Bridge

Table of Contents

• Basic Playing Rules

   

• Scoring Tricks and Penalties

   

• Evaluating Hands

   

• Evaluating Partnerships

   

• Playing Fundamentals

   

• Playing No Trump

   

Bridge is a social card game. Two partners compete with two other partners to decide which partnership will play and which will defend.
The winner is the partnership that succeeds in its assigned role.

The Bridge notes develop a methodology for deciding whether it is better to play or defend.
The two key factors in playing bridge are the ability to evaluate a Bridge hand and the ability to communicate with your partner.

I have made a few observations after playing and coaching average players. First, average players tend to forget about hand strength after the opening bid.
Second, many average players are so afraid of no trump that they make bad bidding choices to avoid playing it.
Third, average players often lack even average playing skills.

The Bridge notes are organized with the goal of raising the skill level of an average player.
These notes stress point evaluations for 1-hand and for the 2 hands in a partnership first in choosing what bid is appropriate.
Then the strategies and tactics of playing are covered in detail.
After the players have mastered hand evaluation and playing techniques, then they are ready for bidding.