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Michaels Achilles. Most players use some form of Michaels Cue Bids even if it is only jumping to 2NT to show length in both minor suits. It can be really handy to identify two suits in one bid. We like both suits to be of at least 5-cards long as... read more here

Paula Boughey and Duncan Badley Four suits bid. There are the mundane bridge deals, fought out between two sides in the part-score zone or maybe an uncontested part-score or game contract but then there are others where there is lots of... read more here

Setsuko Lichtnecker and Peer Bach. Favourites off the pace in the National Swiss Pairs. 12 by 9 board rounds of Swiss Pairs produced surprising but worthy winners in the National Swiss Pairs this last weekend at the Auckland Bridge Club. There... read more here

For Junior, Intermediate and Novice players…and others. It’s Fri day. What double means. One of the difficulties of the bid “double” is that it means different things at different times of an auction. When the... read more here

Wrong: for sure. Two defenders took the same route on the same deal, a route they knew could not benefit their side. There was another way which might not be so wrong as unlikely as it might seem. On this deal, both South declarers had played... read more here

Regional President, Mairi Fitzsimons at the prize-giving.  In memory of Zelda. The 10A Zelda Morris Central Districts Pairs was held on the 29th and 30th of October at the Havelock North Bridge Club. Club President, Graham Potter,... read more here

for partner. Reopening doubles? I am curious about reopening doubles. In olden days…well, a few years back…you reopened because you were short in the opponent’s suit and therefore had four cards in the other major. If you did... read more here

Where is she? The search for the queen. You have all the aces, all the kings, and a couple of significant queens. You even have the jack of a significant side-suit. You have a 9-card trump fit and drawing the missing trumps is not to be a... read more here

For Junior, Intermediate and Novice players …and others. It’s Fri day. Choice! You might use that word colloquially when partner puts down a good dummy! Yet, it has another meaning. What is your next bid with the following hand?... read more here

On presentation of Life Membership to NZ Bridge at the 2018 National Congress with the then Mayor of Hamilton, Andrew King and NZ Bridge Chairman, Allan Morris. A tribute to a gentleman: Robin Young. As we stated last week, Robin Young passed... read more here

Celebration Time at Hamilton. Labour Weekend was celebration time at the Hamilton Bridge Club, albeit just a little late as the club turned 70 last year though celebrations had to be delayed until this year. As well as the usual three days of... read more here

for Junior, Intermediate and Novice players..and others: it's Fri  day.  Even when it’s right, it’s wrong! When we start playing, we learn that a 2-level opening suit bid, other than 2, shows a 6-card suit and 6-10 high... read more here

The Dreaded Two-Way! The wrong way and you are down! That two-way finesse. There’s evidence for taking it either way and yet one way is wrong. The only good thing is you do not have to apologize in advance of going down. Save the... read more here

Les Gould...collecting a prize for a tournament success. Two well-known bridge players and personalities have passed in the last few weeks. They are Robin Young of the Marlborough Bridge Club, who was a Life Member of New Zealand Bridge and Les... read more here

An Imperfect Double. As with yesterday’s deal, today’s came from last Friday’s Trans- Tasman Challenge. There was an immediate “challenge” for many of the 18 West players.   Board 13North... read more here

Trans- Tasman – Round 8. Fast and Very Slow Arrival! The 8th Round of the Trans- Tasman took place last Friday night. With just one round left, these are the current leading positions. Round 7   Round 7 Round 8... read more here

It’s Fri-   Day ….for Junior, Intermediate and Novice players…and others! Rule-breaking? It’s time to revisit one of the initial guidelines we learnt about responding to our partner’s 1-level opening suit... read more here

But start well, too! Start well: end well. Like our declarer when today’s board was played, you would not want to be recording a minus score, would you? Chances of success went from moderate to poor but you could still emerge with 9 tricks... read more here

Three Way: Three Wrong. It’s one of those familiar situations today. Do you bid on, double or pass…and it is one of those deals where there has been very little passing to date! Take a look:      ... read more here

Carefully does it. Sometimes, when you are in 3NT, 9 tricks stare at you in the face. On other occasions, you have to be a little careful…and then there are deals where they appear to stare at you but you must still be a little careful!... read more here

For Junior, Intermediate and Novice players….and many others! “Bread and Butter”. So, you think bridge bidding is all about making and defeating games and slams? This next piece may get you thinking again especially if you... read more here

Anthony Ker The Practice Finesse. Kathy and Anthony Ker had a fine Congress especially in the New Zealand Open Pairs where they finished runners-up. Today, we see Anthony at work though this occurred at the back end of the week.... read more here

Wishing and a’hoping! Well, we all do that when we make an opening lead. For most of the time, we wish and hope that our lead is not the only one which allows the contract to make…or that we do not suffer the agony of leading away... read more here

A “Week-full” of Bridge. Another National Congress has come to an end, successful for a few, hopefully enjoyable for many. There were around 630 players who took part at some point during the 8 days of bridge. For Ashley Bach and... read more here

Strong Jumps may not be but our National Congress is certainly here! If you are reading this bridge column, you will surely be aware that this Saturday sees the start of the 2023 National Bridge Congress at Bay Park, Mt Maunganui. There will be 8... read more here

  Five before Nine. Today’s battle is a familiar one with declarer looking for an extra trick in their 3NT contract while yours is to find five for the defence before they do so. Let’s start at trick 1: North... read more here

Kiwis v Australia: Match 7. The Trans -Tasman Challenge has been played out on line roughly once a month this year between New Zealand and Australian teams. Each New Zealand team (and vice versa) plays each of the 9 teams from the other country... read more here