Bridge Tips

There is a lot of "accepted wisdom" in bridge; we will see some of this accepted wisdom as we go along. This accepted wisdom will often lead to the right solution to a bridge problem. When you are getting started you will often rely on these bridge tips. And that’s fine – they will usually send you down the right road. But as you get more experienced, you will want to look for exceptions to these general rules, you will want to substitute logic for simple rules. And that’s a good thing. Bridge is endlessly interesting, in part because there are no simple rules that we should always follow. But that’s down the road - for now, trust the wisdom of the ages when you can.

1. When you have honors in both hands, first play the honors from the short hand (i.e., the hand with fewer cards in the suit) and then play the honors from the long hand. 

2. Lose the tricks you need to lose early in the hand. If you need to develop tricks in a suit, don’t begin by cashing your winners in the other suits. Leave those suits alone. Work on the suit where you need to develop tricks.

3. An even number of missing cards will divide slightly unevenly most of the time. An odd number of missing cards will divide as evenly as possible most of the time.

4. Eight ever, nine never.

5. Second hand low, third hand high.

6. Cover an honor with an honor.