Bols Bridge Tips

I've just read The 2nd Bols Book of Bridge Tips, by Andre Boekhorst. Each chapter is a short tip about some aspect of the game, by a leading expert. Here are my favourites:

The Five Level Belongs to the Opponents

By Ed Manfield.

Suppose you've bid something like 4♥, then the opponents bid 5♦. Rather than ploughing on with 5♥, prefer to pass or double. You only go on with a five over five bid with an exceptional hand, such as one with a void.

Picture the Original Shape

By Matthew Granovetter.

During the bidding and play, try and work out declarer's hand shape. It's easier to match declarer (and partner) to a particular hand pattern, 4-4-3-2, 5-4-3-1 etc., than counting up all the cards in each suit.

Don't Think, always duck a repeatable finesse

By Alfred Sheinwold.

Suppose that you are defending, and are about to win a finesse. Don't win it! If it's not going anywhere it's better to duck. This makes life harder for declarer, who might waste entries taking the finesse again.

	A Q J T
5 4		K 3 2
	9 8 7 6

For example, if you're sitting East you should duck the King without a second thought.

This works best in trumps, because you know you'll get the trick later. There are dangers - such as ducking the setting trick or ducking with Kx.

If they don't cover, they don't have it

By Zia Mahmood.

	J 5
	A K T 7 6 3

Suppose you lead the Jack from dummy, planning to finesse. East will play the Queen whenever he has it. So if East doesn't play the Queen, you can conclude he doesn't have it, and you play off the Ace-King instead. Occasionally, you'll drop a doubleton Queen with West.

Lead towards the closed hand if possible

By Tony Forrester.

	K Q x x x x
	-

It's much harder for the defence if you lead from dummy, towards your hand. If you have the suit above in dummy, and a void in hand, then it's best to lead a low one from dummy. East might well play the Ace, thinking perhaps you have a singleton Jack.

Second hand high, to cut off entries to long suit

By Eric Rodwell.

	A J T 9 x
K x x		Q x x
	x x

Suppose declarer has that big suit in dummy, and no other entries. When declarer first leads low from hand West should pop up with the King.

No talking at the table

By Kitty Bethe.

Don't discuss a hand afterwards, especially if it goes badly. It's better just to move on. Also, don't say anything when you put dummy down, such as "Could I have bid 2♠ instead?", as that will disrupt declarer's concentration. It's better to save the discussion until the end of the session.