Learning Points©  Last Updated: July 7, 2010
By Steve Moese and Mike Purcell Introduction to Learning Points©
TIP: Right-Click a link.Select "Open in New Window" for best viewing All new articles appear in the What's New section and in their categories below.
Level: B=Basic; I=Intermediate; A=Advanced
Level What's New Topics
NEW IA 20100615_Finding_the_Trump_10 When to Cover an Honor, Inferences from defenders play, restricted choice
NEW I 20100609_When_Trumps_Split_5-0 Score trumps en passant, Double Dummy Analyzer, DONT, Rose Double
NEW B 20100608_Listen_and_Plan_Accordingly SLL-APE, Listen, minimum takeout double, ruff out  4-2 break, avoid practice finesses, loser count
NEW B 20100525_2_Finesses_Too_Many_II SLL-APE, Avoid finesses, ruff the 3rd round to drop a Queen, Save short suit finesses to last
NEW B 20100525_2_Finesses_Too_Many SLL-APE, Eliminate Side Suit, Free Finesse, Ruff-Sluff, Throw-In, End-Play, Choosing the Throw-in suit
NEW BI 20100518_Which_Part_Score 5-2 trump fit, Major or NT partial
NEW BI 20100518_Find_The_11th_Trick Support Points, High Cross Ruff, Trump Opening Lead, Discard Declarer’s Ruffing Suit
NEW IA 20100518_Exploit_The_Defenders_Dilemma Eliminate Side Suits, Weak Jump Overcall, Rule of 2-3-4-(5), Placing HCP, Create illusion
NEW I 20100518_Better_Late_Than_Never High Cross Ruff, Higher likelihood line of play, a priori chance, 4-2 split, 3-3 split
NEW I 20100518_3_Cards_Are_Enough When opponents interfere over our NT, Negative Double, Moysian fit
NEW B 20100510_13_Conventions_You_Should_Know_By_Heart Conventions That Work, Standard Bidding Framework, Prepare for your Opponents
NEW B 20100427_Eliminate_a_Loser SLL-APE, Timing, Lead low toward High, Slow Loser, Manage entries for minimum risk.
Level DeclarerPlay Topics
NEW IA 20100615_Finding_the_Trump_10 When to Cover an Honor, Inferences from defenders play, restricted choice
NEW I 20100609_When_Trumps_Split_5-0 Score trumps en passant, Double Dummy Analyzer, DONT, Rose Double
NEW B 20100608_Listen_and_Plan_Accordingly SLL-APE, Listen, minimum takeout double, ruff out  4-2 break, avoid practice finesses, loser count
NEW B 20100525_2_Finesses_Too_Many_II SLL-APE, Avoid finesses, ruff the 3rd round to drop a Queen, Save short suit finesses to last
NEW B 20100525_2_Finesses_Too_Many SLL-APE, Eliminate Side Suit, Free Finesse, Ruff-Sluff, Throw-In, End-Play, Choosing the Throw-in suit
NEW BI 20100518_Find_The_11th_Trick Support Points, High Cross Ruff, Trump Opening Lead, Discard Declarer’s Ruffing Suit
NEW IA 20100518_Exploit_The_Defenders_Dilemma Eliminate Side Suits, Weak Jump Overcall, Rule of 2-3-4-(5), Placing HCP, Create illusion
NEW I 20100518_Better_Late_Than_Never High Cross Ruff, Higher likelihood line of play, a priori chance, 4-2 split, 3-3 split
NEW I 20100518_3_Cards_Are_Enough When opponents interfere over our NT, Negative Double, Moysian fit
NEW B 20100427_Eliminate_a_Loser SLL-APE, Timing, Lead low toward High, Slow Loser, Manage entries for minimum risk.
I 20100323_Can_You_Find_the_Game_Going_Trick.pdf Count tricks, Support Points, Total Losing Trick Count, 4333 shape 
B 20100427_Eliminate_a_Loser.pdf SLL-APE, Timing, Lead low toward High, Slow Loser, Manage entries for minimum risk
BIA 20100506_The_1st_90_Seconds.pdf Plan Declarer Play, Count, Find Sources of Tricks, Discovery, Avoidance, Squeeze, End play
B 20100316_Declarer_Play_Planning_the_Play Plan Outline:  Count HCP, Winners, Losers, Tricks Needed, Sources of tricks, Avoid Danger Hand
I 20100107_Dont_Sleep_in_1NT End-play, Avoidance, Delay key decision
I 20100107_Thin_Game_Try_Hope_and_Caution End-play, Avoidance, Delay key decision
I 20091110_When_Ordinary_Becomes_Impossible Impossible contracts, optimism, critical play early, make defenders guess
I 20091005_One_Finesse_Too_Many Competitive Bidding, Reading Cards, Estimating opponent’s hands
I 20091002_Overtrick_In_3NT Competitive Bidding, Reading Cards, Low Percentage Slams, Minorwood
I 20091001_Fragile_Line_Between_Success_and_Failure Duck your Ace, Ruff with trump ace, trump promotion, Merrimac Coup, entries
I 20091001_Learning_From_Mentor_Mentee_Bridge Fixes, Reverses, Forcing NT, Opening lead, Duck your Ace
BI 20091001_Double_Dummy_Gem_Mini_Spingold Construct threat-opponent’s hand, plan play, end play, squeeze, dummy reversal, entries
B 20091001_3NT_at_Mentor_Mentee_Bridge Fixed, Reverse, Forcing NT, Opening lead, Duck your Ace, Count opponents hands
I 20091001_A_Curious_Bridge_Hand Score small trumps with ruffs, entries, trump end play
I 20090930_Beware_the_Greek_Gift Count tricks, end play, ruff-slough, refuse defender’s gift
I 20090611_Plan_The_Play_I Step by Step logic, Planning Play, Reading Cards, End Play
A 20090608_Deeper_Finesse_II_a_2nd_Look Blocking Play, Counting Tricks & Losers, Lead Inferences, Probability, Double Dummy
I 20090428_Nothing_in_Life_is_Free Free Finesse, Plan entries before play, Modified Capelletti
A 20090420_Squeeze_or_Finesse Unusual Opening Lead, New Minor Force, a priori chance
A 20090420_Whats_a_Little_Double_Squeeze_Among_Friends Double Squeeze, Defending, Eliminate Transportation before the squeeze card
A 20090202_GNTQ_Strips_and_End_Plays_Overcome_Bad_Trump_Splits Thin games, reading cards, dummy reversal, odds for games at MP and IMPS
I 20090202_GNTQ_Sacrificing_at_IMPs Difference between a weak 2 and a 1 bid, Discipline after preempting
A 20090202_GNTQ_Bid_Slam_and_Squeezes_Oh_My Available spaces help chosing the right squeeze, double squeeze, Precision
I 20090122_That_Extra_Chance_for_an_Overtrick Expectation weighted decisions, probability, 4th Suit Forcing, scoring and odds
I 20090122_Expert_Play_Makes_Up_for_Optimistic_Bidding OBAR, Competitive Bid, Plan to use all possible chances
I 20090108_Find_the_Overtrick_in_a_Cautious_3NT Planning, Suit Split Probability, Rule of 7, Hold Up, Counting Opponents HCP & shape
I 20081112_You_Never_Can_Tell High Level Bid Inferences, Board-a-Match Teams, Planning the play
I 20081111_What_a_Way_to_End_the_Day Bid Big Hands, Mirror Distribution, Bad Trump Split
I 20081105_Finding_an_Overtrick_When_You_Need_One Competitive Bid, Opening Lead, Counting Trick during the Auction
I 20080623_Overticks_in_a_1_NT_Contract Planning the Play, Opening lead against 1NT, Counting defender's hands
I 20080617_An_Overtick_in_a_One_Level_Contract Opening Lead, Planning the Play, Suit Split probability, Balancing Bid
BI 20080613_Finessing_with_9_Trumps Suit split odds, Available Spaces Principle, odds change, count opponents hands
BI 20080415_Overtricks_in_Partials_Worth_Their_Weight_in_Gold Bid over takeout dobules, planning the play to avoid losers
BI 20080415_Making_Small_Trumps_Count Planning the Play, Scoring weak trumps
I 20080312_Plan_Your_Play_Then_Play_Your_Plan Taking Stock, Counting Winners, Counting Losers, Finding suit to develop first
I 20080312_Like_Reading_Tea_Leaves Overcalling,  advancing
BI 20080312_Just_Because_Its_There Location of Key Cards, Slam or game, Match Point decisions
I 20080312_Give_Them_a_Chance_and_They_Just_Might_Help Preempts, Choosing game in competition, Michaels Cue Bid
A 20080206_Finding_a_Double_Squeeze Think Squeeze, Double Squeeze, Rectify the Count, Vienna Coup, 
I 20080206_Competitive_Bidding_and_Counting_During_Play Support Double, Plan Play, Ducking Aces, Transportation in trumps, Support Points
A 20080122_Hiding_the_End_Play Disguise the end play, avoid defender unblock, Inference from defender play 
[Top]
Bidding
NEW BI 20100518_Which_Part_Score 5-2 trump fit, Major or NT partial
NEW I 20100518_3_Cards_Are_Enough When opponents interfere over our NT, Negative Double, Moysian fit
NEW B 20100510_13_Conventions_You_Should_Know_By_Heart Conventions That Work, Standard Bidding Framework, Prepare for your Opponents
I 20100208_Turn_a_1-Level_Vulnerable_Overcall_Into_Gold Suit Preference, vulnerable overcall, converting a range-finding double to penalty, rescue redouble.
BI 20100127_Preempts_in_Competition 4 of 4 - Weak Jump Overcall, Total Trumps, HCP, Sacrifice, Vulnerability, Raises, New Suits, Jump Shifts, Rule of 2-3-4
BI 20100127_Making_a_Preemptive_Jump_Overcall 3 of 4 - Weak Jump Overcall, Total Trumps, HCP, Sacrifice, Vulnerability, Raises, New Suits, Jump Shifts, Rule of 2-3-4-5
BI 20100117_Responding_to_Partners_Preempts 2 of 4 - Fit, Total Trumps, HCP, Sacrifice, Vulnerability, Raises, New Suits, Jump Shifts, 2NT Ask over Weak 2. 
BI 20100117_Opening_Bid_Preempts 1 of 4 - Disciplined preempts, playing strength, vulnerability and position/seat, flaws
B 20100113_Pass_For_A_Top Penalty Pass, Negative Double, Rescue Redouble 
B 20100113_Negative_Doubles Thin game, Plan the play, Clues from Defense, avoid the finesse, Negative Doubles
BI 20100106_Whats_a_King_Worth Fit, Working Points, Primary and Secondary Honors, Useful length and shortness, Counting Tricks
B 20091127_Diamonds_Out_of_Turn Bid out of turn, Call the Director immediately, Revalue Working Points
I 20091127_A_Balancing_Act Balancing in opponent’s suit, working points, counting tricks
I 20091110_Bid_What_Your_Partner_Wants_to_Hear Weak Two, Ogust, Singleton, Splinter, Modern Losing Trick Count.
B 20091005_Dont_Be_Timid_Over_1NT Compete over 1NT, Systems on,  Garbage Stayman, Balancing
B 20091005_To_Bid_or_Not_to_Bid Preempt with ruffing values, Six card suit and void, opponent’s find a fit
I 20090930_Bidding_NT_with_5_Card_Major Puppet Stayman, Jacoby Transfer, ruffing in short trump hand adds tricks
IA 20090502_KO_Balancing_Gem Balancing, Working Points, Leading Trumps
A 20090202_GNTQ_Bidding_ and_Slams_and_Squeezes_Oh_My Available spaces help chosing the right squeeze, double squeeze, Precision
I 20090202_GNTQ_Sacrificing_at_IMPS Difference between a weak 2 and a 1 bid, Discipline after preempting
I 20090122_Business_Redoubles Redoubles, Puppet Stayman, Interference over Jacoby Transfer, Make flexible bids
BI 20090112_If_3NT_Is_An_Option Competitive Bid, choice of strain, Defense carding inferences
BI 20090109_Come_Alive_with_6-5_Part_II Distribution, hand evaluation, Law of Total Tricks, Opening Lead
BI 20090109_Come_Alive_with_6-5_Part_I Favorable loser count, Distribution, hand evaluation, Law of Total Tricks. Opening Lead
BI 20081105_When_a_Weak_Jump_Overcall_is_a_Strong_Action Competitive Bid, Support with support, raising partner's weak 2, finding the right strain
BI 20081105_When_2_Card_Support_Makes_a_Fit Weak Jump Shift, 5 level sacrifice, Law of Total Tricks
I 20081105_Little_Differences_Can_Mean_a_Lot 1NT Range and accepting partners invitation, 3 small in opponent's suit, 
BI 20081105_Bidding_One_More_When_Black_vs_Red. Competitive Bid, Law of Total Tricks, Texture, Honor Position
BI 20080501_Simple_Overcalls_Kept_Simple Competitive Bid, BWS Polls, Overcall objective, Strength, length, shape, advancing, cue bids
BI 20080412_Bidding_Partner's_Suit_By_Inference Bid 64 shape, estimating opponents shape, Bid with 1NT Forcing
BI 20080312_Missed_Game_Double_Jeopardy_Snapdragon_Maximal Competitive Bid, push opponents into game, Maximal Doubles, Double dummy results
BI 20080312_Bidding_A_Spade-Club_2_Suits Bid strong 2 suited hands, anticipate competitive actions, Game before slam
BI 20080308_Opponents_Land_in_Wrong_Game_After_Interference Preempting after partner passes, duck to kill dummy entries, Odds for finessing the J
B 20080129_Competitive_Bidding_over_1NT Off shape 1NT, pass or transfer, balance with a 4 card major
B 20080122_On_the_Forcing_NT Forcing 1NT Response, Distributional misfits
BI 20080122_Mega_Hands_II Competing over preempts with big hands, AK Controls and HCPs
BI 20080122_Mega_Hands_I_ NT Conventions at the 4 level - what do you and your partner do?
[Top]
Defense
I 20100430_To_Overcall_or_Not_Thats_The_Question.pdf Overcall or Take-out Double, Defensive Carding Signals, Attacking Leads 
BI 20100204_Unblock_in_3NT Opening lead, attitude spot card leads, unblocking, upside down signals, current count signals
BI 20100120_4_Decisions_On_Defense Defense Quiz with Matchpoint Results
BI 20091127_Give_Them_Some_Rope 3rd Seat Opening Bids, Unusual NT, Working Points, Double of 2-suit bids, Honor sequence leads
BI 20091110_Take_All_Your_Tricks_on_Defense Competitive NT, Working Points, Switch to develop tricks, switch to avoid end-play
I 20091005_Duck_Your_King Leading short major, duck to help declarer take the wrong finesse, suit combinations
BI 20090430 Two Heads Are Better Than One On Defense Planning, opening leads, inferences, Passive/Active, Blocking plays, False cards
BI 20090430 SLIDES Two Heads are Better than One on Defense Planning, opening leads, inferences, Passive/Active, Blocking plays, False cards
A 20090319 Defending Against Squeezes Loser Count, Transportation, Threat Cards, Entries, faux queeze
BI 20081105_Careful_When_Playing_to_Trick_One When to lead trumps, ducking to create losers
B 20080617_Signal_to_Stop_a_Game_that_Cant_be_Made Attitude signals to opening leads
BI 20080415_Hold_Up_for_the_Setting_Trick Attitude spot card leads, hold-up plays cut communication
BI 20080312_Take_the_Sure_Plus Penalty passes, reopening doubles, planning
BI 20080312_Defending_Against_a_Weak_Notrump_II Bid over their weak 1NT, defensive signals
BI 20080312_Defending_Against_a_Weak_Notrump Bid over their weak 1NT, defensive signals, unblocking
BI 20080308_An_Unfortunate_Opening_Lead Raising or passing, reading the cards, overtricks
BI 20080206_Defending_a_Partial_for_a_Top Opening lead, leading trumps, ducking so partner can lead last trump
BI 20080206_Competitive_Bidding_and_Counting_During_Play Support Double/Redouble, Counting during play, Clues from Bid
BI 20080129_A_Question_of_Opening_Lead Leading top of sequence or unbid suit doubleton, Fourth Suit Forcing
[Top]
Slams
IA 20100430_5_or_6_You_Decide.pdf Raise instead of redouble strong auction, Visualization, Jump shift splinters after 2/1 GF, Minorwood
IA 20100204_Working_Points_Find_a_Light_Slam Count tricks, Working Points, Cue bidding below 3NT, Serious 3NT, Ambiguous cue bids
I 20091127_When_Youre_in_6_Part_II Cue bid after takeout double, Bidding features.
I 20091127_When_Youre_in_6_Part_I Cue bid Slam invitation, interference over RKB.
BI 20090112_Stumbling_Into_a_Grand_Slam_The_Easy_Way Cover Cards, AK Controls, Counting Cover Cards, Losing Trick Count
I 20090112_High_Level_Slam_Decisions_II Forcing Pass, Suit Preference Signal, Law of Total Tricks
I 20090112_High_Level_Slam_Decisions_I Unusual Over Unusual, Fast Arrival, Queen Ask, 
I 20081006_GNT_Bidding_a_28_HCP_Slam Restricted Choice, Probability, Count Tricks, Complementary Shortness
I 20081006_GNT_Bid_a_Thin_Slam_You_Better_Make_It Cue Bid, AK Controls, Too Many Play Options
IA 20081006_GNT_7NT_When_the_Opponents_Overcall Restricted Choice, Play for the Plus, Fatigue
BI 20081001_Touchy_7_Hearts_That_Makes Cue Bid Partner's Suit, Void, RKC, maximize your options
BI 20081001_Making_7NT_at_Pairs Cue Bids, Counting Tricks when Bid, Fast Arrival
IA 20080307_Start_with_an_Overcall_Bid_a_Slam Disciplined overcalls, Cue Bid, Sacrigicing against small slam
[Top]
Theory
A 20090615_Spot_Cards_and_Opening_Leads Spot Card Leads, Card Combination Analysis, Relevant Cases, Information communicated
IA 20080606_1NT_Forcing_in_Depth History, Application, Benefits, Meckstroth Extension, BART, Anti-BART
BIA 20090502 Improving Our Partnerships Tips for improving your partnership, Analyzing your game
BIA 200900502 SLIDES Improving our partnerships Slides 
IA 20090122_That_Extra_Chance_for_an_Overtrick_II Expectation weighted decisions, probability, 4th Suit Forcing, scoring method & odds
IA 20080312_Preempting_and_the_Law_of_Total_Tricks Law of Total Tricks, Adjustments, Short Suit Value
IA 20080312_Law_of_Total_Tricks Overview with references
BI 20080308_Bid_or_Defend_over_Preempts Double or declare after opponents preempt, Signal Request Honor Leads, end play
[Top]