Bridge terms

[A2003]

What is the meaning of

 

Cuebid

Puppet

Relay

Spot cards

Constructive

Control bid

[awm]

Cuebid seems to have two meanings:

 

(1) A bid of a suit that opponents have previously named naturally.

(2) (also control bid) a bid which shows a high honor and/or shortness in the suit named rather than simple length there

 

Puppet: a bid which forces partner to make the cheapest available call, after which we will describe our hand further. This differs from a transfer in that it does not necessarily show length in the suit partner is about to bid.

 

Relay: a bid which carries little to no information about the bidder's hand, but asks partner to further describe.

 

Spot cards: opposite of honor cards or face cards; the cards marked with numeric values which reflect their rank in a suit (i.e. all but the ace, king, queen, and jack).

 

Constructive: a bid which suggests reasonable values and that game may be a possibility, but which is not particularly strong. Compare to preemptive (or destructive) which indicates a bid made only to make things difficult for opponents, or to game forcing which indicates that game is a definite. Often constructive is used to refer to non-forcing bids with a point range approximating 7-10 (stronger bids being "invitational" or "game forcing" and weaker bids being "preemptive").

 

Control bid: a bid which shows control (either a top honor or shortage) in a particular suit. The intent is to indicate that opponents cannot cash enough tricks in this suit to immediately set our desired contract (whether 3NT or a slam somewhere). This is virtually identical to one of the two meanings of "cuebid" and sometimes the terms are used interchangeably.

[Stephen Tu]

Cuebid =

1. bid of suit shown by opponents (depending on context, can show some sort of raise of partner's suit, show 2 unbid suits, ask for a stopper for NT, show a stopper for NT, or show a control in their suit for slam purposes. In rare instances can be natural)

2. control showing bid, see below

 

Puppet = forces partner to almost always bid something specific (usually next step) after which you will further describe your hand. (e.g. Lebensohl 2nt is puppet to 3c, if playing 2-way puppet checkback, 2c puppets to 2d. "Puppet stayman", as played by most, is a bit of a misnomer)

 

Relay = bid, often next step, that conveys little to no information about one's own hand, that asks partner to further describe. E.g. after the Lebensohl 2nt, 3c is the relay bid. Or in relay-based systems one side is often making next step rebids as the relay while other side patterns out. Most bridge players don't really know the difference between "relay" and "puppet", and use "relay" when they really mean "puppet".

 

Spot cards = non-honor cards, usually considered 9 or below.

 

Constructive = has some values, possibilities for game if partner has a good hand in context, as opposed to "obstructive" which is mainly not interested in game and primarily to disrupt the opponent's bidding accuracy by stealing bidding space. Many bridge bids have both qualities and aren't purely one or the other.

 

Control bid = bid to show possibility of winning usually 1st or 2nd trick in a suit, used to investigate whether slam is feasible or if one has two quick losers in an unbid suit. Often shows extra values also.

[JoAnneM]

What is the meaning of

 

Cuebid

Puppet

Relay

Spot cards

Constructive

Control bid

Cuebid

1. a bid indicating a particular value or general strength, but not naming the strain desired for the final contract;

2. a bid in a strain previously bid by the opponents;

3. to make a bid satisfying either case 1 or case 2.

 

Puppet Stayman

A method of responding to a 1 No Trump developed by Mr. Kit Woolsey. The responder bids 2 Clubs asking for a 5-card Major suit. If the opener does not have a 5-card Major suit, he rebids 2 Diamonds. The responder then rebids the Major suit he does not have, or No Trump if he has both Major suits. The opener now has the information necessary to select the right denomination without having to reveal his distribution to the opponents. Also applies to an opening of 2 No Trump.

 

Relay

1. a minimum bid unrelated to the bidder’s hand or holding with the goal of keeping the auction open in order that the bidder’s partner can further describe his hand or holding;

2. the practice of sharing boards at duplicate bridge, sometimes necessary playing 6 or 8 or 12 table Mitchell movement in which 24 boards are to be played;

3. in England, a term to describe a byestand

 

Spot Cards

These are cards ranking below the Jack or any card from the deuce through and including the Ten. It has been mathematically estimated that of all the 13 tricks, about 8 are won with the honors, and the remaining 5 tricks are won with spot cards

 

Constructive

A description applied to a bid that suggests game prospects but is not forcing. The partner will take further action more often than not.

 

Control Bid

1. Any bid that indicates a control in a specific suit, generally employed when attempting slam;

2. the act of making a bid satisfactory.

 

I took these definitions from the Bridge Guys, so others might have better ideas.

 

http://homepage.mac.com/bridgeguys/Glossary/AGlossary.html

[han]

Puppet stayman is not a puppet, except if you don't open 1NT with a 5-card major.

[gwnn]

Obstructive/Preemptive

Constructive

Invitational

GF

 

So constructive means you promise some values, so you *could* have game if partner is pretty strong in his range, but usually you don't. Invitational means there is a large range of hands you have game on. To put this in terms of hcp (of course this will not be exact hcp, i.e. some hands will upgrade, others will downgrade):

 

(if you play transfers over a takeout double)

 

1S-X-?

 

2S is purely preemptive, say 3-6 hcp. Partner will almost never force to game, except with a very long spade suit or so, semi preemptively (who knows who's making what), or a very very strong hand (8-9 playing tricks)

2H is constructive (or better) with a fit, 7+ hcp. Partner won't blast to game, only with a nice 17 count, or excellent distribution. Of course this type of hand is very much possible for a 1♠ opener, but is not typical.

2NT is usually used as limit or better with 4 cards (10+?). Here partner will accept with most 13 counts and most hands with distribution and honors in the right places. I think partner will accept more often than not.

[barmar]

Isn't there a web site with a bridge glossary?

[JoAnneM]

I posted one with my reply

[peachy]

Glossary also found here

http://www.bridgeworld.com/default.asp?d=b...y&f=glossp.html

[A2003]

Glossary also found here

http://www.bridgeworld.com/default.asp?d=b...y&f=glossp.html

Thanks.

I find more words than in ACBL encyclopedia or other website.