Bridge Corner: February 9, 2016

Hello and welcome to the Tidewater Bridge Unit (TBU).
In our last article, we examined/explained opening bids and responding to opening bids. Those guidelines established for opening a hand and responding to partner’s opening bid will help us discover the correct contract and the level of play. Today, we will cover more of the vocabulary in the colorful language of bridge. Also, let’s look at rebids by opener. In our next article, we will cover both rebids by responder and “overcalls.”

GAME EVALUATION
Point count is the most widely used tool for game evaluation.
Game is usually reached if the combined strength equals.

26 points for major suit (10 tricks) or no trump (9 tricks)
29 points for minor suits (11 tricks)
33 points for a small slam (12 tricks)
37 points for a grand slam (13 tricks)

CONTRACT POINTS
Contract points are those points awarded for each trick (above 6) successfully.
Made during the play of the hand. It takes 100 contract points to make game.
Contract points are awarded as follows:
Each minor trick = 20 points. It take 5 diamonds/clubs to make game (5×20=100)
Each major trick = 30 points. It takes 4 spades/heart to make game (4×30=120)
Frist trik in no trump = 40 points and each subsequent trick = 30 points. It take 3NT to make game (40+30+30=100)

Rebids by opener and responder. There are three types of opening hands and three types of responding hands: minimum, invitational, and game forcing.

Here is what the hands look like:
Strength         Opener      Responder
Minimum         12-16            6-10
Invitational      16-18           10-12
Game-forcing  19+              13+

Minimum rebids are:
1. Opener rebidding his suit cheaply
1Diamond (opener) – Pass (opponent) – 1Heart (opener’s partner) – Pass (opponent’s partner) – 2Diamonds (opener’s rebid)

2. Opener raising responder’s suit cheaply
1D-Pass-1H-Pass-2H

3. Opener rebidding no-trump cheaply
1D-Pass-1H-Pass-1N (denies 4 spades)

4. Opener bidding a new suit that is lower than the one opened.
1D-Pass-1S-Pass-2C

5. Opener bidding a new suit at the one level
1D-Pass-1H-Pass-1S

6. Opener passing a minimum raise
1S-Pass-2S-Pass-Pass

Invitational rebids are:
1. Opener jumping in opened suit
1D-Pass-1H-3D

2. Opener jumping in partner’s suit
1D-Pass-1H-3H

3. Opener jumping in No Trump
1D-Pass-1H-2NT

4. Opener bidding a suit at the 2 level that is higher than the suit opened
1H-P-1N-Pass-2S

5. Opener bidding again after a minimum suit raise
1H-Pass-2H-Pass-2S or 2N, 3C, 3D, etc.

Game forcing bids are:
1. Opener jumping to game
1D-Pass-1H-4H

2. Opener making a jump-shift
1S-Pass-1N-Pass-3H

Happy Birthday To:
Helen Lake – February 10
Peggy Willet – February 11
Sammie Cooper – February 17

TIDEWATER BRIDGE UNIT
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

Tuesday, Feb. 7
Cooke-Suburban Bridge game
10:45 a.m. – 3 p.m.
$4 – $5

Wednesday, Feb. 8
Bon-Ton bridge game
10:45 a.m. – 3 p.m.
$4 – $5

All activities are located at the Berkley Senior Center, 925 S. Main Street, Norfolk, Va.

For additional information on classes, games, or tournaments, please call Delores Burney at (757) 321-0825 or Lawrence Owes at (757) 553-2601.