Many players in bridge feel that bidding is an important aspect of the game. Bidding is how you communicate what you are playing to your partner. It is a negotiation strategy that can be used to gain an advantage over your partner. In this article, we will discuss some common bidding styles and practices in bridge and how they can be used to gain an edge over your opponents.
Opening Bids
When it comes to opening bids, there is a wide variety of styles that can be used. One of the most common is the safe opening, which simply means opening high and hoping that your partner doesn’t overbid you. The thinking behind this strategy is that if you open high and your partner responds by also opening high, then neither of you will make it all the way to the board before something is overbid. This type of response to an opening bid is called a pair, which means you are playing a pair. Since opening high is a safe strategy, this type of opening is usually considered to be the least aggressive of all bids. This is why it is sometimes referred to as the baby blue suit strategy.
A more aggressive opening is to open low. When playing a safe game, starting low can be advantageous since it forces your partner to either bid higher, or play a smaller hand if they want to avoid being outbid. This type of bid can be used to establish dominance. For instance, if you open 1 club and your partner opens 2 diamonds, you know that you have the advantage of the board, even though your partner has a stronger hand. This can be a good strategy when you want to force your opponents to take a risky hand, knowing that you have the advantage on the board.
Pass
When choosing to pass, or not to pass, many players will consider how their hand is valued in the current bidding. If you have a strong hand (for example, KQJ10 in the example above), then it is usually best to pass. However, if you have a weak hand, then it can be advantageous to bid. Consider what would happen if you don’t bid at all? Your opponents could have a chance to take the lead, which could put you at a disadvantage later on in the game. For instance, if you have 10 hearts and your opponents have 4 spades, they could make a straight for your king, which would give them the contract.
Many players consider passing to be the most aggressive form of bidding, especially since it is so easy to overbid on a pass. That being said, when deciding to pass, there are a variety of factors that should be taken into consideration. It is important to remember that the decision to pass or not pass is a strategic one and should not be taken lightly.
Continuation Bids
Continuation bids are bids that are made after you have opened the bidding. When deciding to make a continuation bid, your top priority should be to establish your strength. To do this, it is usually best to raise your previous bid. For example, if you opened 2 clubs and received a pass, it would be best to raise to 3 clubs, in an attempt to keep your opponents guessing as to your highest trump card. When deciding to make a continuation bid, you should take into consideration how much your partner has told you about their hand. If you opened the bidding with a safe hand and your partner hasn’t told you much about their hand, then it is usually best to raise your previous bid. On the other hand, if your partner opened with a strong hand and you have no idea what they have, then it might be wise to go down in bid. One way of thinking about continuation bids is that they are like a conversation between the two of you, the bidders. Your bid should be a complete and utter surprise to your partner since you haven’t prepared any signals to let them know what hand you are playing.
Mirrors
Mirrors can be used in bridge to show your opponents what hand you are playing. They can also be used to hide your cards from your opponents, which is why many gamblers in bridge prefer them to be passed face down. If your opponents happen to know that you are playing a certain hand, then they will have a clear picture of what you are holding and it will be easier for them to take you out. The problem with mirrors is that they create an extra layer of uncertainty for your opponents, which can sometimes be a good thing, but mostly it’s just another way of causing headaches. In general, using mirrors is always a bad idea unless you really need to.
Fluctuations
Fluctuations are bids that are made after you have opened the bidding and before the hand is settled. When deciding whether to make a fluctuation or not, your first priority should be to determine if you have enough money to make the contract. Once you have established that you have enough money, you can begin to consider other factors that might influence your decision. One important factor to take into consideration is your partner’s response to your opening bid. If they overbid you, then you know that you have enough money to make the contract, regardless of whether or not you like the odds. This is a key factor in deciding whether or not to make a fluctuation. For instance, if you opened with a 10-card major hand and they overbid you by 2 clubs, you know that you have enough money to make the contract. In this case, it would be best to make a fluctuation since the only other option is to immediately raise it and put yourself at a disadvantage. If your partner had been playing a similar hand to yours and hadn’t overbid, then it would be best to make no fluctuation and see how the hand plays out. One of the major problems with fluctuation bids is that it is so easy for them to get out of hand. If you overbid, then you are basically guaranteed to get the contract and it doesn’t really matter what happens next. This can easily lead to you making bad decisions that put you at a disadvantage, which is why it is usually best to avoid them whenever possible.
Reverse Bids
If your opponent opens the bidding with a reverse bid, which is when they underbid you, then it is usually best to match their previous bid. However, since you know that they have a weaker hand, it is usually best to raise their previous bid. For example, if they opened with a 1 club bid and you have no idea what their hand is, then it is usually best to match it and see what they have. Playing a reverse bid can be an important factor in gaining dominance over your opponents. For instance, if you open 1 diamond and your partner opens 2 clubs, you know that you have the advantage of the board and they will have to either take the lead or decline the contract. Since they have the weaker hand, you know that they will be the one taking the lead. Playing a reverse bid is often a simple matter of matching your previous bid since it is usually best to raise it when playing a reverse bid. The only disadvantage of playing a reverse bid is that it is sometimes difficult to determine how much strength your opponent actually has, since they are trying to underbid you. Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine if they have a weak or strong hand, since they are trying to underbid you. This is why it is usually best to simply raise their previous bid when playing a reverse bid.
Three-Piece Suit
If you have three-piece suit, which is when you have a straight, a flush, and a flush kicker, then it is usually best to make a raise with any two of the suits. Many Bridge players consider three-piece suits to be the ultimate combination of power since you can generally make a raise with any two of the three suits. One major disadvantage of three-piece suits is that it is often hard to determine which two suits you will need to make a raise with, since you can generally make a raise with any two. Another disadvantage is that when playing a three-piece suit, it is easier for your opponents to take you out, just by getting lucky and having the flush match up.