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Douglas SmixOct 19, 2026
Hi Gavin,
Related 2-Part Questions:
1) After taking 2 Clubs with Partner discouraging the majors, we set this contract, but didn't agree on HOW we should have shown present Upside-Down Count. Were I to lead out a suit mid-hand without direction I know I'd follow the principle of saying if I liked a suit and play low or if I don't and lead high, but here I'm ostensibly directed to play a suit and figured I should then divulge count. Perhaps I'm overcomplicating matters, but it would seem I'd be leading mid-hand the top of a doubleton and thus generally low from 3, so from T754 should I be playing 3rd best and then 2nd to give present UDCA count from the remaining 3 card holding in an effort to convey 4 cards or should we all be playing the 7 first then 5 still like in standard or even low from an honor? Would it matter if the dummy were void or held a middling stiff honor or xx or Qx or xxx or Jxx etc? Did holding the Ten sway you vs xxxx? Thanks!
2) In standard, in the case of being led to mid-hand the advice would be to follow under partner's winning honor the 7 then 5 to convey 4 rather than just 2 in the suit [again from say a suit of T754].
For reasons still unclear to me I'm told UDCA doesn't show 5, then 7 similarly to express 4. Can you shed light on why this is or state emphatically what you'd deem best? Is this true vs both NT or a Suit contract in which dummy holds 2+ cards?
Hope that was clear enough! Thanks again!
North
♠
4 3
♥
J 5
♦
10 7 5 4
♣
A K 8 7 3
West
♠
A K Q 10 8
♥
K
♦
J 9 6 2
♣
J 6 2
East
♠
J 6
♥
A Q 10 6 4
♦
8
♣
Q 10 9 5 4
South
♠
9 7 5 2
♥
9 8 7 3 2
♦
A K Q 3
♣
—
W
N
E
S
P
P
1♠
P
2♥
P
2NT
P
3♣
P
3NT
P
P
P
Opening lead ♣K by North
Gavin WolpertTeacherOct 20, 2026
Hi Doug,
I am answering these types of questions in my actual study group. The defense one is this Thursday. Here is the link to sign up: https://wolpertbridge.com/classes/advanced-study-group/2026-10-22
You've also sent me a few other ones by email that are great for discussion. Feel free to sign up and post them all there and I will go through them during the session.
Ellie BaileyOct 18, 2026
Will you continue teaching in November? I am really enjoying all the seminars.
Gavin WolpertTeacherOct 20, 2026
Yes I am definitely continuing Thursdays in November. I am going to do a full master series class on the updates to my major suit structure (non serious 3NT and other stuff) and then I'm going to do some practice sessions on slam bidding. I will get my schedule up in the next day or two.
Bogdan ZychOct 5, 2026
Hi Gavin . Can i send u a hand i play on tournament and see how would u play it ?
Gavin WolpertTeacherOct 8, 2026
Absolutely!! That’s what I’m looking for. Just put it in the questions of any of the upcoming Q&A sessions.
Please use the “add a hand” function
Pamela S LazorchakSep 28, 2026
How advanced do you need to be to join the advanced study group?
Gavin WolpertTeacherSep 30, 2026
Hi Pamela,
Anyone is welcome to join if they think it will help them. The answers to questions are going to be at a pretty advanced level but there is always a lot of meat in what I say for any level of player. The reason it's called advanced is so that people who join understand that I am going to be answering advanced questions with sometimes complex answers. The reality is I think about bridge in a relatively simple way so often my thoughts are understandable for any level.
Carolyn CampbellSep 24, 2026
Would you please discuss your thoughts on opening leads and how they have evolved in the past few years?
Gavin WolpertTeacherSep 30, 2026
I have decided to make this my main topic for October 8th
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation — comments are open to members who've bought a lesson or class.
Hi Gavin, Related 2-Part Questions: 1) After taking 2 Clubs with Partner discouraging the majors, we set this contract, but didn't agree on HOW we should have shown present Upside-Down Count. Were I to lead out a suit mid-hand without direction I know I'd follow the principle of saying if I liked a suit and play low or if I don't and lead high, but here I'm ostensibly directed to play a suit and figured I should then divulge count. Perhaps I'm overcomplicating matters, but it would seem I'd be leading mid-hand the top of a doubleton and thus generally low from 3, so from T754 should I be playing 3rd best and then 2nd to give present UDCA count from the remaining 3 card holding in an effort to convey 4 cards or should we all be playing the 7 first then 5 still like in standard or even low from an honor? Would it matter if the dummy were void or held a middling stiff honor or xx or Qx or xxx or Jxx etc? Did holding the Ten sway you vs xxxx? Thanks! 2) In standard, in the case of being led to mid-hand the advice would be to follow under partner's winning honor the 7 then 5 to convey 4 rather than just 2 in the suit [again from say a suit of T754]. For reasons still unclear to me I'm told UDCA doesn't show 5, then 7 similarly to express 4. Can you shed light on why this is or state emphatically what you'd deem best? Is this true vs both NT or a Suit contract in which dummy holds 2+ cards? Hope that was clear enough! Thanks again!
North
West
East
South
Opening lead ♣K by North
Hi Doug, I am answering these types of questions in my actual study group. The defense one is this Thursday. Here is the link to sign up: https://wolpertbridge.com/classes/advanced-study-group/2026-10-22 You've also sent me a few other ones by email that are great for discussion. Feel free to sign up and post them all there and I will go through them during the session.
Will you continue teaching in November? I am really enjoying all the seminars.
Yes I am definitely continuing Thursdays in November. I am going to do a full master series class on the updates to my major suit structure (non serious 3NT and other stuff) and then I'm going to do some practice sessions on slam bidding. I will get my schedule up in the next day or two.
Hi Gavin . Can i send u a hand i play on tournament and see how would u play it ?
Absolutely!! That’s what I’m looking for. Just put it in the questions of any of the upcoming Q&A sessions. Please use the “add a hand” function
How advanced do you need to be to join the advanced study group?
Hi Pamela, Anyone is welcome to join if they think it will help them. The answers to questions are going to be at a pretty advanced level but there is always a lot of meat in what I say for any level of player. The reason it's called advanced is so that people who join understand that I am going to be answering advanced questions with sometimes complex answers. The reality is I think about bridge in a relatively simple way so often my thoughts are understandable for any level.
Would you please discuss your thoughts on opening leads and how they have evolved in the past few years?
I have decided to make this my main topic for October 8th