We wish that all our hands were as easy to bid and play as the one above. But then, bridge wouldn't be much of a challenge.

In this e-newsletter, we'll look at a challenging hand from a recent game and talk about negative doubles, the subject of next Monday's lesson.

We'll also introduce Jo Harmon (BBO: 1Honey1), who learned to play bridge while recuperating from surgery. 

--Chuck Abramo and Jo Murray

Join the Doubles Festival

Jo Murray is teaching the following online lessons.

• Why Negative Doubles Are the Most Important Convention in Bridge, Part 2 - Sept. 19
• Support Doubles, Part 1 - Sept. 26
• Support Doubles, Part 2 - Oct. 3
• Oct. 10 - Teacher's Holiday
• Doubles to Show a Strong Hand - Oct. 17
• Penalty Doubles - Oct. 24
• Lead-Directing Doubles - Oct. 31

The cost is $27 per lesson, or you may purchase a virtual punch card for 5 lessons for $125. Private lessons on these and other topics also are available. Sign up by sending an email to jo@sunvalleybridge.com. More details are at SunValleyBridge.com.

Congratulati0ns, Stephanie!

Congratulations to Stephanie Campbell (BBO: LAsoup), who came in first in a recent Bridgebase.com tournament for players with fewer than 500 master points. She and her partner had a

63 % game.

How Would You Bid This Hand?

Here's an interesting hand from a recent game and comments on the bidding.

E        S       W      N

P        P       1 H    1 NT

4 H    4 S    All pass?

• 1 H - With 11 high-card points and a good five-card major, it makes sense for West to open in 3rd seat. Guideline: You may "borrow a king," - or add 3 points to your hand, to open the bidding in 3rd seat.
• 1 NT - North has 15 HCP, a balanced hand, and a heart stopper.
• 4 H - East can follow the Law of Total Tricks and jump to 4 hearts with a weak hand and 5 trump.
• 4 S - With 6 spades and a void in hearts, South may want to go to 4 spades. South knows that East's jump is weak and preemptive. If East and West do not bid, South should transfer to spades and bid game. South has 10 total points: 5 HCP and 5 dummy points. South knows there is an 8-card spade fit, as North needs at least two cards in every suit to bid 1 NT.

If North bids 4 S, should East go to 5 H? No. E-W have 10 trump and the Law of Total Tricks says that 4 H is a safe bid. Going to 5 H is too risky.

Let's look at the scoring considerations. N-S can make 5 spades. E-W can make only 2 hearts. If E-W are doubled and down two, it will be a good score for them. They will lose 300 points, while they will lose 450 points if N-S bids 4 S and makes 5. But if E-W goes to 5 H and is down three doubled, they will lose 500 points.

In our game, only a robot bid 4 spades.

Takeaways:

You can open a little light in third seat.

Remember to count dummy points.

The Law of Total Tricks works better than almost any other guideline, regardless of vulnerability.

Jo Harmon (BBO: 1Honey1): "Love the Friendly Atmosphere"

When did you start playing bridge and why? I started playing bridge in 2016. I was confined to complete bed rest for 3.5 months after a surgical procedure. My friend Geri Van Dyke, who was an excellent bridge player, brought two of her friends and they taught me to play bridge. Their patience and knowledge has been such a gift to me.

What do you like about Sun Valley Bridge? I love the Sun Valley bridge group because of their friendly atmosphere. Jo and Chuck have been so supportive. I have had four great partners, Nancy Mulroney, Errol Flynn, Patty Nelson and the late Bill Cassell. I am so grateful for all of them.

What was your profession in a past life? I was an interior designer for 35 years in San Jose, Calif. I lived in Arkansas until I graduated from high school at age 15. I moved to Westwood, Calif., to attend school at UCLA. I lived in San Jose for 53 years before moving to Sun Valley.

What are you doing when you aren't playing bridge? I have joined a few charitable organizations to do volunteer work here. I have four grandchildren, and I have so much fun spending time with them.

Anything else? I'm grateful for this beautiful area and the many friends I have made since moving here.