Robert Todd’s

ADVENTURES IN BRIDGE

Join Now

Greetings from Robert — Daily Hand
New 1-MONTH Free Trial

*Greetings from Robert* is a NEW subscription that includes a daily email and Bridgebee practice hand to reinforce each discussion (included for free for AIB Spades Level Members).

Latest This Week in Bridge (TWIB) Lesson ♣

Featured

(572) Bergen Raises

When responding to partner’s 1-Major opening bid, Responder tries to apply the Law of Total Tricks (LOTT) – getting to the size of the partnership’s fit as quickly as possible. This is particularly true in competitive auctions but is also useful in constructive auctions. Responder must balance showing the size of their fit with showing their values. This LOTT bidding is especially effective when our side has a 9+card fit. In this case, the auction is likely to become competitive if the opponents have some values as well. Predicting this to happen, we would like to be able to compete to the 3-level with a 9+card fit as quickly as possible, eating up the opponents’ bidding space while showing our values. Bergen Raises are a set of conventional bids Responder can use when responding to a 1-Major opening bid with 4+card support (at least a 9+card fit). Let’s see how this system works.

Latest Webinars ♠

Fundamentals - Opening and Responding Basics

9/2024 (62 min)

Here we review some fundamentals of opening bids and look more deeply into your thought process before we open the bidding. Then we pivot to the responder’s actions and make sure that we are prepared to construct a good auction with some problem situations.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Fundamentals - High Level Response to 1-Major Openings

March 2025 - Coming Soon!

When partner opens the bidding with 1-Major then we normally go slow and make a low level response. But we can also use some immediate jumps to high bids to describe some interesting and difficult hands. Let’s look at the meaning of this high-level jump responses.

Webinar Notes

Fundamentals - Other Responses 1-Level Openings

March 2025 - Coming Soon!

Here we look at some other complex auctions and special responses to 1-level opening bids. We focus on some jump shift responses to 1-Major and 1-minor and then turn out focus to NT responses to minor suit openings.

Webinar Notes

Fundamentals - Hand Eval after Responder's Jump Shift

March 2025 - Coming Soon!

When Responder makes a jump shift, either a weak jump shift or a 3/1 invitational jump shift, then Opener is left to figure out what to do next. Here we look at what types of hands Opener should bid with (like) and when they should be conservative and Pass.

Webinar Notes

Fundamentals - Some Confusing Auctions

March 2025 - Coming Soon!

There are some classic auctions that lead to confusion between partnerships. Ones that you should make sure you and partner agree upon.

Webinar Notes

Become an AIB Spades Member — Watch Over 200 Videos

Robert's Upcoming Seminars

Beach Club Seminars - Palm Beach

Beach Club Seminars - Palm Beach
May 15-16, 2025
Palm Beach, FL — Members, Guest, Affiliates
FLYER

CA Teaching Week

CA Teaching Week
May 26th Week, 2025
Details - TBD

Indianapolis, IN Seminars

Indianapolis Bridge Center
Indianapolis, IN
June 6, 2025
Details TBD

Coral Bay, NC Seminars

Coral Bay, NC Seminars
Coral Bay, NC Cub
June 11-13, 2025
Details - Members & Guests

Steamboat Springs, CO Seminar

Steamboat Springs, CO Seminars
Steamboat Springs, CO Bridge Club
July 14 , 2025
Details - TBA

Vail, CO Summer Seminars

Vail, CO Summer Seminars
Vail Christian School
July 15-17, 2025
REGISTER

Colorado Springs, CO Seminars

Colorado Springs, CO Seminars
July 18, 2025
Details - TBA

Charlotte, NC Seminars

Charlotte, NC Seminars
Charlotte Bridge Association
Aug 7, 2025
FLYER

Asheville, NC Seminars

Asheville, NC Seminars
Crowne Plaza Resort
Aug 8-9, 2025
Flyer coming soon

Highlands Falls, NC Seminars

Highlands Falls, NC Seminars
Highlands Falls Country Club
Aug 2025
Details - Members & Guests

Madison, WI Seminar

Madison Bridge Club
Madison, WI
October 7, 2025
REGISTER

St. Louis Seminars

St Louis Bridge Center
Oct 10-11, 2025
TBD

Woman's Athletic Club of Chicago Seminars

Woman's Athletic Club of Chicago Seminars
WAC Seminars
Oct 2025
Details - TBD

Jupiter Island Club Seminars

Jupiter Island Club Seminars
Jupiter Island Club, FL
Jan, 2026
Details — Members & Guests

Cabo, MX Bridge Seminars

Cabo, MX Bridge Seminars
Cabo Mexico - Querencia Golf Club
Feb 9-12, 2026
Details - Members, Guests, & Friends

**Latest This Week in Bridge (TWIB) Practice Hands ♦**

Featured

Even More Competitive Bidding 6 - 572

Bergen Raises

When responding to partner’s 1-Major opening bid, Responder tries to apply the Law of Total Tricks (LOTT) – getting to the size of the partnership’s fit as quickly as possible. This is particularly true in competitive auctions but is also useful in constructive auctions. Responder must balance showing the size of their fit with showing their values. This LOTT bidding is especially effective when our side has a 9+card fit. In this case, the auction is likely to become competitive if the opponents have some values as well. Predicting this to happen, we would like to be able to compete to the 3-level with a 9+card fit as quickly as possible, eating up the opponents’ bidding space while showing our values. Bergen Raises are a set of conventional bids Responder can use when responding to a 1-Major opening bid with 4+card support (at least a 9+card fit). Let’s see how this system works.

Recent This Week in Bridge (TWIB) Videos ♥

Featured

Hand Evaluation: Counting Points - Before the Auction Begins

Lesson 1 of 8 (25 min)

Video of Robert further discussing the topics in TWiB Lesson #329.

Buy - $10

Play ►

TWiB Lesson

Robert’s Bridge News & Articles

Featured

Robert and Michael Berkowitz - BAMSA Conference

Robert and Michael discussion building a Vertically Integrated Youth Bridge Program (bridge for all types of players), and Other Education Foundation (ACBL) Goals at the Real Bridge / BAMSA bridge teachers & coaches conference.

ON THE ROAD WITH ROBERT TODD
—
BUY NOW @ BARON BARCLAY

“Bridge is the greatest of all card games. It’s both entertaining and challenging at the same time. Here you can get started learning to play this great game or work to improve your game, no matter your level of bridge experience. ”

— Robert S. Todd