Are You A Good Bridge Player?

I started playing Party Bridge again here at THD after a hiatus of several years. In my younger years, I play duplicate or competitive bridge and accumulated more than 100 junior master points. After 2 years of playing duplicate bridge, I realize that the game instead of relaxing me give me the opposite feeling since after a duplicate game I have a hard time sleeping. So I gave it up completely only playing the game on line with the robot from time to time(BBO). 

So what are the skills that you need to be a good bridge player? Here's what I learned from my readings:

  

"All the factors that contribute to make great champions in other sports are important in winning at bridge: concentration, accuracy, technique, stamina, resilience, the ability to cope with time pressure, staying alert, remaining calm, willingness to learn and improve - but also a sense of fun, and an ability to relax. "

Bridge is a sport based on skill, not luck.  Unlike other activities involving cards, it is only good play, and not good cards, which means you will win.

The game of bridge is as much about personal character as about technical skills: handling oneself at the table and knowing how to deal with others. Equanimity, flexibility, focus, respect, and sense of humor win the game.
Here's an article that is a must read if you want to be good bridge Player.
Attributes of Good Bridge Players (or Good Attributes of Bridge Players?)

There are a few characteristics or attributes that seem to be inherent in most good bridge players. Some of the following traits may not be readily apparent in those bridge players you admire, but if you think about it for awhile you’ll see that most are usually present.

Perhaps the first would be the ability to concentrate. Bridge requires total attention at all times (especially as you get older and have more problems with those “senior moments”). The need to concentrate and to focus on the given hand is ever- present. First you need to think about your hand, then the bidding, then the play and/or defense. If your mind wanders away to something else, it’s an effort to keep coming back to exactly where you were before you left. And needless to say, mind wandering takes up valuable time.

Another trait is that of anger management. It’s a fact that sometimes things will go awry and you may not be in control to stop them. Duplicate bridge can get rather intense; thus, this trait may well have to be developed. An even temperament is obviously best but there are those who have learned to control their fits of anger so that they don’t interfere with their ability to play this game. Once a hand is over, let it go.....whether you got the best score or the worst score. It matters not.....that hand is over.

Bridge is a game of logic. It is not a game of rote.....in fact far from it. It requires the use of logic in order to figure out the hands and what’s going on in the play and defense. And to play it well it requires the ability to visualize partner’s and opponents’ hands.....as well as the ability to count!!

Another important thing is awareness of the fact that this is a partnership endeavor; the need for communications with your partner in both bidding and card play is a priority item. Such things as (1) taking liberties with the vulnerability, (2) making silly and often stupid bids before partner has had a say in the auction, (3) frequent overbidding along with chronic underplaying, and (4) random and ill-conceived doubles are not in the best interest of establishing partnership confidence.

Duplicate bridge players should make every effort to know basic bridge principles in addition to having some knowledge of the Laws of Duplicate Bridge and the Alert Procedure. While one can deviate from accepted bridge principles, the Laws must be followed at all times. Thus the Laws are not to be confused with rules.

Such rules as “second hand low”, “third hand high” and “cover an honor with an honor are really guidelines and, as such, are often broken,

Last but certainly not least is the necessity of having a positive attitude. I can almost guarantee that if you don’t believe things are going to work out well, they won’t. However, you do have my permission to scream at anyone who says: “Bridge is only a game.”

Good luck. (That’s important too.) ©Marilyn Hemenway February 2008

My Quote of the Day: The real test of a bridge player isn't in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he's in. Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand. It's not enough to win the tricks that belong to you. 

The reference of Bidding Systems Used all over the World is at bottom of this page.

The most common conventions in bridge are Blackwood, which asks for and gives information about the number of aces and kings held, Stayman convention, used to discover a 4-4 fit in a major suit following an opening no trump bid, Jacoby transfers, used to find a 5-3 fit in a major suit, and strong two clubs. 
Other not popular convention is the Gerber. asking for Aces after the NT bid. 💥Gerber is used to ask for Aces and Kings over No Trump bids in order to keep 4NT as a "quantitative" bid.
💥Gərbər- : a bidding method in contract bridge that is based on the Blackwood convention and that uses a bid of four clubs instead of four no-trump as the asking bid, with responses of four diamonds to show no ace, four hearts one ace, four spades two aces, four no-trump three aces, and five clubs four aces.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidding_system

Personal Note: I could see in the Future an Ad on THD:    The Haven for Active Seniors Who Love to Play Bridge because:  There is a Bridge Game Five Days a Week here at THD today!!!!

Monday,Thursday (Beginners) and Friday coordinated by Lee Cruise. There are 2 tables on the Monday and Friday Games. 

Tuesday- coordinated by Linda Botton

Wednesday- coordinated by Phil Paris.

There is a new group of bridge players at the Fireside Lounge that started playing the other day also on Wednesday Afternoon. I believe it is coordinated by Linda Botton, but I am not sure.

More Power to All Contract Party Bridge Players at All Levels of Expertise here at THD.