Latest News

The Unlikely Game. For the second day running, we have been dealt a very decent hand. Whereas yesterday, our opponents may have stayed silent, today they are having a big say in the auction.   We asked our Panel whether they agreed... read more here

Two Good Hands: Part One. You like good hands? Yes, really good ones! Well, then you will enjoy today’s and tomorrow’s articles. Today’s may have some opposition interference. Tomorrow’s will. It was a shame that no pair... read more here

Is there one here? Grand Designs. Jack James and GeO Tislevoll have been playing a bit together recently including in last weekend’s North Island Pairs. They qualified comfortably after Day 1 though were not so successful in the Final on... read more here

Ashley Bach and Nick Jacob with Regional Chair Person, Hamish Brown.  Family 1-2 in North Island Pairs. It was son beating father in this year’s North Island Pairs held at the Auckland Bridge Club with Nick Jacob and Ashley Bach... read more here

The Time to Finesse. For Junior and Intermediate players..and others. It’s Fri Day. Most players, after a little coaching, can take a simple finesse where you are missing just one honour which you hope will not win a trick. Some... read more here

Trouble at the One Level. We think of large penalties occurring when we get to a highish level and suits break badly. There certainly can be some large penalties extracted this way. However, the opening of one’s mouth at the 1-level can be... read more here

Mixed Messages. Something went wrong in the communication between the defenders on this deal. Would it have happened to you?   2 was a Weak 2. When on initial lead, West reasoned that if their partner held A, they were always going to... read more here

Good Technique? With today’s deal, there was pressure on the declarer to get the basics right and on the defence to give the declarer a chance to go wrong. No catches. What’s your plan when you first see your dummy? 1NT is... read more here

Forcing Bids and Major Suits! For Novice, Junior, Intermediate players.. and others..it's Fri  Day When the following auction ended rather abruptly, I felt that a few basic bidding principles should be revisited. What would you bid... read more here

How golden is silence? Whenever there is an opportunity to compete with very little, we seem to be green and the opponents are red! Not so, today! Would you take a bid at adverse vulnerability with the following? If so, what? You have... read more here

Remembering Stephen Lester. Last Saturday saw the passing of a top Australasian bridge player, Stephen Lester. Stephen was part of the bridge scene in and around Auckland in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He first got hooked on the game when... read more here

or both? Constructive or Destructive? We will reveal all at the end but in the meantime, let’s see how our Panel handles a situation where they are not sure whose hand this really is.   Teams is the game and we have at least a... read more here

Aggression or be A Fortunate Slam? Would you open the hand below, in second seat? There is also the question of what you would open. I would suggest what you choose will determine the final level you declare. It is a hand with potential... read more here

Take-Out Doubles are for? For Junior and Intermediate players…and others. It’s Fri Day! Normally, a take-out double asks one’s partner to bid their longest suit, maybe no-trumps with a hold in the opponent's suit. Yet,... read more here