Bridge Bidding Lessons
Learn contract bridge bidding conventions step by step, from essential fundamentals to advanced tournament techniques. Each lesson includes bidding sequences, example hands, and common mistakes to avoid.
Foundation Conventions
The conventions every bridge player should know. Start here if you're new to bridge bidding.
Stayman Convention
After partner opens 1NT, bid 2♣ to find a 4-4 major suit fit. The most widely used convention in bridge.
Jacoby Transfers
Show a 5-card major after partner's 1NT opening. Lets the strong hand be declarer and conceals its cards.
Weak Two Bids
Open 2♦, 2♥, or 2♠ with a 6-card suit and 5–10 HCP. Consume bidding space to obstruct opponents.
Takeout Doubles
Double an opponent's opening bid to show support for all unbid suits. The primary tool for entering the auction.
Expanding Your Toolkit
Build on the essentials with conventions for slam bidding, competitive auctions, and powerful hands.
Blackwood (4NT)
Ask partner how many aces they hold when your partnership is headed for slam. Prevent bidding slam missing two aces.
Negative Doubles
When partner opens and an opponent overcalls, double to show values and length in the unbid suits.
Michaels Cuebid
Cuebid the opponent's suit to show a two-suited hand (5-5 or better) in one bid. Over minors, shows both majors.
Unusual 2NT
Jump to 2NT over an opponent's opening to show 5-5 in the two lowest unbid suits (typically both minors).
Strong 2♣ Opening
The strongest opening bid in bridge. Shows 22+ HCP or a hand with 8.5+ playing tricks. Artificial and forcing.
Tournament-Level Conventions
Sophisticated conventions used by experienced players and in duplicate bridge tournaments.
Fourth Suit Forcing
Bid the fourth suit artificially to create a game force when no natural bid describes your hand.
Splinter Bids
A double-jump in a new suit showing trump support, shortness, and slam interest. Helps partner evaluate for slam.
New Minor Forcing
After opener rebids 1NT, bid the other minor artificially to find 3-card major support or the best game.
Responsive Doubles
After partner doubles and the opponent raises, your double shows values in the unbid suits without a clear suit to bid.
Lebensohl
Handle interference over partner's 1NT opening. Use 2NT as a relay to distinguish weak and strong hands.
Gerber (4♣)
Ask for aces in notrump auctions where 4NT would be quantitative. The notrump counterpart to Blackwood.
Practice Every Convention with AI Opponents
Get dealt hands tailored to each convention and receive instant feedback on your bids.
Start Practicing Free