At the start, set a contract
At the start of the game, you bet that you and your partner will make a minimum number of tricks. This bet is called a 'contract'.
You cannot bet to make fewer tricks than the opponents (so you must bet to win at least 7 of the 13 possible tricks). Logical, otherwise it would simply be them who should make the bet.
The nicknames for these 7 contracts:
| The bet | The contract |
|---|---|
| We will make at least 7 tricks (and thus 6 max for the opponents) | 1 No Trump (1NT) |
| 8 tricks | 2 No Trump (2NT) |
| 9 tricks | 3 No Trump (3NT) |
| 10 tricks | 4 No Trump (4NT) |
| 11 tricks | 5 No Trump (5NT) |
| 12 tricks (1 only max for the opponents) | 6 No Trump (6NT) |
| 13 tricks (we do everything) | 7 No Trump (7NT) |
You have bid 5NT. How many tricks can you give up to the opponents while still making your contract?
Section quizAt the end, receive a score
At the end of a game, a score is given to one side (you always score the same as your partner, yes). Here I give you the orders of magnitude of these scores: that's more than enough. You have all the exact scores here, if you promise me not to learn them.
Principle 1: if you make your contract, your side scores.
Otherwise, the opponents score (50 per missing trick).
At 2NT, you make seven tricks against six for the opponents. Your partner says: 'We have the majority of the tricks, so we score.' Are they right?
Section quizPrinciple 2: aim for the bonuses (9, 12 or 13 tricks).
If your side doesn't have much strength, bet on 7 tricks (1NT).
If you bet that you will make at least 9 tricks (3NT) and you win, your side will get a nice bonus (like 400 points instead of 150 if you had bet less).
If you bet on at least 12 tricks (6NT) or 13 tricks (7NT), you will get an even bigger bonus if you make the contract (like 1000 and 1500 points).
These are the 3 levels of risk that pay off in bridge. If your side makes all the tricks but you only bet like a wet chicken to make at least 7 (1NT), you get no bonus and score peanuts (like 300 points instead of 1500!).
No need to bid 2NT for example: if you make 8 tricks, you will win as much as if you had bid the 1NT contract and you will have taken less risk!
Two pairs each make twelve tricks at No Trump. The first had bid 3NT, the second 6NT. Which one receives the small slam bonus?
Section quizWill you be able to make these contracts?