grizz: Hi everybody, thanks for attending another in a series of lessons on Defense. 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 at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com. 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: Archives of previous sessions are available at GrizzBridge.com, on the Lessons and Archives page located at: http://www.grizzbridge.com/Lessons_and_Archives.php grizz: More than 50 sessions logged there now, with lots of good information. 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: If I forget a question while answering another, please remind me. grizz: I encourage participation by all kibitzers grizz: So jump right in with a comment, question, or bid at any time, but please do so in open chat. grizz: There are only 5 basic types of defensive strategy at the beginning of a hand. grizz: These concepts are out of the book "How The Experts Win At Bridge" by Burt Hall and Lynn Rose-Hall, the Bridge Book of the Year in 1997. grizz: By way of review, and for those who are new here, the 5 lines of defense are: grizz: 1. Force declarer to ruff, and lose control of his own trump suit. grizz: 2. Active defense, go get your own tricks. grizz: 3. Passive defense, let the lead come to you. grizz: 4. Reduce ruffs. grizz: 5. Create trump tricks. grizz: Again, if you need review on the 5 Lines of Defense check out http://www.grizzbridge.com/Lessons_and_Archives.php grizz: Scroll down the page until you find those lessons under the BIL listings. grizz: Briefly, here are the lead guidelines for each of these different strategies. grizz: 1. Forcing defense - lead your side's strongest suit. grizz: 2. Active defense - also, lead your side's strongest suit. grizz: 3. Passive defense - top of a sequence, or a worthless suit grizz: 4. Reduce ruffs - lead a trump grizz: 5. Creating trump tricks - lead from your own or toward partner's shortness grizz: So choosing a lead depends on what your defensive game plan is, referring back to the 5 Lines of Defense. grizz: When you know WHAT you intend to accomplish, it is easier to decide HOW to get it done. grizz: This week we are going to continue looking at example hands and auctions, consider defensive plans and choose leads. grizz: These example hands are not predealt, they are random. grizz: So I have not analyzed them, rather we are all looking at them for the first time. grizz: The bidding will be done by the bots, though I must sit in one of the seats during play to control the pace. grizz: I have no idea who the declarer will be or which seat will be on lead, so you may kibitz all 4 hands. grizz: We will put our heads together and come up with a defensive strategy based on the auction, the hand on lead, and the 5 Lines of Defense. grizz: I will try to remember to insert the board numbers in the Chat Log, so you can match up the log with the hands file in the future. grizz: If you wonder what a GIB bid means, click on it. grizz: Cassina246: what does 4 !ds mean? Manso21: Splinter Cassina246: oh yes. grizz: right grizz: splinter is a fit-showing bid, that also shows a singleton or void in the bid suit grizz: which does a couple other things too grizz: splinter shows trump support, usually 4 but might be only 3 grizz: and the splinter also locates your side suit honors in the other 2 suits grizz: so pard can re-evaluate his hand for side suit fits grizz: in case slam is possible grizz: here the splinter makes pard re-evaluate his hand downward grizz: with no supporting honors in my hand, those !d minor honors are worthless grizz: except for ruffs grizz: ok, before i bid let's talk about what the EW defense plan should be grizz: the splinter announces shortness, and most of the time it's a singleton grizz: so if the defense is entitled to a trick in that suit, they better grab it right away. Manso21: should try !S lead but not in this one grizz: so that is a form of Active Defense grizz: a !s lead might cut down on !d ruff grizz: s grizz: but E does not worry about his AK getting ruffed out, with xxx behind them grizz: so a big !d lead is indicated here grizz: and E can then watch for a Suit Preference signal from W Manso21: why not A!H ruff 1!H then expass a!D ? grizz: that's how i would play it, but i'm dummy on this one grizz: any questions on the defense here? norrito1: 3!D said? wyoming33: according to DD - !C lead sets it grizz: could be, but i don't think so - bestmammaw: could you explain the suit preference Manso21: no ruffs with natural !S wyoming33: but think !D lead natural even given the splinter grizz: if E gets a !c ruff, then does not get the Q as a natural trick wyoming33: thats just what DD said grizz: y, nearly all players will lead the suit of the splinter so that trick doesn't go away grizz: ok, a kib asks about the Suit Preference signal grizz: so let's back up a step Manso21: on roman will discard 2!D asking !C grizz: 3rd hand's first duty is to give Attitude on pard's led suit grizz: what did W play at Trick 1, i missed it? Manso21: 3!D spum1: 2!d norrito1: 3D! norrito1: 3!D wyoming33: count I guess pzee: !d3 grizz: ok, thx norrito1: SP ?????????? grizz: anyway, first duty is Attitude acon: why lead Kd- I th. lead A from AK grizz: where Attitude is known or clearly irrelevant, then 3rd hand gives a Suit Preference signal grizz: and when dummy is void, attitude is clearly irrelevant grizz: unless dummy is void in trumps too grizz: so 3rd hand gives the SP signal, where low card= low suit grizz: high spot card = high suit norrito1: so2!D' grizz: so a low !d shows interest in !cs grizz: any other questions? wyoming33: there is a lot of difference of opinion of leads and signaling it seems - Kantar says show attitude, count, and preference in that order norrito1: so nOT 3!D? grizz: that is the standard order - you would give Attitude the first time the suit is led, grizz: Count on the second round grizz: and SP on the 3rd grizz: but that does not apply when there is a void in dummy grizz: that is an opportunity for a SP signal wyoming33: agree but dont think the 3 was a preference signal shraeye: Small question. Would we get more out of this lesson if we kibitz just your hand, or the whole board? ->shraeye: best to watch all hands grizz: seems to be a combination signal, both count and SP - but those are dangerous wyoming33: not sure the gibs are finely enough tuned grizz: maybe not grizz: there are ways to give combination signals, but for the basics you only give one signal at a time grizz: so you need to know when to give and to look for each kind grizz: the most important question at Trick 1 is whether to continue the suit or switch grizz: either right then, or later when the defense gets in grizz: and the Attitude signal answers that question grizz: playing standard signals, a high spot encourages that suit, and a low one denies interest grizz: btw, here are two common misconceptions about the signal grizz: the encouraging signal does NOT necessarily show that 3rd hand has an honor - grizz: only that 3rd hand thinks that 1st hand should continue that suit grizz: so if #1 is leading from AK and pard plays high, do NOT play pard for the Q! grizz: second misconception is about a discouraging signal grizz: that means that pard wants a switch grizz: and does not necessarily deny a high card in the first suit! grizz: why would pard signal for a switch when he has an honor? there may be an obvious shift grizz: such and KJx in dummy grizz: when 3rd hand has AQ behind it grizz: and pard wants that shift NOW! grizz: or pard may be void in another suit, and wants a ruff grizz: or pard may have a lot of them, and know that declarer is short grizz: or may not want to set up a slow winner in dummy grizz: point is, there are many reasons why 3rd hand may want a switch grizz: and good partnership defense depends on giving and watching for these signals grizz: so the normal order of signals is Attitude first, Count second, and SP last grizz: or Attitude on the first trick, Count on the 2nd, and SP later grizz: the exception to that is when Attitude is known, or clearly irrelevant, as when there is a void in dummy grizz: then we skip the Count and go right to SP, because Count is already known or also clearly irrelevant :) grizz: any other questions? grizz: before we leave this topic, let me confuse the issue just a little lol grizz: these a Standard signals Manso21: isnt good idea to lead trumps after a Slinter? grizz: depends Manso21: not with Qxx but xxx grizz: could be grizz: but in a splinter situation, they may have secondary fits grizz: and can pitch the stiff on a side suit grizz: so the larger danger - USUALLY - is that the trick will go away if the defense doesn't grab it right away grizz: so if opening leader has AK in that suit, the lead is nearly automatic grizz: and when leader has Qxx in trumps, the trump lead doesn't look so good grizz: but the only 2 logical leads in a splinter auction are Active in the short suit, or Reduce Ruffs grizz: i was about to say that the order of these signals is standard - Attitude, Count, SP grizz: but by partnership agreement you can decide on different order grizz: some players are obsessed with Count, and demand that pard show count first always grizz: and a few like SP at Trick 1, so they know where to attack later grizz: but most players use standard signals, if they use signals at all - grizz: and Attitude, Count and SP is the standard order of preference grizz: a kib asks - "Hi would not 4d promise 4tr or not after 2s ? ty" grizz: usually a splinter shows 4, but with Hxx and a void 3 is enough grizz: btw, 2!s did not guarantee 6+ grizz: but did not rule it out either grizz: any other questions? grizz: on to the next one then grizz: guyb2: Would you comment on the value of UDCA grizz: sure, i like UDCA - Upside Down Count and Attitude grizz: the value is that you don't waste 3rd round winners giving signals grizz: and when playing against newbies, they sometimes get confused by the nonstandard signals Dianne0516: shame on you for taking advantage of newbies :) grizz: but a surprisingly high number of good players uses standard signals grizz: or UDCA only with regular partners grizz: after a while you can adapt to anything grizz: i have one regular pard who plays upside down attitude but standard count, and that used to throw me off stride :) grizz: but after 3 years of playing with her, i pretty much do it right now grizz: that system is fairly common in europe and the former british colonies grizz: one other comment about UDCA vs standard grizz: when it comes to NT contracts, whether you play standard or UDCA, you tend to give negative signals in suits you don't want grizz: rather than positive signals in suits you like grizz: because NT is all about long suits and side entries grizz: you want to hang onto those long cards, they will be winners if you can get in grizz: well, this one is not too tough :) grizz: this hand is over Manso21: ???allways 6 here grizz: true, but misfit slams are darn hard to bid grizz: since this is a lesson on leads, let's talk about that some more grizz: if pard opens a suit and you are on lead, you should be inclined to lead it unless there is some reason to do something else grizz: when pard overcalls a suit, you should be STRONGLY inclined to lead that suit, unless there is a COMPELLING reason not to grizz: void, for instance - that is forgivable spum1: could you explain meaning of comments on BOT's bids? grizz: the bots play 2/1, and you can click on their bids for an explanation of each one grizz: though sometimes they explain it correctly, but make a dumb bid anyway lol Campus61: but the often lie grizz: y, they often lie Dianne0516: can they see all hands? grizz: and they false card a lot on defense grizz: but they do not play as if they can see all the cards spum1: N bid, 3rd comment 21 HCP grizz: if you rent the bots you can ask for a double-dummy analysis at any time, and they WILL look at all the hands grizz: but during normal play, they don't cheat grizz: click on the 3!s bid please everybody, and i will explain the cursory description Dianne0516: I have seen the same hands bid differently by them a lot--help :) grizz: Default response, that means what it says grizz: tends to deny a !c fit grizz: and tends to show 6+ grizz: though it might not, if no other convenient bid is available grizz: "21- HCP" means that W has 21 or fewer grizz: with 22+, W would have opened 2!c grizz: "12-22" points means 12-22 points including distribution, with !s as trumps grizz: HCP being just 4321 points for the honors grizz: i cannot explain the bot bids except to decipher the crytic explanations grizz: and frequently i disagree with them grizz: sometimes the bots bid the same hand differently on replay grizz: and sometimes they make some really goofy bids grizz: but the explanations are usually right on target grizz: btw, there is no disgrace in missing a 19 hcp slam!!! grizz: this hand is a freak with outside controls, and the "book" just doesn't handle this kind of hand well grizz: and few human pairs would find the slam either grizz: even Precision pairs would have a tough one here guyb2: would you exlain the 3!c explanation grizz: "Free bid" means that E was not forced to bid - therefore it is a free bid grizz: and when you make a bid when you are not forced to bid, then you must have something to say Dianne0516: Can't 3 spades be passed out, or is 3 clubs forcing to game? grizz: so E is a passed hand but has 11 points (according to the explanation) grizz: and rebiddable !cs grizz: so 5+, with at least 1 honor guyb2: yes but the HCP does not seem correct and why rebiddable grizz: in standard methods a free bid shows a good suit and a decent hand at the 3 level grizz: so the free bid tends to be almost forcing grizz: nearly 100% forcing, but not entirely grizz: you may have heard the term "negative free bid" grizz: that is a nonstandard but perfectly legitimate treatment grizz: where an unforced bid might be on junk wyoming33: by a passed hand - I wouldnt consider it forcing grizz: a kib asks, what is a forced bid? grizz: example - grizz: 1!C-X-P-? grizz: the X is a Takeout Double grizz: showing shortness in !cs, and support in each of the other unbid suits, at least 3+ grizz: it is NOT for penalty grizz: so 4th hand is forced to bid grizz: even if he has 0 points grizz: but that is the only example of a forced bid that i can think of grizz: any other questions? onoway: new suit or new minor? Dianne0516: Can't pass 2 !c out :) grizz: y, there are a few grizz: some 2/1 treatments are forcing, like 1NT, New Minor or 4th Suit wyoming33: LOL - new suits by responder are forcing - grizz: but otherwise there are very few forced bids grizz: but that was to illustrate the meaning of "free bid" grizz: which is the opposite of a forced bid grizz: Do we have any final questions? grizz: That concludes today's lesson, and next week we will have more quiz hands on opening leads. grizz: If anybody needs help retrieving the hand records or chat log, please email me at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com. 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: Thanks for your interest and participation, and I hope to see you next week. Dianne0516: Thanks Grizz :) grizz: Thanks also to Maureen, Rosemary, Fred and the wonderful people at BBO who make this all possible. ladygolf: thanks Pete:) spum1: thanks pete grizz: Thanks all for coming, i'll see you in a week grizz: Bye now