Bridge Gym Open Bridge Gym

Practice library

Practice scenarios

Each scenario drops you into a specific hand built around one technique — a finesse, a hold-up, a Stayman auction — and grades your play against a double-dummy solver as you go. Get stuck and a hint ladder nudges you toward the right idea instead of just handing you the answer; get it right and you'll see exactly why it worked. All 19 are free in the app, grouped here by difficulty.

Difficulty 1 — starting out (4 scenarios)

  • Your first contract

    Your first Minibridge contract — declare with no bidding, and win tricks with your cheapest sure winner first.

    minibridgefirst-contract

  • Opening a weak no-trump

    A first full auction: open the ACOL weak no-trump (12–14, balanced) and play the contract out.

    opening-bidsnotrump

  • Promote your honours

    Lead toward a suit missing just one top honour early, so the rest of your holding is promoted into winners.

    suit-establishmentdeclarer-play

  • Trump control

    A gentle first look at drawing trumps before cashing side-suit winners, so the defence can't ruff them.

    trumpsdeclarer-play

Difficulty 2 — building skills (9 scenarios)

  • Leading toward the ace-queen

    The basic finesse: lead toward dummy's ace-queen and play the queen for a shot at both top tricks.

    finessenotrump

  • Draw trumps first

    Clear the defence's trumps before touching your side-suit winners, so none of them can be ruffed away.

    trumpsdeclarer-play

  • The club finesse

    The same ace-queen finesse technique again, this time in clubs.

    finessenotrump

  • Knock the ace out early

    Attack a suit missing only the ace right away, so the rest of it is promoted once the ace has gone.

    promotionnotrump

  • Trumps come first

    Drawing trumps before a side suit, even one with top honours split between your hand and dummy's.

    trumpsdeclarer-play

  • The heart finesse

    Another ace-queen finesse, now in hearts — lead toward the tenace rather than laying down the ace.

    finessenotrump

  • Force the ace out

    Attack a suit missing only the ace immediately, rather than delaying and giving the defence time.

    promotionnotrump

  • Answer the ask

    Stayman from the opener's chair: answer partner's 2♣ ask and carry a found major-suit fit to game.

    staymanconventions

  • Complete the transfer

    Complete partner's red-suit transfer as opener, keeping the stronger hand hidden as declarer.

    transfersconventions

Difficulty 3 — sharpening technique (6 scenarios)

  • The hold-up play

    Hold up your ace in no-trumps to cut the defence's communication before they can run a long suit.

    hold-upnotrump

  • The safety play

    Give up a trump trick on your own terms instead of risking the whole suit on a single card.

    safety-playtrumps

  • The diamond hold-up

    Another hold-up: duck the first trick to strand a dangerous opponent's long suit before it can run.

    hold-upnotrump

  • Which way is the queen?

    A genuine two-way finesse — read a clue from the bidding to decide which opponent holds the missing queen.

    two-way-finessedeclarer-play

  • Ruff before you draw

    Ruff your losers in the short trump hand before drawing trumps, not after — the counterpoint to drawing trumps first.

    ruffingtrumps

  • Keep the danger hand out

    An avoidance play: keep the more dangerous defender off lead, even at the cost of a trick elsewhere.

    avoidancedanger-hand

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