Mr Minibridge

 

Problem Solving

Mr Minibridge
Minibridge in schools
 

 
 


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Basic Problem Solving at Minibridge

Minibridge Induction Session One Review Questions

Minibridge Induction Session Two Review Questions

Minibridge Advanced Trump Play Review Questions


Problem Solving at Bridge

Grade One Bridge Card Play

Grade Two Bridge Card Play

Grade Three Bridge Card Play

Grade Four Bridge Card Play

Advanced Bridge Card Play


Induction Session One - Review Questions

Question 1
(Shapes and Space)

Rachel sits East and Jenny wants to be Rachel's playing partner.

Where should Jenny sit?

(a) North (b) South (c) West (d) Anywhere she likes


Question 2
(Patterns and Sequences)

The Queen of Spades is played first to a new trick.

Which of the following cards can beat the Queen of Spades?

(a) Ace of Diamonds
(b) King of Spades
(c) Ace of Clubs
(d) Ace of Hearts

Question 3
(Basic Deduction and Inference)

North plays first to trick seven.

What must have happened in trick six?

(a) South won it
(b) East won it
(c) West won it
(d) North won it

Question 4
(Patterns and Sequences)

The following cards are played to a trick.

Name the winner.

(a) South plays first and plays the two of diamonds
(b) West then plays the King of clubs
(c) North plays the Ace of clubs
(d) Finally East plays the Ace of hearts

Question 5
(Shapes and Space)

East is playing first to a new trick.

Whose turn to play will it be next?

(a) North
(b) South
(c) West
(d) East must choose

Question 6
(Advanced Deduction and Inference)
Age 10 and Over

North starts play and wins the first three tricks with Ace of Spades, King of Spades and Queen of Spades. All other players follow suit to all three tricks. At trick four North plays the two of diamonds.

What can we deduce and what can we infer from all this?

(a) We can deduce that all the spades have been played and infer that North does not have the Ace of Diamonds

(b) We can deduce that there is one spade left un-played and infer that North does not have the Ace of Diamonds

(c) We can deduce that there is one spade left un-played and infer that South has it

(d) We can deduce that there is one spade left un-played and infer that North does not have it

Question 7
(Patterns and Sequences)

East is playing first to a new trick. He is going to play the King of Hearts.

Which one of the following is false
(One only is false)

(a) East will win the trick if nobody plays the Ace of Hearts

(b) The trick will be won by any Ace

(c) East will win if West has the Ace of Hearts and decides not to play it to that trick

(d) East will win if nobody has any hearts left

Question 8
(Patterns and Sequences)

South plays the Queen of Clubs and North is about to follow suit with the King of Clubs when he could play another lower club.

What would you tell North to do?

(a) Play the King because the King has a better chance of winning than the Queen

(b) Play the King because this is a team game and the King will help the Queen to win the trick

(c) Do not play the King because South (our team-mate) has played a high card which only the Ace can beat and we can use the King later to win another trick

(d) Play the King because this is a game for winners and the King should win

Question 9
(Numbers)

Whist for two against two is played "first to seven tricks" because:

(a) There are only 13 tricks in the game and if one team score seven they must win as the other team can now only score six

(b) There are 13 tricks in the game and 7 is easy to get

(c) There are 13 tricks in the game and 7 is an odd number

(d) There are 13 tricks in the game and 7 is a fair number

Question 10
(Patterns and Sequences)

If a player cannot follow suit it means that:

(a) They cannot play a card to this trick

(b) They must play a card of the same colour (black or red)

(c) They have run out of cards in the suit in play

(d) They must play an Ace

 

Induction Session Two - Review Questions

Question 1
(Basic Numbers)

How many High Card Points are there in the pack?

(a) 13 (b) 52 (c) 40 (d) 30

Question 2
(Basic Numbers)

Peter has been dealt only two cards above the 10: the Ace of Diamonds and the Queen of Clubs.

How many High Card Points must he announce?

(a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 5 (d) 8

Question 3
(Basic Deduction)

North holds 12 High Card Points
East holds 10 High Card Points
South holds 13 High Card Points

West therefore must be holding:

(a) 17 High Card Points
(b) 7 High Card Points
(c) 5 High Card Points
(d) 15 High Card Points

Question 4
(Deduction and Inference)

North holds 12 High Card Points
East holds 10 High Card Points
South holds 13 High Card Points

Which Player will have the Table (Dummy) Cards?

(a) North
(b) South
(c) West
(d) East

Question 5
(Shapes and Space)

Who plays first to the first trick at Minibridge?

(a) North
(b) The Dealer
(c) The Declarer
(d) The Defender sat to Declarer's left

Question 6
(Shapes and Space)

Who plays second to the first trick at Minibridge?

(a)The Table Hand (Dummy)
(b) The Dealer
(c) The Declarer
(d) The Defender sat to Declarer's right

Question 7
(Shapes and Space)

Who plays last to the first trick at Minibridge?

(a) The Table Hand (Dummy)
(b) The Dealer
(c) The Declarer
(d) The Defender sat to Declarer's right

Question 8
(Shapes and Space)

Who plays first to the second trick at Minibridge?

(a) The Table Hand (Dummy)
(b) The Winner of the first trick
(c) The Declarer
(d) The Defender sat to Declarer's right

Question 9
(Shapes and Space)

North plays first to the first trick.

Who must be Declarer on this deal?

(a) South
(b) West
(c) The player with the most high card points
(d) East

Question 10
(Handling Data)

East and West hold 25 High Card Points.

What is their correct Trick Target?

(a) 8 Tricks
(b) 10 Tricks
(c) 9 Tricks
(d) 7 Tricks

Question 11
(Basic Algebra)

If x (an unknown high card in the pack) = 4.

Which card in the pack must be x?

(a) Jack
(b) Queen
(c) King
(d) Ace

Question 12
(Basic Algebra)

x and y are both unknown high cards in the pack.
If x = 4

Which card is y when x + y = 7?

(a) Jack
(b) Queen
(c) King
(d) Ace

Question 13
(Advanced Algebra)

2x + 3y = 9.

Which two cards in the pack must be x and y?

(a) x = Queen y = Jack
(b) x = King y = Queen
(c) x = King y = Jack
(d) x = Ace y = Jack

Question 14
(Handling Data)

North-South have 33 High Card Points between them.

What Trick Target will East-West have on this deal?

(a) 11
(b) 3
(c) 7
(d) 6

Question 15
(Advanced Algebra)

3x + y = 10.

Which two cards in the pack must be x and y?

(a) x = Queen y = Jack
(b) x = King y = Queen
(c) x = King y = Jack
(d) x = Ace y = Jack

Question 16
(Handling Data)

How many High Card Points does a team need to be the Attackers?

(a) 21 exactly
(b) 21 or over
(c) 40
(d) 13

Question 17
(Handling Data)

Who becomes the Declarer?

(a) The oldest player at the table
(b) The Dealer
(c) The cleverest player at the table
(d) The Attacker with the most High Card Points

Question 18
(Handling Data)

What happens when both teams have 20 High Card Points?

(a) It's a draw
(b) Attackers win
(c) Defenders win
(d) It's a re-deal

Question 19
(Handling Data)

Whose cards become the Table cards?

(a) Player with the least High Card Points
(b) The Player with no Aces
(c) The Defender with the least High Card Points
(d) Declarer's Partner

Question 20
(Handling Data)

How is a deal of Minibridge actually won?

(a) When the Attackers win 7 tricks
(b) When the Defenders win 7 tricks
(c) When Declarer has had enough
(d) When either team is first to their Trick Target


Minibridge Advanced

Trump Play Review Questions

Trump Play Question 1
(Inference)

The Defenders have all thirteen cards in the club suit.

What does this tell us about Declarer's Trick Target?

(a) The target is in no-trump
(b) Declarer has chosen clubs as trumps
(c) Declarer has chosen spades as trumps
(d) Declarer has chosen a trump suit which is not clubs

Trump Play Question 2
(Deduction and Inference)

West leads the King of Clubs?
North plays the two of clubs
East plays the three of clubs

South wins the trick with two of hearts

What can we infer from this?

(a) Clubs are trumps
(b) Hearts are trumps and South did not have a club higher than the King
(c) Hearts are trumps and South did have the Ace of Clubs but wanted to save it for later
(d) Hearts are trumps and South either started with no clubs or has run out of them in his own hand

Trump Play Question 3
(Advanced Strategy)

With 22 High Card Points Declarer's Target is only 7 tricks without a trump suit yet 8 tricks with a trump suit

Why is this?

(a) No-trump play is harder
(b) Trump play is harder
(c) Having extra trump cards gives Declarer a chance of more tricks in trumps than in no-trump
(d) No particular reason

Trump Play Question 4
(Advanced Strategy)

The most useful trump suit is:

(a) Dummy's best suit
(b) The suit with most cards in between Declarer and Dummy hands
(c) The suit with the highest cards in between Declarer and Dummy hands
(d) Declarer's best suit

Trump Play Question 5
(Advanced Strategy)

It is advisable to have a trump suit:

(a) When Dummy has one weak suit
(b) When the Defenders have at least one very powerful suit
(c) When Declarer has one weak suit
(d) Because trump play is more fun

Trump Play Question 6
(Advanced Strategy)

There is often at least one extra trick for Declarer when a hand is played with a trump suit because:

(a) Trump cards can be used separately to win different tricks
(b) Trump play is easier
(c) Defenders get confused more easily
(d) No-trump play is less fun

Trump Play Question 7
(Patterns and Sequences)

The King of Trumps will definitely win a trick whenever:

(a) The Ace of Trumps is played first to the same trick
(b) The Ace of Trumps is played last to the same trick
(c) The Ace of Trumps has been played to another trick already
(d)The Ace of Trumps has not been played yet

Trump Play Question 8
(Advanced Strategy)

Declarer should choose No-trump play :

(a) When Declarer and Dummy have good cards in all four suits
(b) When Defenders have all the Aces
(c) When Defenders have no Aces
(d) When Declarer and Dummy have no suit with nine cards between them

Trump Play Question 9
(Probability)

Declarer plays the two of trumps
The first Defender plays the three of tr
umps
Dummy plays the King of trumps
(The Defenders still hold the Ace of Trumps)

What are the chances of Dummy's King winning this trick with one Defender still to play?

(a) Nil
(b) Worse than 50-50 (Fifty Percent)
(c) Better than 50-50 (Fifty Percent)
(d) About 50-50 (Fifty Percent)

Trump Play Question 10
(Advanced Strategy)

Defenders in trump play can take advantage of trump cards by

(a) Starting with a suit of few cards hoping to be able to trump that same suit later
(b) Playing trumps
(c) Not playing trumps but saving their trump cards till later
(d) Trumping each other's best cards


Advanced Problem Solving



The CARD PLAY Problems are for Declarer as South (North as Table or Robot)
in No-Trump unless stated otherwise

Problem Solving - Grade One


Grade One - Problem 1
Declarer to play for THREE tricks - South on Lead

AK2(Robot)

87
A

N
W------E
S

 

 

J109

 

Q3

2

Go to Solution for Problem 1- Grade One


Grade One - Problem 2
Declarer to play for FOUR tricks - South on Lead

AK42(Robot)

65
AK

N
W------E
S

 

 

10987

 

QJ3

2


Go to Solution for Problem 2- Grade One


Grade One - Problem 3
Declarer to play for FIVE tricks - South on Lead

AKQJ2(Robot)

4
AKQJ

N
W------E
S

 

 

98765

 

103

432

Go to Solution for Problem 3 - Grade One


Grade One - Problem 4
Declarer to play for FOUR tricks - South on Lead

KJ32(Robot)

65
AK

N
W------E
S

 

10987

 

AQ4
2

Go to Solution for Problem 4 - Grade One

 

 

Problem Solving - Grade Two


Grade Two - Problem 1
Declarer to play for TWO tricks - South on Lead

KJ2(Robot)

107
A

N
W------E
S

 

A98

 

Q3
2

Go to Solution for Problem 1 - Grade Two


Grade Two - Problem 2
Declarer to play for THREE tricks - South on Lead

KJ102(Robot)

1075
A

N
W------E
S

 

A986

 

Q3
32

Go to Solution for Problem 2 - Grade Two

 

 

Grade Two - Problem 3
Declarer to play for FOUR tricks - South on Lead

K432(Robot)

876
A

N
W------E
S

 

J109

 

AQ5
2

Go to Solution for Problem 3 - Grade Two

Grade Two - Problem 4
Declarer to play for FIVE tricks - South on Lead

A5432(Robot)

76
AKQ

N
W------E
S

 

1098
54

 

KQ6
32

Go to Solution for Problem 4 - Grade Two


Problem Solving - Grade Three


Grade Three - Problem 1
Declarer to play for TWO tricks - South on Lead

AQ(Robot)

KJ

N
W------E
S

 

65

 

32

Go to Solution for Problem 1 - Grade Three

 

Problem 2 - Grade Three


Grade Three - Problem 2
Declarer to play for THREE tricks - South on Lead

A32(Robot)

K98

N
W------E
S

 

765

 

QJ10

Go to Solution for Problem 2 - Grade Three

 

Problem 3 - Grade Three


Grade Three - Problem 3
Declarer to play for THREE tricks - South on Lead

AJ2(Robot)

Q98

N
W------E
S

 

1076

 

K3
3

Go to Solution for Problem 3 - Grade Three

 

 

Problem 4 - Grade Three


Grade Three - Problem 3
Declarer to play for FOUR tricks - South on Lead

AJ102(Robot)

Q987

N
W------E
S

 

65
AK

K43
3

Go to Solution for Problem 4 - Grade Three

Problem Solving - Grade Four


Grade Four - Problem 1
West leads the 7 and Declarer plays the 9 from Dummy -
Which card do you play to the first trick as Defender sat East?

KJ9(Robot)

7
(Lead)

N
W------E
S

 

AQ10

 

UNSEEN

Go to Solution for Problem 1 - Grade Four

 

Problem Solving - Grade Four


Grade Four - Problem 2
West leads the 2 against a No-Trump Hand and Declarer plays the 5 from Dummy
Which card do you play to the first trick as Defender sat East?

Q65(Robot)

2
(Lead)

N
W------E
S

 

AJ7

 

UNSEEN

Go to Solution for Problem 2 - Grade Four

 

Grade Four - Problem 3
West leads the Q against a No-Trump Hand and Declarer plays the 5 from Dummy
Which card do you play to the first trick as Defender sat East?

K65(Robot)

Q
(Lead)

N
W------E
S

 

A32

 

UNSEEN

Go to Solution for Problem 3 - Grade Four

 

Grade Four - Problem 4
West leads the Q against a No-Trump Hand and Declarer plays the 5 from Dummy -
Which card do you play to the first trick as Defender sat East?

J65(Robot)

3
(Lead)

N
W------E
S

 

Q1098

 

UNSEEN

Go to Solution for Problem 4 - Grade Four

 

 

Advanced Problem Solving


Advanced Problem 1
DECLARER TO PLAY FOR ALL FOUR TRICKS

AQJ(Robot)

2

K954

N
W------E
S

 

876
K

1032
A

Go to Solution for Advanced Problem 1


Advanced Problem 2
DECLARER TO PLAY TO ENSURE THREE TRICKS

AQ

32 (Robot)

10987

N
W------E
S

 

K6
KQ

J32
A

Go to Solution for Advanced Problem 2


Advanced Problem 3
DECLARER TO PLAY TO ENSURE THREE TRICKS

AQ
AQ(Robot)

109
109

N
W------E
S

KJ
KJ

32
32

Go to Solution for Advanced Problem 3

 

Advanced Problem 4 - TRUMP PLAY
Declarer to make all tricks with hearts as the trump suit

A32
32(Robot)
4

KQJ
1098

N
W------E
S

1098
KQJ

4
43
A32

Go to Solution for Advanced Problem 4