If the opponents bid confidently

If the opponents bid confidently to game in a suit contract, and you have about fourteen points and a singleton in a side-suit, do not be tempted to lead your singleton. Your partner is unlikely to have many points and therefore is unlikely to gain the lead to give you a trick. By leading the singleton, you would probably be helping declarer set up a side suit.

During an auction

During an auction start working out what your best lead might be so that as soon as the bidding has finished you are ready. Then make your lead promptly before putting any bidding cards away or writing the contract on your score card.

If your partner makes an Opening Bid

If your partner makes an Opening Bid and you have an Opening Hand yourself, think GAME! You may not know WHICH Game until there has been more bidding but realising at the beginning that you have Game Points, will help you to bid to the Game Level.

What should all players do BEFORE they pick up their cards?

Answer — Check carefully the vulnerability!

The vulnerability is really important in helping you to decide your strategy e.g. if you are non-vulnerable at favourable or even equal vulnerability you can be much bolder than if you are at adverse vulnerability.

Alongside the vulnerability also make sure which seat (i.e. 1st /2nd/3rd/4th position) you are in. e.g. It is much more advantageous to pre-empt in 3rd seat than in 2nd.

So… please get into the habit of always checking before you get excited about seeing the goodies you have been dealt!

First agree your defence

When you sit down with a new partner, first agree your defence.

When you’re dummy

When you’re dummy instead of thinking how you would play the hand, practice counting each suit.

Be clear in your mind

Be clear in your mind WHY you are playing, is it to Win and gain promotions OR enjoying meeting people and being sociable (and winning is a bonus).

In a trump contract

In a trump contract, playing the Queen on your partner’s Ace means either  it is a singleton (so you had no choice) or you also have the Jack.

Keep Things Relaxed

keep things relaxed and comfortable for all, is that when things go wrong at the table, whoever you think has made the mistake, always blame yourself – “sorry, it’s my mistake!”

Never deny a four card major

Never deny a four card major.

If you have an opportunity to bid a 4 card major in response to your partner’s bid, then always do so in preference to bidding 1NT.

If you repond 1 NT when you could have shown a major, then you are denying having it. You are not promising quality, just at least 4 in that suit and enough points to respond.

Be nice to your partner

Be nice to your partner and polite and courteous to your opponents.

You are declarer and you have a two-way finesse to take

You are declarer and you have a two-way finesse to take. Eg. A J 2 opposite K 10 3. Ideally you would like the opponents to lead the suit for you and guarantee you three tricks. Unfortunately, it is not possible to arrange an endplay and you will have to make a decision.

Failing all else you should choose the opponent you would least like to win the trick and finesse through them. To sum it up “FINESSE THROUGH GRUMPY”

There can be the tendency either to retreat

There can be the tendency either to retreat into one’s shell or, conversely, to over-compensate when playing stronger opponents.  Just “Keep calm and carry on”.

If you make a pre-emptive bid, remember…

If you make a pre emptive bid, remember you have told your partner everything they need to know about your hand, and unless they make a forcing bid, you do not need to tell them twice!
Or if your partner opens a suit bid, never deny a 4 card major and respond in NT to show your points. Always bid the major on the way.

You should always treat your partner

You should always treat your partner, whoever that may be at the moment, as the best bridge player in the world. 

Opener’s REBID describes his hand

Opener’s REBID describes his hand .

ie. Whether he is Balanced/Unbalanced,  Weak ( 12-15 ) or Strong  ( 16- 19 ).

Bridge can be a fickle game

Bridge can be a fickle game, sometimes you can do well against good opponents and badly against weaker players, through no fault of your own.

It works both ways. The important thing is to use your mental energy on the deal, not on the pesky opps.

Worrying about the opposition can affect your focus and be damaging to your scores. Don’t let it!

Pre-empts are difficult to defend against

Pre-empts are difficult to accurately defend against because they prevent your opponents from having a conversation.

Therefore my tip is to pre-empt as high as possible. If you are non-vulnerable against vulnerable opponents and you play weak twos consider opening at the three-level with only a good six-card suit. This works really well when your suit is spades.

At the same vulnerability consider opening 4C/D rather than 3C/D. Remember this  “THEY CAN’T SEE YOUR HAND”

If you are feeling down or have something on your mind

If you are feeling down or have something on your mind have a game of bridge the concentration needed will give your mind a complete break from your troubles for a couple of hours and you really will feel the benefit.

If you make a pre-emptive bid

If you make a pre-emptive bid, remember you have told your partner everything they need to know about your hand, and unless they make a forcing bid, you do not need to tell them twice!

Opener’s REBID

Opener’s REBID describes his hand  ie. Whether he is Balanced/Unbalanced,  Weak ( 12-15 ) or Strong  ( 16- 19 )

It pays to bid to the three-level over

If you are not vulnerable, it pays to bid to the three-level over the opposition’s two-level bid with only an eight-card fit. Going one off will be a good score. You will almost always score well.

Play the Cards Not the People

“Play the cards and not the people” meaning that, if your opponents are known to be strong players, it doesn’t necessarily mean to say that you’re going to get poor results against them on that round …but you might if you psyche yourself into it, like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just play your usual game, concentrate on the cards and forget who they are.

Plan your play

As soon as dummy goes down PLAN YOUR PLAY (i.e. before you play to the first trick).   If you don’t you may pick the wrong card and the contract will be down. 

The table talks to you!

When you’re defending, look at dummy to help tell you what to do.

When the opposition have bid 1NT

When the opposition have bid 1NT, which is passed out, keep a count of the high cards declarer plays. This will allow you to deduce what cards your partner holds.

If partner makes an Opening Bid

and I have 13+ points

I should immediately think, ‘GAME on’!

When the opening lead is seen, imagine traffic lights

When the opening lead is seen imagine traffic lights :

● STOP and look at what you can see. Remember the bidding. Think
● MAKE A PLAN – Ask yourself lots of questions for example -what sort of hand is this? In a suit contract – is this a draw trump hand, or a ruffing hand, or a dumping hand? What entries have I got? Which hand do I need entries in? Do I need to take any finesses? Which is my danger hand?
● EXECUTE – PLAY

Thinking Aloud

Thinking’s allowed; it’s thinking aloud that isn’t allowed!

Set Up the Fifth Card

If you have a five-card side-suit in dummy e.g. A6543, and a low singleton in hand and three outside entries, do consider trying to set up the fifth card in this suit. The suit will divide 4-3 about 62% of the time which is higher than many players realise. You might need to work on this suit before drawing trumps as you may need to use some trumps in dummy as entries.

Be Aware of the Different Hand Shapes

Be aware of the different hand shapes

(i) Balanced 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2. 5-3-3-2
(ii) Single-suited 6-3-2-2, 7-3-2-1
(iii) Two-suited 5-4-3-1, 5-5-2-1
(iv) Three-suited 4-4-4-1, 4-4-5-0

Extra Tricks

Remember you can make extra tricks by ruffing with your short holding in trumps. You do not make extra tricks when ruffing with your long trumps, although at times you may need or be forced to do so.