Basic Bridge Lesson 1 Card Values Ace 4 pts; King 3 pts; Queen 2 pts; Jack 1 pt Progression of Suits and Each Trick Value Clubs Diamonds Hearts Spades No Trump 20 pts each trick 30 pts each trick 40 pts first trick + 30 for each subsequent trick Game - consists of 100 or more points 5 Clubs 5 Diamonds 100 points (20 * 5) 4 Hearts 4 Spades 120 points (30 * 4) 3 No Trump 100 points (40 + 30 + 30) Opening Hands to Bid at the One Level require 12-13 points Should have at least 12 high card points Count extra for length: 5 cards in suit 1 point 6 cards in suit 2 points etc Vulnerable Game on; already attained 100 or more points
Basic Bridge Lesson 2 Opening Bids 12-13+ points (at least 12 high card points, must have 1 more in length) 1. 1 of a suit (C, D, H, S) - 5 cards in that suit 2. Take-out Double 3. 1 C or 1 D no 5 card suit (bid 1C with 3 Clubs, 1D with 4 Diamonds) 4. 1 No Trump 15-17 pts with fairly even distribution 5. Weak Bids OR 3 of a suit 3C, 3D, 3H, 3S With 7 cards in the suit bid 6 10 high card points needed (must have A, K or K, Q, J in the suit bid) 2 of a suit 2D, 2H, 2S (but not 2C) With 6 cards in the suit bid 6 10 high card points needed (must have A, K or K, Q, J in the suit bid) 6. Big Bids 2C - 22+ points 2 N.T. - 20 21+ points (with fairly even distribution) What are Cue Bids?
Basic Bridge Lesson 3 Responses 6 9 points 2 of the same suit that partner has bid if you have 3 of that suit. 1 of a different suit that is above what has been bid 1 N.T. (can t bid 2 of your suit) 10 11 points Bid 2 of your best suit. Bid major suits (Hearts or Spades) before minor suits (Clubs or Diamonds) After 1C or 1D bid Respond with a 4 card major suit otherwise: 6 9 points 1 N.T. After 1 N.T. opener 8 9 points Bid 2 N.T. if have fairly even distribution 10 + points Bid 3 N.T. if have fairly even distribution For Responses only, count extra for shortness: Singleton one in a suit (not trump) Doubleton two in a suit (not trump) Void no cards in a suit (not trump) 2 pts 1 pt 3 pts Think about the number 25. Take opening points plus responder s points. 25 should take you to 4H, 4S or 3 NT. Sometimes with a little bit of luck.
Basic Bridge Lesson 4 Responses Bid Points Response 1 C or 1 D 6 9 2 C (with 5 C) or 2 D (with 4 D) 6 9 1 H or 1 S (with 4 cards in suit) 6 9 1 N.T. (no 4 card major) 1 H or 1 S 6 9 Bid 2 of that suit with 3 in suit Bid 1 N.T. (to keep bidding open) 10 11 + Bid 2 of your Best suit 10 11 + 2 nd response; give next best suit or rebid first suit 2 C 4-5 + 2 D (opening with 21+ points) 2 N.T. Your Best Suit (longest, i.e. 5 card suit 3 N.T. (even distribution)
Basic Bridge Lesson 5 Responses Opening Bid Points Response 1 N.T. 8 9 2 N.T. (even distribution) 10+ 3 N.T. Longest suit (5 + cards) Is there a game or Slam? Game 4 Hearts 4 Spades 3 No Trump 5 Clubs 5 Diamonds 25 or more points (combined) 27 29 points (combined) Opening Bid 2 of a Suit Slam Small Slam 6C, 6D, 6H, 6S, 6NT Over 30 points (combined) Grand Slam All Aces with approx 34 points Opening Bid 2 N.T. Pass with 0 to 3 points 3 NT with 4 points or more Hand Evaluation As a responder think of shortness in your hand Void Singleton Doubleton - add 3 points - add 2 points (1 in non trump suit) - add 1 point (2 in non trump suit) For singletons and doubletons, don't count for shortness if you have already counted for high card points
Leads Against Suit Contracts Basic Bridge Lesson 6 1. If partner bid, lead the suit or one of the suits bid by partner 2. Top of an adjoining honour pair a. KQxxx, QJx, JT9 Middle of 3 top cards with 4 in suit b. KJTx, KT9x, QT9x 3. Bottom of nothing suit, xxx or xxxx 4. Top of Doubleton, xx (not honours) 5. The unbid suit 6. Singleton (not trump suit) Leads Against No Trump Contracts 1. 4 th highest (down) in longest suit 2. Top of nothing suit, xxx, xxxx 3. Top of honour pair with 4 in suit a. KQJx honours touching b. AKJx with Ace and King, can lead either Ace or King c. AJT9, AT9x honours not touching 4. Top of Doubleton, xx (not honours) 5. The unbid suit * Count extra points for length (5 and over) when opening 1 for 5, 2 for 6 etc. Count extra points for shortness when responding 1 for doubleton (xx only) 2 for singleton (x only) 3 for void
Basic Bridge Lesson 7 Take-Out Double Opening Bid - Partner bids Double after opponent bids. Indicates: Opening points and No 5 card suit or No biddable suit or Opponent bid his/her suit Response If the other opponent between your partner and you does not bid, then you must bid your best suit (even if you have no points) Weak 3 or Weak 2 Bids Opening Bid Applies to the first bid at the table. Indicates: 6-7 points and Must have A, K or K, Q, J in the suit bid With 6 cards in the suit bid 2 (2D, 2H, 2S, but not 2C) With 7 cards in the suit bid 3 (3C, 3D, 3H, 3S) Response Partner answers only with more than opening points (16 19) or very unusual distribution Stayman Convention Opening Bid - Partner bids 1 N.T. Response - You Have at least 8 points and 1 or 2 major suits (bid H before S) Cue bid 2C Partner bids 2 of 4 card major or 2D to indicate no 4 card major You bid 3 of partner s major (if the same as yours and 8-9 points) or 4 of partner s major (if the same as yours and 10+ points) or Bid 2 N.T (if partner s major not the same as yours) Jacoby Transfer Response - You Need at least 5 in a major to bid If you have Hearts, bid 2D If you have Spades, bid 2H If you have approx 10 points go to game
How to Get to Slam Basic Bridge Lesson 8 Need agreement on convention before playing Opening Bid (Big Hand 1. Bid 2C indicates 22+ points or 2. Bid 2N.T. indicates 20-21 points (with fairly even distribution) no singleton or void Response from Partner Partner needs possible 3 or more points for game BUT could have a lot more 1. Bid may be 2D (this is a waiting bid) or 2. Bid best suit or 3. Bid using step process a. 2D if have 0 3 points (indicates bust hand) b. 2H if have 4 6 points (likely game only if have fit) c. 2S if have 7 9 points (likely game only if have fit) d. 2NT if have 10+ points (could be slam) Response from Opener 1. After 2D, bid 2 of best suit or 3C or 3D if best suit is a minor 2. After partner s best suit, opener bids best suit 3. After step process, bid best suit: a. If partner bid 2D, opener s best suit bid will be the one played b. If partner bid 2H, partner may go to game if good fit with opener s best suit or reply with their best suit c. If partner bid 2S, partner will probably go to game if good fit with opener s best suit or reply with their best suit d. If partner bid 2NT, you have potential slam i. Partner will reply with their best suit or ask for Aces if good fit ii. Opener will ask for Aces if partner s best suit fills in gaps
How to Get to Slam (cont d) Basic Bridge Lesson 9 Blackwood Convention - Looking for Aces and Kings Standard convention Can use after 2C (22+ points) or 2N.T. (20-21 points) Bid Number of Aces Response Bid Number of Kings Response 4 N.T. 0 or 4 5C 5 N.T. 0 or 4 6C 1 5D 1 6D 2 5H 2 6H 3 5S 3 6S Gerber Convention - Looking for Aces and Kings Alternate convention use to keep bidding at lower level Can use after an initial bid of 2N.T. (20-21 points) Bid Number of Aces Response Bid Number of Kings Response 4C 0 4D 5C 0 5D 1 4H 1 5H 2 4S 2 5S 3 4NT 3 5NT