शुभस्य शीघ्रम / Earlier the Better - all Modules

The beginners course comprises of 14 modules as given below.

1- Solid Suits and winning tricks with small cards

Solid Suits is a trick taking technique where you can take all tricks without giving a single out to the opponents. Care must be taken to avoid blockage.

In Bridge, length of suits is as important as Strength. With length, you can establish the long suit and small tricks can be won after all the high cards are driven out. Winning ticks with small cards is based on probability based on the distribution of cards with the defenders.

It has 16 exercise deals explaining the concept.

2- Promotion

Promotion is a trick taking technique in which you promote lower ranked cards in sequence by driving out the higher ranked cards with opponents. You may have to drive out one or more higher ranking cards to established lower ranked cards. Unlike solid suits, you will have to concede one or more trick, to the opponents before established your winners

It has 8 exercise deals explaining the concept.

3- Finesse

While winning tricks with small cards was based on probability based on distribution of cards, Finesse is a trick taking technique based on the position of the card you are finessing. When finessing for one card, the probability of success is 50 percent. You can also finesse for 2 cards at the same time.  card, the probability of success is 50 percent. You can also finesse for more than one card at the same time but the probability of success reduces as you finesse more cards.

It has 8 exercise deals explaining the concept.

This module covers various types of finesse – finesse against A, pseudo finesse, 8 ever-9 never, multiple types of finesse against King and Q.

4- Trump Management

Trumps form an additional form of control – you can stop opponents from winning tricks by ruffing (discarding a designated suit as trump). The more trumps in your partnership, the more tricks you can make. Trumps with opponents are like poison and must extracted as quickly as possible. However, there are situations when you may want to delay pulling out trumps. The reasons for delaying pulling out trumps are well articulated in this module.

It emphasizes the point that you gain tricks by ruffing in the hand with lesser or equal trumps but never gain tricks by ruffing in long trump hand (unless it is required for some very advanced level of play). All concepts are explained through examples.

It has 40 exercise deals explaining the concept.

5- Planning the Play

This is the key section to win at Bridge. You need to plan how to make the contract and give yourself the best chance to make the contract. It lays down the guidelines for planning like counting winners in NT contract and establishing additional winners to make the contract while in trump contracts, you count losers and try to eliminate resources and make the contract.

The concepts are explained through 10 deals as examples and understanding them properly is the first step towards winning Bridge. Plans have to modified as the deal proceeds and you find more information on the lay of cards at every trick. While you have learnt various trick taking techniques, applying them by making the right choices and the correct sequence is very important in bridge. This module transforms you from a novice in bridge to someone who can now play bridge with friends.

It has 8 exercise deals explaining the concept.

6- Introduction to Bidding

Bidding is the language in which you communicate with your partner to exchange information on the strength and shape of your hand. There are defined hierarchy of strains (suits + NT) and rules for who should start the bidding, hierarchy of bidding and when the bidding ends. This module explains the basic mechanics of bidding and should be seen before learning any bidding system.

7- Scoring

There is no point in playing any game if you are not conversant with the scoring. It is important to understand the scoring as it helps you take the right decisions on bidding and card play. The entire concept of scoring in Bridge based on part score, game and slam bonuses and vulnerability.

8- Opening Bids

Any conversation has to have a starting point. Every player bids in clockwise sequence and can choose to PASS (does not want to make a bid) or can make a bid. This module outlines all the opening bids that can be made by a player based on the strength and distribution of the hand.

9- Responses to 1 level Suit opening

Bidding is a conversation which helps you decide whether you are in partial, game or slam zone. This module details all the responses when your partner has made an opening bid of a suit at one level. Responder can choose to PASS with a very weak hand but must follow the rules defined in the partnership agreement.

10- Responses to 1NT/2C/2NT and pre-emptive opening

Apart from opening at 1 level in a suit contract, there are special opening bids with limited strength or extremely strong hands. The full bidding sequence on these limited opening bids and very strong openings are explained in this module. Since these are special bids, there are special sequences defined for these opening bids.

11- Opener and Responder’s Rebids

After opener has opened 1 level suit opening and responder has responded, opener needs to now show his strength and shape. This is done by dividing opener and responder’s strength into three zones. This will enable the partnership to assess the over all strength and fit of the partnership and decide if they should play in partial, game or slam and also if it should be a suit contract or a NT contract.

12- Slam Bidding

Slam Bidding involves specialized techniques like cue bidding and key cards asking. While you may have the required strength to bid a slam, you need to ensure that opponents cannot take first two tricks in a suit or if two key cards are missing.  This is achieved through cue bidding and key card asking bids which ensure that you get into slam only when you have the strength and fit and also the required controls.

It has 4 exercise deals explaining the concept.

13- Overcalls

Competitive bidding involves both sides bidding and competing to win the contract. Every bid must have a meaning and convey something new to partner. This module outlines the basic guidelines for 1-2 level overcall in suit and NT, and weak jump overcalls.

It has 4 exercise deals explaining the concept.

14- Introduction to Double/Redouble and Take-out Double

What do you do when you have the strength but cannot do an overcall as it does not meet some of the requirements for an overcall. It introduces the concept of take-out double and lays down the guidelines of when you can double and redouble. It is a basic introduction to take-out double and advancer’s (partner of take-out doubler) bids and how to reach the final contract.

It has 4 exercise deals explaining the concept.