The Golden Rules of Bridge Bidding

Bridge bidding is a language: the method of communication between you and your partner. If you and your partner are not on the same page, it can seem like the Tower of Babel. With that in mind, we offer the following basic bidding principles to keep in mind as you and your partner work to find your optimal contract.

1. Inferences are critical! Think about what each bid means, and remember that you learn as much from what your partner bids as from what he does not bid.
2. Finish bidding your hand, from a distribution and strength standpoint. Once you’ve described your hand… PASS!
3. Trust your partner.
4. Tell the truth.

This article focuses on a recent hand that went awry when my partner broke rule number four: Tell The Truth. In this case, my partner told the truth about his points, but not about his distribution. Consequently we reached a poor game contract in hearts, instead of the optimal, easily makeable, 3NT contract.

While playing on Bridge Base Online, sitting South, I was dealt the following hand:

My partner bid ♥s at the 2 level, so I assumed he had 5+ ♥s and at least 10 points. With 15 points, I was comfortable bidding 2NT, because it seemed my partner ought to have a ♣ stopper; if not, he would correct. After a pass by west, partner bid 4♥. I inferred that my partner had a long heart suit (at least six hearts.)

Here is the complete hand:

My partner broke rule number 3: Tell the Truth. We were cold for 3NT, but this hand was down 3 in 4♥.