V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen, “Points can be pointless in Bridge! ” First thing a beginner is taught is to count the points. The points (or HCP count) is the basis to decide whether to open , over call, game or slam, double / redouble, defend or declare. As you progress, you learn that […]

V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen, The game of Bridge, like Chess, has been recognised as a mind sport. The beauty lies in the infinite possibilities one can imagine ( or should I say un- imagine?) with 52 cards! It is mind boggling but human minds can master the game by deciphering and discerning 🙂

V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen, The bridge table looks very peaceful and innocent – Green and soft. But, in reality, it is a quagmire, a battlefield with many a land mine hidden 🙃 Needless to say an unwary player has to watch his steps to avoid the impending dangers of pot holes, pot shots

V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen, “A dollar for your first thought, a penny for the second” ! Quite often a bridge player is at cross-roads, not knowing which way to turn to. If you are on top of a bridge (a fly over?), you have a bird’s eye view, so to speak. All the

V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen, Bridge is a social sport crowded by partners, team mates and kibitzers. Yet it can be ” Claustrophobic “, at times 😭 You have to concede that this game is not individualistic. Unless of course you are playing in an ‘individual’ event. Even then, you cannot play alone 😔.

V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen, Reading the cards and their probable distribution is an asset to a bridge player. Some players have it in their blood; many others develop the skill over a period by their experience – good and bad! 😢 Whenever one holds a doubleton QJ, you will notice that the general

V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen, Imagine if there were a bridge equivalent to IPL of cricket. After the advent of the IPL format of T20, the traditional, text-book styles of batting, bowling, fielding, – why, even umpiring have gone through a sea- change 🙃 You don’t score runs any more – you just steal.

V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen, The Table of statistical “Tricknometry” can be tricky! Bridge is a simple game with minimal need for maths, so you think. The common belief is that to “Pass” the test in bridge, one just needs to know to count from 1 to 13. Yes, basically one must be able

V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen It takes every kind of person to make the quixotic bridge world. No lack of variety – casual, serious, tournament, social, rubber and friendly – take your pick. But the nuance of winning at bridge table is when you are able to be casually serious or vice versa. Confusing?

V N Ramamoorthy Ladies and Gentlemen I know I’m inviting the wrath of many a bridge stalwart who smoke. Let me confide that I am the least eligible to advise anyone on the ills of smoking or otherwise 🙃 There was a time – a window of 20 years or so – when I used