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Larry's Bridge Quiz Categories

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BOSTON (Defense)

When defending, you should shift to BOSTON (an acronym coined by famous bridge teacher/author Barbara Seagram) . That stands for "Bottom Of Something, Top Of Nothing." This is a way to tell your partner if you have interest in the suit you are shifting to. From, say, ♠872, you would lead the ♠8. (Note that this is opposite from standard signalling--where throwing/playing an 8 would say you like the suit and playing/throwing a 2 would show dislike).  From ♠K73, you would lead the ♠3. A low-card shift means you are leading from something. When partner sees a high-card shift, he will assume it is top--from nothing.

You might also consider getting Larry's book on Defense HERE which includes a section on BOSTON or try Larry's Defense Webinar series which you can find HERE.

Quiz Archives

Defense -- Second Hand Play

You've heard many times, cover an honor (10, J, Q, or K) with an honor. But have you heard, if dummy has 2 honors, cover the second one played? However, if dummy has 2 honors and you also have 2 honors, cover the first one. If covering can't possibly promote anything, don't cover. 

You might also consider getting Larry's book on Defense HERE or try Larry's Defense Webinar series which you can find HERE

Signals

There are 3 main kinds of signals:

Count Signal: When declarer leads (from his hand or dummy), you can play hi-lo to show an even number or low first to show an odd number of cards.

Suit Preference: Can be used in many instances, but mainly when you play a card for partner to ruff. A high card (like an 8,9, or 10) shows preference for the higher-ranking side suit while a low card shows preference for the lower-ranking side suit.

Attitude Signal: The most important (by far) signal is used when partner leads a suit or you discard. High means you like it, low means you don't.

The descriptions above assume "Standard" carding (in some parts of the world, the opposite is standard and many U.S. experts play "Upside Down.")  For more details click here. For Larry's video lesson, click here

Opening Leads against Notrump

When the auction goes 1NT-3NT by the opponents, there isn't much imagination required. Choose your longest and strongest suit and usually lead the 4th-highest card in it. A few "what-ifs" 1) What if it is just about a "tie" for longest and strongest? With two 4-card suits or two 5-card suits, roughly of equivalent strength, prefer a major when in doubt. (Your opponents would usually look for or show a major if they had one). 2) What if you have a "sequence?" If 3 in a row (QJ10 or KQJ), lead top. If "almost" 3 in a row (such a KQ10 or QJ9), also lead top. Otherwise, tend to lead 4th best.

You might also consider getting Larry's book on Defense HERE or try Larry's Defense Webinar series which you can find HERE

Opening Leads Quiz #1

Most of these quizzes have a preamble to help the reader answer the questions.

This topic is just too voluminous to summarize in a paragraph or two, so you're on your own! I've written a whole book about it here.

Just click on the questions listed below and see how you do!

You might also consider getting Larry's book on Defense HERE or try Larry's Defense Webinar series which you can find HERE