Bridge Tips

Every week we'll bring you a new bridge tip supplied by, Bernard magee, one of our expert bridge hosts, or a member of the wider Bernard magee Bridge community.

Thinking Aloud

Thinking’s allowed; it’s thinking aloud that isn’t allowed!

Gwen Beattie

Set Up the Fifth Card

If you have a five-card side-suit in dummy e.g. A6543, and a low singleton in hand and three outside entries, do consider trying to set up the fifth card in this suit. The suit will divide 4-3 about 62% of the time which is higher than many players realise. You might need to work on this suit before drawing trumps as you may need to use some trumps in dummy as entries.

Richard Croot

Be Aware of the Different Hand Shapes

Be aware of the different hand shapes

(i) Balanced 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2. 5-3-3-2
(ii) Single-suited 6-3-2-2, 7-3-2-1
(iii) Two-suited 5-4-3-1, 5-5-2-1
(iv) Three-suited 4-4-4-1, 4-4-5-0

Diane Greenwood

Extra Ticks

Remember you can make extra tricks by ruffing with your short holding in trumps. You do not make extra tricks when ruffing with your long trumps, although at times you may need or be forced to do so.

Ingrid Boyd