Very nice explanation throughout the video. For me who always like to play safe, I would be happy with scoring by defending a 5C-double, rather than risking to lose the 5H contract.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video! Of course doubling them in 5C could be the correct choice, these things are often hard to judge. I often liken it is to those on old fashioned game shows: do you want to 'gamble' or 'take the money' (and then the crowd all shout to gamble!). Here bidding 5H is the 'gamble' hoping for a better score but running the risk of going down, and doubling 5C would be the 'take the money' option. Not easy to decide as I say! Dom
I came here after a basic rules video. As far as bidding strategy goes, I'm keeping up by running behind with a grip on the bumper. The play was pretty straightforward, but the most confusing part was each player keeping their cards after the trick. When the cards flip over my brain immediately throws out what they were and who won.
Keep at it! The short term memory of what cards have just gone dramatically improves after you have played a few hundred (or thousand!) hands. Cheers, Dom
Can anyone explain the decision at 16:30 to bid 5 hearts? It seems to have an awful risk/reward ratio. We are quite sure as west that 5 clubs is not going to make it, and we have to be quite lucky to make the 5 hearts ourselves? Or am I missing something?
Hiya, The decision here is based on the vulnerability. If they had chosen to defend 5C (doubled probably!) then, yes, it would almost certainly have gone down, but East-West not get 'as rich' that way. Even is North-South were to go 3 off in 5Cx, East-West would only score 500, which is not as good as the 650 they would get for making 5H. It is a risk to bid 5H, but a calculated one. It is a bit like in the old fashioned game shows, where contestants are asked to 'take the money' or 'gamble' and then the crowd would shout to gamble. Doubling 5C here would be 'taking the money' and bidding 5H is the 'gamble', but East-West stand to score handsomely if they can indeed make 11 tricks in hearts. Hope this helps, Dom
Thanks for your kind words, glad you enjoyed it. Yes, you are right the contract could be beaten but it would require incredibly psychic defence to do so. It first needs South to lead a diamond (and not the suit that their partner had bid on their own at the 5 level!) and then when North wins the AH they would then need to UNDERLEAD their AKQ of clubs over to South's Jack of clubs for South to then lead another diamond for North to ruff. This defence is so psychic that I would be convinced my opponents were cheating if they came up with it! Cheers, Dom
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Very nice explanation throughout the video.
For me who always like to play safe, I would be happy with scoring by defending a 5C-double, rather than risking to lose the 5H contract.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video!
Of course doubling them in 5C could be the correct choice, these things are often hard to judge. I often liken it is to those on old fashioned game shows: do you want to 'gamble' or 'take the money' (and then the crowd all shout to gamble!). Here bidding 5H is the 'gamble' hoping for a better score but running the risk of going down, and doubling 5C would be the 'take the money' option. Not easy to decide as I say!
Dom
Oh and also, see my reply to @fdcrat's comment below for my explanation as to my reasoning for bidding 5H instead of doubling their 5C.
Dom
Too much fun! I'll catch up with you in about a thousand hands.
Warren Buffett always mentions bridge, I had to learn a thing or two. In Iran we have a game that has similarities to bridge and it's called Hokm
I came here after a basic rules video. As far as bidding strategy goes, I'm keeping up by running behind with a grip on the bumper. The play was pretty straightforward, but the most confusing part was each player keeping their cards after the trick. When the cards flip over my brain immediately throws out what they were and who won.
Keep at it! The short term memory of what cards have just gone dramatically improves after you have played a few hundred (or thousand!) hands.
Cheers,
Dom
Simplistic means over simple. It is nice and simple
Can anyone explain the decision at 16:30 to bid 5 hearts? It seems to have an awful risk/reward ratio. We are quite sure as west that 5 clubs is not going to make it, and we have to be quite lucky to make the 5 hearts ourselves? Or am I missing something?
Hiya,
The decision here is based on the vulnerability. If they had chosen to defend 5C (doubled probably!) then, yes, it would almost certainly have gone down, but East-West not get 'as rich' that way. Even is North-South were to go 3 off in 5Cx, East-West would only score 500, which is not as good as the 650 they would get for making 5H. It is a risk to bid 5H, but a calculated one.
It is a bit like in the old fashioned game shows, where contestants are asked to 'take the money' or 'gamble' and then the crowd would shout to gamble. Doubling 5C here would be 'taking the money' and bidding 5H is the 'gamble', but East-West stand to score handsomely if they can indeed make 11 tricks in hearts.
Hope this helps,
Dom
This was posted a long time ago, but I enjoyed your explanations. Such videos are worth recommending. By the way, the contract could have beaten 🙂
Thanks for your kind words, glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, you are right the contract could be beaten but it would require incredibly psychic defence to do so. It first needs South to lead a diamond (and not the suit that their partner had bid on their own at the 5 level!) and then when North wins the AH they would then need to UNDERLEAD their AKQ of clubs over to South's Jack of clubs for South to then lead another diamond for North to ruff. This defence is so psychic that I would be convinced my opponents were cheating if they came up with it!
Cheers,
Dom
@@learnmodernbridge101 Yes, indeed. That's why I added the smiley.
16 points and a fit just bid game. Shut out the opponents and a good chance it makes.
🎉
There are no losing diamonds so considering ditching a diamond loser on the last club return doesn’t make sense.