A 4 player trick-taking card game where opposing partners try to either take the number of tricks they bid or prevent their opponents from doing so.
4
votes
2answers
299 views
In Bridge, When and Why Do People Sacrifice Overtricks to Be Sure of Making Game?
Most players I've seen will often sacrifice potential overtricks in "rubber" bridge to be sure of making game. Apparently, that's not the case in "duplicate." Why is that?
5
votes
4answers
801 views
In Bridge, Why Do People Use “Transfer Bids” Over 1 NT?
Over 1NT, some people bid two diamonds to say they have five hearts, and two hearts to say they have five spades. The 1NT person bids the desired suit, completing the transfer.
Apparently the idea is ...
6
votes
4answers
854 views
What Crazy Bridge Bidding Systems Actually Work In Practice?
There's been a lot of talk about bridge bidding in these parts lately. A lot of people like to play "straight down the line", to the point where they're mortally offended when you suggest something ...
1
vote
2answers
260 views
Why Is Two Clubs the Preferred “Strong Two” In Bridge?
I'd prefer to use two spades myself. And save two clubs for a "weak two." Moreover, I was taught that "higher bids mean higher points" (all other things being equal). Two spades is the highest suit ...
1
vote
3answers
198 views
Which Experts Seem to Interchange Trumps and Points in Bridge Bidding?
Most bridge players know that you can make a major suit game with combined partnership holdings of 26 points and eight trumps. (Plus the absence of "bad breaks" in trumps, finesses, etc.).
My ...
7
votes
3answers
334 views
In Bridge, Which Forms of Deception Are Ethical? Does This Include “Moodying?”
Playing in a casual game of bridge, holding JTx of trumps, I "falsecarded" on the second trump lead with the J. Believing that he had drawn them, declarer stopped leading trumps. Later, I trumped one ...
3
votes
1answer
329 views
Why Do Modern Players Use “Negative Doubles” In Bridge
Personally, I think that too many people overcall. Meaning that we need a penalty double for it in bridge. But the modern fashion seems to be for "negative doubles" over overcalls. These seem to mean, ...
2
votes
2answers
372 views
Are there “established” systems where “Five Card Majors” isn't a strict rule?
In "Standard American," I must open a major with 65432 while refraining from opening a major with AKQJ.
IMHO, there are five card majors that are too weak to be opened and there four card majors that ...
3
votes
4answers
643 views
Why Do People “Pre-empt” With Seven Of A Suit In Bridge?
One advantage of a "pre-empt" is quite clear: You take two levels of bidding away from your opponents with a "three" bid. But could that be cutting off your nose to spite your face?
Recently, I had ...
1
vote
5answers
1k views
Why Do People Use “Precision” Bidding in Bridge?
As I understand it, in the "precision" bidding system in bridge, you open one club with 16+ points (a greater than minimum opening hand), while all the other "one" level bids show 13-15 (a minimum). ...
0
votes
1answer
271 views
What are rules for an overcall that have wide acceptance? [closed]
This question was inspired by this link, http://www.jazclass.aust.com/bridge/br14.htm which required a five card suit with two honors, at least one of them a queen or higher, for a one-level overcall. ...
5
votes
1answer
398 views
What is (Larry Cohen's) the “Law of Total Tricks” In Bridge?
Based on my (imperfect) understanding of the "law," it means that my partnership should bid up to the same level as the number of trumps. For instance, with four trumps over my partner's five card ...
8
votes
1answer
299 views
Is there a good casual online place to practice/learn bridge?
I know that Pogo.com (which powers Yahoo Games) has a long running online bridge game and that there are a handful of places for serious tournament/MasterPoint level bridge players online (though most ...
7
votes
4answers
353 views
Making 6H (declarer: 54, AKQJTx, -, 98765)
Apparently 6H (small slam with hearts as trump) can be made on this hand, irrespective of the distribution of opposing cards.
How?
You are south (holding 54, AKQJTx, -, 98765) . Dummy is north, the ...
15
votes
5answers
788 views
Is bidding in contract bridge just a matter of applying a set of rules?
Some years ago I tried to learn to play contract bridge with some friends and I never really understood the philosophy (for want of a better word) of bidding. It seemed as if we just had to learn a ...
7
votes
8answers
996 views
Getting started with trick-taking games (whist, euchre, bridge, pinochle, etc.) [closed]
I've heard there are a lot of different trick-taking games out there, such as whist, bridge, euchre, pinochle, oh hell, hearts etc. I've heard a lot of good things about these games, but have very ...
29
votes
8answers
1k views
Why is the strong 1NT so prevalent in Bridge?
Bridge is widely considered to be the queen of card games on both sides of the Atlantic. However, there's one huge difference between the way that (most) Americans and (most) Britons play. In ...
10
votes
2answers
336 views
