SAYC Yellow Jacket

Bridge Notes

Introduction

  • Class Objectives

    1. To introduce the game of Contract Bridge to Beginning Bridge Players.

    2. To assist Novice Players in gaining Intermediate Bridge Skills.

    3. To provide a Framework for Continued Learning of Bridge Skills by Intermediate Players.
  • Learning Process

    In the class, you will be introduced to a number of guidelines related to the bidding and the play of the cards. These guidelines have been selected as the most common bids or plays for a given situation.

    • In the beginning, treat the guidelines as rules and follow them as close as possible.
    • These beginning guidelines will result in some good bids and plays, but sometimes the result will not be good.
    • As you gain experience, you may become dissatisfied when the result is a bad bid or play.
    • With experience, you will learn to improve your judgement. You will learn when to stick with the guidelines and when to make an adjustment in a bid or play.
    • As you improved, you may want to add more advanced bidding and play to your arsenal of skills.

  • Making Decisions

    For many, the essential intrigue of bridge is the challenge of making good (winning) decisions with incomplete information.

    • Many decisions in bridge are based on percentages.
      • A few players memorize the best percentage bids and plays.
      • Most players use their judgment to determine the most likely good bid or play.

    • Bridge decisions are often based on logic.
      • Some decisions are based on pure math logic.
        • 3 players have 12 cards in Spades. The 4th player MUST have only 1.
      • Some decisions are deductive reasoning.
        • Why did the opponent not lead Clubs when it was an "obvious" lead from the bidding?

    • Some decisions are based on an understanding of human behavior. Player A frequent makes agressive, unusual bids, so I must be cautious in assumming Player A's bid is normal.

    • Some decisions are based on an attempt to deceive.
      • If I make a certan play, the opponent will probably make the wrong deduction.

    • Some decisions are based on desperation.
      • The only way to make the winning play is to assume that the key cards are located in a specific opponent's hand, even though this is highly unlikely.

    • And of course, some decisions are pure guesses and rely on luck. This keeps some uncertainty in the game, even for experts.
  • Class Format:   8 to 10 2-hour Classes

    1. Play 1 or 2 prepared hands to see a technique in action before it is discussed in lecture
    2. Short lecture discussing techniques
    3. Demo of deals that demonstrate techniques
    4. Introduction to source(s) for intermediate & advanced study
    5. Play several hands (some prepared) to practice techniques

Instructor:  Thomas M. Eidson, AE 72

  • Bridge Background
    • 40 years bridge experience
    • 20 years bridge tournament experience
    • ACBL Bronze Life Master
    • Advisor to Georgia Tech Bridge Club

  • Georgia Tech Background
    • alumnus (1st of 9 family members in 2 generations)
    • father of recent Tech graduate
    • former professor (ME)
    • former Student Center Committee Chairman