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It’s not what “you” have…. What would normally have been a mundane game contract became a difficult challenge for the declarer in order to salvage a plus score after their partner bid rather aggressively. It is up to you... read more here

Disaster Defence. Today, there are no brilliancies but just a sad tale of all that could have gone wrong, which indeed did go wrong. Eventually, someone had to prosper by getting a good result. To start with, a defensive situation:... read more here

Trans- Tasman Challenge Week 2. The many roads to slam. Although a once a month event, this Friday night event of 16 board matches involving 9 New Zealand playing 9 Australian teams, featured for the second time in March on the last day of the... read more here

It’s Fri   Day. For Junior, Intermediate and Novice players…and others. Minors only if we must.  We learn early in our bridge careers that it can be easier to make 9 tricks in 3NT than 11 tricks with a minor suit as... read more here

Or is it? With nothing else to think about, think about it! That could certainly apply to today’s deal. You are there, presumably like every other pair, in your game contract. Without any further ado, plan your play. Well, you should... read more here

A Grand Time. Players are often wary of bidding grand slams…and with good cause. Barring bad breaks, you should be fairly sure of success before you bid to the 7 level. You should also be sure you are not off a cashing ace..and it always... read more here

Direct or Descriptive? A “pre-empting the opposition” type situation for today. The vulnerability is in our favour today and we have 11, at worst 10 trumps, between us. The only downside is that our suit is clubs, easy to bid over. We... read more here

  Searching for a Clue.  The guide-line for playing 6 of a suit contract, leaving aside shortages or long suits, is a minimum of 31 hcp. For 6NT to be bid, the recommendation is a minimum of 33hcp. So, those who stayed out of the slam... read more here

For Junior, Intermediate and Novice members…and others! It’s Fri day. Seems Automatic? The last thing you want to do as a defender is to help the declarer. Defence is not easy. You may have heard that before! You have to be alert... read more here

In Declarer’s Shoes. Can you be? Can you anticipate what is happening and what as a defender you should be doing? There’s not much to go on…or is there? South DealsN-S Vul ♠ 9 6 5... read more here

Which Way Ahead? We have a hand which in view of partner’s bidding may be best to bid to 3NT but also might be good for a diamond slam, what with all our aces. How to tread the middle line keeping both options open? That is the question. We... read more here

but for what? That may sum up today’s problem. We have a decent hand but where to go with it? No fit that we know about and no ability to bid no trumps. Where to go? It’s Teams with neither side vulnerable and the clock is ticking:... read more here

A “Grand” start to Trans-Tasman Challenge. It’s “grand” if you can bid it…and make it, too! A Trans- Tasman practice series started last Friday evening. Roughly once a month on Friday evenings, New Zealand... read more here

for Junior, Intermediate and Novice players...and others! It's Fri day.  Give it a Go, Joe..or Paddy ...today or any day! When your partner doubles 1 of a suit on the first round of bidding, it is for take-out. Leave the double in at your... read more here

John in conversation with Derek Frapwell and Bob Scott. Just a Chance. The passing of Alan Turner and John Wignall have made this a week of reflection and remembrance. In the last two days, we have remembered two stories about boards played by... read more here

Alan Turner along with Shirley Newton and Richard Solomonleading the way at a National Bridge Teachers' conference.  “And Speaking Of Gamblers” Today’s article, like yesterday’s, is dedicated to Alan Turner. It comes... read more here

John Wignall (1932-2023) John Wignall has been hugely influential on many aspects of the way we play bridge in New Zealand. He had a big impact on the game at the Christchurch Bridge Club, where he had been a member and played for almost 70... read more here

Today and tomorrow, I want to remember Alan Turner, a huge personality in so many aspects of our game. Tomorrow, we will also feature an obituary to Alan but today we have a deal in which Alan demonstrated his skill at the bridge table. Some hands... read more here

Two Wrongs do not make one right! It is a sad tale today, a tale of probably one wrong bid and then panic set in. Although our Panel seem fairly united in what should have happened, the story is, I believe, worth telling in case others fall into... read more here

for Junior, Intermediate and Novice players..and others! It's Fri day.  Never say “never”. There is a bridge saying (there are many bridge sayings!) “eight ever: nine never” which helps us to decide whether we... read more here

Expressway. There is often a catch when you are presented with a bridge problem. Otherwise, why would a fellow player give you the problem in the first place!? So, be careful before you answer the question below.      ... read more here

for Junior, Intermediate and Novice Players...and others! It's Fri   Day.  Good Bidding: Great Result. Today’s story is a happy story. For a start, it has a happy ending! However, in looking at the bidding and the play of... read more here

Common Sense: you are “counting” on it! A fairly common defensive situation today. It may only be a part-score but at the end of the match, those plus or minus 5 imps can have a big impact on the result. East DealsNone... read more here

Too Low, Joe! A problem for you today that occurred for many during the recent Gold Coast Congress. What action would you take at this point of the following auction? You are playing Pairs with only East-West vulnerable:  -... read more here

If only I Could, I surely would! Is it too much to ask for? A trump or two. A measly 3 or 4….not much to ask for…. Have you as declarer ever been told by your partner to draw the opponents’ trumps? Unless you have some... read more here

 Michael Ware, Brian Mace, Hugh McGann and Tom Jacob.  End of play and end-play at Gold Coast. Congratulations to the mainly Kiwi team of Hugh McGann, Michael Ware, Tom Jacob, Brian Mace and Matthew Thomson who finished runners-up in... read more here

Wrong but Right. That’s the theme behind today’s hand from the first day of the Teams event at the Gold Coast Congress. Can you envisage you can indeed be wrong but ultimately be right? Today’s hand follows up yesterday’s... read more here