Master Competitive Bridge Bidding Secrets

Unlock the secrets of competitive bridge bidding with the Law of Total Tricks, a game-changing strategy that helps you determine how high to bid based on your trumps. Learn how to confidently navigate auctions and make smarter decisions that can lead to more wins at the table!

What is Bridge Basics: Your Easy Guide to Winning?

Welcome to "Bridge Basics," the podcast that makes learning bridge easy and fun. Each episode breaks down strategies, game dynamics, and teaching tips for beginners. Whether you're new to card games or looking to improve your skills, you'll find valuable insights to enhance your bridge experience.

The Law of Total Tricks, or LoTT, is a key guideline in bridge that helps players determine how high to bid during competitive auctions. It states that the total number of tricks available to both sides is equal to the total number of trumps held by both sides in their best suits.

To put it simply, if you combine the number of trumps your side has with the number of trumps your opponents have, that total gives you a good estimate of how many tricks can be won by both sides. For example, if your side has nine trumps and the opponents have eight, you can expect about 17 total tricks available in the game. This insight can help you decide how aggressively to bid.

When you're in a competitive auction, this law is particularly useful. It allows you to bid safely up to the level of your trump length. So, if you have nine tricks, you might consider a three-level bid without the fear of overbidding.

Larry Cohen popularized this concept in his book, "To Bid or Not to Bid: The LAW of Total Tricks," highlighting its practical application in making bidding decisions. While the law isn’t an exact science, it serves as a helpful guideline, especially when both sides have a clear fit in their trump suits.

Remember, the Law of Total Tricks is a tool to help balance the risk of bidding too high or too low. It works best in situations where both sides have a solid trump fit, making it especially valuable in duplicate bridge and competitive bidding scenarios.

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