How Bridge
Master bids
On most deals East and West do not bid. The North and South bidding is included for the sake of completeness. The bidding is not necessarily recommended. It should be seen only as a vehicle for reaching the final contract. Bridge Master is not intended to be used for learning about bidding.
On some deals, inferences can be drawn from the East/West bidding or lack thereof. The East/West bidding is best described as modern Standard American.
- 1NT openings show 15-17 high card points in a balanced hand with no five card major.
- Five card majors: Major suit opening bids promise at least five cards in the suit opened.
- Minor suit openings may be on a three-card suit. With 3-3 in the minors, 1
is opened. With 4-4 in the minors, 1
is opened.- Weak two-bids: Opening bids of 2
, 2
, or 2
show a good six-card suit and 6-10 high card points.- The 2
opening bid is strong and artificial.- Opening bids at the three-level show a good seven-card suit and less than opening bid values. The opener almost never has an Ace or King outside of the suit bid.
- Opening bids at the four-level or higher show at least an eight-card suit and less than opening bid values. Opener almost never has an Ace or King outside of the suit bid.
- Jump overcalls are preemptive. Jumps to the two-level are similar to weak two-bids, described above. Jumps to the three-level or higher are similar to opening three and four-bids, also described above.
- The Unusual Notrump: A jump overcall in notrump (typically a jump to 2NT) shows at least five cards in each of the two lowest ranking unbid suits (typically the minors) and usually 10 or more high card points. With more distribution, fewer high card values are needed.
- Michaels' Cue Bid: If North or South open one of a minor and a defender overcalls two of that suit, the defender is showing at least five cards in both majors. If North or South open one of a major and a defender overcalls two of that suit, the defender is showing at least five cards in the unbid major and at least five cards in an unspecified minor. The high card point range is similar to that of the unusual notrump overcall.
The defenders always have sound values for their actions. The defenders do not open or overcall lightly.