Rules that have no exception.

[han]

As a beginning bridge player you learn many rules, but soon you discover that all of these rules have exceptions. It would be nice to know which rules are never to be broken, and which rules are to be taken with a grain of salt.

 

Please submit rules that do or do not have exceptions and explain why.

[hrothgar]

"Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line"

 

Interestingly enough, this is an example where there is a well known exception...

[han]

Some rules without exception:

 

1) Don't psych in 1st or 2nd seat (when RHO has passed). (do you agree?)

 

2) Think before you play at trick 1. (seems clear)

 

 

Rules with exceptions:

 

a) Third hand high. (For instance, holding AJ10 over Kxx on the board)

 

b ) Open with 13 HCP or more. (I would pass with KJ KJ Qxxxx QJxx)

[han]

"Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line"

 

Interestingly enough, this is an example where there is a well known exception...

That's a good one, much better than mine!

[mike777]

As a beginning bridge player you learn many rules, but soon you discover that all of these rules have exceptions. It would be nice to know which rules are never to be broken, and which rules are to be taken with a grain of salt.

 

Please submit rules that do or do not have exceptions and explain why.

For beginning bridge players I would say do not break any rules ever, period.

1) Go to a World champion player.

2) Ask them what are the rules in detail they need to know.

3) Follow them without exception.

4) When you become World champ then feel free to break the rules.

 

Btw please do me a favor and post these rules so I can follow them also, thank you in advance.

 

BTW2, so far I see zero rules posted, only advice not rules.

[Double !]

Rule 1) Never discuss hands/ errors, etc at the table unless to clarify a misunderstanding.

 

Rule 2) Be kind to your partner and kind to yourself. P is on your side (except in certain situations, lol) and is trying his/her best just like you are.

 

Rule 3) Stay out of any discussions that the opps have. When they want your opinion, they will tell it to you.

 

Rule 4) Play within your abilities. Don't try to do more than what you know and what you feel you can do reasonably well now. Learn/ practice/ discuss/ work on the partnership some place else, not at the bridge table during competitive play.

[helene_t]

Never pass a forcing bid (unless RHO bids something, thereby assuring that parter will get a second chance). No exceptions!

Why? That a bid is forcing means, per definition, that you cannot pass it. If there were any exception, it would be semi-forcing rather than forcing. This may sound like pedantics, but it's important. If you start treating some of partner's forcing bids as semi-forcing, partner may loose his confidence that you respect any of his forcing bids at all. If you feel that a particular forcing bid could be passed in certain situations, then you must discuss if that bid should be redefined as semi-forcing. For example:

1♠-1NT

3♣*

It is possible that responder bid 1NT with a very weak hand, among other reasons to see if there was a hearts fit, in which case game could be on. Then he will be tempted to pass 3♣. Not that I would recommend such a solution, but if you think you should pass 3♣ with some hands, then you must first agree with partner that 3♣ is only semi-forcing.

[Cascade]

The bridge rule that has no exceptions is that "All Bridge rules have exceptions"

[Brandal]

As a beginning bridge player you learn many rules, but soon you discover that all of these rules have exceptions. It would be nice to know which rules are never to be broken, and which rules are to be taken with a grain of salt.

 

Please submit rules that do or do not have exceptions and explain why.

Do not talk about the previous hand(s) until

finished playing the tourney,forget it and focus

on current board.

[Gerben42]

Even the "think before you play from dummy at trick 1" has exceptions!

There was this hand in "Win the Bermuda Bowl with me" where Meckstroth played to trick 1 quickly to lure his world class opponents into doing the obvious (and wrong) thing instead of something non-obvious.

 

Anyway, I think I will just try to follow this rule without exception, though.

 

* Don't psych in 1st or 2nd seat (when RHO has passed).

 

I am following this one as bad things seem to happen whenever I don't have my bid regardless what seat I am in. Still I can imagine there are exceptions to this.

 

* Never pass a forcing bid

 

Agree with this, but notice the recent Bridge World Master Solvers discussion. A forcing bid is, well, forcing you to bid. However I normally realize that some bids are not as forcing as the seem.

[Free]

The bridge rule that has no exceptions is that "All Bridge rules have exceptions"

Disagree: passing a forcing bid is unacceptable. This is about the only real bridge rule without exceptions (the rules about discussing problems aren't really about bridge, just f2f rules).

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

since you ask, the rule "8 ever, 9 never".

 

The rule is true, since it states a simple mathematical

fact, that, all things being equal, playing for the drop is

the percentage play.

 

That the rule is regualr reduced too the above 4 four words,

and often taught only using those words is another story.

 

Woith kind regards

Marlowe

[Fluffy]

Disagree: passing a forcing bid is unacceptable. This is about the only real bridge rule without exceptions (the rules about discussing problems aren't really about bridge, just f2f rules).

Yeah that seems the most obvious rule, and the only one without exceeptions I can think about.

[inquiry]

"Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line"

 

Interestingly enough, this is an example where there is a well known exception...

The Dreaded Pirate Roberts had no trouble violating this one...

[DrTodd13]

I have another rule that you should never violate. That rule is "Trust your partner." Even if you're convinced your partner has lost their mind, bid and play as if they are sane. If it turns out they were crazy then at least your partner will appreciate that you trust them and this is a basis for bigger and better things to come. If you start distrusting each other then your partnership will crumble.

[Blofeld]

Apart from the table manners rules, which are common sense, the only one of the above that I would treat as absolutely inviolable is Dr Todd's suggestion.

[mike777]

The bridge rule that has no exceptions is that "All Bridge rules have exceptions"

Only poorly written rules have exceptions and better to call them gibberish than rules.

 

A well written rule should have no exceptions. If it does do not make it a Rule, call it advice with exceptions. Why the heck confuse beginning players. Give them rules and give them advise but do not confuse the two.

[Double !]

"Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line"

 

Interestingly enough, this is an example where there is a well known exception...

The Dreaded Pirate Roberts had no trouble violating this one...

Inconceivable! lol

 

As you wish.............

 

But, then again, he wasn't the real dreaded pirate roberts, nor was his predecessor, nor his..................

 

 

Great Movie.

[han]

And a good book too, for those who have read it. Except for the parts that were skipped of course.

[ArcLight]

(lets call thee 99% rules)

 

1) Making a Limit raise with 3 trump support.

 

2) Underleading Aces against suit contracts. (there may be a rare case against a slam this is worthwhile, to put pard in)

 

3) Making a Drury bid (2 clubs) then bidding over pards signoff of 2 of their major.

Or bidding over any signoff when you are weak and pard knows it.

 

4) Making a preemptive bid, and then bidding again (unless you mid bid the first time around)

 

5) Leading the suit pard bid after they made a Lightner double against the opponents slam.

 

6) Passing pards takeout double because you are "too weak"

 

7) Doubling the opponents voluntarily and strongly bid game/slam because you have lots of points.

 

8) Play the Ace when the opponents king is singleton. :rolleyes:

[Walddk]

The bridge rule that has no exceptions is that "All Bridge rules have exceptions"

The Rules of 10, 11 and 12 (leads) have no exceptions, provided that partner is able to find his 3rd, 4th and 5th highest card in the suit he chooses to lead from :rolleyes:

 

Roland

[tysen2k]

The bridge rule that has no exceptions is that "All Bridge rules have exceptions"

When I was teaching my class of beginning students, I put a bunch of bridge "rules" on the board. The first one was:

 

1. Every bridge rule has its exception, including this one.

[han]

(lets call these 99% rules)

Here are the 1% exceptions:

 

 

1) Making a Limit raise with 3 trump support.

 

Most people can systemically make a 3-card limit raise I think. Perhaps you mean "making a 4-card limit raise with only 3 trumps". Usually not a good idea to lie to partner about the number of trumps.

 

2) Underleading Aces against suit contracts.  (there may be a rare case against a slam this is worthwhile, to put pard in)

 

3 years ago I had this hand: Axxxx xx - J10xxxx. Partner had preempted in spades, and the opponents ended up in 6H. The only lead to set it was a small spade. I don't think that I've underlead an ace since then, so I consider it a pretty good rule.

 

3) Making a Drury bid (2 clubs) then bidding over pards signoff of 2 of their major.

 

Some hands become full openers when partner opens your best suit (especially if you have side suit shortness). Bidding drury followed by a short suit if partner signs off might be a good way to show these hands.

 

4) Making a preemptive bid, and then bidding again (unless you mid bid the first time around)

 

Beginners should not do this, I agree. However, many modern experts preempt on such a variety of hands that their partner often involve them in the final decision. For instance, some pairs play that 3C-(3H)-4C says, "feel free to bid 5C over their 4H if you have a suitable hand. Of course, one should discuss this first so that partner won't hit you in the face when you bid 5C, like mine does.

 

5) Leading the suit pard bid after they made a Lightner double against the opponents slam.

 

OK, if it is really a lightner double then I can't think of any exceptions. Darn.

 

6) Passing pards takeout double because you are "too weak"

 

This one is tough to beat too. However, I can imagine situations where you might do this, especially if their doubled contract is not a game. Anybody care to provide an example?

 

7) Doubling the opponents voluntarily and strongly bid game/slam because you have lots of points.

 

Duh. <_<

 

8) Play the Ace when the opponents king is singleton.  :rolleyes:

 

There are definitely examples where this does not hold. Imagine declarer (west) holding ♣QJ10x and only one trump (no other entries), dummy has the stif king of clubs. If you take the ace then they make 3 club tricks, if you duck then they make only one.

[han]

The bridge rule that has no exceptions is that "All Bridge rules have exceptions"

When I was teaching my class of beginning students, I put a bunch of bridge "rules" on the board. The first one was:

 

1. Every bridge rule has its exception, including this one.

Yes, I hear this very often. However, this rule has exceptions too, and I thought we might point out some of them. :rolleyes:

[helene_t]

As for Lightner doubles: what would you lead after the auction

(5♣)-pass-(6♥)-pass-(pass)-dbl ?

 

You have a flat hand with KJ9x of clubs, otherwise worthless. Doubleton trumps.

 

This problem came up in the final of the Dutch pairs championship a couple of years ago.