Getting Hooked on Duplicate

Warning! Once you get hooked - be warned. You can get 'bitten' hard. We once played duplicate at a National Tournament in Chicago for 12 straight days and nights, sometimes three sessions per day -- 7 to 10 hours every day. We then came home and played in a local club game the next night.

Duplicate players often play only duplicate. Party bridge is entirely a different thing. Social bridge on a Friday night with the neighbors may be fun but it isn't duplicate. You can enjoy both, but it may become like playing tennis with beginners when you are an "A" player -- you'd just as soon not.

Fun bidding. Competitive bidding makes bridge much more fun. It helps the players get the most out of their cards and the most out of their ability to compete and enjoy both defensive and declarer play.

Competitive Bridge. In a truly competitive game, there are no 1 Heart contracts making three. There is no yawning discreetly while following suit as declarer rakes in whatever tricks he can. There are no concessions of 1 bids.

Every hand, every bid, every trick is important and is fiercely competed for .

"I Never Get Any Cards". Good players don't complain about never getting any cards. This is because every player in every bridge hand gets 13 cards. The better players have more fun with them because they are competing with the opponents for every trick and point. You can do the same -- but you have to learn and then practice competitive bidding habits.

It's Not For Beginners at Bridge. This series has a lot of details and 'rules' about how to bid and play competitively with other good bridge players. That's because it's a book to teach you these things - not a book about how to learn bridge for beginners.

However, the thrill of duplicate comes from a basic human need -- recognition by good players when you win.

Don't read another page if this doesn't interest you.