PLAY BRIDGE SENSIBLY: SO AVOID THOSE 7 DEADLY SINS...............( By Johnny Supremo )

• Lesson 7 : When the Dallas Aces were developing their team, they came up with a list of actions that were complete no-no's. These 7 deadly sins are mistakes that can often be avoided, if care and discipline become the 2 foundation stones on which your game is developed:

1. No win declarer plays. If, for instance, making a contract requires certain cards to be in certain places, then no matter how long the odds are, go for it.
2. No win defensive plays. This maxim ( and the one above ) are judged not by the result, but whether the play made couldn't have been right. Plays that were destined to fail seem completely pointless in more ways than one.
3. Bidding without values. In legal jargon, this means avoid giving false, misleading, descriptions about your hand. Decisions and judgements made by partner need to be based on reliable information about your hand. Ignore any temptation to psyche an opening bid.
4. System violations. If you play to system, learn it by heart, stay disciplined, and never knowingly, or intentionally, depart from it. If you don't understand or like a convention, then don't have it on your system card.
5. Unilateral actions. Bridge is a partnership game. Some decisions are best left to partner. In a competitive auction, it may be prudent for you to pass if partner is still there waiting to make a bid. For instance, bidding on when partner was "waiting to double" often converts a certain top into a galactic bottom.
6. Mechanical mistakes. Take care not to fumble or drop the cards, play out of turn, revoke, or play the wrong card. These can all be avoided if concentration and focus is never allowed to falter.
7. Impulsive action. In bridge, there is always sufficient time allocated to " think about what to bid and play", before actually doing so. Rushing in without due thought and consideration can often lead to situations where you fall foul of a danger, which you have should have spotted, or allowed for. Often, when you ask yourself first " what could go wrong?", safer options pop into your mind. For instance, banging in an opening bid, where you haven't got a sensible rebid, seems both careless and insane.