The auction and the contract

with Tina McVeigh

So, how do you win tricks? If all the cards are in the same suit, the highest card wins. But if there is a trump suit, even a low card from that suit can win the trick over card from the other suit.

So, how is it determined if there is a trump suit that will be more powerful than the other suits?

Watch the video to learn about the auction and the contract, then answer these questions.

Which suit would you like to be the trump suit?

Spades

Hearts

Diamonds

Clubs

No trump suit

Both you and your partner have good hearts, so hearts would be the best trump suit for you.

Which suit would you like to be the trump suit?

Spades

Hearts

Diamonds

Clubs

No trump suit

The Club suit would be your best trump suit.

Which suit would our opponents like to be the trump suit?

Spades

Hearts

Diamonds

Clubs

No trump suit

East and West will do best with a diamond trump suit.

If spades are the trump suit, which card should you play to win this trick?

♠2

♦A

♣K

Spades are the trump suit, so the ♠2 is the only card you can play that would win this trick.

Any questions about this? Basically, the auction is a way for the highest bidder to choose which suit is more powerful than all the others!.

How are auctions in bridge similar or different from auctions in real life (as in, "Going, going, gone!")? Leave a comment below.