ACBLO6 – General: Bridge by the Numbers Ward Trumbull
Dec 26, 2002
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Bridge is a game of numbers to be learned:
- high card points and distribution points
- opening points
- response points
- game points
- slam points
- and don’t forget scoring points
By The Numbers
1. The First Trick
Before the declare plays to the first trick, he should:
1. Count his winners
2. Count his losers
3. Analyze the opening lead: is it a singleton, doubleton, top of a sequence
(i.e., honors), top of nothing, etc.?
4. Plan the play of the hand
NOTE: See ACBL16 - ARCH, Declarer’s Checklist
2. Second Hand Low
When the declarer leads a suit from dummy or hand, in general the first defender
(second person to play to the trick) should play their lowest card in that suit.. An
important exception is when the dummy has the ace or king of the suit and you
have the queen-jack. In this case you should split your honors and play the jack.
Example: Dummy You
A 9 3 Q J 4
If dummy leads the 3 or 9, you play the jack.
Example You Dummy
Q J 4 K 7 5
If declarer leads the suit (10 or lower) , you play the
jack.
ACBLO6 – General: Bridge by the Numbers Dec 26, 2002
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3. Third Hand High
When partner leads a middle-to-low card in a suit, you should always play your
highest card in the suit. The exceptions are:
1. Lower of touching honors
If you have touching honors, play the lower card to imply to your partner that
you have the card(s) immediately above it.
2. Partner’s card will do the job
If you have the ace behind dummy’s king and partner leads the queen, don’t
play the ace if the king isn’t played.
3. You’ve got dummy or declarer covered
Example: Dummy You
K J 9 3 A Q 10 5 2
If dummy plays the 3, you only need to play the 10.
4. You Need All Four Aces To Ask For Kings
When you invoke Gerber or Blackwood and get your partner’s response, do not ask
for kings unless you have all four aces between the two hands. A void in your hand
does not count as an ace.
5. You Need All Five Controls To Ask For Kings
When your partnership is playing Roman Key Card and you invoke Gerber or
Blackwood and get your partner’s response, do not ask for kings unless you have
all five controls between the two hands. A void in your hand does not count as a.
control ace.
ACBLO6 – General: Bridge by the Numbers Dec 26, 2002
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6. You Make Weak Two Bids With Six Card Suits
If you do not have an opening hand, don’t give up right away. Look to see if you
have a six card diamond, heart or spade suit and 5 to 10 HCP. If so, then open
the bidding with a weak two bid.
Also if you are about to make an overcall at the one level but have a six card suit,
make a two-level overcall instead.
7. Avoid Suit Games or Slams in Seven Card Suits
The initial object in bidding is to reach game in a major with 8 or more trump cards.
Therefore, you should avoid game in a major with 7 or less cards in the suit. Look
for a notrump game instead.
8/9. Eight Ever Nine Never
If between the two hands you have eight cards and the queen is missing, you
probably should finesse for the missing queen. That is, banging down the ace and
king to drop the queen is not the high percentage play. However, the choice is .
yours.
If between the two hands you have nine cards and the queen is missing, then the
high percentage play is to play the ace and king to drop the queen. In duplicate it
is almost mandatory because that’s what everyone else with your hand will do.
10. Open in Third Position with Ten HCP
We advocate opening any hand with 11 HCP and a five card suit. Likewise, after
two passes you should set your sights lower and open such a hand with 10 HCP.
11. Rule of Eleven
If the declarer is in a notrump contract and your partner leads the fourth card down
in a suit, you should apply the Rule of 11 to determine the number of higher cards in
the other three hands.
See ACBL11 on Rule of Eleven.
ACBLO6 – General: Bridge by the Numbers Dec 26, 2002
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15. Rule of Fifteen
In fourth position after three passes, you should avoid opening the bidding without
something to offset the opponents later bidding spades. So you should apply this
rule:
If the sum of your HCP and cards in the spade suit is less
than 15, then pass.
Example: Q x A x x x K Q x x Q x x
13 HCP and 2 spades equal 15. Open the bidding.
Example Q x x A x x x x K Q x x x
11 HCP and 3 spades equal 14.. Pass.
20. Rule of Twenty
If you think you don’t have an opening hand, take another look to see if you can
open using the Rule of 20.
If the sum of the HCP and the number of cards in your two
longest suits equal 20, then open the bidding.
Example: x x x x A x K Q J x x x x
10 HCP plus 4 spades and 6 clubs equals 20. Open the
bidding.
Example: A x x x x x x x K Q J x x
10 HCP plus 7 spades and 3 clubs equals 20. Open the
bidding.