Look at this example

North’s two spade response  shows a holding of 9+ points and 5 or more spades.  If West hadn’t made a two club overcall, partner could have responsed with 1 spade.  The overcall has forced partner to bid at the two level.

A change of suit response by partner is a forcing bid. As East has passed you are obliged to bid again even if you hold a relatively weak hand.

Your hand could hold just 12 points, for example:

s 8 3

h A Q 9 7 2

d A Q 5 4

c 10 7

We must bid again so bid our second suit, which we have no option but to bid at the three level.

As the LHO’s responding bid forced your partner to bid their change of suit at the two level, your rebid at the three level (the lowest rebid you can make in the circumstances) doesn’t promise anything more than the minimum 12 points.

When the opener has opened with a bid of one of a suit and the responder has a weakish hand with a suit that can be also be bid at the one level it is usually right to do so rather than making a bid of 1NT. However, if a change of suit response would take us to the two level and we have fewer than 9 points that is when we would usually bid 1NT. It doesn’t mean that we have a balanced hand, it just means that there are no other bids available to us and we have 6+ points and therefore shouldn’t just pass.

Here is an example:

(Our hand) South

Spades: 5 2

Hearts: K 9 8 6 3

Diamonds: J 10 5 3

Clubs: Q 6

Partner opened with a bid of one spade. We only hold 6 points and don’t have enough spades to support partner’s spade bid. Ideally we would like to bid our hearts at the one level, but we can’t. We don’t have enough points to bid at the two level, so we are forced to make a 1NT bid. This doesn’t show a balanced hand, it just tells partner we have a weak hand and not enough spades to support.

How can we decide if our hand is strong enough for a response at the two level? This is where the Rule of 14 comes in.

Using the Rule of 14

Start by adding up the number of high card points held. Then add to that the number of cards in the longest suit. If the total is 14 or more than the hand satisfied the Rule of 14 and we can make a bid at the two level. If the total is less than fourteen then we should make a 1NT bid.

Here are some more examples:

Example 1

South

S: 10 7 2

H: 8 5

D: A 9 5

C: K J 9 7 3

Partner has opened with a bid of 1 heart. We can’t bid our clubs without raising to the two level. Using the Rule of 14 we have 8 high card point and 5 cards in our longest suit. This gives us a total of 13, so we should respond with a bid of 1NT.

Example 2

South

S: 8 7 6

H: 8

D: Q 9 2

C: A Q 10 6 5 2

Partner has opened 1H. As with the previous hand, we want to bid clubs, but this would mean raising to the two level. We have 8 high card points, but this time we have 6 cards in our longest suit. Adding these two gives us a total of 14, so we can bid 2 Clubs.

• Three suits have already been bid (hence the name)
• You don’t already have a major suit fit (8+ cards in a suit) with your partner
• You want to find out more information about partner’s hand

At this stage (3 suits already bid) a bid of the fourth suit doesn’t mean that you hold good cards in the suit and want to bid it.  It is a conventional bid which means “ tell me something more about your hand partner?”

The opener then replies to tell the responder something more about their hand such as:

1)    Bidding the responder’s first suit shows three cards held in that suit

2)     Re-bidding their own second suit shows that they hold 5 cards in that suit

3)     Re-bidding their own first suit shows they hold 6 cards in that suit

4)     Bidding No Trumps shows that they hold a stopper in the fourth suit

5)     If they have none of the above, they may need to rebid their first suit with only 5 cards.

Using The Rule of 20

Start by adding up your high card points.  Then add to that the length of your two longest suits. If the total is 20 or more then your hand passes The Rule of 20 and you can open the bidding.

Examples

Hand 1

(spades) A  7 5 4
(hearts)  6 5 3
(diamonds) A K 8 5 3
(clubs) 9

Hand 1 has 11 HCPs. The lengths of the two longest suits are five and four. This makes a total of 20, so the hand is suitable for opening.

Hand 2

(s) 8 3
(h) A Q 9 5 4
(d) K J 6 4 2
(c) 5

Hand 2 has only 10 points but has two 5 card suits. So adding the points (10) to the length of the two longest suits (10) gives a total of 20. It passes the Rule of 20 so we can open with one of a suit.

Hand 3

(s) Q J 4
(h) A 7
(d) 10 7 5
(c) K J 8 6 3

Hand 3 has 11 points, but adding in the length of the two longest suits (5 + 3) only gives a total of 19.  This hand doesn’t pass the Rule of 20 and so isn’t suitable for opening.

There are two types of slam – a small slam and a grand slam.

A small slam means you bid for and win 12 out of the 13 available tricks.

A grand slam means you bid for and win all 13 tricks.

Why Bid For a Slam?

If you are learning how to bid in bridge, you might be wondering why you would risk bidding for a small or grand slam when you could bid for fewer tricks and be certain of winning.

The answer is points.  If you bid for and win a small slam, or a grand slam you will win a greater number of points.  Conversely, if you bid for a slam and fail to achieve it your opponents will gain a greater number of points.

Points Scored for a Slam?

A small slam will score an extra 500 point bonus (or 750 if vulnerable)

A grand slam  will score an extra 1000 point bonus (or 1500 if vulnerable)

These slam bonuses are in addition to the regular game bonus.

How Many Points Are Needed?

To consider bidding for a slam you need to know that you and your partner have enough points to justify the risk.

Small Slam (12 tricks) in suit contract 31+
Small Slam in No Trumps 33+
Grand Slam (13 tricks) in suit contract 35+
Grand Slam in No Trumps 37+

Do you have enough Aces and Kings?

There are 40 points available in total.  It is possible to hold enough points for small slam (up to 34 points) but be missing two aces.  If you are in this situation you risk losing two tricks, thus failing to make your small slam.

To help you decide whether you and your partner have enough aces and kings there are two main conventions that can be used – Blackwood and Gerber.

For a more in-depth explanation of these conventions Click Here to sign up for your two week’s free trial at No Fear Bridge now.

It is a more accurate way of valuing an unbalanced hand when you know you have an eight card fit. Without using this method you will probably have used shortage points when valuing a hand with a known eight card fit. To do this you count five for a void, 3 for a singleton in a suit and 1 for a doubleton suit. However, this is not the most accurate method of valuing an unabalanced hand and most bridge players use the Losing Trick Count instead.

Why Should You Use it?

It makes it easier for you to bid your hand to the right level. Most bridge players use it – so you will be at a disadvantage if you don’t learn how to use it.

When Should You Use It?

You use the Losing Trick Count when you have an 8 card fit or better and an unbalanced hand.

When Shouldn’t You Use It?

Don’t use it unless you have an 8 card fit or better. Don’t use it if you don’t yet know if you have an 8 card fit.

How Does it Work?

Start by counting the losers in your own hand. Then add the losers that you believe are in your partner’s hand – you will have to make some basic assumptions about the cards your partner is holding, based on the bids they have made. Now subtract your total from 24. This gives you the number of tricks you expect to make.

How do you Count Your Losers?

You count one loser for each missing A, K and Q in each suit.

HF Holidays are offering two breaks for beginners.  One in February 2012 and one in October 2012.  Both are for four nights.

Urchfont Manor have a  beginners bridge weekend in January 2012.  They also have a weekend for improvers in April 2012.

If you fancy a week in the sun and can get together a group of 4 – 10 players you can book a private beginners or improvers holiday in the Dordogne

There are several “rules” that the opener can use to help decide which card to play when opening the first round in a game of bridge.  The Rule of 11 is used by the third player (the opener’s partner) to help him/her decide which card to play.

When To Use The Rule Of 11

It is usually used when the game is being played in a no trumps contract.  You use the rule if you think that your partner’s opening lead was the 4th highest card in their longest suit.  (You have no way of knowing if that is actually the case – you just have to hope that you are correct!)

Once partner has played the opening lead, the cards in dummy’s hand are laid on the table so all players can see them. At this point you know the cards in your own hand plus the cards in dummy’s hand.  You also believe that your partner holds 3 cards higher than the one they played.

You can now use the Rule of 11 to work out if the fourth player holds any cards that are higher than the card led by your partner. If you believe that they don’t AND dummy played a low card, then it isn’t necessary for you to play a higher card than your partner for your partnership to win the trick. The rule helps you win the trick as cheaply as possible – keeping your higher cards for later rounds.

How to Use the Rule of 11

To help you understand the rule, let me show you an example.

Your partner has opened the game with the 7 of a suit.  Dummy played the 3  and you can see that dummy also holds K and 9. You hold A, J and 4.  Do you need to play the J or the K for your partnership to win the trick?

Remember, this rule applies when you think your partner played the 4th highest card of their longest suit.

• Subtract the number of the card played by your partner from 11.  In this case partner, played 7.
• 11 – 7 = 4 .  This tells you that there are four cards higher than 7 NOT held by your partner.
• You hold A and J and dummy holds K and 9 – so you can see all of those four cards.
• This tells you that the declarer doesn’t hold any card higher than 7, so you can play your 4 and your partnership will still win the trick.

Let’s start with the absolute basics.

• No points are scored for the first 6 tricks.  A contract for 1 of a suit (or 1NT) means you think you will make 7 tricks (6 + 1 bid).  A contract for 4 of a suit means you think you will make 10 tricks (6 + 4 bid)

• High Card Points = points score for cards held.  Four for each ace, three for each king, two or each queen and one for each jack.

• A “game” contract is one that would score 100 points if achieved.  If you achieve (or exceed) the contract you score a 300 point bonus.

• A part score contract is one that would score less than 100 points if achieved. If you achieve the contract you score a 50 point bonus.

• If you bid a part score but actually make enough tricks for game you will ONLY get the part score bonus as that is what you bid for.

• If you fail to make the contract you bid for, your opponents score 50 points for each trick you failed by.  So, if you bid 3 of a suit (bid to make 9 tricks) and only make 7 tricks your opponents score 50 points for each of the two tricks you failed to make (100 points in total)

Doubling

If you think that your opponents are unlikely to achieve the contract they are bidding for you can “double”.  This means that your side will score double the points for each trick the opponents go down by, but also means they will score double the points for each trick if they make the contract.  They will also score an extra bonus of 50 points for achieving the contract.

If the opponents are certain that they WILL make their contract they can “redouble”.  In this case they will score 4 times the usual point value for each trick made if they achieve the contract, plus a 100 point extra bonus.

Vulnerability

To add a little extra “spice” to the scoring one, or both sides become “vulnerable”.  This rotates between neither side vulnerable, E-W vulnerable, N-S vulnerable and both side vulnerable.  If your side is vulnerable and you fail to make a contract then your opponents score DOUBLE the number of points for each trick you fail by.

If your side is vulnerable and bid for and achieve game, then your game bonus is increased.

No increase for part score  - 50 points scored

Game score – bonus increased from 300 to 500 points if vulnerable

Slams

There are two types of slams.   A small slam (12 tricks) and a grand slam (all 13 tricks).  You only score an additional bonus for these if you bid to make them.

So, if you bid a contract of 4 hearts (to win 10 tricks) but actually win all thirteen tricks, you will just score the regular game bonus and won’t score the additional grand slam bonus.  You will only score the additional small or grand slam bonus if you bid to win 12/13 tricks (6 or 7 of a suit).

If you bid and make a small slam you will score an additional 500 point bonus (or 750 if vulnerable)

If you bid and make a grand slam you will score an additional 1000 point bonus (or 1500 if vulnerable)

Both of these are in addition to the regular game bonus.

At No Fear Bridge you will find hundreds of bridge hands to play, covering a wide range of topics.

Some hands allow you to play the whole hand and then show you what you have scored.  You are then given advice on the best way to play the hand.

Some hands are set up as tutorials where you choose which card to play, or which bid to make and you are then given feedback on wrong answers.

Each day you will find two “hands of the day” to play – an easier one and a harder one.  You will also find a defence hand, helping you to learn the essential skill of defending.

For advancers there are also two hands of the day – one for practising declarer play and one for practising defence play.