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It is a known fact that some are able to multi-task and some just cannot. We are not going to suggest which gender can and which cannot but we all know. BUT at the bridge table, no-one should multi-task!

Sacrificing means bidding over the opponents, expecting to fail. You hope that either you will be cheaper than the opposing making (game) contract; or your opponents bid one more and go down.

Bridge and its players lost one of their most ardent fans — and I lost the woman who taught me this great game — when Cathy Smith, 64, of Wood River IL died in February, 1997. 

Cathy was an ACBL member for over 30 years, but had few opportunities to play competitively.

Many people have asked for my reaction to the 2004 Mike Lawrence & Anders Wirgren book called I Fought the LAW. This book was written many years after I wrote To Bid or Not to Bid (the 1992 bestseller on the LAW of Total Tricks).

If I ask a student how he plans to make a hand, the first answer I always get is “I’m going to crossruff.” There is something joyous about a crossruff that excites the average bridge player! Contrary to popular opinion, however, the true crossruff occurs relatively seldom.

Many , many inferences at the bridge table are predicated on inaction. The negative inference. “If West had ‘A’, he would have done ‘B’. He did not do ‘B’, therefore he does not have ‘A'”.

By Karen Walker Courtesy of Karen’s Bridge Library: kwbridge.com When you’re declarer Don’t play to the first trick too quickly. Force yourself to stop and think when dummy comes down. Concentrate on the opening lead …

For many years, the significance and the tremendous playing value of having 4-card support for partner’s suit, particularly his major suit, has been unrecognized.

Silence is golden. Here are three situations to examine. If you are on the ‘wrong’ side of these, here is your big chance to change your ways.