Monday, May 29, 2023

Lesson 3(d) - Establishing a suit for extra tricks

Sometimes you need to lose a trick to make more tricks

"Knocking out" the opponents Ace

What if you're not sure whether you can make game?

You must make a bid which asks partner to further describe their hand

Getting the maximum number of tricks

To get the maximum number of tricks, you must be careful about entries

Bidding and Playing Notrump Hands

Lesson 3 consists of a dozen hands that will provide practice in card play. In each deal, imagine you are the declarer. Count your sure tricks. Decide where you might look for extras. Plan your order of play before following to the first trick.

Lesson 2(g) - Test yourself on what you've learnt so far

HOW’S MY PROGRESS AFTER LESSON TWO?

ANSWERS TO QUIZ in Lesson 2(c)

The following three hands are played in Notrumps.

The contracts are either game or slam

Playing notrump hands

As declarer you should first count your sure tricks when dummy goes down - the aces, kings and other honours that are immediate winners.

Lesson 2(c) - Test yourself on the bidding

BIDDING QUIZ - Answers in Lesson 2(f)

What opening bid do you make with each of the following hands?
a. ♠A   ♥AQT2 ♦K43 ♣K9752
b. ♠A74   ♥632 ♦A6 ♣AKJ72
c. ♠J7532  ♥A5   ♦AKQ72 ♣3
d. ♠K95 ♥AQ3 ♦J752 ♣AKQ
e. ♠AKQ   ♥85   ♦KQJT ♣AK73
f. ♠K53   ♥Q7542  ♦AJ6 ♣A4

Responding to notrump openings with balanced hands

A reply to partner's opening is called a response. At this stage you need only know that opener's partner, who is called the responder, must reply to an opening of one of a suit with 6+ points. Then the partnership can explore for a trump suit and decide on the final level.
This lesson concentrates on notrump bidding and responding with balanced hands.

Opening the bidding

Starting with the dealer, each player in turn has the opportunity to be the first to open the bidding. With fewer than a good 12 points you normally pass (exceptions in Lesson 9 when we look at weak hands with good(ish) long suits) and let someone else open.

Lesson 1(g). How's Your Progress so Far?

A QUIZ

You should very soon be able to answer all the following questions without referring to the earlier posts. (Okay, okay, most of them) You will find progress much easier if you start early to commit things to memory. Osmosis will work in the long run, but weekly revision is far more effective!

You Get Extra Points for Extra Tricks

Board 4 Dlr: W All Vul

The contract is 3NT by East, a game contract in which 9 tricks are required.

Try Playing these Slam Hands

Board 2 Dlr: E NS Vul

The contract is 6♠ by West, small slam - 12 tricks required.

How the cards are played

The auction sets the stage for the play. The player who gets to play the hand, the declarer, is the one who first mentioned the strain in which the contract is to be played. Declarer's partner is called dummy. The opposing pair are the defenders.

How to Score the Results of a Hand

You make a plus score in two ways - for making your contract, or for defeating theirs. And, at duplicate bridge, you receive a corresponding minus score when they succeed in their contract or defeat yours.

Getting Started

The basic materials needed at home are four players and two packs of cards. At a bridge club you will have instead a series of containers called boards with cards pre-dealt into four slots.

Bridge - a game for the technically minded

Millions of people play bridge worldwide - in clubs, tournaments, online and with friends at home - making it one of the world's most popular card games. It is particularly suited to those with an analytical mind, such as scientists working in Mathematics, Physics, Computing etc. These professionals are known for their logical thinking, attention to detail, working collaboratively (it's a partnership game) and with the ability to focus. All these attributes come into play in this endlessly fascinating game.

Course Outline

For a summary of all the topics covered in this course

Go To Course Outline

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