Learn Bridge With No Fear Bridge

Before you start bidding you have to add up the number of points in your hand.  This is simple

4 points for each ace

3 points for each king

2 points for each queen

1 point for each jack

This is an important definition.  If you are opening the bidding, knowing whether your hand is balanced or unbalanced is the key to deciding your opening bid.

Balanced Hand

Your hand consists of four suits – spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs.

A balanced hand WILL contain cards in all four suits

A balanced hand will NOT contain a void (no cards in a suit)

A balanced hand will NOT contain a singleton – just one card in a suit

A balanced hand CAN contain only ONE doubleton

A balanced hand CAN contain a 5 card suit (in which case

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A game of bridge requires four people.  The game is played in pairs.  North partners South and East partners West.  Which pair is playing N/S or E/W is decided before the game starts.

Before you start a game of bridge you decide who will be the dealer.  If you are playing at home, the dealer will deal the cards.  If you are playing in a club you will probably be given a pre-dealt set of hands.

After each round the dealer rotates clockwise.

The dealer is the first person to speak when the bidding starts.  If s/he has less

Continue reading Before you Start. Who’s Who