"Ask Jerry"
My thanks to Pat Harrington for her work summarizing the Ask Jerry articles.
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Bridge Bulletin (Play Bridge) articles
Jerry Helms is a regular contributor to the
American Contract Bridge League Bridge Bulletin
About Jerry Adobe PDF file
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2010
    July Adobe PDF file
June Adobe PDF file May Adobe PDF file April Adobe PDF file
March Adobe PDF file February Adobe PDF file January Adobe PDF file
2009
December Adobe PDF file November Adobe PDF file October Adobe PDF file
 
September Adobe PDF file
Meaning of a 3H response to 1D/Correction to July percentages
August Adobe PDF file 
Weak Jump Shift responses
July Adobe PDF file
How often is a minor suit opening bid made on only 3 cards? (correction in September 09 column)
June Adobe PDF file
Double by the 1NT opener after RHO overcalls
May Adobe PDF file
by the 1NT opener after responder's transfer bid is doubled
April Adobe PDF file
Advancer's bid when partner doubles opponent's major suit preempt
March Adobe PDF file
Responder's action when partner's 1NT opening bid is doubled for penalty
February Adobe PDF file
Three-level responses to a 1NT opening bid (15-17)
January Adobe PDF file
The rule of 20, better named The Suggestion of 22

2008
December Adobe PDF file
Opener's rebid with a minimum hand and a singleton spade after a 1S response
November Adobe PDF file
Attitude signals when partner leads versus NT
October Adobe PDF file
Who's to blame problem when an 18-point opening is followed by a takeout double
September Adobe PDF file
Fourth-seat opening bids and the Rule of 15
August Adobe PDF file
New suit responses to a 3-level minor suit preempt - forcing or not?
July Adobe PDF file
What's forcing after responder makes a 2/1 response
June Adobe PDF file
Meaning of opening bids of 2H or 2S in fourth seat
May Adobe PDF file
Some good hands have to pass after the opponents open
April Adobe PDF file
Meaning of a 3S response to a 1D opening bid
March Adobe PDF file
Coping when everything you do seems wrong
February Adobe PDF file
Opening minimum hands with 4 diamonds and 5 clubs
January Adobe PDF file
Advice for an Intermediate player who wants to improve

2007
December Adobe PDF file
Reverses / Overcalls
November Adobe PDF file
Defending weak 2s / Stayman follow ups
October Adobe PDF file
Stolen bids
September Adobe PDF file 
Opening Two suited hands / Michaels or Not?
August Adobe PDF file 
Constructive Raises / Offensive vs defensive values
July Adobe PDF file
Advancing overcalls / Transfers with weak hands
June Adobe PDF file
NT rebids after 2C opening / Interference after 2C opening
May Adobe PDF file
Responding with a major suit fit / Values for T/O doubles
April Adobe PDF file
Defensive guidelines / NT overcalls
March Adobe PDF file
4-4 vs 5-3 fit / 2H response to 1S
February Adobe PDF file
New suits forcing?
January Adobe PDF file
Open NT with 5 card major? / Doubles after NT interference

2006
December Adobe PDF file
Takeout doubler rebids 1NT
Opener's 1NT rebid
November Adobe PDF file
Game tries in Competition
October Adobe PDF file
Reverse by responder after opener's 1NT rebid
September Adobe PDF file
Leading ace from ace-king
Responder's rebid of his suit on the two level
August Adobe PDF file
Two-suited hands and preempts
July Adobe PDF file
Gerber in notrump auctions
June Adobe PDF file
4NT as quantitative in notrump auctions
May Adobe PDF file
Responding to a suit opening bid with only an ace
Suggestion: A 2/1 response is forcing to at least 2NT
April Adobe PDF file
Garbage Stayman
Responding when partner's 2C opening is overcalled
March Adobe PDF file
When not to lead your long suit in notrump
Leading partner's overcalled suit
February Adobe PDF file
Opening 2NT with a 5-card major
When to open 1NT holding two doubletons
January Adobe PDF file
Bidding after partner's Drury raise (when to accept a 4-card limit raise)

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Better Bridge article(s)
2009
November Adobe PDF file September Adobe PDF file
Responding with fewer than 6 points and no fit for partner's suit)
July Adobe PDF file
Opening leads from kings, queens, or jacks
May Adobe PDF file
Responding to a 2C opening: Jacoby steps versus 2D waiting
March Adobe PDF file
What is 1NT Forcing?
January Adobe PDF file
Advice on leading aces

2008
November Adobe PDF file
Opening leads versus a slam
September Adobe PDF file
Attitude signals (standard and upside down)
July Adobe PDF file
Bidding a highly distributional hand / Opening in third seat
May Adobe PDF file
Avoid confusion by not using too many conventions; 11 conventions suggested by Jerry
March Adobe PDF file
Looking for slam after a transfer
January Adobe PDF file
How high are we forced when responder's second bid is a new suit on the two level / When is a new suit by responder non-forcing?

2007
November Adobe PDF file
Responder's action when partner's opening bid is doubled for takeout
September Adobe PDF file
When a new suit by responder is not forcing
July Adobe PDF file
Rebid by the 1NT opener after responder transfers; Balancing over 1NT / Meaning of a jump raise of opener's major over a takeout double
May Adobe PDF file
Point range for a minimum raise of opener's major / Point range for a 2NT first response; Responding to 1NT with 0-7 points and 5-4 in the majors; When is 4C Gerber?
March Adobe PDF file
Overcalling 1S / Minimum responder's rebid after opener raises his hearts
January Adobe PDF file
Plan your rebid; opening 1NT with a semi-balanced hand having a weak 6-card minor

2006
November Adobe PDF file
Responding 1NT in competition
Negative doubles
Opener rebids a 5-card suit as the least of evils
September Adobe PDF file
Competing after your opponent opens 1NT
July Adobe PDF file
Bidding after opener's 1NT rebid (new minor forcing)
May Adobe PDF file
Bidding when the opponents make a takeout double
Preemptive jump raise after an overcall
March Adobe PDF file
Hand evaluation
Game try in competition
January Adobe PDF file
Leading versus 3NT

Click here for past editions

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