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Learn to Play Bridge – The Minor Suits

In Bridge, the diamond suit and the club suit are the minor suits and are often referred to as ‘the minors’.
Of these two suits Diamonds ♦ ranks higher than Clubs ♣. With an opening hand, you should if possible open 1 of a major or 1NT, only opening 1 in a minor suit if those bids are not available to you.

Why do I need to know about the Minors?

The Minors – Diamonds ♦ & Clubs ♣

The ultimate goal as you learn to play contract bridge is to gain the highest possible Bridge score in the lowest possible contract If you finish up in a Minor contract you need to win more tricks in order to gain the same points as contracts in No Trump or a major suit. The minor suits in Bridge are diamonds and clubs, diamonds ♦ rank higher than clubs ♣. They are referred to as ‘minor’ suits because contracts played in those suits score less per trick than contracts made in the major suits, and they are also lower in the suit rank. To make the bonus points associated with bidding to ‘game’ level in a minor suit players need to bid to a higher level therefore having to win more tricks than game in a major suit.

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This is a ‘lite’ version of the lessons available to members. Our full interactive lessons include in inbuilt Bridge term glossary, instant quiz to test your knowledge and multiple practice hands to play on each subject. Our members area also delivers a new Hand of the Day lesson each day, daily Bridge competitions and unlimited random practice hands to play.

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Biddable and Re-biddable Suits:

The difference between biddable and re-biddable suits  is about the number of cards you have in each suit in your hand. If you have a suit with four cards in your hand it is is called a ‘biddable’ suit, this is because you must have four cards in a suit to bid (as with everything in Bridge there are exceptions but we will learn about these later). 
If you hold five cards in a suit it is called a ‘re-biddable’ suit, with this number of cards and the correct number of points you are free to bid and then rebid this suit, telling your partner you have at least 5 or more cards in that suit.

Another word, this time about tricks:

A trick in Bridge is when all four players have played a card

For 1♣ or 1♦ Opening bids:
1a. In Standard American Bidding You need 13-21 TP and 3+ cards in the suit you are bidding
1b. Bidding Acol you need 12-19 TP and 4+ cards in the suit you are bidding
2. Bid your better (longer is better) minor suit
3. Open the bidding with your  longest suit, regardless of honor card quality
4. Without a longer suit (you have two or three 4-card suits) open the lowest ranked suit

Instant Progress Quiz

Select all correct information about minor suits    Minor suit games score 20 points for each trick won plus the bonus points if you have bid up to game level?   In a minor suit game you need to win at least 10 tricks to make your contract?    Diamonds and Clubs are the minor suits?    You get no extra points for 5D making 11 tricks over 3D making 11 tricks?   Hearts and Diamonds are the major suits?

Minor Suits – Practice Game

Experienced players recognise Minor Suits instantly but for beginners it takes more time and adds to that ‘cognitive overload’ that many beginners experience. Use our Minor Suits practice game to boost your Minor Suit recognition skills.

Exercise:

Your Hand

• ♠A K Q J
• ♥3
• ♦A 8 6 3
• ♣A Q 3 2

Exercise: What should be your Opening Bid with this hand?
Answer: The correct opening bid here is 1♣. With two 4-card minors open the lower. You can bid your spade suit later.

The 60SecondBridge website is divided into two sections, our ‘Public Lessons’ and our ‘Members Only’ section. The table below outlines the differences between the two areas.

MEMBERS AREA LESSONS AND BRIDGE GAMES

‘Members Area’ lessons include inline glossaries for bridge terms, ‘test your knowledge’ instant quizzes and multiple practice hands for each lesson (see video below).
Our members-only lessons are a much faster and more effective method of learning Bridge.

• 
  FREE ACCESS TO THE FIRST 2 BEGINNERS COURSES (no registration required)
• Quick Start – Learn By Playing Bridge (5 lessons)
• Bridge Hand Evaluation (14 lessons)
  
  MEMBERS-ONLY SUBSCRIPTION
• Standard American bidding System (28 lessons)
• Acol Bridge Lessons (26 lessons)
• On Defense – Bidding and Card Play (36 lessons)
• Bridge Conventions in Bridge (14 lessons)
• Declarer Card Play (16 lessons)
  
  Our members area also includes unlimited random practice hands to play online, daily Bridge competitions and a daily ‘Hand of the Day’ game with a guided commentary.