American Bridge Series Now Available as Ebooks

December 8th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  5 Comments 

The first three of four books in the American Bridge Series which were first published in 1998 as print on demand books are now available as ebooks. Volume IV (4 card majors) is almost finished but stuff keeps getting in the way of getting it done. Hopefully we can finish the draft in January. Chris Hasney's Contract Bridge Books

Mini Events

November 29th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  18 Comments 

Since the Fall NABC is in progress at the moment it seems a reasonable time to raise a contentious issue. What’s with all the Mini events, e.g. Mini LM Pairs, etc.? I contend that having these perversions screws up the field in the main event. It would be like holding a mini WSOP main event alongside the real one for lower purses. Yuck. Why is the ACBL diluting all of its prestigious events?

Eddie Rose Has New Book Out

November 23rd, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  No Comments 

Just found out my friend and fellow Pro Bridge Tour veteran Eddie Rose has published a new book called “BRIDGE—From A to Z; Taking Your Game to the Next Level” (2009, Xlibris). You can reach him for more info and pricing at eddierose_2000@yahoo.com and please be sure to mention that I referred you. (Maybe he’ll give my books a plug, lol.)

Restricted Choice

November 22nd, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  1 Comment 

One of the sexy bridge terms to throw around is “Restricted Choice.” I’m sure I saw what will follow in a recent Bridge Bulletin, but I couldn’t find it. But hooray, I just found it in Mike Lawrence’s “How to Play Card Combinations” (1988, Devyn Press). He says of restricted choice: “The ‘principle’ says that if someone plays one of two equal honors, there is a chance he doesn’t have the other. This is because if he had the other honor, he’d might have played it. Don’t worry. I’ve never heard anyone explain this principle in understandable fashion. I don’t understand it either. At least, not so I can explain it.”
I concur, lol.

Like!

November 15th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  2 Comments 

New look for the Bridge Blogging site. I like it!

BBO Adventure

November 10th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  19 Comments 

Glen’s posts got me interested in going back to BBO. I’m about to play an individual against the Bots. I hope I can remember all he taught me.

Before the Punchline…

November 9th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  1 Comment 

Let’s have some fun. I’ll give the end of the joke, and you fill in the whole thing including your ending. I’ll feature the best one (IMHO) with credit on my website. Here goes…
4 clubs, Double, pass pass…
4 diamonds, pass pass DOUBLE…
4 hearts, DOUBLE, pass pass
and the eight of spades…

Good Contract Bridge Video

November 7th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  No Comments 

What is Bridge?
For more bridge videos you can go to My Contract Bridge Video Collection Channel

Bidding Reverses

October 29th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  1 Comment 

There’s been some talk about reverses in the Contract Bridge Bulletin in recent months. For some reason bridge teachers tend to ignore this important aspect of bidding way too long. Here’s an excerpt from page 27 of my beginning bridge ebook Simplicity Bridge covering the topic.

Suit Selection for an Opening One Bid

There are many situations where your correct opening bid is one of a suit,
such as one heart (1H). What you do at your subsequent turn to bid, if any, is
called your Rebid. Your opening bid must envision what you will do at your next
(Rebid) opportunity.

Before presenting guidelines for opening bid selection, I want to break
ranks with my fellow teachers and tell you NOW about the concept of the bidding
Reverse. A reverse is a bid at the two level which forces partner to reply at the
three level if he likes the first suit you bid better than the second. An example
would be starting with one heart and then bidding two spades. If your partner

likes hearts better, he must bid three hearts to say so. If you thus create a
situation where your partner might be forced to bid at the three level with a
minimum hand, you had better have a pretty darned good hand yourself, one that
we call a “two bid” hand or better (2 1⁄2 – 6 1⁄2 or better). And, the reverse bid also
guarantees that the first suit you bid is longer than the second one. If your hand

is not this good AND this shape, you must not reverse the bidding. (There is one
exception, when your partner’s first response to your one level bid is a two level
bid. More on that later.)

So, why did I bother you with all that information? I’m convinced that it
will help you understand WHY we want to mention one suit before mentioning
another. If we do things in the wrong order we may inadvertently reverse when
our hand isn’t anywhere near the right shape or size to do that. I’m going to
present a normal order of bridge bidding. Doing the opposite creates a reverse to
that normal order, and that shows a very big hand. Hope that makes sense.

Please recall that an opening bid of one of a suit requires hand strength of
at least 2 1⁄2 quick tricks and 4 1⁄2 quick and long suit tricks (2 1⁄2 – 4 1⁄2) that is not
the right size and shape to open one notrump. In addition, the hand size in quick
tricks etc. should not be so big that it qualifies for an opening bid at the two level.

First look at your major suits, which are spades and hearts. If you have
five or more cards in one of those suits open one of that suit. If you happen to
hold at least five cards in both majors, open the higher ranking suit (spades). So,
holding something like AQ965, 63, A98762, void you would open one spade (1S),
even though you have a minor suit, in this case diamonds, which is longer. If you

don’t open 1S your partner will never be able to “see” your fifth spade as the
bidding continues, and you may miss a nice spade contract. Let’s swap cards
between diamonds and hearts. Now the hand is dangerous if you forget the part
about reverses. With AQ965, A98762, 63, void, you still open 1S, even though
your hearts are longer. If you open hearts first and then bid spades next there is a

danger that your partner will take you for a hand like AKQJ, AK976, 643, 2 or better.

NOTE: I teach the quick and long suit hand eval method. Using point count, an opener reverse would be a good 16+. Some play it stronger. A responder reverse shows an opening bid or better (could be based on HCP or dummy points with a fit).

Veterans and Active Duty Eat Free

October 23rd, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  1 Comment 

at Applebee’s on Veterans Day…
Veterans and active duty military personnel are invited to eat free at Applebee’s
Neighborhood Grill & Bar Restaurants this Veterans Day, Wednesday,
Nov. 11, 2009. As you may… recall, Applebee’s launched a pilot program
last year on Veterans Day offering free entrees to military service
personnel and veterans. Because the response was so overwhelmingly
positive, Applebee’s is extending the invitation throughout the country
this year. We would appreciate your help in spreading the word. Please
help us share details across your various communication channels. All
U.S. veterans and active duty military with proof of current or former
military service will eat free at all Applebee’s nationwide on Veterans
Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniform
Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired
Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans
Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform. For
additional details, visit: www.applebees.com/vetsday
My note: VA Medical ID card should work too.