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Now is the hour. Overbidding can sometimes be rewarded with a helpful dummy, maybe even helpful defence or a fortunate lie of the cards. On other occasions, you need to find some way to avoid the inevitable defeat. The dummy below was not all... read more here

It's Fri  Day... for Junior, Intermediate and Novice players....and others! A Valuable Asset? We are on lead again, in the spotlight but are not leading blind or in hope. There’s been a bit of bidding from our partner… and that... read more here

A “Maybe” Slam. When opener shows a minimum hand and the responder is in the “maybe slam” zone, it is good to keep the bidding as low as you can to see if a slam move is warranted. Today’s deal raises questions in... read more here

 A “No Go” Area? When the opposition show a flat 20-22 hcp hand to open the bidding, it is normally a “no go” area for the opposition. You would need something special to bid at the 3-level when 2NT is opened on your... read more here

may be easier! Easier than Declaring? If only we knew when that would be. When the opposition have bid aggressively and quickly to the 5-level, there is little time to decide. It’s Pairs and neither side is vulnerable. East... read more here

    New Zealand champion Pamela Livingston talks about finding your bridge passion and sharing that passion, why mentorship and access to resources are so important for the future of the game, and neurodiversity in... read more here

in the singular! Only One Loser. You certainly do not want that person to be you but that’s certainly the outcome you would like as you have propelled yourself to the 6-level and have bought yourself a not unreasonable dummy. “Fight... read more here

A Rare Opportunity. When the opportunity to use a rare bid that has been in your “system tool-box” for 100+ years  comes up, do remember to use it. A shame if you forget. The same applies to the play of a hand. Such opportunities... read more here

It's Fri Day... for Junior, Intermediate and Novice players..and others! Finding the Best Defence. Quite often in this feature, we focus on the declarer trying find ways they can best make their contract. Not, though, today. West players will,... read more here

It’s a tough game! “A Cruel Game”…but for whom? Matthew McManus was one of the winners in the early April Auckland Easter Teams. Today, we will see that Matthew is not just a top-class director but also a pretty fine... read more here

Not just one but…. Handling a double void. When today’s deal occurred, my right-hand opponent sitting in the South seat, turned to me saying he wished he could ask me what he should bid. So, it sounded like a problem….and it... read more here

An important lead. A lead problem for you today as we feature another key board from the third round of the Trans -Tasman Challenge. It’s OK. After a long competitive sequence, there are only four suits from which to choose!  ... read more here

Beware!  Alarm bells The third round of the Trans-Tasman Challenge took place last Friday evening with the Australian Senior 1 team still leading the way. The other team to have recorded three wins so far is the New Zealand Mixed 1,... read more here

For Junior, Intermediate, Novice players…and others! It’s Fri Day   Not in my Beginners’ Notes! The solution to today’s problem may surprise those who have been following NZ Bridge’s Beginners’... read more here

Nice one, Tony. Today, we celebrate one of the quiet workers of New Zealand Bridge, one of the most reliable of bridge personalities but one who shuns the limelight, Tony Morcom. For the whole of this century and many years before, Tony has... read more here

Almost! Not Quite a Claim! We love to bid slams though we also like a simple route to the 12 or 13 tricks we need once we get to play one. Nothing too complex, please. Well, that was not quite the situation looking at today’s deal from the... read more here

Pairs winners, Jeremy Fraser- Hoskin and Matt Brown with Regional President, Grant Jarvis. A Double for Matt. Congratulations to those successful in the Auckland Club’s Easter Congress. It was a particularly good weekend for Matt Brown,... read more here

For Junior, Intermediate and Novice Players…and others. Winners and Losers. When you are defending, you would like to win tricks whenever you can, ideally to prevent the declarer from making their contract. However, success can come in... read more here

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