Disclaimer
Everything you'll learn here will let you play a real tournament in real life. However, I'm warning you: I'll simplify some things. So:
- An old grump might tell you it's not like that blah blah blah. Tell them you know and that you'll refine it all later.
- If you love challenges, you're going to have a blast. Because in reality, there's a whole world to discover behind each step of this journey.
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?
At 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.
View exact scoresPrinciple 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?
Principle 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!
Talk like a pro
3NT (9 tricks), we call that 'the game'. 6NT (12 tricks, all but one), that's the 'small slam'. 7NT (all 13 tricks), that's the 'grand slam'. Super rare and pays a lot, obviously.
Two pairs each make twelve tricks at No Trump. The first had bid 3NT, the second 6NT. Which one receives the small slam bonus?
Will you be able to make these contracts?
deal 1 deal 2Your progress
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