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THE BASICS---BEGIN BRIDGE
If you are an absolute beginner, I can do no better than recommend
Richard Pavlicek's introduction to the game on his fascinating
website. Click here for
your first visit.
His site includes many wonderful topics, but don't go too far into
his bidding methods as they follow the Standard American
System---strong no-trump and five-card majors. This is ,of course,
quite different to the Acol system which most UK players use, and
which is the one that I teach.
If you are not a beginner, but are looking for a reminder of some
of the basics, before venturing into the detail of my website, I
recommend that you read the paragraphs below.
GENERAL
- The ranking order of the suits (in the bidding) is ( least first ) clubs,
diamonds, hearts, spades, no-trumps.
- The only bids allowed are a number followed by a suit or no-trump(s).
If the three other players pass, this bid becomes the contract,
and declarer is the first player to name the trump suit.
Declarer's partner is dummy, whose hand is spread on the table
after the opening lead.
- An acceptable trump suit is one with at least eight cards in it,
between the two hands ( declarer and dummy ).A suit bid may only
have four cards in it, so it cannot be supported or accepted as
trumps unless partner also has four. A suit that is bid twice
shows at least five cards in it ( unless the suit has been
agreed as trumps ), and in this case, partner only needs three to
support: ie: 1H-1S-2H ;partner only needs a three-card heart suit
to raise to 3H or 4H. BUT---1H-2H ;opener can repeat her suit as a
game try with only four cards in it, since hearts have been agreed
as trumps.
- In your early days, most contracts will be at the level of one
or two since (a) you will often have a part-score, (b) your
playing skills are not fully developed, (c) the nasty opposition
may also be bidding.
- You value your hand by giving the picture cards (which take most
of the tricks), a value in terms of points. Ace = 4, King = 3,
Queen = 2 and Jack = 1. The better your hand, the more points you
have.
OPENER
- Tries to find a bid with 12 points or more.
- Never bids a suit with less than four cards in it.
- Usually bids the longest suit first ( exceptions often being
made where major suits are involved ).
- With two suits of equal length usually bids the higher ranking
first ( but be prepared to be flexible with this as you get more
experienced ).
- Can add extra points for length in a suit--one for the fifth
card, one for the sixth card etc.
- Tries to find a sensible second bid ( which may be a pass )
depending on how things are going. Options are (a) support partner
(b) bid your own suit again (c) bid your second suit (d) try
no-trumps.
- Note that opening bids of one no-trump
are based on specific point count and shape.
RESPONDER (to opening bids of one of a suit)
Note that responding to opening bids of one
no-trump is different to the regime below.
- Tries to find a bid with six points or more. With less than six
points you would normally pass.
2 . With six points or more, responder has three
options( remember SYN )
S- Support your partner ( 1H-2H; or 1H-3H
etc). You need at least four cards
in partner's
suit.
Y- Your own suit---bid it ! NB. To
respond to partner at the two level in a new suit, you need at least
eight points.
N- No-trump. Bid one no-trump showing 6-8
points and a balanced hand. This 'coded' bid keeps the auction open
for partner in case she has a big hand and wants to bid on.
3. Responder's shortages are worth extra points
as they generate extra tricks. Void-3 points: Singleton-2 points:
Doubleton-1 point. Don't count length and shortage in the same hand !
4. At this stage, responder's second bid will
usually close the auction.
Go here for a simple quiz on this page.
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