1. BRIDGE LESSONS Welcome Teacher: Your Name Here Telephone: 123 4567 Email: email@address.co.nz © Copyright Reserved New Zealand Bridge Inc. 2015 Prepared by Amanda Smith

2. Lesson Five Balanced Hands

3. PointsDescription 11 12 - 194 + clubs 11 12 – 194 + diamonds 1 12 – 194 + hearts 11 12 – 194 + spades 1NT 12 – 14 Balanced hand... SPECIAL CASE Opener’s First Bid

4. Basic Rules for Opening 1NT 12 - 14 points Balanced Hand This bid is your FIRST choice from now on

5. What is a balanced hand? No singleton or void Only one doubleton No 5 card major Shapes = 4333, 4432, 2335 Balanced hands are the most common

6. Balanced or Not? No singleton or void Only one doubleton No 5 card major

7. Balanced or Not? No singleton or void Only one doubleton No 5 card major

8. Balanced or Not? No singleton or void Only one doubleton No 5 card major

9. Balanced or Not? No singleton or void Only one doubleton No 5 card major

10. Balanced or Not? No singleton or void Only one doubleton No 5 card major

11. Balanced or Not? Open 1  Open 1NT

12. What does responder do? Do you want to play in No Trumps or a suit? Have you got enough points to bid or invite game? Responder is the BOSS There are ONLY 2 decisions to make

13. Responses to 1NT – Balanced Hand 0 – 10 points … no GAME possible … PASS 11 – 12 points … GAME is possible … Bid 2NT 13+ points … definitely in GAME … Bid 3NT Add your points to partner’s KNOWN 12-14 points

14. What does responder do? No Trumps or a suit? What level? PASS … not enough for GAME

15. What does responder do? No Trumps or a suit? What level? Bid 3NT … enough for GAME

16. What does responder do? No Trumps or a suit? What level? Bid 2NT … invite to GAME

17. Responses to 1NT – Unbalanced Hand 0 – 10 points … no GAME possible Bid your + card suit at the 2 level This is a WEAK TAKEOUT Partner MUST then pass … YOU ARE THE BOSS Add your points to partner’s KNOWN 12-14 points

18. Responses to 1NT – Unbalanced Hand 13+ points … GAME Forcing Bid your card suit at the 3 level (Partner MUST agree your suit or bid No Trumps) Bid your card MAJOR at the 4 level - OR Bid your card MINOR at the 5 level

19. What does responder do? Opener MUST pass Bid 2 … not enough for GAME

20. What does responder do? OPENER must pass Bid 2  … not enough for GAME

21. What does responder do? There is a guaranteed fit Bid 4  … enough for GAME … known fit

22. What does responder do? Opener chooses 3NT or 4 (with a fit) Bid 3 … enough for GAME … need to check if there is a heart fit

23. Playing Tip Developing a Long Suit

24. Developing a Long Suit Count how many SURE tricks you have Work out how many extra tricks you need Try to work out where you can get your extra tricks from Establishing your longest / strongest suit is a great way to make extra tricks

25. How many certain tricks?  =1, =0,  =2,  =2 … Total = 5 1. Contract = 1NT, Lead = Q 

26. Where can we get our extra tricks from? Clubs is our best suit, so lose a club to establish the rest of the club tricks 1. Contract = 1NT, Lead = Q 

27. How many tricks might you lose?  =2, =0,  =1,  =1 … Total = 4 2. Contract = 4H, Lead = K 

28. What can we do to only lose 3 tricks? Draw trumps, then set up the  suit immediately (lose A  ) to discard a  loser 2. Contract = 4H, Lead = K 

29. How many certain tricks?  =1, =2,  =1,  =4 … Total = 8 3. Contract = 3NT, Lead = K 

30. How do we make more?  ’s is our best suit – there are only 6 out so our 5 th club should come good … BUT we have to play the Q  first or we will be cut off from our hand 3. Contract = 3NT, Lead = K 

31. BRIDGE LESSONS Teacher: Your Name Here Telephone: 123 4567 Email: email@address.co.nz Please contact me if you have any questions