Exercises with solutions

15 HCP: king and queen of spades (3 + 2), ace and jack of hearts (4 + 1), queen of diamonds (2), king of clubs (3).

Certain

• The point count is the same everywhere: ace 4, king 3, queen 2, jack 1. The deck contains 40.

Learn more: Counting HCP

1NT. The hand is balanced (3-4-3-3) and has 15 HCP, which is the definition of a 1NT opening in the most widespread five-card major systems (15 to 17 points).

Certain

• The hand is balanced: no singleton, no void, and at most one doubleton.

Depends on the system or the hidden cards

• The 1NT range depends on the system: 15-17 in five-card majors and SAYC, 12-14 in Acol, 13-15 in Precision.

Learn more: When to open 1NT

1♠ in most five-card major systems: a five-card major takes priority over 1NT, and partner can support with three cards.

Certain

• The hand has 16 HCP and five spades; it is balanced (5-3-3-2).

Depends on the system or the hidden cards

• Some partnerships agree to open 1NT with a five-card major in a 5-3-3-2 hand: this is an agreement to make in advance, not a rule.

Learn more: Choosing your opening bid

Yes, by the Rule of 20: 10 HCP + 5 spades + 5 hearts = 20. You open 1♠, the higher of two five-card suits.

Certain

• 10 HCP and two five-card suits: the total is indeed 20.

Depends on the system or the hidden cards

• The Rule of 20 is a hand-evaluation guideline, not a law; many players apply it only in first or second seat.

Learn more: Evaluating your hand

2♣, Stayman: it asks partner whether they have a four-card major. With 10 points, you will then go to 4♠ if they show four spades, otherwise to 3NT.

Certain

• With 10 points opposite 15 to 17, your side has at least 25 points: game is in sight.

Depends on the system or the hidden cards

• Stayman is a convention, very widespread but to be confirmed with your partner. Without an agreement, 2♣ would be read as natural.

Learn more: Responses to 1NT

The king of spades, the top of the K-Q-J-10 sequence. It cannot cost a trick and begins to establish the suit.

Certain

• Once the ace has fallen, the queen, jack and ten of spades become winners.

Depends on the system or the hidden cards

• Cashing those spades then requires regaining the lead: the declarer chooses when to take their ace.

Learn more: Choosing your opening lead

The 5 of spades, the fourth card from the top in Q-9-7-5-3. Against a notrump contract, you often lead your longest suit to establish it.

Certain

• In Q-9-7-5-3, the fourth card from the top is the 5.

Depends on the system or the hidden cards

• Fourth-best leads are a signaling convention; other partnerships lead the third or the fifth. The best choice also depends on the bidding.

Learn more: Choosing your opening lead

Three: ace, king and queen of spades. The other suits only pay off after the opposing ace has fallen. The plan: establish the diamonds (3 tricks once the ace has fallen) and the clubs (also 3 tricks), giving up the lead twice: 3 + 3 + 3 = 9.

Certain

• With all cards visible, 3NT by North makes 10 tricks (calculated by the app's solver).

To go further: The declarer's plan

Lead from your hand toward dummy: play a low spade from South. If West plays low, put in the queen. If the king is with West, the queen wins and you take two spade tricks instead of one.

Certain

• On the finesse deal, with all cards visible: 10 heart tricks with the king in West, 9 with the king in East (app's solver).

Depends on the system or the hidden cards

• At the table, you can't see the king: without any other clue, it's with West half the time. The opponents' bidding can change this estimate.

To learn more: The finesse explained

650: 4 × 30 = 120 points for tricks, vulnerable game bonus 500, overtrick 30.

Certain

• Duplicate scoring table from the laws of bridge: majors 30 per trick, vulnerable game bonus 500.

To learn more: Scoring

South deals, and both sides are vulnerable. The dealer rotates with each board (1 North, 2 East, 3 South, 4 West...) and vulnerability follows a fixed 16-board cycle.

Certain

• This is the cycle from the laws of duplicate bridge, printed on every board.

To go further: Vulnerability

500: 200 for the first undertrick, 300 for the second.

Certain

• Scoring table for doubled undertricks when vulnerable: 200 for the first, then 300 each.

To learn more: Scoring