https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-04-19 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/blog/with-wild-hands-bid-one-more monthly 0.5 2026-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/338275ea-d791-4a5f-85ca-00836ec0ecfe/JR+Blog+-Declare6HX-Hand+1+Slide+1.png Blog - With Wild Hands, Bid One More! As you can see, my partner passed and my RHO (right-hand opponent) opened 1S. I had some options here. Probably the closest I could get to describing my hand in one bid would be to make a Michaels cuebid; this would show at least 5 hearts and at least 5 in one of the minors. However, I thought that two things were extremely likely: One, given my distribution, the opponents had a spade fit, maybe a big one. And two, they likely had a game. Another factor was the vulnerability; we were not vulnerable and they were. All these combined suggested that I should go for a bid that would take up as much room from the opponents as I reasonably could. I decided to jump to 4H. But wait, you say: Shouldn’t that show an 8- or at least a 7-card suit? Normally yes. But when you have extreme distribution on the side (and check out our upcoming lessons on preempts for more on this subject), that increases your playing strength tremendously, and with more offense, you’re usually safe to preempt at a higher level than your trump suit alone would suggest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/179fadcc-5091-46c7-ba0c-2e5442a6604b/JR+Blog+-Declare6HX-Hand+1+Slide+2.png Blog - With Wild Hands, Bid One More! My plan was, if I got the chance, to show my second suit. I did already start considering what I would do if I got doubled; would I run to 5C or stick it out in 4HX? Unsurprisingly, though, my LHO bid 4S. I was already getting ready to bid 5C. It’s true this would violate the rule of not bidding again once you preempt, but here my preempt was based on extremely unusual distribution, and with so few losers in my hand, I couldn’t imagine defending 4S could be right (unless partner doubled 4S; then I’d have something to think about). But partner didn’t double 4S, nor did she pass. She bid 5H! My RHO now gave this some consideration and bid 5S. So now, with a known fit, it seemed like if I bid and got doubled the penalty would be quite small, and it was not at all clear we could beat 5S; given partner’s raise, we might not take any heart tricks, although I could hope for one. It was possible partner might have a trump trick and we could add that to a club and a heart to beat 5S, but my usual philosophy with such extreme distribution is that at least one side is making their contract, and if that were true, bidding had to be right. So I bid 6H, doubled by my LHO and passed out. Dummy came down with just what I needed: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/27697f44-9e92-4aaf-8af1-917693c8e8d1/JR+Blog+-Declare6HX-Hand+1+Slide+3.png Blog - With Wild Hands, Bid One More! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/blog/our-first-live-qampa-recap-from-2nt-secrets-defense-against-nt-and-partner-matchmaking-psct8-tdfyy monthly 0.5 2026-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/e4b626df-c394-4df3-9dfa-8cf3ccc51a25/GNT+A+3NT+-+hand.png Blog - A Hand from the Flight-A GNT Qualifier Match I recently played the semi-final qualifier for the Flight-A Grand National Teams. and picked up this hand on Board 3 of the 24 board match. While I was actually seated West, I have rotated the board for reading convenience. My RHO was dealer, but passed, allowing me to open the bidding. This is a perfectly balanced 15 HCP hand. Normally, I would open 1NT, but that day I was playing with a partner who prefers a 12-14 1NT structure, so I was required by agreements to open 1♦ with this hand. My LHO doubled; my partner bid 1♥; my RHO passed, and I bid 1NT, showing a 15-17 balanced hand. My LHO now passed, and partner raised to 3NT. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/d68f42dd-890f-48ab-a898-dd82477c2cc7/GNT+A+3NT+-+hand+with+auction+and+lead.png Blog - A Hand from the Flight-A GNT Qualifier Match I received the lead of the ♠2, and thus was granted a view of the dummy. The lead gives me one spade winner for certain. In addition, I have one certain heart, one certain diamond, and four certain clubs, for a total of seven winners. If we were playing matchpoints, then my partner would certainly have invited game, rather than jumping to it. I, of course, would have passed any invitation. I would need to pick up only one additional trick in that case. At teams, as I have mentioned, fortune favors the bold bidders, so 3NT is not an unreasonable place to be based on the auction alone. Here I need to find two more tricks. What do you think of my chances? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/44edb33b-f1ff-486f-896f-6df1bbc022d6/GNT+A+3NT+-+hand+end+position.png Blog - A Hand from the Flight-A GNT Qualifier Match Do you see the winning play from this point? My partner has told me more than once that it is better to be lucky than good. I needed a lot of luck on this hand, including some defensive error (and they had a few difficult choices, so I am not disparaging their play). Furthermore, I played badly on trick one, which made a hard hand worse, but like a phoenix rising from its ashes, this hand may still burst into life. Dummy has the ♥A75 and I hold the ♥Q6. The opponents have already played the ♦J, ♦8, and ♦2. The only two outstanding hearts that can win tricks are the ♥K and ♥10. If I can get the opponents to play those two cards under my ♦A, then I have the rest of the tricks. The opponents won’t give up voluntarily, and there’s nothing I can do if one opponent holds both cards, so I have to play for a specific condition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/ab66ef6c-c1d9-41d5-afc5-20d8c921cc69/GNT+A+3NT+-+hand+full+deal.png Blog - A Hand from the Flight-A GNT Qualifier Match If the hearts were 3-3 from the start, and East held the 10, then it is now singleton. (Position above; East has already played the 2 and 8.) West almost certainly has the ♥K given his initial double in the auction, but I need to play for that condition, anyway. By leading my ♥Q from hand, I can “pin” the ♥10 in East (East is forced to play that card, because it is singleton, and it cannot win against my Q), while simultaneously giving West a losing choice: West can play their remaining small heart, and allow my Q to win, or they can cover with their K, forcing me to win with the A in dummy, but promoting all my smaller hearts to winners. In the actual event, West chose to cover (but not covering would not have won for them), and I did capture both the ♥K and ♥10 in one trick to claim nine tricks in the end. The full deal is to the right. https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/blog/our-first-live-qampa-recap-from-2nt-secrets-defense-against-nt-and-partner-matchmaking-psct8 monthly 0.5 2026-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1772393352904-E5PU2V8GTG28A2JSTV37/image+%283%29.jpg Blog - Our First Report From St. Louis! - Christopher Has just taken on a National Director position, so he’s working away enforcing the rules and keeping the peace in some of the biggest National events! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1772393346788-3BTGFY015BXRCWMSHWF0/image.jpg Blog - Our First Report From St. Louis! - Giorgia and John Giorgia and her partner Agustin Madala and John and his partner Mitch Towner entered the most difficult and prestigious pairs event on the NABC schedule — the Platinum Pairs. In order to even qualify to play in this event, you have to have won a certain number of Platinum Points — which are only available by placing in the top ranks of Nationally-rated events. 114 pairs entered on the first day, and when they cut this number to 52 for the second day, John and Mitch and Giorgia and Agustin, were neck and neck! Unfortunately John ran into some tough opponents on Day 2 and didn’t make the final day, but Giorgia qualified for the last day in 8th place, so let’s all root for her to bring home another title! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1772393349260-86HJTLEB8PTGWMCCFO7N/image+%282%29.jpg Blog - Our First Report From St. Louis! - Update: Giorgia’s Final Day A good morning session started the final day of the event (day 3 of 3) and was in third position going into the final session. This is a grueling three day event where six sessions with 26 boards each are played over 3 days. Giorgia didn’t bring home the title, but she and Agustin finished 5th overall out of 114 pairs. It’s a bit bittersweet - this field is has the Olympians of bridge and everyone who enters this competition is aiming for the gold medal. It’s very difficult to qualify to play, even more difficult to make it to Day 2, and even more difficult to get to Day 3. We are enormously proud of Giorgia for this wildly impressive finish. Fun fact! Many events at Nationals are played behind “screens” - as you can see in the picture - which are meant to minimize the chance for any unauthorized information that could come from seeing your partner’s face/tempo while playing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/df5e20b6-5ff7-418e-8857-aedb81df2423/2026-03-02+11_48_59-Greenshot2.png Blog - Our First Report From St. Louis! - Final Standing This is the final Top 10 of the event. You might recognize some of these names! Congratulations to the winners and all of the pairs who placed in the finals. 28 pairs made to the final out of the 114 pairs that entered the event. https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/blog/our-first-live-qampa-recap-from-2nt-secrets-defense-against-nt-and-partner-matchmaking monthly 0.5 2026-03-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/c9374c01-cac4-48d1-8bfe-1da9caa2f8e1/2026-02-23+17_37_55-Untitled+-+BridgeComposer.png Blog - Our First Live Q&A Recap: From 2NT Secrets, Defense against NT and Partner Matchmaking! - 2NT minimum or extras? In this auction, 2NT is STILL showing a balanced 18-19 HCP hand, even though the opener “had to” bid at the 2 level. https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/blog/meet-our-travel-expert-allison monthly 0.5 2026-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/14616049-03d6-49fc-9255-90f8575a1fa3/LATR+Side+View+Color.jpg Blog - Meet Our Travel Expert: Allison! Bridge and Beyond is an all-around bridge company that does not stop at online teaching, but also organizes in-person bridge events all around the world! For such events to be successful, we need an extra set of hands and that is where our travel expert, Allison Rudary, comes into the picture. Allison has been a close friend of the Bridge and Beyond team for over a decade and she was the most natural fit when we asked ourselves “who would be a great travel partner”? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/e870ab8e-200a-4b87-b40c-fb562617a299/IMG_6426.jpg Blog - Meet Our Travel Expert: Allison! - About me: I’m a Virtuoso certified travel advisor with particular expertise in cruising, gastronomy, and adventure travel. I have an undergraduate degree from Barnard College in History and Economics, and an MBA from NYU Stern School of business. I split my time in Redding Connecticut and Harlem with my husband Matt and our two Shetland Sheepdogs, Beatrice and Bliss. I’m an avid cook, baker, reader, and of course, I adore games - especially bridge! https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/blog/me-and-finn-kolesnik-the-youngest-glm monthly 0.5 2026-02-23 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/blog/watch-as-christopher-and-john-follow-the-usbf-mixed monthly 0.5 2026-01-16 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/blog/first-blog monthly 0.5 2026-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1767125017141-EDCYWBEIM8Z1JGC1SP9Y/IMG-20230323-WA0002.jpg Blog - Bridge and Beyond’s First Blog Post! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1767125017143-9FP04BH0MNJVYE8T6YIL/IMG-20230902-WA0031.jpg Blog - Bridge and Beyond’s First Blog Post! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1767125018178-BYHUB4X7VDGPR42H1B8I/IMG-20241121-WA0013.jpg Blog - Bridge and Beyond’s First Blog Post! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1767125051158-Y8WPTXWGPDFESSN4DO5I/IMG_20220207_173634.jpg Blog - Bridge and Beyond’s First Blog Post! https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/travel-events daily 0.75 2026-03-25 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/travel-events/2026-fall-bridge-in-long-beach-ca monthly 0.5 2026-03-09 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/travel-events/scenic-coasts-old-quebec-new-york-ny-to-montreal-canada monthly 0.5 2026-02-17 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/travel-events/2026-spring-bridge-fling-in-new-york-city monthly 0.5 2026-02-17 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/travel-events/bridge-in-the-eternal-city-la-dolce-vita-with-authentic-rome monthly 0.5 2026-03-25 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/home daily 1.0 2026-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/447bfd2b-8f7b-4f10-86a4-e7dfb99a32af/Giorgia+Botta.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/2eb07074-55aa-4123-b807-a0357f67593a/chrisrivera.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/700cbdc3-3472-44a0-8a4e-0a8688c51437/john.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/435e2c58-848c-4d67-976b-bfdf990f3832/chris2.jpg https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/about daily 0.75 2026-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/447bfd2b-8f7b-4f10-86a4-e7dfb99a32af/Giorgia+Botta.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/2eb07074-55aa-4123-b807-a0357f67593a/chrisrivera.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/700cbdc3-3472-44a0-8a4e-0a8688c51437/john.jpg About https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/contact-us daily 0.75 2026-02-10 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/faqs daily 0.75 2026-02-10 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2026-01-13 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/terms-of-service daily 0.75 2026-01-13 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/cookie-policy daily 0.75 2026-01-16 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/refund-policy daily 0.75 2025-12-22 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/online daily 0.75 2026-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Online https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Online https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Online https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/plans daily 0.75 2026-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/447bfd2b-8f7b-4f10-86a4-e7dfb99a32af/Giorgia+Botta.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/700cbdc3-3472-44a0-8a4e-0a8688c51437/johnRamos.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/2eb07074-55aa-4123-b807-a0357f67593a/chrisrivera.jpg https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/course-homepage daily 0.75 2026-04-13 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/tutorials daily 0.75 2026-02-10 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/testsharklink daily 0.75 2026-04-20 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/member-site-homepage-1-2 daily 0.75 2026-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/ce98dbd2-a770-401a-9844-643f1a3d379f/Screenshot+2026-01-08+123952.png https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/new-page daily 0.75 2026-04-14 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/store daily 0.75 2026-03-27 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/store/p/bridge-and-beyond-stainless-steel-water-bottle monthly 0.5 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1774632839509-CUOUC4R6Q8QWFWDSXB9F/stainless-steel-water-bottle-white-17-oz-front-69c6bf7c29078.jpg Official Store - Bridge and Beyond Stainless steel water bottle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1774632840844-8DVQIHL6MDKSN9RZCJHV/stainless-steel-water-bottle-white-17-oz-front-69c6bf7c29d46.jpg Official Store - Bridge and Beyond Stainless steel water bottle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1774632842332-6YFAQZ736A4VB25KTV70/stainless-steel-water-bottle-white-17-oz-front-69c6bf7c2a8aa.jpg Official Store - Bridge and Beyond Stainless steel water bottle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1774632843940-YESNAAFB1Y78AC3YL4ZT/stainless-steel-water-bottle-white-17-oz-right-69c6bf7c2a30b.jpg Official Store - Bridge and Beyond Stainless steel water bottle https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/store/p/bridge-and-beyond-luggage-tag monthly 0.5 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1774631906508-KFTLB60NOA0CR4N1Z3YL/luggage-tag-2.4x4-front-69c6bbd659c2d.jpg Official Store - Bridge and Beyond Luggage tag https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1774631908420-56RL3S4DW2153ZFK9YWQ/luggage-tag-2.4x4-back-69c6bbd65a563.jpg Official Store - Bridge and Beyond Luggage tag https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/1774631912727-JO8ZEA3DZAPLN6I4F3ZA/luggage-tag-2.4x4-front-69c6bbd65a9d9.jpg Official Store - Bridge and Beyond Luggage tag https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/store/p/2026-fall-bridge-in-long-beach-ca monthly 0.5 2026-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/7aae1129-8a51-4d4b-9bf8-66b2afe488e2/998598_custom_site_themes_id_7I2P0GeSezMFTBE3yOhw_1.png Official Store - 2026 Fall Bridge in Long Beach, CA - 998598_custom_site_themes_id_7I2P0GeSezMFTBE3yOhw_1.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/311ac691-f86c-4004-a3b5-f7ec850e15d7/998598_custom_site_themes_id_SeOcXrkgRiqxuHalBWWA_2.png Official Store - 2026 Fall Bridge in Long Beach, CA - 998598_custom_site_themes_id_SeOcXrkgRiqxuHalBWWA_2.png https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/store/p/bridge-and-beyond-gift-card monthly 0.5 2026-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/f861c252-c94b-4441-8bb4-fc5ca1ec9eea/bab+mono+gift.png Official Store - Bridge and Beyond Gift Card - bab mono gift.png https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/store/p/2026-spring-bridge-fling-in-new-york-city monthly 0.5 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/2d7a0026-f0b9-4d32-befe-0d01a2528ae5/998598_custom_site_themes_id_vEA5b286RD6ZDo9oOOg0_1.png Official Store - 2026 Spring Bridge Fling in New York City - 998598_custom_site_themes_id_vEA5b286RD6ZDo9oOOg0_1.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ffa6a1a5dad448215c2f32/4634b2bd-db60-4101-8840-a0c81cfdffde/998598_custom_site_themes_id_jXNgC3SWSUeRVCrrVJsA_2.png Official Store - 2026 Spring Bridge Fling in New York City - 998598_custom_site_themes_id_jXNgC3SWSUeRVCrrVJsA_2.png https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos daily 0.75 2026-02-10 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/challenge-1 monthly 0.5 2025-12-30 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/challenge-2 monthly 0.5 2025-12-30 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/v/challenge-2-board-4 monthly 0.5 2026-01-09 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/v/challenge-2-board-3 monthly 0.5 2026-01-09 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/v/challenge-1-board-2 monthly 0.5 2025-12-30 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/v/challenge-1-board-1 monthly 0.5 2026-01-16 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/v/challenge-1-board-3 monthly 0.5 2025-12-30 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/v/challenge-2-board-2 monthly 0.5 2025-12-30 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/v/challenge-1-board-4 monthly 0.5 2025-12-30 https://www.bridgeandbeyond.com/challenge-videos/v/challenge-2-board-1 monthly 0.5 2025-12-30