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Carefully Does It. Maybe only two losers in your major suit game. That sounds not too hard an ask. However, we did say "maybe". "Maybe", there could be one or two more lurking. "Carefully does it."   South DealsE-W Vul... read more here

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. All you need is one finesse to work and then you can claim your 9 tricks and move on (maybe with an overtrick on a good day!). Both opponents are in the bidding. Both could have the missing king. You know... read more here

Michael Miles: original show compere. “Open the Box”..or “Take the Money”. Am I showing my age in quoting from a very old English television game show called “Take Your Pick” where contestants were given the... read more here

A Rightful Reason? A little look at defending a part-score, today and, in particular, in what you would lead at trick 1. Just a simple no -trump opening and a transfer. No help from your partner. No stand-out obvious lead. So, anything could be... read more here

Making the most of good fortune. You escaped the lead which would defeat your slightly ambitious contract. Yet, the contract failed, partly through sensible defence, partly because of a bad break in a side suit and partly because the declarer... read more here

“DODGING BULLETS.” A mild auction, at least initially but it “hots up”. Today’s deal focuses initially on what your partner might expect from support of their overcall and whether a decision to double the opponents... read more here

    Danger: Beware! It is not that the path you are walking on is slippery. You are safe at the bridge table!  It is that the finesse you are about to take would end the hopes of making your contract if it fails.  ... read more here

A Strange Choice? How can a decision seem both obvious and yet very strange? Such are the mysteries conjured up by bridge bidding. On one hand, the bid I chose (yes, I own up before anyone else is tainted with the decision!) seemed obvious and on... read more here

BOLDNESS PAYS. It does not always. You make an attacking lead and immediately, you know that it is an absolute disaster. Sit there and wait to score your honours and you will be rewarded. Sometimes. The trick is to know when to wait and when to... read more here

Not so strong any more. You start off with a more than decent hand, a solid suit, top honours in a second, and a void as well. However, by the time your partner has not only bid this void suit, but gone on to suggest slam in that suit, you must... read more here

Entry to the “Club”s When you are setting up a long suit in a weak hand, you must be very mindful of entries to that hand. "Being mindful"means taking small risks that a suit will not break too badly to ensure that you make the... read more here

Follow Suit? Actually, you cannot because it is the fourth round the club suit has been played and everyone followed to the first three rounds. So, you just have to find one discard.Only one. Surely, that cannot be too painful?  ... read more here

“Don’t put all your eggs in just one basket”. Options…keeping them open for as long as you can. If you do not succeed at first, then perhaps you can try again. Once you commit down one road, it may be impossible to turn... read more here

                 The auction..that is! Reopening Issues. How and when to reopen in the balancing position? What to do when partner does reopen with a double? These... read more here

“Rock Crushers”. During the course of a bridge competition, you pick up some fairly dull 2 or 3 counts, some with a bit more interest, even a few opening hands and just occasionally one that stands out from the rest. Like the one... read more here

Unforeseen Danger. A play problem for today. You receive a pretty friendly lead to your game contract. It should be an easy make…should be. Sometimes players can take their mind off the ball…. East DealsNone Vul... read more here

How high and how? The opposition are not giving you an easy run. Vulnerability is in their favour and you have managed one bid and you are already at the 5-level for your next. The first decision to make is whether you should “take the... read more here