Defense Bridge Bidding

As you learn to play Bridge you will frequently find yourself on defense. A strong set of defensive skills can significantly boost your scores.

When the opposition have opened and you have the values to play you will need to use a different set of rules to bid. Being Bridge of course as soon as you are ‘the defense’ the rules change (sigh!) the silver lining is however that you can bid with far fewer points with a long (five or more cards) suit.

Prerequisites: Beginners Bridge Lessons and Acol lessons or Standard American Bidding lessons

NOTE: The online Bridge lessons below are short extracts from the full featured interactive lessons in our members area.


Overcalling
Instead of trying to get to game, you are attempting to steal the contract, suggest a lead to your partner or obstruct the opponents.

Overcalling at the 2 Level
How do you open the bidding when you have a hand with 23+ points. The strong 2♣ convention is a way to show this strong hand. 

Responding to Partners overcall
It is important to bid if you possibly can so as to make life difficult for your opponents. The principle is the same for the overcaller’s partner as it is for the overcaller.
It is the trump suit that matters.

Two Types of Doubling
Doubling for takeout occurs when the opposition have opened and you as wish to enter the bidding. You must have a strong hand with at least 3 cards in every unbid suit, and you want partner to choose the best suit for the combined hands.

Penalty doubles
 Now we are in a situation where it can be difficult to tell if our partners double is for takeout and therefore you must bid, or for penalties and you must leave it in.

Takeout doubles

Responding to a takeout double
Doubling for takeout occurs when the opposition have opened and you as wish to enter the bidding. You must have a strong hand with at least 3 cards in every unbid suit, and you want partner to choose the best suit for the combined hands.

Balancing Doubles
When the opponents try to keep the bidding at low levels, a double in the pass out seat – meaning the last person to bid, is regarded as a balancing double. It may not have the full takeout double strength even if it is that players first opportunity to bid.

Support Doubles

1NT Overcall
When the opponents open one of a suit and you overcall 1NT, you show a balanced hand with the strength of a strong 1NT. The normal range for a 1NT opening is 12-14 Acol or 15-17 Standard American. The overcall can be stronger up to 18 points

Total Tricks
In contract bridge, the rule of Total Tricks is used to help competitive bidders decide what level to bid up to in a competitive auction. The total number of tricks available is equal to the total number of trump cards held in the suit suited to be trumps.