60 FACTS OF BRIDGE LIFE - Good Advice To Give Your Partner
Surely a player of your bridge skills is familiar with most or all of the following tips, but is your partner?
Tips 1-20 are bidding tips.
1. When partner bids two suits and you have an equal number of cards in each suit, take partner back to the first suit even if it means increasing the level. Just do it!
You hold: S. Axxx H.K10x D.Jxx C. xxx
Partner You
1D 1S
2H ?
Bid 3D. Raising hearts (see next tip) or passing partner's reverse, a one round force, is not to be discussed in mixed company.
2. A direct raise of a second suit promises four-card support (in blood).
You hold: S. xx H. A10x D. A10x C. K10xxx
Partner You
1S 2C
2H ?
Rebid 2NT with 11-12 HCP. Don’t even think of raising hearts with only three pieces.
3. With two five-card suits: open the higher ranking suit, respond in the higher ranking suit, and overcall in the higher ranking suit. Do not worry about which suit is stronger.
You hold: S. x H. J10xxx D. AKQxx C. Ax
Open 1H, not 1D. Respond 1H to an opening bid of 1C and overcall 1H if the opening bid to your right is 1C.
4. When the bid to your right is strong, a jump by you is weak; when the bid to your right is weak, a jump by you is strong.
East South (you)
2H 3S 3S is strong because 2H is weak.
North East South (you)
1D Dbl. 2H 2H is weak because ‘double’ is strong.
5. After you open 1H or 1S and partner responds 1NT denying support for your major, don’t repeat your major unless you have a six-card suit.
6. When holding three four-card suits and a singleton, open the bidding 1D. But when your singleton is in diamonds, open 1C. You need 12+ HCP to open with this distribution.
You hold: S. AKxx H. KJxx D. J10xx C. x Open 1D.
7. A takeout double by a passed hand shows 9-11 HCP with shortness in the opener’s suit. If the opponents have bid two suits, the double promises at least four-card support in the other two suits.
You hold: S. AJxx H. xx D. KJ10xx C. xx
South (you) West North East
Pass 1C Pass 1H
Dbl. (Your double shows diamonds and spades. A 2D bid might lose a spade fit. )
8. After a major suit opening bid, a takeout double, a raise of opener’s major, a double by fourth hand is also a takeout double! It is called a responsive double. At the two level it shows at least 8 working HCP with 4-4, possibly 5-4 or 4-5 in the minors. After a minor suit opening bid, a takeout double, a raise of opener’s minor, a double by fourth hand, also responsive, shows 4-4, possibly 5-4 or 4-5 in the majors.
You, South, hold: S. A3 H.763 D.Q985 C.QJ43 West North East South
1H Dbl. 2H Dbl.
Your double promises support for both minors. Why guess?
You, South, hold: S. AJ72 H. K1075 D. J92 C. 86 West North East South
1C Dbl. 3C Dbl.
Your double promises support for both majors. Why guess?
And then, the inevitable exception: 1D on your left, dbl. by partner 2D on your right?
You hold: S. A65 H. A92 D. 7432 C. Q95 You can’t sit there and pass with 10 HCP, but you have no suit to bid. Not to worry, the responsive double will save you. Use it!
9. When responding to a takeout double in a suit, jump with 9-11 'revalued' points. A five-card suit is worth one extra, a six-card suit, three extra. A side unbid four-card suit is worth one extra. Jacks and queen in suits the opponents are bidding are not counted.
You hold: S. AQ10x, H. Kxx D. xx C. 10xxx
If partner doubles a 1D opening bid and next hand passes, jump to 2S. You have 10 points including 1 point for the four-card club suit. Your jump is not forcing. A 1S response shows 0-8 revalued points and is a decided underbid. Partner usually plays you for 4-5 points and a game could easily be missed.
10. When responding to a takeout double with 12+HCP, cuebid the opponent’s suit to show a strong hand and then bid your suit(s) later. After the cuebid, any new suit bid by you is forcing. Your cuebid is forcing to suit agreement or to game whichever comes first.
You hold: S. KQxx H. AJxx D. Qxx C. xx
West North East South (you)
1C Dbl. Pass ?
Respond 2C to show a big hand (12+ HCP). You and partner can now bid four-card suits up the line hoping to connect in a 4-4 major suit fit. If partner bids 2D, bid 2H. If partner bids 2H or 2S, raise to game. The one who knows goes!
11. A 1NT response to a takeout double shows 6-10 HCP. A 2NT response to a takeout double shows 10-12. Some 10 point hands are better than others because of strong intermediates. You cannot be a slave to point count. Intermediates count!
12. Notrump responses to a takeout double guarantee at least one stopper (hopefully two), in the opponent’s suit.
You hold: S. KJ9x H. xx D. Q10x C. Jxxx (or AJxx)
West North East South (you)
1S Dbl. Pass ?
With Jxxx of clubs, respond 1NT. With AJxx of clubs, respond 2NT. You don't need stoppers in the unbid suits to bid notrump. A good partner will have them.
13. After partner opens and second hand overcalls 1NT (natural), double for penalty with 9+ HCP. Bidding a new suit is not forcing and a jump is preemptive. With 9+ points, double first.
You hold: S. 10x H. KJxx D. AJxxx C. J10
North East South (you) West
1S 1NT ?
Double. You have them outgunned. You should be able to defeat 1NT easily. If you bid 2D, you are showing fewer than 9 HCP typically with six diamonds. It is very misleading to bid your suit directly with a strong hand in this sequence. Double first.
14. It is dangerous to count extra points for short suits or long suits before the bidding starts. (Don’t stop reading!)
If partner bids your short suit, that reduces, not increases, the value of your hand. If one of your opponents bids your long suit, that also decreases the value of your hand. If you let the bidding develop, you will see whether your long or short suits are working for or against you.
You hold: S. Axxx H. x D. Qxxxx C. xxx
What is this hand worth? If partner opens 1H, it is a minus 6 point hand. If partner opens 1S, it has blossomed to a 9-point hand (3 points for the singleton with four-card support). If LHO opens 1D and partner overcalls 1H, the DQ has lost its value, not to mention the fifth diamond, or the singleton heart! You are now looking at a minus 4 point hand!
Hands that have eight-card fits or longer add extra distributional points; however, until a fit has been uncovered, distributional points should not be added. It doesn't make sense. Hands that are misfitted should be subtracting points, not adding them!
15. It is dangerous to use Blackwood holding two aces and a void. If partner shows one ace, you won't know which it is. Better to start with a cuebid after agreement.
15A. When responding to Blackwood with a void do not count the void as an ace. With 1 or 3 aces, jump to the six level of the void suit. If the void suit is higher ranking than the trump suit, jump to the six level of the trump suit. With 2 aces and a void, respond 5NT. Disregard the void if you do not have an ace.
16. When responding to an opening bid with two four-card majors, respond 1H giving partner a chance to bid 1S. If partner doesn't bid 1S, assume partner does not have four spades and bid accordingly.
You hold: S. AJxx H. KQxx D. Jx C. xxx
Partner You
1D 1H
2C ?
Bid 2NT and limit your hand to 11-12 HCP. Do not bid 2S. Partner does not have four spades and bidding the ‘fourth suit’ has a special meaning. It is frequently used as an artificial force when no other rebid describes the hand.
17. When the opponents bid and support each other, and you have the jack or queen of their suit and are considering bidding, don’t count points for those honors. They are usually worthless.
18. When all your honor cards are in your two long suits, add one extra 'purity' point. Concentrated honor strength is more valuable than divided honor strength.
You hold: S. AKJxx H. KQxx D. xx C. xx
All of your honor cards are in your two long suits, so give yourself an extra point. Think of having 14 points. If partner supports either suit, your hand increases in value. If partner does not support either suit, your hand stays at 14 points.
19. When RHO uses Stayman and you have five or six clubs headed by three of the top five honors, double to alert partner you want a club lead against any eventual contract. Think of a double of an artificial bid as a length and strength showing lead directing penalty double.
You hold: S. xxx H. xx D. xxx C. AKJxx
West North East South
1NT Pass 2C ?
Double. Caution! ..Do not double with club length (Qxxxxx) unless you have the necessary honor strength to go with it.
20. You can also use a lead-directing double when the opponents use Blackwood. If the response to 4NT (or 5NT) is in a suit you want led, double! These doubles can be made with a strong three or four card suits. If you don’t double, partner will think you want another lead.
You hold: S. xx H. xxx D. KQ10 C. xxxxx
West North East South (you)
1S Pass 2H Pass
3S Pass 4S Pass
4NT Pass 5D ?
Double 5D to ask partner for a diamond lead against an eventual spade contract.
Tips 21-40 are defensive tips:
21. When leading partner’s supported suit, lead your highest card with three or four small headed by the 9 or lower. The lead of a low card in a supported suit shows an honor.
When leading partner’s unsupported suit, lead high from a doubleton but low from any three or four cards not headed by a sequence. With the ace, if you lead the suit, lead the ace.
22. If you lead the ace from AKx(x) against suit contracts: (1) The lead of the ace is a trick one convention only. After trick one, the king is led. (2) In a supported suit, or in any suit partner has bid, the king is led from the ace-king. Leading the ace in either of these situations, denies the king. (3) From AK doubleton, everything is reversed.
23.To lead top of a sequence at notrump, the suit should either be headed by three adjacent honors: KQJ, QJ10, J109, 1098, or the third card can be missing by one place: KQ10, QJ9, J108, 1097.
Suits headed by two touching honors, (KQ9, QJ8, J107 and 1096), are not considered sequences and with four + cards lead 4th best. With exactly three cards, lead the highest.
24. To lead an honor card against a suit contract, two adjacent honors are necessary, not three, and the higher honor is led. Lead the ace from AKx(x), the king from KQx(x), the queen from QJx(x), the J from J10x(x) and the 10 from 109x(x).
25. In general, the lead of a low card shows strength (low from something) and the lead of a relatively high spot card (top of nothing) shows weakness. (See tip #29)
26. When partner leads low from length and dummy has small cards, third hand plays high. However, if third hand has equal high cards, third hand plays the lower or lowest equal. (With K10x, play the king; from KQx, the queen; from KQJ(x), the jack.)
27. When returning a suit partner has led, return the higher with two cards remaining; the lowest with three cards remaining. With A105 win the ace and return the 10. With A1065, win the ace and return the five.
28. When partner leads low, dummy has an honor, and you have a higher and a lower honor, insert your lower honor if dummy plays low.
Say dummy has the Q54 or the J54 and you have K106(x), play the 10. Similarly when dummy has Qxx or Kxx, play the jack from AJx(x) and the 10 from AJ10(x).
29.There will be times when partner leads a low card in one suit, gets the lead in another suit, and leads a second suit; you take the trick. Which suit to return? If partner leads a high card (weakness) in the second suit, partner wants the first suit returned. If partner leads a low card (strength) in the second suit, partner wants the second suit returned. Bridge is actually a fun game. It really is.
30. One doesn't lead the same against 3NT as against 6NT. Against 6NT avoid leading from an honor unless you have a sequence.
With: S. K10763 H. J108 D. J5 C. Q92 Lead the S6 against 3NT, the HJ against 6NT. Assuming they have the expected 32-33 HCP, guess how many HCP partner has!
31. At notrump one key is to keep communications with partner’s hand. If partner’s lead looks like the top of a doubleton and you have AKxxx(x) with no sure outside entry simply encourage. Let partner keep that second card so partner can return the suit if he gets in. Instead of two tricks you might wind up taking four or five!
32. When declarer ignores a strong suit in dummy lacking one honor, KQJ10(x) (AQJ10(x) assume declarer has the honor. If he doesn't, why isn’t he setting up that suit? Wouldn’t you?
33. When there is a short side suit in dummy and declarer draws all of dummy's trumps, the inference is that declarer doesn't have any losers to trump in that suit. Translation: It is safe to discard that suit.
34. When discarding, keep four-card length parity with dummy.
Say dummy has a four-card suit (AKQ8), and you have the (9432). Your highest card is higher than dummy’s lowest card, the signal to hang on to that suit for dear life.
35. It is important to count declarer's tricks as the play progresses. If you can see that declarer has enough tricks in three suits to make the contract, shift to the 4th suit. Some chance is better than no chance.
36. When dummy tables, add declarer's likely point count to dummy's known
count. Now add that total to your point count and subtract from 40 to determine how many points partner has. It works!
The bidding has gone 1NT (15-17) -3NT. Partner leads and dummy has 10 HCP. Assume declarer has the middle count, 16, so they have 26 HCP, give or take one point, leaving you and partner with 14. You know how many points you have, so it is easy enough to figure out how many partner has. You can do the same to figure out declarer’s point count if you know partner’s. It’s easiest to figure out declarer’s or partner’s point count if either has made a limited bid in notrump.
37. When defending a suit contract, there are two main techniques declarer uses to garner extra tricks: (1) setting up a long suit in dummy, (2) ruffing losers in the shorter trump hand (usually the dummy.)
If dummy tables with a long and a short suit and you have the long suit bottled up, lead trump because the long suit is not usable. If the long suit looks scary, play an attacking defense going for outside tricks quickly. If the dummy comes down balanced, declarer has no place to get rid of losers and will eventually lose them. Your best defense is to play passively by leading ‘safe’ suits, possibly including a trump, and sit back and wait for your tricks. Of course it may take years to be able to recognize a ‘safe’ suit. Patience.
38. The best time to lead a short suit is with trump control. Ax(x) or Kxx are great trump holdings to lead from shortness. However, if trumping will cost you a trump trick, leads from shortness with trump holdings such as J10xx, QJ9x or K10xx are counterproductive.
39. When signaling encouragement with equal spot cards, signal with the higher or highest equal.
With A987, signal encouragement with the 9 denying the 10. If you lazily signal with the 8, you deny the 9. Strong partners watch stuff like this and defend accordingly.
40. When giving partner a ruff, the card you lead is suit preference telling partner which suit you want returned.
The return of a relatively high spot card asks for a return in the higher ranking of the two remaining side suits. A return of your lowest card asks for a return in the lower ranking side suit. A return of a middle card is designed to torture partner! Just kidding. It actually means you have no preference and asks partner to use her impeccable judgment.
Tips 41-52 are playing tips
41. Before playing to the first trick, review the bidding and make sure you remember the opening lead.
The opening lead may be a small card and then that player may play a second small card. It is often critical to know whether the second card was higher or lower than the first! Don’t fall asleep at the switch! It can be embarrassing and we’ve all been there.
42. If one (or both) of your opponents is a passed hand, assume that opponent has fewer than 12 HCP. If that player turns up with 10 HCP early on, play the partner for any missing queen, king, or ace. If that player turns up with 9HCP play the partner for any missing ace or king.
43. At notrump count your sure tricks outside of the suit you plan to establish. This tells you how many tricks you need in your key suit and then play that suit accordingly
44. As declarer, when you can take a trick with one of two equal honors, say the king or the queen, the queen or the jack, the ten or a nine, take the trick with the higher equal; far more deceptive.
As declarer, if you take tricks with the lower or lowest equal, you might as well be playing with your cards face up. See tip #46.
A major exception to this rule is holding AKx(x) at notrump. Here it is better (much better) to take the first trick with the king. If you take the trick with the ace, the opponents are sure to wonder why you didn’t holdup. It’s too much of a giveaway.
45. As declarer, when possible, withhold any spot card lower than the one that has been led or lower than the one played to your right.
North (dummy)
H. AK4
West East
H. 3 H. 5
South (you)
H. Q62
At notrump West leads the H3 (4th best), you play the king from dummy and East plays the 5. You know, holding the deuce, that West has led from a four-card suit. You also know that East, playing standard attitude, has played his lowest heart, the five, discouraging. If you follow woodenly with the deuce, East will know that West started with four hearts, and West will know that East has played his lowest heart, denying the queen. However, if you play the 6, East, not seeing the deuce, won’t know if West started with four or five hearts and West won’t know whether East might be signaling encouragement with the Q52. Screw them up! Withhold your low cards when possible.
46. When leading low from dummy toward a number of equal honors in the closed hand, play your higher or highest equal if second hand plays low.
North (dummy)
H. 32
West East
H. 987 South (you) H. A654
H. KQJ10
When you lead a heart from dummy, play the king, not the 10. Say East has the ace.
If you play the 10 and it wins, East will know you remain with the KQJ. However, if you play the king and it wins, East won’t know for sure who has the 10, jack, or queen. A ***** tip.
47. When you have all the tricks but one, take all your winners in the other suits (including trumps at a suit contract), keeping the suit in which you have your loser until the bitter end. Opponents hate to discard. Make them suffer! The most you can lose is the last trick.
48. At a suit contract with Axx facing xxx or Axxx facing xx in the suit that has been led it is usually right to win the second round of the suit. If one opponent has a doubleton, you cut the communications between the two hands. It also allows you to keep control of the suit. If you have reason to suspect from the bidding or the lead that one opponent has a singleton, grab the ace, an exception.
49. Play the cards you are known to hold from the opponent’s leads and third hand's play. This tip assumes you have an equal in your hand or in the dummy so you won’t be giving away a trick. Read this one slowly.
North (dummy)
H. 8632
West East
H. Q H. A109754
South (you)
H. KJ
Say East has opened 2H, weak, and you wind up in 4S. West leads the HQ and East plays the Ace. West knows you have the king from East’s play of the ace. East knows you have the king from East’s lead of the queen. Everybody knows you have the king! The king and jack are now equals. Think of the king as an albatross around your neck and get rid of it! It gives them something to think about.
50. When fortunate enough to have a powerful trump suit and being forced to trump, avoid trumping with your lowest trump. That tiny trump might be a needed entry to dummy.
Say you have the AKQJ102 of trumps and dummy has the 986. If forced to trump in your hand, don’t even think of trumping with the deuce!
51. When drawing trumps try to keep a flexible entry position.
North (dummy)
Q32
South (you)
AKJ864
This is your trump suit and you want to draw two rounds of trumps ending in your hand. If you start with the AK, you remain with a dummy entry, but later if you are in the dummy you can’t get back to your hand with a trump. The queen blocks the suit. But if you start with the AJ, you remain with a trump entry to dummy and if in the dummy later, you can overtake the queen to get back to your hand. Flexibiity!
52. If you have a number of equal honors in the closed hand and you want second hand to cover, lead the highest. If you want second hand to duck, lead the second highest. It works like charm!
Say you have the QJ109 of trump and dummy has the Kxxx. If there is a danger of a ruff, lead the jack. If second hand has the ace, he often ducks thinking partner has the queen and the ruff may be lost.
Say dummy has AKxx with no side entry and you have J10 doubleton. If you lead the jack second hand is apt to cover blocking the suit, limiting you to two tricks. Try the 10. West is likely to play low with the queen giving you three tricks.
Tips 52-56 More defensive tips.
53. When dummy is expected to come down with a long, strong, side suit at a trump contract, and there are two unbid suits, lead from your stronger suit. If one suit is headed by an ace however, lead the other.
With KJxx and Kxxx lead from the KJxx; with AJxx and Qxxx, lead from the Qxxx.
54. If you are sure that there are zero possible defensive tricks coming from the side suits, give declarer a ruff and a sluff! You read correctly. A ruff and a sluff often promotes a defensive trump trick. Go for it!
55. Counting is where it’s at. Say declarer has bid two suits starting with a higher ranking major suit indicating a likely 5-4 pattern and winds up in notrump. If the opening lead is ‘count revealing’ perhaps a fourth best deuce
in another suit, suddenly you have a complete count on the hand at trick one! Nobody will want to play against you.
56. Defenders take tricks with the lower or lowest equal. Taking a trick with a higher equal in theory denies the lower equal.
Dummy
AJ10x You
KQx,
Say declarer leads low to the jack. Take the trick with the queen. If you take it with the king, you deny the queen and partner will think declarer has it. Taking the trick with the king is a false card and works best when partner is not at all involved in the defense.
57. After partner has limited his hand and you know what the final contract should be, bid it! The one who knows, goes!
Say partner opens 1NT (15-17) and you have 18, balanced. With at least 33 combined points, bid 6NT. If this scares you, find a mirror and practice saying 6NT aloud.
58. At a suit contract when an opponent leads the queen of an unbid suit, dummy has Kxx(x) and you have small cards, duck the first two or three rounds of the suit. The ace is marked on your right and if RHO has shortness, the ace will pop up and presto the king is a winner.
59. After partner’s preempts a subsequent double by you is a penalty double.
South West North (you) East South West North (you East
2H(weak) 3D Double 3H Pass Pass 4C
Pass Pass Dbl.
Both doubles are penalty doubles.
60. Once a player limits his hand, the partner is the captain and is supposed to make the final decision. Captaincy can be reversed however, if the captain turns the tables and makes an invitational bid. There is no captain until someone is limited.
South North South is a limited hand so North is the captain. When North
Pass 1H jumps to 3H, invitational, South is now the captain.
1NT 3H .
South North South is a limited hand so North is the captain. When
1NT 4NT North raises to 4NT, invitational, South is once again the captain.
South North
1H 1S
2D 3C Both hands are still unlimited so no captain… yet.
Bidding is much easier once someone is limited.
Bonus Tips.
61. Keep a poker face (though it may kill you!)
62. Compliment partner’s good bids and plays. (Sooner or later he’ll
make one).
63. Only play conventions you are both comfortable with.
64. Put your short suits in the middle of your hand-not on the end.
Some watch where you pull your cards from.
65. Reread these tips! Again!
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