In the discussion below, V = Vulnerable and NV = Not Vulnerable.
Basis for Scoring Table:
Points are awarded either for making a contract or for setting one.
Penalty points for setting a contract are a per-trick amount depending on vulnerability (see below).
Points for making a contract are the total of trick points (including overtricks) plus a game bonus and, if applicable, a slam bonus.
The bonus for making a bid below game is 50 points and is not affected by vulnerability.
The bonus for bidding and making a game is 500 points if V and 300 if NV.
The additional bonus for a small slam 750 if V and 500 if NV.
The additional bonus for a grand slam is 1,500 if V and 1,000 if NV.
Vulnerability:
In a round of four hands, no one is vulnerable in first one. The dealer is vulnerable in the 2nd and third hands. And all are vulnerable in the fourth hand.
If six hands are played, no one is vulnerable in the fifth hand, and all are vulnerable in the sixth.
Penalty points:
When a contract is defeated, the defense is awarded 50 points per undertrick if the declarer was NV and 100 if V.
If the contract was doubled and the declarer was NV, the penalty points awarded are 100 for one trick, 300 for two tricks, 500 for three tricks and an additional 300 for each trick in excess of three.
If the contract was doubled and the declarer was V, penalty points are 200 for one trick, 500 for two tricks, and an additional 300 for each trick over two.
If a contract was redoubled, and whether it was made or set, see the Chicago Scoring Table.
Top of PageLadies in an afternoon bridge group are limited to one glass of wine per session. No Exceptions
A card laid is not necessarily a card played. Everyone makes mistakes.
A misdeal (13-13-12-14 card distribution) does not require a redeal if the dealer qualifies for a handicapped placard in his car. Or, if he does not drive, a written note from his gerontologist will suffice.
After seeing the dummy hand, the declarer will not refer to or address her partner as "dummy," especially if he is her spouse. The meaning of the word depends on context.
Gossipping is allowed but should be recorded for legal reasons. Audio recordings may be shared.
Kibitzing is allowed unless there is a cash prize at stake.
Only the owner of the cards can eat chocolate while playing a hand. Cards are expensive.
Saying "I am going to bid" before making a bid is prohibited.
Ladies playing as alternates during Thursday Men's Bridge should endeavor to avoid winning the match.
Top of PageDistribution and Total Points - It is important to determine your total points (TP) by adding your high card points (HCP) to your distribution points. Failure to do so will cause you to underrate your hand. Distribution points can be for the length of a suit you are bidding on or for a short suit(s), but not both. Before you and your partner have agreed on a suit, count only length points: one point for each card above four. So, if you are opening with a 5-card suit, you have one length point and can open with as few as eleven HCP. After you and your partner have agreed on a trump suit, drop the length points and count 3 points for a void, 2 points for a singleton, and 1 point for a doubleton. If you have a 5-card suit, you have at least one short suit. If you and your partner have agreed on no-trump, do not count any points for short suits.
Partnerships - Bridge is more fun when you and your partner communicate effectively while bidding. So, find a friend who would like to be your bridge partner. Study together and discuss options and conventions. And play as partners whenever you can. It is not a requirement that partnerships be rotated during a match. You and your partner can ask that you play together in all hands. Ask your opponents if you can kibitz while bidding - this will help you hone your skills. Playing regularly (weekly at least) will help - so find three friends and form a bridge group, then set a day of the week and time for play.
Reviewing your bridge hand - When first looking at your bridge hand, count your high card and distribution points and analyze the shape of your hand. All of these factors will affect your bidding. An eleven-point hand is typically useful in responding to an opening hand, but a 4-3-3-3 distribution reduces the hand's value.
Tens - The ten card is deemed to be an honor in bridge. It is the lowest-rated honor, but being an honor, it must be worth something. Since tens can capture tricks but do not add points to your count, they may be adding unnoticed strength to your hand. Or a lack of tens can exacerbate an already poor hand. Consider a balanced hand with 15 points, a 3-3-3-4 distribution, and no tens. With this hand, you would undoubtedly open with one no-trump, but then you would need to be wary because, by itself, the hand is lousy. Your partner may respond strongly and bid three no-trumps, or he may use Stayman or Transfers and shift the bidding to a major suit. If he does not have a 4+ card major and is weak on points, he may bid two no-trumps, inviting you to game. You should then pass.
Top of PageIt's crucial to understand that both point count and shape are the factors that determine a hand's strength. By considering both, you can make informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls, whether you are opening, responding, or overcalling.
A hand with a point count of 12-14 is considered a weak opening hand, while a hand with 15 or more points is considered strong. A count of 9-11 is strong for responding, whereas a count of 6-8 is weak.
A shape (distribution by suit) without a 5-card suit tends to weaken a hand regardless of the point count. On the other hand, an interesting shape (with at least one 5-card suit and one short suit) strengthens any point count.
Depending on context, a long suit of more than five cards strengthens or weakens a hand. A void or singleton can strengthen a hand when playing in a suit but will weaken it when playing no-trump.
A 5-3-3-2 distribution is ideal for a no-trump opening (it is the only possible balanced distribution with a 5-card suit).
A 3-3-3-4 distribution is the weakest possible shape.
Considering strength is critical when you are invited to game (or slam). Bid game if you have both strong points and shape. Pass if you have neither.
Top of PageBalanced Hands - - A balanced hand has no void or singleton and no more than one doubleton. In almost all cases, you should only initiate bidding in no-trump if your hand is balanced. You might initiate it when your partner has rebid your short suit (or void), but make sure he has other good entries to your hand.
A nearly balanced hand can have two short suits, both doubletons. If you have such a hand and your partner has initiated bidding in no-trump, you can appropriately respond in no-trump.
Bidders -Rules and conventions differ for each of the three types of bidder. An opener makes the first bid, and there is only one opener. A responder responds to a partner's bid. An overcaller overcalls an opponent's bid.
Conventions -Bridge conventions are partnership agreements about bidding and playing procedures. Some, such as Stayman, are named, and there is widespread agreement about how they are used. Others, such as an agreement on the required point spread for an opening bid of one no-trump, are simple to understand and not given a name. Learning and using a convention will improve a player's skills, provided that his partner is aware of its usage and method of implementation.
Convention Card -When in a bridge tournament, a partnership must, on request, provide a card or other document listing conventions and methods:
Declarer - The declarer and his partner successfully negotiate a contract. After the initial lead, the partner lays his hand down, and the declarer plays the hand. Declarer was the first to name the trump suit (or NT) during bidding.
Ducking - The act of holding the highest unplayed card in a suit led and declining to capture the trick. The technique is most frequently used in no-trump to prevent a later running of the suit or to develop the suit.
Forcing - A forcing bid requires a response from the bidder's partner. An intervening bid by an opponent cancels the force. Options include forcing for one round or at the game level.
Invitational Bids - Your partner may make a bid that "invites you to game (or slam)" For example, if you raise the partner's major suit opening by bidding two of the suit, and he responds with a bid of three, you are invited to game. Your point spread is 6 to 10. If you are at the top of your spread or near the top and your hand has an interesting shape, accept the invitation and bid game.
Rebid and Rebiddable - You opened the bidding, and your partner responded with a bid other than PASS. Your second bid is a rebid. Your suit is once rebiddable if you have six cards in the suit. It is twice rebiddable. if you have seven.
Ruffing - To ruff is to capture a trick using only a single trump card. Typically, there are fewer trump cards in the dummy's hand than in the declarer's hand. Ruffing from the short side provides bonus tricks. Ruffing from either side provides a bonus when there are equal amounts on each side. Check when viewing your hand and the board to see if a void exists or can be created on the short side. Then, riff before the gathering of trumps depletes them on the short side. This technique can be a deciding factor in making a game or being set.
Seat - The dealer has the first opportunity to bid and is first seat. His LHO is second seat. Dealer's partner is third seat, and his RHO is fourth seat.Bidding choices are often influenced by seat position.
Sluffing - When there are only losers in a suit, and they occur on both sides of the table, they are guaranteed to fall. When playing in a suit, the damage can be mitigated by sluffing losers, that is, playing winners from the other side when there is a void. The losers can be discarded to the led winner since following suit is not required. Sluffed losers can create a void that enables ruffing. Scope out your losers before beginning to play and make a plan. You will surely lose the loser tricks when playing no-trump if and when your opponents start to lead the suit.
Trump Fit - A partnership sum of eight trump cards is a fit. ("Fit" can also apply to side suits.)
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