Rules of 13

More rules in BridgeCast this week from Level 3. BridgeCast is Andrew's monthly j subscription service, join him as he presents a daily deal. To find out more click here. It is also Rule thirteen, in Andrew's "Rules, Acronyms and Ditties" book which is, providing the inspiration, for his current series of Level 3 daily videos on BridgeCast.

The Rule of 13: Each Bridge hand has 13 cards; each suit contains 13 cards. These hands and suits are divided into patterns. The top 10 (starting with the most common) are: 4432, 5332, 5431, 5422, 4333, 6322, 6421, 6331, 5521, 4441.

The more you can familiarise yourself with the above common patterns, the better. Think in terms both of the hand pattern of a hidden player and the suit pattern of an individual suit. Remember that two of the lengths are known (yours – whether a defender or a declarer – and dummy’s); work out one of the hidden lengths and you know the other.

Use positive inferences eg “he bid a suit as an overcall therefore he has five+ cards”; “he bid vulnerable to the four-level so must have a shapely hand including a singleton/void” etc.

At least as importantly, use negative inferences eg “he didn’t bid 1 ♠ as an overcall, therefore he does not have five good spades”; “he led a two (v notrumps) – indicating a four-card suit – therefore he has no five-card suit or he’d have preferred that”.

Two deals for this Rule – but no East-West cards. In both you must guess diamonds to make 3 NT.

In the deal above you know West’s hand pattern at trick one – yes – precisely how many cards he has in each of the four suits. How come?

West has led from a grotty four-card club suit (♣ 3 is his lowest – he must have just four clubs). He would surely have preferred a stronger four-card suit, especially a major. Ergo – he is 3 ♠3♥ 3♦ 4♣. Win the club, cash the king of diamonds (in case East’s singleton is ♦ Q) then lead ♦ 2 to ♦ 10 (telling West to hold his cards up!).

In (B) you rise with ♠ A on ♠ 5 lead (for fear of a heart switch) and cash clubs. West discards on the second round and you should now know his exact shape. How?

West has led from a four-card spade suit (♠ 5 is his lowest). He would lead from a five-card suit if he held one. Ergo – he is 4 ♠4♥ 4♦1♣. Cash ♦ KQ then (if no ♦ J appears) lead ♦ 2 to ♦ 10.