10 More Ways to Improve Your Bridge (Master Bridge Series)

In the area of bidding, the Jacoby 2NT convention is described—the most popular way of showing a strong major-suit raise and investigating slam possibilities. When bidding slams, it is critical to identify the presence or otherwise of the six key cards—the four aces and the kingqueen of trumps. Roman Key-card Blackwood allows you to do this. Two important variations, Kickback Blackwood and Exclusion Blackwood, and the Lebenshol convention are explained. On defense, the important topic of disrupting declarer's communications is explained. The book will also show how to become an "awkward defender," the sort of player that no declarer likes to face. Finally, five important areas of declarer play are addressed: holding up in a suit contract, using the entries provided by the trump suit, how to block the defenders' suit at no-trumps, the various ways to avoid an adverse ruff or overruff, and how to overcome a 4–1 trump break.