Bridge - An Endlessly Challenging Game

A FREE introduction to the game of Bridge for beginners. How to deal, how to score, how to bid, how to play. This is a course of 10 free Lessons with each lesson subdivided into 7 posts. Start with the Course Outline - at the bottom of the Home page. You can opt to move slowly, one post at a time, or jump to a companion site where the same material is presented at a faster pace. Typically, someone with little or no familiarity with Bridge will progress at a rate of about one lesson per week.

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Lesson 7(g) - Progress Check

How's my progress after bridge lesson seven?

Answers to bridge quiz

Hands Illustrating Responder taking charge

How responder takes charge when opener shows a maxi

When opener shows a maxi - game is certain and slam likely with better than minimum

Responder will now know if opener has a mini, midi or maxi

- based on the rebid.

Opener's priority of rebids with a midi

Opener's rebid after a shift

- now responder is master of the auction

Responder's simple shift to a new suit says, 'I have 6-15 points (10-15 at the 2-level). I’m searching for the right strain for us to play in, and I’m forcing you to bid again.'

Lesson 6(g) - Progress Check

How's my progress after Lesson Six?

ANSWERS TO QUIZ

1. a. (1) 4© with 20 TP maxi

(2) 4© - slam very unlikely with 30-32

Hands illustrating Opener's rebid

Lesson 6(d) - taking charge

How one-of-a-minor opener takes charge

When rebidding after responder raises a minor, opener considers notrumps first when game is the objective, but stays in the minor when partscores or slams are involved.

How opener takes charge after responder bids notrumps over the major

Lesson 6(b) - responder raises the major

How opener takes charge after responder raises the major

When responder raises a major, opener always stays with the major suit as trumps and simply decides the final level - partscore, game or slam.

Opener's rebid when responder has made a limit bid

How opener takes charge and is 'the master of the auction'

We next look at what happens after an opening and a response - at opener's rebid.

Lesson 5(g) - Progress Check

HOW’S MY PROGRESS AFTER LESSON FIVE?

What is the minimum number of points for a response to one of a suit?
What is the point range for a shift at the one level?

Lesson 5(f) - Quiz Answers

ANSWERS TO STANDARD QUIZ

What if, after 1NT opening, responder has weak hand with long suit?

Lesson 5(d) - Responding to one of a minor

After 1♣ or 1♦ opening

After 1♣ or 1♦ openings you cannot raise without at least 5-card support.

Responding to opener's one of a suit opening with no fit

With 6 or more HCP responder must reply to an opening one of a suit bid by partner. Why? Because opener may have up to 21HCP and thus game is still a possibility.

What are opener’s replies to 1NT-2♣?

2♣ by responder asks opener to give information about her major suit holdings. There are only three possible replies:

How does responder search for the best place to play?

What if there is no immediate fit?

Now we examine how the search for a suit fit continues when responder is not immediately sure where one exists, or whether the contract would be better played in notrumps.

Lesson 4(g) - Quiz answers and a Progress check

Did you try the quiz in Lesson 4(d)?

You can compare your solutions to the ones below, and then assess your overall progress

Both HCP and distribution points should be considered

There are various ways to uncover the optimum contract.

You can first make a bid that you know won't be passed

Lesson 4(d) - Playing suit contracts

Do you aim for a suit or a NT contract?

You generally elect to play in a suit contract because you have an unbalanced hand and more trumps than the opponents.

Suit responses to a 1NT opening (15-17)

With an unbalanced hand, responder may elect to play in a suit instead of notrumps. Whenever responder has a 6 card or longer suit there must be a suit fit because opener's hand is balanced and must contain at least a doubleton in any suit.

Responder is ready to raise opener
- in accordance with the following agreements:

How responder announces a trump fit

With a good 12 to 21 points (= HCP + length points), you open one of a suit unless your hand qualifies for an opening of 1NT or 2NT.

Pages