see dummy grizz: and dummy might change everything grizz: Here we go with the usual stuff. grizz: Chat logs and hand records are stored in your computer for later review. For information on how to retrieve them, go the BIL homepage or email me. grizz: I teach private individual, pair, and small group lessons. If you would like to know more please email me at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com. grizz: The new website is up now, thanks to the help of PedroG. Gracias amigo! grizz: And archives of old sessions are available at Grizzbridge.com, on the Lessons page. PedroG: it was a pleasure grizz: We are missing some of the past sessions, from #1, 14 and 15. grizz: So if anybody has those chat logs and hand records, could you please email them to me and I will put them up on the website? grizz: There will be lots of questions. I want to address them all, but in a manner helpful to all, so please ask them in open chat. grizz: I cannot respond to private chat during a lesson. grizz: Are there any questions so far? grizz: As all you you know, there are a lot of different systems for bidding in bridge. They all have strengths and weaknesses. grizz: And there is disagreement about what those strengths and weaknesses are. grizz: The same is true but to a far lesser extent of defense. grizz: I am speaking of Jack Denies, also known as Coded 9 and T. This is a departure from the good old days, and not everybody thinks it to be an improvement. grizz: I think it is, so I teach it. Others may or may not, according to their opinion. grizz: You are free to pick and choose which systems work for you, and I encourage you to learn as much as you can and keep an open mind. grizz: Whatever systems you choose, discuss them with your partner and make sure you agree. grizz: Last week we talked about notrump opening leads, went over some general rules and looked at some examples. grizz: Let us review those rules. grizz: Notrump is a race to see which side can establish and cash its winners first. grizz: Both sides usually have enough tricks to get the job done, but one side runs out of time. grizz: Notrump defense is about long suits and entries. Long suits are where the extra tricks are, and entries allow you to cash them. grizz: For those of you who are tired of hearing this again, please bear with me - we have some newcomers. grizz: That is why it is usually best to start with your side's long suit. grizz: The race to develop tricks starts at Trick 1, and if the defense does not get on with its Job #1 then momentum and timing shift to the declarer. grizz: Here are some general rules for NT leads as a review, for those who may not have attended previous sessions. grizz: By the way, these rules are for 1st hand LEADS, they do not apply to 3rd hand FOLLOWING! grizz: That bears repeating, these rules are only for the OPENING LEAD. grizz: It may seem odd that we are on Week 19 of NT Defense and still on Trick 1, but as you have seen there is a lot to say about it. grizz: 1. If your partner has bid a suit, lead it, unless you have a strong suit of your own and an outside entry. grizz: 2. Strong top-of-sequence leads from 4-card suits (KQJx. KQTx. QJTx) are better than weaker but longer suits (Jxxxx, Qxxxx). grizz: 3. If you have the choice between an unbid major or an unbid minor with similar strength in each, the major is usually a better prospect. grizz: 4. If dummy uses Stayman he can be assumed to have one or two 4-card majors. grizz: 5. If your hand is dreadful, try to hit partner's long suit, even if he hasn't bid. Any suit that he might have bid at the 1 level but didn't will be an unlikely candidate for ... grizz: this desperation lead. grizz: 6. If dummy has announced during the auction that he has a long, strong suit, you must make an aggressive lead in another suit. AKx. KQx or QJx are better in this case than ... grizz: weaker but longer suits. grizz: 7. Partner needs to know whether you have any honors in the suit you lead. If a switch must be made at Trick 2, partner needs to know and act quickly. grizz: A. The lead of a low card in an unbid suit promises an honor. So if you lead low, expect partner to return that suit if he gets in. grizz: B. Likewise, the lead of a big spot card tends to deny an honor. Partner is notified that he must switch. grizz: C. Leading from a strong 4-card suit like AQTx, AQJx, AJTx, or AKTx usually costs a trick. Odds are that RHO has the missing honor, and a lead from one of these sequences goes ... grizz: right into declarer's tenace. grizz: But it is a GOOD idea to lead from a strong 5-card suit, such as AQTxx, AQJxx, AJTxx, or AKTxx. grizz: D. The lead of a Q shows either the top of a sequence (QJT, QJ9) OR a powerful combination headed by the KQT9. grizz: If the opening leader may have that combination, that is you do not see the K,T or 9 but you do have the J, you should play it at Trick 1. grizz: Otherwise you would give a Count signal. grizz: So opening lead of a Q calls for Unblock the J or Count grizz: E. The lead of a K shows either a sequence or a short suit (AKx, KQx). grizz: F. Leading an A shows a very strong suit, headed by AKQ, AKJT, AKJ (or AQJ with an outside entry). Since the A is a guaranteed entry, it is rare to waste it on the opening lead. grizz: G. Playing Coded 9's and T's, also known as Jack Denies (and T or 9 Implies), the lead of a J denies a higher honor, but guarantees a sequence if it is an unbid suit. grizz: The lead of a T or 9 now specifically shows 0 or 2 cards higher. If leader has 2 higher cards, they are specifically a touching tenace (KJT9, KT98, AT98, AJT9, etc.) grizz: Remember, these rules are for 1st hand LEADS, they do not apply to 3rd hand FOLLOWING. grizz: We will talk about 3rd hand play in following weeks, but here is a sneak peek at the rules, and you will be happy to know that they are much simpler. grizz: 1. Win the trick, unless there is a good reason not to. grizz: 2. Give Attitude on partner's lead - tell him whether to continue the suit or switch. grizz: 3. Give Count on declarer's lead, to help partner figure out suit distribution around the table. grizz: Any questions so far? freckles36: Are these all standard leads? grizz: All are standard except Jack Denies meshmeshaa: which takes priorty ..count or attitude? grizz: In standard methods, you lead the top card from an interior sequence, e.g. J from KJT9x grizz: 2. Give Attitude on partner's lead - tell him whether to continue the suit or switch. grizz: 3. Give Count on declarer's lead, to help partner figure out suit distribution around the table. grizz: There is one other case in which you give count on partner's lead: grizz: When dummy wins the trick, give count grizz: Some play the lead of the A asks for count and the kead of the K asks for attitude is that a convention that needs to be alerted? grizz: This is a good system, and I use it grizz: though i must confess, have never seen it alerted wwylie: question - is upside down attitude - rule 7 A and B compatible with coded 9's and 10's ?? freckles36: thought lead of A asks p to unblock or give count grizz: absolutely compatible grizz: remember, these rules are for LEADS grizz: UDCA only comes into play when FOLLOWING jacquiek: ucda? grizz: we will talk about UDCA later grizz: Upside Down Count and Attitude jacquiek: ty grizz: but for now, i want to concentrate on when and why to make certain signals grizz: and these concepts don't depend on standard or udca - those are concerned with the 'how' grizz: Example #1 demonstrates high level partnership defense on a real hand. mcourt: should we be looking at all hands or kibitzing one? grizz: you can look at all the hands, and see better what's happening grizz: anybody think that N should take action here? dae: why didn't S bid 1 nt doesnt 2 c promis 5? meshmeshaa: no grizz: balanced minimum, no major Socialdot: not me too chicken idee fixe: no drgarie2xx: no gypsy1308: no grizz: and S denied a major HappyMo: I shouldn't bid 2!c . I prefer 1nt Socialdot: yes meshmeshaa: me too grizz: why didn't S bid 1 nt doesnt 2 c promis 5? Socialdot: short club meshmeshaa: south dosnt know if clubs are 2 or 5 grizz: would anybody like to declare 1NT with the S cards? nothing in either major? smudge1: not i! Socialdot: no, no stoppers dae: then N knows pd has 4 of them grizz: me neither! been there, done that, got the T-shirt to prove it! moonjohn: S pass jacquiek: right...i would support conv minor...telling p I have a minimum bilmanager (Lobby): => Club: !D!DTranstasman encounter Tourney No -661 - Pairs - Free - Fun and Laughter - starts in 7 hrs from now All Bilies welcome especially Beginners - Pls join the fun and register.!D!D wwylie: i would bid 3c - on principal - just to push them grizz: even worse if W makes a takeout X, and E leaves it in smudge1: but isn't the club bid dangerous? wwylie: it's nil all grizz: but what if pd has a 2NT rebid? you might miss game grizz: and ops might not be so kind as to reopen Dianne0516: Doesn't ptnr have another bid here? grizz: S? sure grizz: N should pass and get S's opinion on the matter grizz: anybody think E should bid? dae: n ezed_99: why S bid 2C??? idee fixe: no grizz: scroll up, i already answered that Socialdot: no krh1205 (Lobby): may I watch HappyMo: no ->krh1205: sure PedroG: no gypsy1308: no grizz: let me go back to the 2!c bid jacquiek: no..get out of Dodge. grizz: S certainly may bid 1NT wwylie: misfit E shld pass grizz: and would be able to defend the bid in the post mortem HappyMo: ok the right bidding- 1nt wwylie: and pray south bids again grizz: but when ops take 9 of the first 10 tricks, he looks pretty morose anegada: knows they have at least 7 clubs PedroG: :) grizz: maybe even 10 of the first 11 jacquiek: yuk grizz: so i HATE 1NT by S here PedroG: no post-mortem after that wyoming33: me too:( grizz: it solves the immediate problem of what to bid, but it's a terrible contract grizz: it's nonforcing dae: then N would correct to C analisals: n ->dae: no more private chat, say it to the group grizz: ok, and E has no business bidding here grizz: first rule of misfits - get out early ezed_99: i agree grizz: oh, and N should not correct 1NT to 2!C, with a 4 card suit and no doubleton to ruff grizz: anybody think S should bid on? moonjohn: some play a 1!D by south to show a bust hand ? peterb370c: don't some play 1NT over 1!c is 9 - 11 hcp never with only 6? ezed_99: no jacquiek: no grizz: nope, N showed a minimum hand, and S has nothing more to say gypsy1308: no nothing more to show ->peterb370c: say it to the group please PedroG: 65 Kibs, nice :9 grizz: ok, pretend you are N now peterb370c: pete, don't some play 1NT over 1!C shows 9 - 11 hcp? ->PedroG: about average for this session :) PedroG: :) grizz: some do, others play 8-10 grizz: if so, then 1!d must be alerted peterb370c: and 1NT?\ grizz: i like 6-10, being more flexible grizz: but always with a thought about what might happen if i had to play it! grizz: ok, what should N lead? meshmeshaa: isnt 1nt in competitve bidding =8-10 dae: unbid major grizz: depends on partnership agreement, that's not standard grizz: but remember - bridge logic supercedes the rules drgarie2xx: n leas a clubs xfco: 2!C's grizz: !S or !C lead? dae: S ezed_99: i would lead 2H wwylie: following rule 7 A and B i would lead 2 !C wwylie: except it's not nt grizz: if W has the guarded !CK, there is no safe !c lead freckles36: what is rule of 7 A and B grizz: it never pays to lead from this !D holding unless pd has bid it wwylie: i hope my p has the K seeing he supported dae: not lead unsupported Ace or FROM one grizz: hope is fine, but it's not a plan! meshmeshaa: 5c grizz: never lead a trump from this holding wwylie: ok spade is safe lead then dae: 2s promise an honor? grizz: so best here is a !s grizz: and this exercise is valuable wwylie: can't lead !D for sure grizz: frequently there is no standout 'best' lead, only a choice of bad ones grizz: in such a case, start with the worst choice and eliminate it bluehi: you dont want to lead away from the A's not the trump last choice nubo: hola :) freckles36: I'd lead clubs meshmeshaa: me too jacquiek: me too, since p supported it grizz: my bbo is acting up, can't read my notes on the hand dae: q PedroG: from the tenace? may give free trick grizz: heavy sigh freckles36: get 2 or 3 while you can wyoming33: if so lead the Ace jacquiek: good pt. grizz: if you lead the A and pd doesn't have an honor, you just gave away a trick or 2 grizz: or 3 meshmeshaa: 2c grizz: it will catch small spot cards, and not improve chances for the defense grizz: i'm going to to re-send this hand bluehi: over weak 2 is it the same holding 3trump lead short freckles36: fi not you nay not get any clubs w would throw thm off on the H bluehi: ==== bluehi: still same hand wyoming33: throwing off on trump doesnt hurt you - grizz: first of all, as N, what do you know about !ss from Trick 1? xfco: p has 3 analisals: pard doent have any grizz: Rule 1. Win the trick, unless there is a good reason not to. 000_bill: pard no like meshmeshaa: uneven+dicourage grizz: so W has the Q analisals: honors I meant dae: why not third hand high? moonjohn: south does not like spades grizz: if S had it, he would play it dae: the 8 ?? grizz: test wyoming33: why south play 3? wyoming33: misclick? grizz: y dae: 8 = to 9 o0n board grizz: right, the 8 is lowest of the 89T equals in hand and in dummy grizz: my mistake jacquiek: because 8 is just as good as the 10 since east has the 9 grizz: right grizz: so W false-carded, but N knows better already grizz: because of our rules about following to the trick Socialdot: why not take with the queen? HappyMo: why !d? meshmeshaa: queen of s?? Socialdot: yes grizz: tricky W wants N to think that S has it, or S to think that N has it grizz: that's what false cards are all about grizz: so that if either gets in, won't make a killing shift jacquiek: always play highest of equals as declarer. analisals: so how does north know who has it pard or W? grizz: Rule 1. Win the trick, unless there is a good reason not to. grizz: if S had it, he would play it analisals: ty grizz: N now decideds it's cashout time fiscryder: maybe 7 from south..havek? dae: claim time dae: not quite HappyMo: If my partner play a high cards like south did, I guess he has the !s. Because I don't just this kind of discard. High means: I'm interested grizz: i just noticed something grizz: this is the wrong hand! bluehi: lol grizz: hang on wyoming33: lol grizz: aha, found it! BILAssist: : )) grizz: ok, everybody remember the rules for leads? grizz: what does N lead here? dae: are they printed somewhere? meshmeshaa: hearts jacquiek: yes....unsupported opening....lead low grizz: scroll up bwd1: 5!H grizz: 1. If your partner has bid a suit, lead it, unless you have a strong suit of your own and an outside entry. grizz: N has junk, so should lead pd's suit moonjohn: y grizz: even though W bid nt grizz: oops, another mistake dae: not the 10 to unblock, maybe? mei ann: if you ha d Kxx of p's suit..lead K? grizz: lol not my day grizz: ok, here is another rule dae: 3 nt with 8? meshmeshaa: why 3nt..isnt 2 enough fiscryder: upon leading pard's suit in this case..... how do you decide which card Socialdot: west 1 nt bid? grizz: if you have supported pd's suit, then lead high grizz: N MUST lead a !h here grizz: since does not have a good suit and an outside entry Socialdot: 1nt bid by west? grizz: interesting play here by S grizz: just in case N has 3 dae: keep card to cover dummy's honor grizz: right wwylie: i think north should lead the 7 !H - denying an honour - rule 7 A -B dae: He HAs AN HONOR-THE 10 grizz: N would also lead the 7 from 75 grizz: the T is an honor wyoming33: right grizz: and from 3 to an honor, we lead low grizz: what does N play now? idee fixe: 10 peterb370c: T bwd1: unblock dae: 10 wwylie: would be an honour with T xxx j2l: unblock xfco: 10 to unblock fiscryder: tx have trouble remembering 10 is honour in this situation grizz: exactly moonjohn: 10\ grizz: notice what happens if N does not unblock grizz: lead is then in the wrong hand, and unless S has an outside entry, can't get in to cash the good !hs PedroG: N-S doing the contract :) grizz: yup ezed_99: E had no right bidding 3nt dae: but still don't know why E bid 3 nt W "might" have only 15? PedroG: well even 1NT seems to be down wyoming33: right grizz: y, 1NT is awful too grizz: but not down 4!!!! jacquiek->Club: righto Socialdot: why bid the 1nt at all? dae->Club: better is double and pass partners bid grizz: main lesson here is, lead pd's suit even if ops bid nt behind it Socialdot: doesn't it promise stoppers in hearts? Socialdot: not enough obviously grizz: 1NT was sorta kinda OK, with 1!h stopper and 16 grizz: but raise to 3 was undisciplined wyoming33: lousy 16 - no aces grizz: y, and only 1 !h stopper dae: double and pass grizz: X not a great bid, with only 3!s, but too good to pass wwylie: i saw papi bid a 1nt overcall on something like that in the jimmy cayne match earlier - if it's good enough for him ......... grizz: it's a defensible bid, for sure grizz: but the raise to 3NT was delusional wwylie: 24 pts was slim alright bowsend: what could have been partners response to 1NT grizz: and the real lesson is the !h lead analisals: ok idee fixe->Club: and the unblock grizz: righto wyoming33: especially the unblock idee fixe: ty, appreciate grizz: E has every right to bid an invitational 2NT wwylie: i maintain that 7 then 10 is right grizz: low from 3 to an honor is right grizz: 7 distorts either your honor holding or your shape wyoming33: right - and easier for pard to know you have 3 - wwylie: i'm happy to disagree and be friends grizz: :) wwylie: :) grizz: that's diplomatic, but also incorrect peterb370c: why did south duck the opening lead? grizz: The 5 is an ambiguous card at Trick 1. grizz: All smaller cards are visible in dummy or the South hand, so it must be either singleton or small from 3 or 4. grizz: In no case can it be doubleton. grizz: South hopes that North has 3, because if so then West has only 2. grizz: With guaranteed outside entries, it cannot cost South to duck the first trick, for the sake of clearing the suit later. grizz: If the 5 was singleton, declarer has the KQJT, and the 9 will never score. But if the 5 is from 3, partner needs to know it's safe to continue the suit. BILManager (Lobby): => Club: !D!DGrizz's Indy Tournament #650 begins in about 15 mins. Pleae register to play for Fun, $ prizes and BBO Masterpoints. The more that play, the bigger the prizes!H!H (Note you can register from a table where you are kibbing or playing by clicking on the Tournament Button to the right of the chat window) grizz: Hand #2 is another exception to the "3rd Hand High" rule. grizz: some of you may have never seen a weak NT in action ydannac: tell us how to bid weak nt Socialdot: when do you use weak nt? grizz: same rules as strong NT, but it's a King weaker grizz: so responder must add 3 points to all his responses, compared with strong NT responses Socialdot: do you use it all the time rather than strong 1 nt? grizz: there are a couple ways to play it grizz: some play it all the time wwylie: we play weak nt here all the time - it's acol grizz: others play it only if NV wwylie: yes some play variable nt grizz: i play it with most of my favorite partners, and both V and NV grizz: anyway, all balanced minimum hands are opened 1NT wwylie: i like to play weak nt all the time grizz: and here is an example hand jacquiek: so why bother with systems.....p is just as strong or stronger than opener in order to reply? grizz: responder is frequently weaker grizz: though sometimes equally strong, and rarely stronger grizz: and if both hands are strong, it doesn't matter much which is concealed ydannac: how do you know if it is a weak or strong nt grizz: under new acbl rules, you must announce your range when bidding 1NT jacquiek: so it is kind of a preemptive bid. grizz: yes, there is a dramatic preemptive nature to the bid wwylie: i know some pairs - not many - that play the mini nt - 10 - 12 pts grizz: ops frequently scramble for a fit if they overcall, sometimes get too high jacquiek: so do you have to pick one or the other-strong or weak nt? How else would p know the diff? grizz: any minority opinions on best lead here? PedroG: 9-10 I've seen dae: w wouldn't transfer? dae: sorry grizz: you need to agree with pd on your NT range Socialdot: looks like a good lead to me ydannac: ok grizz: assume 15-17, unless you agree otherwise before the match jacquiek: i agree....what other lead is there? ydannac: k analisals: longest and strongest grizz: and N should not transfer to !d - need 6+ for that bluehi: sp or h dae: why wouldn't E open? wyoming33: no entries - how you going tog et in and play them if set them up grizz: ratty 12, 8 losers grizz: might open it, might not, depending on table feel dae: ty wyoming33: but what else to lead grizz: too many points in unsupported Q and J jacquiek: I wouldn't...what would be your rebid? grizz: 1NT, if you play weak NT grizz: otherwise 1NT rebid if possible, pass if not dae: that is why I thought E had bid the 1 nt Wayne_LV: I would open it 1!c all day and plan a rebid of 1NT .... playing 15-17NT grizz: very interesting play here grizz: If W has the K, it doesn't matter what E plays peterb370c: vg play grizz: The rule says that 3rd hand plays high unless there is an honor in dummy and a finessing position exists against that honor. grizz: First let's play it following the rule, and then go back and rethink the position. BILManager (Lobby): => Club: !D!DGrizz's Indy Tournament #650 begins in about 4 mins. Pleae register to play for Fun, $ prizes and BBO Masterpoints. The more that play, the bigger the prizes!H!H (Note you can register from a table where you are kibbing or playing by clicking on the Tournament Button to the right of the chat window) dae: "normally " take A and lead Q back with 2? grizz: end of problem for declarer wyoming33: right grizz: E has no more !ss, and W has no entry grizz: Declarers, this is a perfect example of how holdup plays work. grizz: Now let's go back and replay the hand, applying some clever bridge logic to the rule. BILAssist: super lesson mind if I take some of the enumerated points out and post them giving you, of course, full credit?? wwylie: the !D hook is safe to take ->BILAssist: of course! grizz: East has the balance of the E-W power, and can see that West cannot have a quick entry to his !s. grizz: So East creates an entry, by swindling South. grizz: Should South hold up? wyoming33: south afraid to hold up grizz: What if West started with the AJxxx and the !dK? wwylie: no grizz: Then a cold contract goes down. South cannot afford to hold up, unless he peeked. grizz: So South would like to hold up, but cannot afford to. wyoming33: should - but really cannot grizz: If he does you are playing at the wrong table, this guy should be playing for the Bermuda Bowl! wwylie: must take and hope for 4 -3 xfco: ty pete enjoyed grizz: This time when South runs the !D hook, East is prepared to continue !s and sink the contract. grizz: ok, that wraps it up for today, any questions? bluehi: tu wyoming33: no - thank you:) freckles36->Club: thanks Wanda310->Club: thanks Pete idee fixe: tyvm bluehi: see u sunday newaddict->Club: ty aries05: ty pete ->wyoming33: btw, these leads are straight out of Eddie Kantar, i can't take credit for them peterb370c: thnx, pete mei ann: ty pete PedroG: TY a lot Pete wyoming33: :) grizz: ok, gl to all and see you next week beryl8: !! ->beryl8: :) Wanda310: tks Pete analisals: thaks pete ->analisals: :) PedroG: :) cya ->Wanda310: :) grizz: bye now