9 minute read
Bridge
Michael O’Loughlin has enjoyed teaching bridge for over 40 years; his book, “Bridge: Basic Card Play” is available from the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland (01 4929666), price:€10.
Calling all Novices –
Intermediates!
by Michael O’Loughlin
The Rule of Ten
Ten is the average number of points in a bridge hand: forty points in the full pack, divide by four as there are four players and the result is ten points. When you initially pick up your hand, identify it as above average, average or below average.
The Rule of Ten / https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk/andrew/tips_for_intermediates The Rule of Ten: Ten is the average number of points in a bridge hand: /forty points in the full pack, divide by four as there are four players and the result is ten points. When you initially pick up your hand, identify it as above average, average or below average.
For example, facing a 1NT opener (12-14) a non-exceptional 10-point hand is not good enough to try for game because your side cannot possibly hold the 25 points usually required for 3NT or 4♠/4♥ (game). However, whenever partner opener’s one of a suit and then rebids 1NT we know she has 15/16 – so with our ten we can jump to 3NT, knowing our side has at least the required 25 points. Exercise: You hold the following three 10-point responding hands: What would you respond after your partner has opened 1NT (12-14)? With (1) respond 2♠: This is a Weak Takeout – you have 0-10 points and 5+ cards in the Spade suit. This is a Sign-off bid, i.e., opener must Pass. With (2) Pass. Showing 0-10 points – lacking the strength for game. Partner has a maximum of 14 points; our 10 points does not reach 25 points in total. We don’t have a 5+ card suit: so Pass. With (3) 2♠. Weak Takeout. Next, what would you bid with those same three hands after this bidding sequence: Partner opens 1♥ - you respond 1♠ – partner rebids 1NT (15-16 Balanced) – You ? With hand (1) you would now jump to 4♠ because partner must have at least a doubleton Spade for her No Trump rebid. Therefore, your side has 8+ cards in the Spade suit and 25/26 points – so bid 4♠. With hand (2) you bid 3NT because of a guaranteed 25 points and definitely no 8-card major suit fit. With hand (3) you bid 3♥. This is delayed support for the Heart suit. If you’d had 4+ cards in the Heart suit you would have raised partner on the first round – so when you raise partner on the second round, you are showing 3-card support. Now if partner originally started with 5 cards in the Heart suit she will go on to 4♥. The rational for exploring for a major suit fit is that it usually plays better than a No Trump contract. For the same reason, if opener does not have 5 cards in the Heart but does have 3 cards in the Spade suit she will now give delayed support to your Spade suit by bidding 3♠. With neither 5 cards in Hearts nor 3 cards in Spades opener will settle for 3NT realising no 8-card major suit fit exists. Note: The modern recommendation is to open 1NT with ALL balanced hands including those with a 5-card major as it describes your hand so precisely. It also removes the obligation of having to find a rebid after opening One of a Suit with 12-14 points.
For example, facing a 1NT opener (12-14) a non-exceptional 10-point hand is not good enough to try for game because your side cannot possibly hold the 25 points usually required for 3NT or 4♠/4♥ (game). However, whenever partner opener’s one of a suit and then rebids 1NT we know she has 15/16 –so with our ten we can jump to 3NT, knowing our side has at least the required 25 points. Exercise: You hold the following three 10-point responding hands:
♠ K J 6 5 3 2 ♥ 9 7 ♦ A J 2 ♣ J 6 ♠ A J 8 2 ♥ Q 8 ♦ J 9 7 3 ♣ Q 10 8 ♠ Q 10 8 3 2 ♥ A J 7 ♦ 4 2 ♣ K 7 4
(1) (2) (3)
More tips for Intermediate players can be found at:
https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk/ andrew/tips_for_intermediates/ Free bridge emails: If you wish to receive three times per week free bridge What would you respond after your partner has opened 1NT (12-14)? With (1) respond 2♠: This is a Weak Takeout – you have 0- emails which include lessons, videos & quizzes, please email me: Free bridge emails10 points and 5+
cards in the Spade suit. This is a Sign michaelolough@yahoo.comIf you wish to receive three times per Free bridge emails: If you wish to receive three times per week free bridge -off bid, i.e., opener must Pass. With (2) Pass. Showing 0-10 points – lacking the strength for game. Partner week free bridge emails which include emails which include lessons, videos & quizzes, please email me: What is RealBridge?lessons, videos & quizzes, please email me: michaelolough@yahoo.com michaelolough@yahoo.comhas a maximum of 14 points; our 10 points does not reach 25 points in total. We don’t have a 5+ card suit: so Pass.
With (3) 2♠. Weak Takeout. What is RealBridge? What is RealBridge? Next, what would you bid with those same three hands after this bidding sequence: Partner opens 1♥ - you respond 1♠ – partner rebids 1NT (15-16 Balanced) – You ?
• See and speak to your partner and opponents bridge.• See and speak to your partner and • Connect with everyone at the table. Bid and play and go over the opponents - just like face-to-face • See and speak to your partner and opponents hands afterwards to learn from the post mortem. If you wish to try RealBridge for free, just email me: bridge. • Connect with everyone at the table. Bid and play and go over the hands afterwards to learn from the post bridge. • Connect with everyone at the table. Bid and play and go over the hands afterwards to learn from the post mortem. michaelolough@yahoo.com mortem. If you wish to try RealBridge for free, If you wish to try RealBridge for free, just email me: just email me: michaelolough@yahoo.com
michaelolough@yahoo.com
For absolute beginnersFor absolute beginners
Bridge
Last time we looked at one common way of winning tricks, i.e., by Length. For example, if you hold the AKQ32 of a suit, you can simply play out the A-KQ and provided neither opponent has any cards left in that suit, your 3-2 are both winners.
We now look at another way in which to win extra tricks:
Bridge is a trick-taking game. This means you are trying to win as many tricks as possible. A trick is made up of four cards, one card from each of the four players, played clockwise round the table.
Trick-taking games are card games with a distinct and common play structure: Each round of play is divided into units called tricks, during which each player selects one card from his or her hand. Trick-taking card games are played worldwide and have existed for centuries.
One theory is that they are popular because of the play complexity that emerges from a relatively simple structure.
Essential building-block: The Trick
The concept of a trick: During each trick, each player puts one card from his or her hand into play — there is no option of playing multiple cards, or of abstaining from the trick. Once each player has played a card face up to the trick, the cards are then turned face down and removed from play.
For each trick, one player will have the lead, the right and obligation to play the first card of the trick. The others play in order according to their physical position, clockwise around the table. Playing last to a trick is usually the most advantageous position because the last player can react to the other players' choices. However, leading can be advantageous as well since it determines the suit - Spades, Hearts, Diamonds or Clubs - which other players must play.
Trick Structure
Most trick-taking games feature systems of requirements regarding what cards players are allowed to play. For example, a common feature is the concept of following suit, which requires players to play a card of the suit led, if able to do so.
In Bridge a player must:
■ Follow suit, if able.
■ Otherwise, play any card.
Not following suit when able to do so is known as a revoke in Bridge and as a renege in other card games, and is considered quite a serious offense and is usually punishable by the forfeiture of one or more tricks. There are 4 suits in a pack of cards: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds & Clubs.
When playing Bridge about half the time there is not a Trump Suit and about half the time one of the four suits is Trumps.
Whenever there is a Trump Suit it takes precedence over the other three nontrump suits. In this lesson we will only concern ourselves with situations in which there is not a Trump Suit because it is a simpler situation; in future lessons we will go on to consider situations in which there is a Trump Suit and what that means.
When there is not a Trump Suit it is called playing the hand in No Trumps. This means that each suit is of equal value when it comes to the playing of the cards. Therefore, when one player leads a Diamond, for example, then the person who plays the highest Diamond wins that trick. The 4 suits are made up of: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The Ace is the highest card in each suit, then the King and so on down the line to the 2 which is the lowest card in each suit.
4 players sit at a square table. Using the points of the compass, the 4 players are designated as North, South, East & West. Bridge is a Partnership Game. North & South sit opposite and facing each other and are Partners. Similarly, their opponents, East & West sit opposite and facing each other and are Partners.
The Finesse A Finesse should really be called a Positional Play. The two most basic examples of a Finesse are: NORTH K52 WEST ???? ???? EAST 43 SOUTH Absolute beginners course
The partnership of North/South are trying to win a trick in this suit. For anyone who is interested, I’ll be To have a 50% chance of winning a trick in this suit, a card must be led running a Bridge Absolute Beginners Course from the 4th – 8th of December 2022 in The Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, Co. Clare. Also a Bridge Continuation Course in Dromhall Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry from the 11th – 14th of December 2022.
No prior knowledge of Bridge required or expected.
New:
Bridge Breaks commencing in Knock House Hotel in October 2022. Please contact the hotels for details or email me:
