Bridge - The Scotsman, 04/04/13

HAVE you noticed that there is no vulnerability and no bidding? This is because the deal comes from the Scottish Schools Minibridge Competition, held in Stirling Bridge Club on the 9th of March.

Minibridge is an introduction to the game which does away with the complexities of bidding so players can get down to the nitty-gritty of play. Each player announces how any points they hold: the partnership with more points wins the declaration, and the player in that partnership with more points becomes declarer; dummy is put down and declarer decides whether he wants to play in a suit contract (must have at least an eight-card fit) or no-trump; then he decides whether he wishes to play in partscore (must make at least seven tricks) or game (nine tricks in no-trump; ten in a major; 11 in a minor). Once these preliminaries are over the play proceeds exactly as in Contract Bridge. Vulnerability is not an issue – you get 300 as a game bonus, and lose 50 points for each undertrick.

Minibridge has proven benefits for schoolchildren, improving their arithmetical, deductive and social skills. It also brings great pleasure to the adults privileged to teach and observe them. This deal was played by a nine-year-old from Roseburn Primary School who had only recently joined her group, and had difficulty holding all her cards. She declared Game in No-trump, and West led a heart. Our novice won and knocked out the ace of clubs. She won the heart return, advanced the jack of spades, and let it run to make a triumphant 12 tricks.