1 BEGINNERS’ LESSONS Welcome Teacher: Your Name Here Telephone: © Copyright Reserved New Zealand Bridge Inc Prepared by Amanda Smith

2 Lesson One Introduction to Bridge

3 Lesson One – Introduction to Bridge The Game of bridge is played in 2 distinct phases: PHASE 1 The Auction … each person in the partnership ‘talks’ to each other to describe what they have in their hand to work out the best contract

4 Lesson One – Introduction to Bridge PHASE 2 The Play … the winning partnership now needs to fulfil their contract

5 Ranking of the Suits N o T rumps S pades  H earts D iamonds  C lubs  MAJOR suits MINOR suits

6 Ranking of the Suits 11 11 1 11 1NT 22 22 2 22 2NT 33 33 3 33 3NT 44 44 4 44 4NT 55 55 5 55 5NT 66 66 6 66 6NT 77 77 7 77 7NT You must bid suits in order … at a level higher than the last bid made Bidding at the 1-level = (6 + 1) 7 tricks, 3-level = (6 + 3) 9 tricks, etc

7 Value of the Honour Cards Add your High Card Points (HCP) together AceA= 4 points KingK= 3 points QueenQ= 2 points JackJ= 1 point Each suit total = points Each deal total = points

8 How many High Card Points? 1313

9 8

10 How many High Card Points? 1919

11 Which suit has a fit? 8+ cards between the two hands

12 Which suit has a fit? 8+ cards between the two hands

13 What is the Partnership looking for? STEP 1: Find a fit – 8+ cards in the same suit between both hands. Look for a MAJOR FIT STEP 2: Decide the level to play the contract Partscoretotal points <25 Gametotal points 25 – 32 Slamtotal points 33 +

14 WHICH SUIT? Trumps - Major (need a FIT = 8+ cards combined) Notrumps – no Major fit but could have a minor fit WHAT LEVEL? Partscore(6+1=7 tricks) Game – need 25+ HCP GAME 3NT = 9 tricks 4Major = 10 tricks 5Minor = 11 tricks HCP Ace = 4 King = 3 Queen = 2 Jack = 1

15 Practice and Review Review tonight’s lesson notes as soon as possible Review lesson notes again before next week’s lesson You can practice online … more about that next week as you need to be able to bid first Do your homework – Quiz 1 ….. Please

16 BEGINNERS’ LESSONS Teacher: Your Name Here Telephone: Please contact me if you have any questions