Title Guide to Better Bridge - Ron Klinger (1991, Std. American).pdf ✅

THE BASICS The following material is assumed to be known before you start on the Guide. Hand Valuation : High card points (HCP, : A =4 K=3 Q=2 J=l Distributional points after a trump fit has been found : Void = 5 Singleton = 3 Doubleton = I Hand Shapes : Balanced patterns : 4-3-3-3 4-4-3-2 5-3-3-2 — No void, no singleton, not 2 doubletons Semi-balanced patterns : 5-4-2-2 6-3-2-2 7-2-2-2 — No void, no singleton, 2 or 3 doubletons Unbalanced patterns : All other patterns. Unbalanced patterns all contain at least 1 void or 1 singleton. Points needed for games : 3 NT or 4 ' or 4^ : 26 points For 54» or 5 . : 29 pwLnts Points for slams : Small slam any 6-contract) : 33 points Grand slam (any 7-contract) : 37 f>oints Trumps needed for games and slams : ,At least an 8-card trump fit is required Opening the bidding: 0-12 points: Pass 12-21 pxjints: Op)en with 1-bid 21-up: Open with 2-bid Which suit to open : VC'hen holding a 5-card or longer suit, all systems stipulate : Bid the longer suit first; with 5-5 or 6-6 patterns, bid the higher- ranking suit first ^Tien holding a 4-4-3-2, 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-4-1 pattern (no 5-card suit), diiferent systems have different requirements. VC'ith 5-card-majors-better-minor, open the longer minor, but with 4-4 in the minors open 1 and with 3-3 in the minors, open \Jf», regardless ofsuit quaUiy. The 14* and 1 "better minor" openings are not forcing and partner is expected to pass 14» or 1 '. with less than 5 points. In Goren with 4-card suits, the 4-3-3-3 is usually opened 14* and the 4-card suit below the short suit is opened with a 4-4-4-1 or a 4-4-3-2 pattern. In modem style playing 4-card majors, 4-card suits are bid up-the-hne, but with a 4-4-4-1, open the middle suit with a black singleton and open the suit below the singleton with a red singletoa INT opening : 16-18 points, balanced shape 2NT opening : 22-24 points, balanced shape 3NT opening : 25-27 points, balanced shap)e With 12-15 balanced : Open with 1-in-a-suit and rebid no-trumps at the cheapest possible level With 19-21 balanced : Op>en with 1-in-a-suit and rebid with a jump in no-trumps. Responding to a suit opening : Single raise = 6-10 INT response = 6-10 1-level suit reply shows 6-18 points and is forcing. 2-level suit reply shows 10-18 points and is forcing. Jumjvshift shows 19 points or more. Jump-raise = 13 jx)ints up, game force 2NT response = 13-15, balanced 3NT response = 16-18 points balanced Responder's change of suit is forcing (unless responder is a passed hand or there has been a INT bid in the auction^. Responding to INT : With a balanced hand, pass with 0-7, bid 2NT with 8-9, 3NT with 10-14 and explore slam with 15 or more. With an unbalanced hand, bid a suit at the 2-level with 0-7 points, jump to the 3-level or to game with a long suit and 8 HCP or more. Any suit bid over 1 NT shows a 5-card suit at leasL Responding to 2 NT : With a balanced hand, pass with 0-2 points, bid 3 NT with 3-8 points and explore slam with 9 points or more. The 2NT" opening is not forcing but any reply commits the partnership to game. A suit bid at the 3-level shows a 5-card suit and is forcing 4N"T Blackwood Convention asking for aces : 54* = or 4 aces 5'. = lace 5 = 2 aces ? = 3 aces. .After the reply to 4NT, a bid of 5 NT asks for kings : 64* = kings 6 = Iking 6 :' =2 kings 6<|fc = 3 kings 6NT = 4 kings. Overcalls : A suit overcall at the 1-level shows a strongyTve-card or longer suit and 8-15 HCP. A suit overcall at the 2-level (not a jump overcall) shows a strong/Tve-card or longer suit and 10-15 HCP. The INT o%ercall shows 16-18 points, balanced shape and at least 1 stopper in their suit Doubles at the 1-level or 2-level are for takeout if partner has not bid, but a double of INT or 2NT is for penalties. Leads : Top fi-om a sequence of3 or more cards as long as the sequence contains at least 1 honour. 4th-highest fi-om a long suit with no sequence. Top from a doubleton. Middle-up-down fi-om 3 rags. Signals : High-low is encouragmg on partner's lead or as a discard Lowest card is discouraging.
GUIDE TO BETTER BRIDGE Ron Klinger For those who ab-eady know how to play bridge but need to grasp the fundamentals ofsound bidding and sound play, Bridge Basics is the answer. The Guide To Better Bridge is addressed to the vast majority who are ready and keen to rise above the basics. There is a higher plane to which players should aspire after they have managed to handle the early part ofthe auctioa To reach the best contract time and time again, to understand and co-operate with partner, to get the most out ofyour cards . . . these are the objectives which the Guide To BetterBridge will help you to achieve. If you are able to master even 50% of the material in this book, your results will reflect your enhanced expertise. We all like to win, and win regularly. There is a euphoria in wiiming at bridge that cannot be matched and with the knowldge contained in the Guide To Better Bridge^ you will be on the road to winning more often. Even if your efforts are not crowned with success every time, you will certainly find that you are doing much better and consequently your extra confidence will be reflected by a significant improvement in the results you have been able to manage so far. While the Guide To BetterBridge emphasises better bidding, each chapter also contains examples ofplay. These incorporate the bidding principles ofthe chapter and also highlight many areas ofwinning declarer technique and defense. The book can be used by teachers conducting intermediate courses or as a self-teacher. Each chapter contains plentifiil exercises and partnership bidding practice. At the end of each section, a revision test enables the reader to measure the rate of progress. Ron Klingerfirst playedfor Australia in 1970 when he was a member ofthe team that won the Far East Open Teams Championship. Since then he has competed in the world championships in 1976, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1989. He won the Far East Open Pairs Championship in 1985 and again in 1987. He was a memberofthe Australian team which reached the semifinals of the 1989 Bermuda Bowl World Teams Championship. In addition to the many state and national titles to his credit, he is an Australian Grandmaster and a World Bridge Federation International Master. The Guide To Better Bridge has been compiledfrom his many successful intermediate to advanced classes conducted over the past twenty years.
Other books by Ron Klinger published by Houghton Mifflin Company Bridge Basics Guide to Better Card Play By Hugh Kelsey and Ron Klinger Instant Guide to Bridge