Bridge Bits

A small sample of my collected bridge items.

Ian Callahan

Abstract

Various articles, hands, and snippets which may interest Contract Bridge players. Selected from a larger collection put together by Ian Callahan, from a variety of sources.

Table of Contents

1. Hand Evaluation
Losing Trick Count
2. Double Dummy Problems
Cutting
A. Appendix
Bibliography

Chapter 1. Hand Evaluation

Table of Contents

Losing Trick Count

Losing Trick Count

The losing trick count is espoused by Ron Klinger, and by one of my regular partners, as a way of working out how high your side can bid when a fit has been found.

In each suit, count one loser for each of the top three cards in the suit which is not the Ace, King, or Queen.

Table 1.1. Examples of Losers

Void or Singleton Aceno losers
Singleton or Ax1 loser
small doubleton2 losers
Kx1 loser
Axx2 losers
AQx1 loser

Add your losers to partner's losers. Estimate paertner's losers by

Table 1.2. Partner's Losers

opening bid7 losers
strong NT6 losers
reversing values5-6 losers

Subtract the partnership's losers from 24. The result is the number of tricks you can expect to make.

Chapter 2. Double Dummy Problems

Table of Contents

Cutting

Cutting

I came across this problem in an old, yellowed, newspaper clipping. Unfortunately no solution was included. It was promised "next week".

It was introduced with:

Bridge magazine in Britain has presented a double dummy problem, which is unquestionably the best ever devised.

Don't despair if you cant work it out because it has defied some of the world's best players.

Note

(This is where I need the XML Bridge Hand DTDs, Stylesheets, etc.)

 

S: 8763

H: 2

D: AQ32

C: AT54

 

S: AQJ3

H: T98

D: 95

C: 9876

 

S: T9

H: 76

D: KT876

C: KQ32

 

S: K42

H: AKQJ543

D: J4

C: J

 

West leads the 10 of trumps against 4 hearts. South to make 10 tricks.

I am not one of the world's best players, but so far it has defied me too.

Bibliography