New Website
My new site, bridgeforeveryone.com, is now running. Click here to access:
Bridge for Everyone
I am offering two lengthy New York Times style article, which subscribers receive on Monday and Thursday. Also, there is a daily quiz question. Monday through Saturday are bidding quizzes, in theory getting harder as the week progresses. On Sunday, one gets a declarer-play or defense problem. All answers are sent the following day.
I am also planning on offering my syndicated columns through the Store, but it is taking longer to get everything organized than I had expected.
Bordeaux Golf, Wine & Bridge Cruise with Kalos Golf
We hope you will join Kitty and me as we travel with Kalos Golf on a Bordeaux Golf, Wine & Bridge Cruise from May 5-16, 2016. Some of you may have traveled with
Kalos Golf, and its tours come highly recommended. Kalos Golf cruises are popular and since this is a newly announced itinerary, it will fill quickly. In addition to wonderful golf and touring, I will host several bridge tutorial sessions throughout the cruise, and we will also play some duplicate bridge tournaments on board.
We begin by exploring Bordeaux and its wine districts for seven days, and close with three days in Biarritz at the Hþ!tel du Palais. This privately chartered cruise includes golf on some true gems from famed designers both legendary (Simpson and Colt) and modern (Coore and Doak). For touring passengers, customized culinary, wine and cultural tour options are offered daily at charming and historic sites throughout Bordeaux and Biarritz; and both golf and touring passengers will appreciate the distinct focus on the wines and chþteaux of Bordeaux. Cruising on AmaDolce allows us easy access to golf and touring, without the hassles of daily packing and unpacking. Full details of the cruise can be viewed by clicking here:
Cruise Details. Staterooms are available on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Kalos Golf at 800-314-3162 to discuss cabin availability or to answer any other questions.
Bridge Camps Without Tents
During the late spring, summer and early fall, I travel to various locations to teach what are usually three-day courses. Typically, each day features a lesson from 10:00-12:00, lunch from 12:00-1:00, and another lesson from 1:00-3:00 (so everyone can still fit in eighteen holes of golf!). The sixth session features deals on the topics covered.
In each lesson, I give an instructive preamble that lasts around 30 minutes, then we play at least six prepared deals on that subject.
Everyone also receives a booklet with copious notes that includes lesson notes and the example deals with bidding and play analysis.
My primary aim is that everyone has a fun time while improving their bridge.
The first this year will be at the Onwentsia Club, Lake Forest, Illinois, from May 12 to 14.
Before that, though, I will be running a one-day event at the Moorings Park in Naples, Florida, on Thursday, April 2. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail me.
New York Observer article
There was an article about me in the New York Observer dated 10.21.14. Here is the link:
http://observer.com/2014/10/the-13-card-stud-times-chess-column-falls-but-its-bridge-writer-soldiers-on
Theme Weeks
Some weeks, my columns are on a particular theme. In case you would like to find them, here are the themes covered in the columns available at the moment:
04.09.12-04.14.12: active or passive defense
04.16.12-04.21.12: various defensive techniques
06.25.12-06.30.12: key spot-card plays
07.02.12-07.07.12: key honor-card plays
08.20.12-09.01.12: difficult bidding problems
01.21.13-01.26.13: in an unbid suit, leading a low card from length guarantees an honor in that suit
03.11.13-03.16.13: entries
04.22.13-04.27.13: opener's rebids
04.29.13-05.04.13: responder's rebids
05.13.13-05.18.13: Stayman
05.20.13-05.25.13: transfers into the majors
05.27.13-06.01.13: major two-suiters opposite a one-notrump opening
11.04.13-11.09.13: responder's choices after an opposing takeout double at the one-level
12.09.13-12.14.13: handling the trump suit
02.10.14-02.15.14: counting
03.17.14-03.22.14: bidding with very weak hands
04.07.14-04.12.14: various defensive techniques
04.15.14-04.18.14: bids that change in the balancing position
04.28.14-05.03.14: strong jump shifts
Alder Transfer Preempts
To find out about the transfer preempts that I devised back in 1972, click on this link:
Alder Transfer Preempts. These opening bids have two big advantages: they right-side contracts and they are hard to play against.
Responses to a One-Notrump Opening
To see my comments about responding to one notrump with various basic methods (no transfers, transfers only into the majors, and four-suit transfers), please click on this link:
Transfers.
Balanced Hands — What Ranges and Why?
To read my discussion of balanced-hand ranges, please click here:
Balanced-Hand Ranges.
The Losing Trick Count
For further details about the Losing Trick Count (mentioned in the columns for September 19 and 20, 2003), please click on the link here:
The Losing Trick Count.
To contact me by e-mail, please click on the Contact box to the left.
I am particularly happy to receive deals suitable for the column. If you submit one, please give (if possible) the dealer, the vulnerability, the auction, the play, and the names of the key players. Also, indicate if you would prefer your name not to be given in the column.
I prefer deals with an instructive point, especially in the play, not wild layouts that come down to guesswork.
Good luck with bridge and life!
