BRIDGE GLOSSARY
Macau Contract Bridge Association
Contact Address
Apt. 13 A, Edif, Ka Vo, No 30
Praca Lobo d' Avila
Macau
Telephone: 853-312 085
Fax: 853-312 180
Maccabiah Games
Games which celebrate athletic achievement and held quadrennially in Israel. These
games had their start in 1932, and since 1977, bridge has been added as a competitive
sport. The first Gold Medallists were 1977: David Birman, Michael Hochzeit, Captain
Kaufman, Yeshayahu Levit, Adrian Schwarz, Mori Stampf, Reubin Kunin (npc). The Games
were named after Judah Maccabaeus, a Hebrew religious zealot who fought against the
encroaching Hellenization of the Jewish life symbolized by the Greek Olympic-style
games and the cult of the physical. The Games are open to amateur Jewish participants,
all of whom must have Jewish mothers.
MACE vs. a Strong Club Opening - Presently Off Line
The significance of the designation is not explained. This is an alternative defense method after a strong Club opening by the opponents as presented by Mr. Tony Melucci and developed in association with Mr. Neill Currie in his description of the Currified Precision system (archived reference). The method is shown as follows:
Overcall Meaning Double: At least 4-4 in the Minors 1 :
3-3 or 4-3 in the Majors 1 :
Natural, 5+ (or good 4-) card suit 1 :
Natural, 5+ (or good 4-) card suit 1 NT: Clubs and Hearts OR Diamonds and Spades (4-4 or better) 2 NT: Both Majors OR both Minors (5-5 or better) Bids at the two level, three level, etc., are natural.
Note: This system tends to have more of a destructive nature than other forcing club systems.
MacFarlane Two No Trump or MacFarlane 2 NT
The origin of this conventional method is unknown. The opening bid is 2 No Trump and promises either 5 to 9 high cards points and a semi-distributional holding or a distributional holding of 5-5 in either Clubs and Hearts (Rounded suits) or Diamonds and Spades (Pointed suits). The opening of 2 No Trump does not show one specific suit. The first response is generally 3 Clubs and serves as a relay so that the opener can clarify the holding. A rebid by the opener of 3 Diamonds promises Diamonds and Spades and a rebid of 3 Hearts promises Clubs and Spades. The partnership may vary this guideline to an individual agreement and may reverse the meaning of the two rebids as shown above.
MacGuffin
As a designation in the game of bridge, the term refers to a card that is dangerous to possess but too valuable to discard. The term for this particular card was coined by Mr. Don Kersey, and is, of course, derived from the film trick perfected by Mr. Alfred Hitchcock.
Machlin Trophy
The Machlin Trophy was donated by the Machlin family in memory of Sadie Machlin, who was a longtime ACBL employee. She was the sister of ACBL Chief Tournament Director Mr. Al Sobel and the mother of Mr. Jerry Machlin, National Tournament Director. The trophy is awarded to the winners of the North American Women's Swiss Teams.
MacKay System, The
This is the designation for a bidding system in the early days of the evolution of the game of bridge. This system is explained and clarified in the publication titled The MacKay System: Presenting An Honor Count System In Contract, authored by Mr. Donald Mackay, and which made its debut in the yer 1934. The book was published by Frederick A. Stokes, Company, New York, New York, United States, and the Library of Congress code is LC: 34001717. Any additional information will be greatly appreciated.
Mac Nab Trophy
Named for the 1965 ACBL President Mr. Robin Mac Nab, 1915-1985. The trophy is awarded to players in the North American Non-Life Masters Pairs, which is a so-called grassroots event strictly limited to bridge players, who have not attained the rank of Life Masters. The bridge event was officially renamed in 1995 and started at the local bridge club level. All qualified pairs then advance to competitive events held and conducted at the unit level. The pairs, who then qualify, advance to the District Finals and two (or three) pairs from each District qualifiy fo the north American final.
The Mac Nab Trophy was originally presented to the winners of the Grand National Teams Flight B beginning 1987. It was redesignated for the NANLMP (North American Non-Life Masters Pairs) in 1995 by the ACBL Board of Directors. Mr. Robin Mac Nab was also a member of the ACBL Board of Directors from 1956 to 1981 and also a past President ofthe Western Conference. He also served on the World Bridge Federation Executive Council from 1965 to 1973. As a side note Mr. Robin Mac Nab was also a graduate of Cornell university anda member of the US Olympic Track and Field Squad in 1936.
Winners and Runners-Up 1-2. Bill Thomas, David Deaderick
1-2. Bernard Pollack, Leo Austern 1. Brad Moss, Aaron Silverstein 2. Geoffrey O'Connor, Charles Bilick 1. Warren King, Jeffrey Brown 2. Sylvian Descoteaux, Guy Belisle 1. Philip Leung, Moske Harel 2. Deborah Hart, Nate Ward 1. Eric Greco, Philip Greco 2. Bruce Graff, Steve Castellino 1. Gail Joelson, Alan Kasner 2. J. Greg Fowler, Don Herring 1. Mark Michele, Everett Boyer 2. Gabrida Rabiega, Leszek Rabiega 1. Weizhong Bao, Jingdong Guo 2. Duane Tilden, Grace Jeklin 1. Edward Lee, Brett Roby 2. Philip Feng Lu, Xiaodong Zhang 1. Yue Zuo, Ruoyu Fan 2. Carlos Bichara, Rita Bichara
Maestro Double
The origin of this double, employed as a conventional method, is unknown. This conventional method is used after an opponent opens the auction with 1 No Trump. The range of the No Trump does not affect the effectiveness of this conventional method. However, it should be kept in mind that this particular conventional method is mostly employed by those partnerships employing No Trump defenses along the line of and similar to Hamilton, Cappelletti, and/or especially Astro in any form. The designation is most likely derived from this fact and that the conventional method is generally Major suit-oriented, and therefore the designation is perhaps the derivation of Major-a(e)stro.
Mafia Club
The Mafia Club was invented by Mr. Kenneth L. Lindsay, 1981. Mafia stands for Majors First Always, and the main idea of Mafia is to open 1/ as often as possible. In principle, Mafia is a strong 1 Club system, but since the openings 1/ may be based on three cards only, it was placed among the artificial systems. If the openings 1 and 1 are made on 3 cards, the suit is at least as strong as K10x. Following are the opening bids only:
1 :
16+ points, any shape, 16-19 if balanced distribution 1 11-15 points, different shapes 1 10-15 points, 3+ Hearts, unbalanced distribution 1 10-15 points, 3+ Spades, unbalanced distribution 1 NT: 13-15 points, balanced distribution 2 16+ points, any 4-4-4-1 or 20+ points and balanced distribution 2 11-14 points, solid 7-card Minor suit or 13-15 points, 6M-3-3-1, 6M-4m-2-1, or 6M-4m-3-0 2 6-9 points, 6+ Heart suit or 11-15 points, 6-card Heart suit-3-2-2 or 13-15 points, 5-card Heart suit-3-3-2 2 6-9 points, 6+ Spade suit or 11-15 points, 6-card Spade suit-3-2-2 or 13-15 points, 5-card Spade suit-3-3-2 2 NT: 6-9 points, 6+ Minor suit 3 13-15 points, 6-7 Club suit, no Major suit 3 13-15 points, 6-7 Diamond suit, no Major suit 3 NT: 11-14 points, solid 7-card Major suit
Magic 10 1/2 System Of Contract Bridge: A Complete Bidding System, The
This is a bidding system devised, developed and published by Mr. Lon P. Flanigan, and which is described in his publication titled The Magic 10 1/2 System Of Contract Bridge: A Complete Bidding System in the year 1941, published in Geneva, New York, United States, LC: 41010738. Additional information is not available and any information would be greatly appreciated.
Magic Contest - Magic Team
The designation given to a Bridge Scoring software, which has been used by several Bridge Federations in Europe and for scoring the World Championships of Bridge. Created by Mr. Tomas Brenning, born 1967 in Stockholm, Sweden. The development of Magic Contest was started in 1996 and was successfully finished in 2001 thanks to the support of the Swedish Bridge Federation during the final stage of the development. In 2006 the software was used to score bridge events by Federations in Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Italy and France.
Magic Team is a program for managing teams tournaments. The program has been used by the WBF (World Bridge Federation) to score the World Championships in Estoril Portugal in 2005 and the scoring of the World Championships in Shanghai, China in 2007. Magic Contest and Magic Team were used for scoring the Open World Championships in Verona, Italy, in 2006 and the Open European Championships in Tenerife 2005. Mr. Tomas Brenning is also involved in programming projects with the WBF (World Bridge Federation) and the EBL (European Bridge League)
Main Suit
A phrase to describe a bidder's or a declarer's longest suit, expecially a suit that can be used as a primary source of winning tricks.
Magic Club and Sparkling Diamond
Contributed by Mr. Terry Jacobs of the United Kingdom, December 2003, and which represents a concept, whereby the opening of 1 Club has three possible and different meanings - natural, artificial and balanced/semi-balanced or 4-4-4-1. This is in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat or opened by your browser automatically.
Majeure Cinquieme Opening Bids
This is the name given by the bridge players in France to their bidding system, which is considered standard and which is translated as Five Card Majors. It is have been revised over time to some degree, but the general basics continue to be applicable. The opening bids and their requirements are shown below.
1 12-22 HCPs 3-card plus Club suit 1 12-22 HCPs 3-card plus Diamond suit 1 12-22 HCPs 5-card plus Heart suit 1 12-22 HCPs 5-card plus Spade suit 1 NT: 15-18 HCPs Balanced shape 2 18+ HCPs Any shape; suit must be a 5-card plus suit or: 23-24 HCPs Balanced shape 2 23+ HCPs Any shape 2 8-11 HCPs 6 Hearts 2 8-11 HCPs 6 Spades 2NT: 21-22 HCPs Balanced shape A 2 Clubs opening shows, depending on the partnership understanding either a holding with 8 or 9 winners or a holding with 4 or 5 losing tricks. A 2 Diamonds opening, however, is absolutely game-forcing; partner may not pass before game is reached.
Major Diamond Opening Bids
See also: Diamond Major for newest version. This bidding system was devised and developed by Mr. Peter John Oakley, presently the President of The International On-Line Bridge Club, and which is located in Christchurch, New Zealand. The bidding system is represented as a modern system full of stimulating ideas for the adventurous player. The cornerstone of the philosophy is the 1 Diamond opening which promises precisely 4 cards in one of the Major suits; the 1 Club opening bid is a versatile bid. Interested visitors can also purchase his book The Diamond Major directly from his website. The general guidelines of the opening bids are shown in the schematic below. The visitor should remember, as with all opening bids representing the cornerstone of a possible bidding sytem, that Mr. Peter Oakley has completed several revisions of this particular bidding system.
1 11-19 HCPs Denys possession of a 4-card Major suit exactly 1 11-19 HCPs Guarantees possesion of one 4-card Major, possibly both; denies a 5-card Major suit 1 11-15 HCPs 5-card plus Heart suit 1 11-15 HCPs 5-card plus Spade suit 1 NT: 14-15 HCPs Balanced shape 2 20+ HCPs Any shape Rebid: 2 NT Promises 20-21 HCPs; Rebid 3 NT: 24-25 HCPs 2 6-10 HCPs 6-card Heart suit or Spade suit or: 17+ HCPs 6-card Club suit or Diamond suit or: (x) HCPs Rebid 2 NT promises 22-23 HCPs and 3 NT promises 26-27 HCPs 2 8-10 HCPs Promises Hearts and Diamonds; Distribution: 5-5 2 8-10 HCPs Promises Spades and Hearts; Distribution: 5-5 2NT: 20-21 HCPs Balanced shape
Major Penalty Card
Any card of honor rank prematurely exposed, or any card prematurely and deliberately exposed. If more than one card is exposed, then each card becomes a major penalty card according to Law 50C.
LAW 50 - DISPOSITION OF PENALTY CARD
A card prematurely exposed (but not led, see Law 57) by a defender is a penalty card unless the Director designates otherwise. The Director shall award an adjusted score, in lieu of the rectifications below, when he deems that Law 72B1 applies.
C. Disposition of Minor Penalty Card
When a defender has a minor penalty card, he may not play any other card of the same suit below the rank of an honour until he has first played the penalty card (however, he is entitled to play an honour card instead). Offender's partner is not subject to lead penalty, but information gained through seeing the penalty card is extraneous and unauthorised (see Law 16A).
Major Suit
Either of the two Major suits: Spades or Hearts.
Major Suit Weak Two Bids
This variation has been provided by Mr. Dirk Waerenborgh of Belgium. This conventional method is a variation of the general guidelines for opening Weak Two Bids combined with the Muiderberg convention and includes a Preemptive Opening on the three level. The exception is that the Weak Two Bids are confined to only the two Major suits. This is a .pdf file format and will automatically be opened by your browser.
Major Tenace
A holding of Ace-Queen, without the King, of a suit. After one or more rounds of a suit have been played, the highest and third highest remaining cards of the suit in the hand of one player are called a major tenace.
Majority Calling
The principle by which any bid outranks any other bid at a lower level, regardless of scoring value. The opposite principle, Numerical Calling, was standard in Auction Bridge, and was abandoned in the USA in 1913. In this procedure, a bid of 4 Hearts could follow a bid of 5 Clubs, because its scoring value was higher.
Make
1. to fulfill or to succeed in a contract;
2. to capture a trick, or a number of tricks.
3. to shuffle the deck of cards.
Make Up
1. to join a game so as to complete a foursome.
2. to shuffle the cards.
Malaysia Contract Bridge Association
Founded in 1961.
Contact Address
9.06 Wisma Inai, 241 Jalan Tun Razah
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Telephone: 60-3-245 4882
Fax: 60-3-248 7868
Malpractice Finesse
See: Finesse
Malowan Six Club Convention
Some partnerships use the Malowan Six Club Convention as the Grand Slam Force. After a conventional response to Blackwood, these partnerships bid 6 Clubs, with the proviso that Clubs is not an agreed trump suit.
Mama-Papa Bridge
Slang: a term for Keep It Simple, Stupid or just simple and straightforward. It calls for a low-level system with no conventions, and is also called K.I.S.S.
MamiC
The concept of the MamiC Opening Bid system was devised by Mr. Richard Lighton of New Jersey around 1990. The concept is based on the Major-Minor-Canape opening bidding system.
Manfield-Miles Principle of Limited Hands
This is a guideline devised by Mr. Ed Manfield and Mr. Marshall Miles, which states that when a sufficient fit is found, a limited hand cannot compete further, unless invied by partner.
Marcus Cup
This is the awarded trophy donated in 1953 by friends of Mr. Edward N. Marcus of Boston, Massachusetts. The event was conducted as a Board-A-Match Open Team event, and was contested at the Summer Nationals. This award replaced the Faber Cup.
Marionette
1. a transfer, after which the partner will usually make the cheapest bid, but is permitted to bid higher with special hands.
2. to use or apply a marionette.
Marked Card
1. a card that is known, from the previous play, to be located in a particular hand;
2. a damaged card, recognizable from the back.
Marked Finesse
A finesse against a marked card. A finesse that is certain to take the trick because the previous play has supplied the information needed to locate the crucial opposing card.
Marmic System
An Italian system, the name of which is derived from the initials of its inventors Mr. Mario Franco and Mr. Michelle Giovine. This system is no longer played today.
Marshall Miles Version of Natural Responses - After partner has opened the auction with a strong, artificial 2 Clubs bid, Mr. Marshall Miles of California proposed an altered version of the original concept of Natural Responses by reversing the bids so that they also reflect a certain amount of values, thereby communicating to partner a minimum amount of points in the suit bid plus the required length of the suit bid.
Martelsby Responses - The basic concept is designated as Control Showing Responses (also Step Responses) to a Strong, Artificial 2 Clubs opening. These original responses should be viewed first and then the variation and/or version as suggested by Mr. Charles (Chip) U. Martel of Davis, California, and Mr. Lewis (Lew) Stansby of Castro Valley, California. Their version combines not only the opportunity to show the number of controls held by partner after a strong, artificial 2 Clubs opening, but also the actual suit, in which the controls are located.
Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence - Movie
A film distributed in 1998 under this title in the United Kingdom and under the title The Very Thought Of You in the United States, 1999. Director: Nick Hamm, Writer: Peter Morgan, starring Monica Potter and Joseph Fiennes among other notable actors.
The story is a romantic comedy set in London, England. The female lead Martha is played by Monica Potter. She is an American who arrives in London by chance, practically penniless and seeking a new direction in her life. The story unfolds and she meets three Englishmen, who are indeed best friends, and who, strangely, all fall in love with her, without knowing about the others, which is stranger still.
The male lead, Laurence played by Joseph Fiennes, is the favorite of the audience, who obviously deserves to win Martha's heart. However, most of the film is a flashback of him seeking therapy, because he has problems. The reason for the therapy is the fact that he believes that he has lost and/or is undeserving of her love.
The bridge player will be rewarded by learning the reason Laurence, or Joseph Fiennes, is looking so despondent, sorrowful, sad and woeful. It is the fact that he is a bridge teacher, which is truly one of the extremely rare instances of this profession being portrayed on screen.
Martha, as the story-line goes, presumably is not a player herself and is totally unimpressed by Laurence in the beginning. The major scene for bridge players is when she brutally and perhaps even callously and viciously asks Laurence if he has stopped playing at bridge tournaments because he wasn't good enough, and the best moment in the film is when he movingly and poignantly answers Yes with that masterful inflection and voice modulation, which rips at the heart strings of the viewer, and which is so rare in films and by actors.
Martinique: Comite de Bridge de la Martinique
Marx Two Clubs
An alternate name, especially in England, for the Stayman convention. It was originated by Mr. Jack Marx at the same time as the American counterpart devised by Mr. George Rapee.
Master
1. the highest outstanding card of a suit;
2. an expert player.
Master Hand
The hand which controls the situation. The hand which controls mainly the trump suit, and/or leading high trumps to prevent adverse ruffs, and retaining at least one trump card to prevent the adverse run of a long side suit. The master hand can be either the hand of the declarer or the dummy.
Master Mixed Teams
The Master Mixed Teams, later renamed the Mixed Board-A-Match Teams, is a bridge event contested for the Lebhar Trophy, beginning in the year 1946, but which was played for the Barclay Trophy until the year 1945. The bridge event is a four-session Board-A-Match event with two qualifying rounds and two final rounds. It is restricted to players, who have won at least 100 masterpoints. In 1969 this bridge event was played in three session.
Masterpoint
This is the unit which measures bridge achievement in duplicate play. Masterpoints come in black, silver, red, gold, platinum and unpigmented, and they are awarded for different levels of play:
Black points at club and unit games.
Silver points at sectionals, progressive sectionals and STaCs.
Red points in all events at regionals and the three NABCs.
Gold points for section tops and placing overall in regional events and in events of two or more sessions with either no MP restriction or a minimum MP limit of 750 points or more (not Strat C). Partial gold points are awarded in some special events.
Platinum points for all NABC+ championship events.
Unpigmented points for online play on the Internet.
Masterpoints
A unit of measurement of achievement in tournament play. The term was first used when eligible bridge players for the ABL's 1934 von Zedtwitz Master Pairs, later Life Master Pairs, were chosen from a list of players credited with masterpoints for winning tournaments run by the ABL and the AWL, as well as the Vanderbilt and Eastern Championships, which at that time were independent events.
The European Master Point Scheme
The English Bridge Union Master Point Scheme came into operation in September 1956.
Since then, many thousands of players have enjoyed the benefits of of the scheme which enables recognition of their achievements from Club Master right through to Premier Grand Master.
Clubs have also appreciated the value of the scheme with its unique incentives in helping to promote and retain club membership.
Any player can obtain points from success in duplicate bridge competition, on a scale which varies according to the success itself, the size of the competition and its status. About the top one-third of players in a competition will be entitled to a Master Points. The register of Master Points is kept at the offices of the English Bridge Union. Only members of the EBU may register their points and have their records maintained. A lapsed member may have valid Master Points registered on renewal of membership of the EBU.
Members may register their points and request a copy of their record at any time, they can also see their record via the EBU website. Submissions must include details of name, address and EBU number.
Lists of promotions between Master Point ranks are published in every issue of English Bridge and also here on the website - click here to find the links to them - and County ranking lists are sent annually to the secretaries of affiliated clubs. Rank and category prizes are awarded every year based upon the total number of Master Points earned during the competition year, which runs from 1 July to 30 June.
The Australian Bridge Federation Master Point Scheme
Master Points Awards
The masterpoint plan is the means by which ACBL ranks each member's accomplishments in sanctioned bridge play. The winners of sanctioned events receive masterpoints in amounts consistent with the importance and size of the events. Members who achieve rankings lower than first place, both overall and within their designated comparison group, receive proportionately fewer masterpoints.
Masterpoint Plan
The method of awarding masterpoints in bridge tournaments at club, local, sectional, regional, and national levels. Credit for creating the masterpoint plan in 1936 is given to Mr. William McKenny and Mr. Ray Eisenlord, and many others who contributed to the advanced development.
Masterpoint Races
The ACBL recognizes the players who win the most masterpoints in their categories during the calendar year. The categories include Life Master, Bronze LM, Silver LM, Gold LM, Diamond LM, Grand LM, Youth, Junior, Senior and Richmond Trophy. These are the various categories and the requirements for each category at the beginning of a calendar year:
| Rookie: | 0-5 masterpoints |
| Junior Master: | 5-20 points |
| Club Master: | 20-50 points |
| Sectional Master: | At least 50 points, including 5 silver |
| Regional Master: | At least 100 points, including 15 silver plus 5 red or gold |
| NABC Master: | At least 200 points, including 50 pigmented points of which 5 must be gold, 15 must be red or gold and 25 must be silver |
| Life Master: | 300-500 points |
| Bronze Life Master: | 2500-5000 points |
| Silver Life Master: | 1000-2500 points |
| Gold Life Master: | 2500-5000 points |
| Diamond Life Master: | 5000-10,000 points |
| Grand Life Master: | 10,000 points and a North American Bridge Championship or its equivalent Youth: age 19 and younger Junior: age 25 and younger Sectional: points won only at sectional tournaments Senior: 55+ years, points won only in Senior events |
| Richmond Trophy: | awarded to the Canadian player who wins the most points in a calendar year |
Masterpoint Records
Masterpoints won at tournaments and at clubs using ACBL score are sent electronically to ACBL. Other clubs mail in the lists of player and point won for recording. Non-members are given receipts at club games when they win points and can credit their accounts with up to 20 masterpoints won in the 12 months prior to becoming members, when they join the ACBL. The masterpoints record of any ACBL member can be checked and viewed by visiting the website of ACBL and entering the membership number.
Match
1. a unit of play in knockout and related forms of team competition;
2. a sizable number of deals played against the same team, occasionally, against the same pair, with the results combined into one scoring unit.
Match Play
A team-of-four contest in which two teams are competing for an appreciable number of boards.
Match Point Precision Opening Bids
These opening bids are a continuing evolution of the Precision Bidding System and have been used by expert players. This version allowed the player to open the auction more frequently due to the various shapes being included in the 1 Diamonds opening bid.
1 16+ HCPs Any shape 1 11-15 HCPs Various shapes 1 11-15 HCPs 5-card plus Heart suit 1 11-15 HCPs 5-card plus Spade suit 1 NT: 13-15 HCPs Balanced shape 2 11-15 HCPs 5-card plus Club suit 2 11-15 HCPs Distribution: 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0 and short in Diamonds 2 8-10 HCPs 6 Hearts 2 8-10 HCPs 6 Spades 2NT: 22-23 HCPs Balanced shape All first responses to a 1 Club opening bid are considered natural. Any first response to a suit opening of 1 No Trump is considered to be forcing for one round.
Matchpoints
A matchpoint is a unit used in a method of scoring duplicate contests in which two or more scores are compared. A common form of scoring in duplicate bridge in which a pair scores one unit for every other pair whose score they best and one-half unit for every other pair whose score they tie. A credit awarded to a contestant in pair or individual events for a score superior to that of another contestant in direct competition.
Mathe Bids Against Strong, Artificial 1 Club Openings
This conventional defense method was developed by Mr. Lewis L. Mathe, also known as simply Lew, of Canoga Park, California, He was born in 1915 and died in 1986. He is also the originator of Mathe Asking Bids. The Mathe conventional bids are generally to be employed in the immediate seat following the strong, generally artificial 1 Club opening since the partner of the strong 1 Club bidder must respond with zero values. However, the Mathe conventional bids may also be employed in the fourth seat following a weak response by the partner of the opener.
Mathe Asking Bid
An asking bid to locate a short suit and/or singleton, even a possible void, in the hand of a responder who has responded with a direct limit jump Major suit raise or with a cuebid of an immediate overcall to show a limit raise as in the sequence 1 - 2 - 3, which is played as a limit raise of partner's 1 Heart opening. After the responder makes a limit raise in support of a Major suit opening, the opener bids the next higher suit to ask for shortness, such as a singleton or void. The concept behind this method is that the opener has additional values and is making generally a slam try. After 1 - 3, the opener bids 3 to ask for shortness. Responder bids 3 No Trump to show shortness in Spades, bids 4 / 4 to show shortness in these suits, or bids 4 to show no shortness. After 1 - 3, the opener bids 3 No Trump to request shortness. The reponder either bids the particular suit to show shortness, or bids 4 to show no shortness, singleton and/or void.
Mathematical Tables
These are the calculations of mathematicians who have calculated the probabilities of certain hand patterns and the distribution of cards, and other mathematical oddities.
Matrix
This designation refers to a generic layout of the cards, generally describing some form of ending, especially some sort of squeeze play.
Matthew Two Spades
The origin of this conventional opening is unknown. The concept is a Weak Two bid opening with multiple meanings and clarified by the opener with the second bid. The high card point values are less than an opening count and the Weak Two bid is dependent on distribution. The opening bid of 2 Spades shows either:
1. 8 to 12 high card points or
2. a distribution of 5-5 in both Minor suits or
3. a distribution of 5-5 in both Major suits or
4. an unindentified semi-solid Major suitThe bid by the responder of 2 No Trump is a Relay bid so that the opener can further describe his holding. The opener then clarifies his holding by bidding:
3 This rebid promises both Minor suits 3 This rebid promises both Major suits 3 This rebid promises a semi-solid Heart suit 3 This rebid promises a semi-solid Spade suit
Mattos 2 No Trump Response or Mattos 2 NT Response
The origin of this response is unknown. The Mattos Response is a response of 2 No Trump to any opening suit-bid by partner. This first response shows game try values with a void in the suit bid by partner. Source: Orange Book EBU, Section 13.
Maugham, William Somerset
Born in 1874 and died in 1965, English writer, but was born in Paris, France. He was noted as an expert storyteller and a master of fiction technique. An introverted child afflicted with a stammer, William Somerset Maugham was orphaned at 10 and sent to live with his uncle, a vicar. Although he later studied medicine and completed his internship, he never practiced, having decided at an early age to devote himself to literature.
He lived in grand style, spending much of his life on the French Riviera and traveling widely, particularly to East Asia and the South Pacific. William Somerset Maugham wrote with wit and irony, frequently expressing an aloofly cynical attitude toward life. Famous as a dramatist before he became known for his novels and short stories, he achieved his first success with the sardonically humorous play Lady Frederick (1907). This was followed by a series of commercial successes, the best being The Circle (1921), Our Betters (1923), and The Constant Wife (1927).
He had the following to say about bridge, which he played avidly:
Bridge is the most diverting and intelligent card game that the wit of man has so far devised. I would have children taught it as a matter of course, just as they are taught dancing; in the end it will be more useful to them, for you cannot with seemliness continue to dance when you are bald and potbellied; nor, for that matter, can you with satisfaction to yourself or pleasure to your partner continue to play tennis or golf when you are well past middle age. But you can play bridge so long as you can sit up at a table and tell one card from another. In fact, when all else fails - sport, love, ambition - bridge remains a solace and an entertainment.
MaxFirst Principle
This is a .pdf file format. Starting a relay against a hand that is very variable in strength (at least 3 high card points difference from minimum to maximum), the first answer to the relay is often according to the MaxFirst principle. This means that the 1st step in the answer is reserved for all the hands with extra values, whereas all the remaining steps shows minimum values and some particular distribution. This feature is used fundamentally in the Ekrens bidding system.
Maximal Double
This double is a type of Competitive Double and is sometimes referred to as an Action Double. This type of double is used in a competitive auction when the auction has become too crowded for any alternative approach to exchange information.
Maximal Overcall
A bid that leaves the opponents no room below the next level of the suit they have already bid. For example: 1 Spade, 2 Hearts overcall.
Maximal Overcall Double
The double of a maximal overcall, or the raise of a maximal overcall, as a game invitation. A type of competitive double with variations.
Maximum
1, a relatively strong holding for the previous calls made.
2. the greatest number of tricks which can be made with any holding.
Mayonnaise
A variation of the card game Goulash.
McCabe Adjunct
This is a method whereby the Weak Two Bidder and his partner play in a new suit on the Three Level.
McConnell Cup
In 1993, the World Bridge Federation established the McConnell Cup, a knockout teams event for women to be played at the World Bridge Championships along side the competition for the Rosenblum Cup, an open event. Named in honor of Mrs. Ruth McConnell, former District 8 representative to the ACBL Board of Directors, and WBF Treasurer from 1985 to 1990.
McCutcheon Awards
These awards are presented by the Australian Bridge Federation annually to the player in each master ranking group (the Gold and Silver Grand Masters being combined to form a single category) winning the most masterpoints during the calendar year. Each player's ranking group is determined by his/her master ranking at the start of the calendar year. Registered foreign players are excluded from these awards. Players who have moved to Australia from overseas are not entitled to win McCutcheon awards for the rankings less than Life Master if they have already achieved an equivalent higher ranking in their former country.
McCutcheon Trophy
This trophy is presented by the Australian Bridge Federation annually to the player winning the most masterpoints during the calendar year.
McKenny-Baldwin Movement
One of a series of pair movements devised by Mr. William E. McKenny and assisted by Mr. Russell J. Baldwin. The most widely used movement was the two-session pair movements for 16 to 32 pairs, in which each pair played against each of the other pairs in the course of two sessions, with approximately balanced comparisons. One session consisted of a Mitchell Movement using the Appendix Table concept and the other session consisted of an Interwoven Howell movement.
McKenney Signal
A standard term in England for Suit Preference Signal, named for Mr. William E. McKenny.
McKenny Trophy
Silver points: awarded for sectional and overall placing at sectional tournaments. Also awarded at Sectional Tournaments at Clubs (StaC). Barry Crane Top 500 race: This trophy is presented to the ACBL player who wins the most masterpoints during a calendar year. Originally the McKenney Trophy, it was put into play by Mr. William E. McKenney, ACBL executive secretary. It was known as the McKenney Trophy from 1937 to 1981. The list was expanded to include the top 500 players in 1982 and called the Top 500 from 1982 to 1985. It was renamed the Barry Crane Top 500 in 1986. Mr. Barry Crane, who was first in July 1985, was ACBL's top masterpoint holder at that time and was acknowledged by his peers to be unequaled as a masterpoint winner and a matchpoint player.
McNamara-Sheumaker Bidding System
This is an individual bidding system based on the Precision Bidding System devised by Mr. Brian McNamara and Mr. Brandon Sheumaker in association with other brige players. This individual bidding system has only been archived in .pdf file format on this site for future reference.
McNamara-Sheumaker or McSheu Bidding System
1/24/2003 Edition which includes modified versions of standard conventional methods, but which have been re-designated as McShmolen, as well as the Brory conventional method when the auction is opened in either the 3rd or 4th seat and an individual agreement is to employ devised conventional responses at the two level.
Defense versus 2 Spades Opening, which is a Weak Preempt in a Minor Suit
Defense versus 2 No Trump Opening, which is a Weak Preempt in a Minor Suit
Defense to Multi 2 Diamonds Opening
McShmolen, which is an altered version of the Smolen conventional method.
Brory, which is a partnership agreement to employ self-developed conventional responses after an opening of a Major suit in either 3rd or 4th seat in a non-competitive auction. The origin of the designation is unknown.
Meadowlark Bridge
Meadowlark Bridge was developed in North Dakota by Mr. Rodney Ludwig and Mr. David Walker. Meadowlark Bridge won the MSN Gaming Zone World Computer Bridge Championship, the fourth annual World Computer Bridge Championship, and which was conducted by the ACBL. The event was the World Computer Bridge Championships held in Bermuda 2000 in Maastricht, The Netherlands, in the year 2000. Meadowlark Bridge picked up 5 IMPS to take the championship against Q-Plus Bridge. The title was accompanied with the first place prize money of $1,500.
The software method has led also to a conventional method of playing the game, which is presented in .pdf file format. The .pdf file, depending on your browser will be opened by the browser or downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat.
Meadows
The origin is unknown. A 2 Clubs response to 1 Diamond is a Stayman-type enquiry showing at least game try values. See: Orange Book 2002.
Meckwell Escape Bids
Mr. Eric Rodwell and Mr. Jeff Meckstroth have formed a successful bridge partnership, which has created many new concepts in and for the bridge community and especially in a partnership agreement. The designation of Meckwell Escape Bids is the name of one such partnership agreement employed by this particular partnership.The concept behind this partnership agreement comprises a so-called Escape System, which is employed after North-South have opened the auction with a bid of 1 No Trump or North-South have overcalled a suit opening by the opponents with 1 No Trump and the opponents have used the call of double for penalty. The employment of the Penalty Double is one of the requirements necessary to employ the following method. The bridge player should remember that this method is the result of a partnership agreement and is not a conventional method in the general sense.
Meckwell Over No Trump
The team of Mr. Jeff Meckstroth and Mr. Eric Rodwell have an individual partnership agreement for practically any bidding sequence and these understandings often carries the designation of Meckwell, which is a combination of their two surnames. The guidelines listed below shows a partnership agreement if the opponents open the auction with one No Trump. The student should notice that the use of the double can have multiple meanings. The assumption is that the decision to offer an interfering overcall is based on several factors such as the state of vulnerability, the number of points and the number of Losing Tricks as with other defense mechanisms.
Double: Promises one Minor suit or both Major suits. (A variation is that the double shows either the Minor suits or the Major suits.) 2 Promises Clubs and an unknown Major suit. 2 Promises Diamonds and an unknown Major suit. 2 This overcall is natural and promises Hearts. 2 This overcall is natural and promises Spades.
Meckwell after 1 Major - Double
The team of Mr. Jeff Meckstroth and Mr. Eric Rodwell have an individual partnership agreement for practically any bidding sequence and these understandings often carries the designation of Meckwell, which is a combination of their two surnames. The following shows one of their agreements, which covers a bidding sequence when the immediate opponent doubles the opening bid of a Major suit. The letter M stands for either Major suit, the X stands for double, and the XX stands for redouble.
1M-X-XX: Shows values and establishes ownership of the auction, but does not deny a fit. 1M-X-1NT: Transfer to 2 1M-X-2 Transfer to 2 1M-X-2 Transfer to 2 1M-X-2M: This response promises a weak raise in the bid Major suit. 1M-X-2NT: This response equals a limit raise, the same as the Jordan 2 No Trump conventional method. 1M-X-3 A forcing raise in the opened Major suit. 1M-X-3M: Preemptive raise in the opened Major suit.
Medium Cards
The lower honor cards and the higher spot cards.
Medium Club Relay Club Opening Bids
These opening bids were devised and developed by Mr. Alex Franz of Indonesia were published by him in the 1988 English version in his book Medium Club Relay and played by him and partners in international competitions. The system employed openig of 5-card Major suit, a weak No Trump opening, four distinct interpretations of the 1 Club opening, and several interpretations of Major suit openings on the two level. The first responses to a 1 Club opening are generally considered under the aspect of showing point count with step responses. Consideration also has to be given when the opening occurs in Third and/or Fourth Seat after a passed hand by the partner. A 1 Club opening then always shows 15 plus high card points and the No Trump range is raised to 15-17 high card points and definitely balanced shape. It remains unknown whether these conditions also pertained to the state of vulnerability.
1 7-9 HCPs 5-card plus Club suit and 6-card plus Major suit or: 12-14 HCPs 6-card plus Club suit or: 12-14 HCPs 5-card Club suit and 4-card plus Major suit or: 15+ HCPs Any shape; see also vulnerability 1 9-14 HCPs 4-card plus Diamond suit 1 9-14 HCPs 5-card plus Heart suit 1 9-14 HCPs 5-card plus Spade suit 1 NT: 12-14 HCPs Balanced shape 2 9-14 HCPs Distribution: 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0 2 15-17 HCPs Distribution: 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0 2 9-14 HCPs Distribution: 6-4 plus in Hearts and unspecified Minor suit or: 12-14 HCPs 7-card plus Heart suit 2 9-14 HCPs Distribution: 6-4 plus in Spades and unspecified Minor suit or: 12-14 HCPs 7-card plus Spade suit 2NT: 10-13 HCPs Distribution: 6-5 plus in both Minor suits
Mellon Diamond
Authored by Mr. Adam Meyerson and Mr. Noble Shore. This documentation can be found by clicking on the link. The significance of the designation is unknown. As stated by the authors: The Recursive Diamond is a precision-like system, featuring light limited openings, weak notrumps, and an artificial forcing bid (1). In contrast to precision and many other systems, the focus is on accurate game and partscore bidding rather than finding slams. We tend to enter the auction aggressively on distributional hands and our methods emphasize exploring for the best fit rather than setting up an early game force. Our defensive bidding methods similarly emphasize finding our best fit, showing many types of two-suited hands as quickly as possible. Posted November 12, 2003. This documention is only archived also on this site in .pdf file format. See also: The Recursive Diamond - also The Recursive Diamond.
The opening structure of Recursive Diamond is as follows:
2 NT: At least 5-5 in the Minors. Weak, typically 7-10 hcp). 2 Weak Two 2 :
Weak Two 2 Intermediate, Rule of 20 opener, 6+cards in bid suit. 2 Intermediate, Rule of 20 opener, 6+cards in bid suit. 1 NT: 10-12 if 1st/2nd NV, else 12-14, can include 5-card Major. 1 5-card Major, Rule of 18 opener, not 5-3-3-2 shape. 1 5-card Major, Rule of 18 opener, not 5-3-3-2 shape. 1 Any 16+ hcp; 17+ if balanced and not 1st/2nd seat NV. 1 11-16 hcp, balanced or three suiter or Minors. 3 Bids of 3 an above are standard preempts.
Member
1. one of the players constituting a table at rubber bridge
2. one of the players of a bridge team, whose name has been listed on the official entry blank whether playing actively or not.
3. a person who has joined one of the geographical units chartered by the ACBL.
Memory Squeeze
The expression of this bridge-related term was alledgedly first coined by some member(s) of the Stanford Bridge Club and is attributed to Mr. Ravi Romamoorthi. The definition is that the declarer runs off all the winners in his/her hand when declarer has only one loser remaining, hoping the defenders cannot figure out what the last card is. The use of the term generally implies that it should be obvious to the defenders what card to keep. (Another term, moron squeeze, is also employed and there is the neutral pseudosqueeze that is in common use). Archived and preserved only for future reference in a .pdf file format.
Menace
A card that an opponent must guard lest it become a winner. This term can be applied for several, following situations:
1. isolated menace: a menace consisting of one card. 2. 2-card menace: a 2-card holding consisting of a winner in the suit accompanied by a menace. 3. split 2-card menace: a 2-card menace in which the winner and the threat card are in opposite hands. 4. double menace: a threat card against both opponents. 5. extended 2-card menace: a 2-card menace accompanied by one or more cards in that suit with the property that if the 2-card menace is established, then the entire suit will produce winners. 6. recessed menace: a menace card is accompanied by two or more winners in the suit. 7. twin entry menace: one hand contains a winner and one or more small cards while the opposite hands holds a winner, a menace, and one or more small cards.
Men’s Pairs
A pairs event in duplicate competition in which all the contestants were male. This event has been renamed Open Pairs II in 1992 and is a four-session event considting of two qualifying round and two final rounds and is contested for the Wernher Trophy. From 1969 through 1971 it was contested as a three-session championship. The ACBL has ceased holding Men's Events at the North American level since such events are connected to being chosen to participate in open world events. Men's Pairs events continue to be held for regional and lower ratings.
Merrimac Coup aka Merrimack Coup
The deliberate sacrifice of a high card with the purpose of knocking out a vital entry in the hand of the opponent, usually the dummy. Named after the Merrimac, an American coal carrying ship sunk in 1898 in Santiago Harbor in an attempt to bottle up the Spanish Fleet. Not the Merrimack which engaged battle with the Monitor.
Methods versus No Trump
This is a compilation of variations for defense mechanisms against a No Trump opening by the opponents developed by Mr. Glen Ashton of Ottowa, Canada. They include the variations: Dont No versus No Trump Defense Mechanism, the Wont versus No Trump Defense Mechanism, and the Cant versus No Trump Defense Mechanism. This information has only been preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format.
Method, Definition of - Definition of Method
1. A means or manner of procedure, especially a regular and systematic way of accomplishing something.
2. Orderly arrangement of parts or steps to accomplish an end: random efforts that lack method.
3. The procedures and techniques characteristic of a particular discipline or field of knowledge: This field course gives an overview of archaeological method.
4. Method: A technique of acting in which the actor recalls emotions and reactions from past experience and uses them in identifying with and individualizing the character being portrayed.
Middle English, medical procedure, from Latin methodus, method, from Greek methodos, pursuit, method : meta-, beyond, after; see meta- + hodos, way, journey.
Synonyms: system, routine, manner, mode, fashion, way
Mexican Two Diamonds
A bid showing a balanced hand with 19-21HCPs and 4 to 6 losers. A weak 5-card Major suit is permitted. Devised by Mr. George Rosenkranz as a cornerstone of the Romex System.
Mexico - Federacion Mexicana de Bridge
Mexico Bridge Clubs with ACBL Sanctioned Games
Meyerson Conventional Method
The origin of this conventional method is credited to Mr. Adam Meyerson of Los Angeles, California, United States. The concept was devised as a solution for the requirements of the ACBL in regards to the General Convention Chart, which disallowed the Woolsey conventional method, developed by Mr. Kit Woolsey, and the Robinson conventional method, developed by Mr. Steve Robinson.
MG Cuebids
The origin of this bidding approach is credited to Meaghin Burke and Mr. Greg Earnest. The first letter of their first names constitute the initials of this bidding approach. The concept and employment of these particular cuebids lie in the fact that they are able to show game values, 4-card plus support, slam interest, and promise also a first-round control in the suit bid.
Midget Bridge
A form of bridge played with 36 cards. The origins of this variation are unknown, but this form of the game was presumably devised in the early 1930s as were other variations. All cards lower than six were eliminated and the remaining 36 cards were dealt to four players. In this version the honors were not scored and the Minor suits held the same trick value as the Major suits, which is 30 points. The exact scoring of this form of bridge, such as the bonuses for game and slam contracts, has been lost over time. A book was reduced to three tricks instead of six tricks as is the case with Duplicate Contract Bridge. Slams were bid at the level of five and six. Opening bids and responses could be based on a suit length of at least a 3-card suit. See also: Five Card Bridge and Joker Bridge.
Mid-American - Canadian Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament contested over the course of four days and consisted of six events. The event was conducted annually beginning in the year 1955 and ceasing in the year 1967. The location of the event was either in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, states in the United States or otherwise is Canada. This bridge tournament was discontinued in the year 1968 and was replaced by the Iowa and District 14 Regionals. This bridge tournaments consisted of Open Teams, Masters Pairs, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, and Mixed Pairs. This event was discontinued in 1968.
Mid-Atlantic Cup
This was a trophy awarded by the Mid-Atlantic Bridge Conference in 1951 at the Summer National Championships for the Charity Event.
Mid-Atlantic Fall Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament contested over the course of four days. The tournament was contested annually. The event began in the year 1952 and was contested in North Carolina or Virginia, espeically in the south of South Carolina, or Maryland, or Washington DC, United States. This bridge tournaments consisted of Open Teams, Masters Pairs, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, and Women's Pairs.
Mid-Atlantic Independence Day Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament contested over four or five days. The tournament was conducted annually in either Baltimore or Virginia, United States, beginning in 1966. This bridge tournaments consisted of Opens Teams, Masters Pairs, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, and Women's Pairs
Mid-Atlantic Spring Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament contested over four days. The tournament was conducted annually in either eastern Tennessee or North Carolina, later also in Virginia, United States, beginning in the year 1956. This bridge tournaments consisted of Open Pairs, Men's Teams, Women's Teams, Masters Pairs, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, and Mixed Pairs.
Mid-Atlantic Summer Regional Championships - Labor Day Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament contested over four or five days. The tournament was conducted annually in either Atlanta or Washington D.C., and in the last four years before it was discontinued also in North Carolina and South Carolina, United States, beginning in the year 1960. The tournament was scheduled to coincide with the American holiday of Labor Day. This bridge tournaments consisted of Knockout Teams, Open Teams, Masters Pairs, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, and Mixed Pairs.
Mid-Atlantic Winter Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament contested over four days. The tournament was conducted annually in South Carolina. This bridge tournaments consisted of Open Teams, Masters Pairs, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, and Mixed Pairs.
Middle Card
The middle card of an original three-card holding. The term applies generally to opening leads.
Middle Game
The play, generally the play of the declarer, after the first lead or first few tricks won by the defenders, during which the plan of the remaining play is developed, generally leading to the End Play position, or preparation for them. Basically the middle game is a designation for the defensive and/or offensive tactics used to maximize the pair's assets before all thirteen tricks have been played. Mr. Terence Reese compiled and listed several tactics an strategies devoted to the middle game in his publication Reese On Play in the chapter Part Three: Tactical Strokes In The Middle Game.
The tactics and strategies employed for the middle game can be applied to other games such as chess and backgammon, two games of skill and, of course, also chance. However, the element of chance can be assisted by learning through experience and practice, thereby profiting from the play and/or defense after the first lead (or first move) and before the last trick (or last move).
Middle Honors
Kings, Queens and Jacks.
Middle Suit
See: Double Menace
Mid-South Fall Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournmant contested over five days. The tournament was conducted annually in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Western Tennessee, United States, beginning in the year 1967. This bridge tournament replaced the Southern Conference Regional Championships in 1965. This tournament consisted of Open Teams, Life Masters Pairs, Masters Pairs, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, and Mixed Pairs.
Mid-South Spring Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament contested over five days. The tournament was conducted annually in Western Tennessee or Alabama, and in later years before it was renamed and/or discontinued in Louisiana, Mississippi, ande Arkansas, beginning in the year 1941. This bridge tournament consisted of Knockout Teams, Open Teams, Masters Pairs, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, Mixed Pairs, and Masters Individual.
Mid-South Summer Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament contested over five days. The tournament was conducted annually in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, or Western Tennessee, United States beginning in the year 1960. Prior to the Mid-South Conference being granted a third Regional by the American Contract Bridge League, this particular tournament was occasionally conducted in the fall. This bridge tournament consisted of Knockout Teams, Life Masters Pairs, Masters Pairs, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, and Mixed Pairs.
Mid-West Fall Regional Championships
This bridge tournament was contested over four days. This tournament was conducted annually in Milwaukee, Wisconsis, or Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, as began in the year 1959 and was discontinued in the year 1968. The tournament was replaced by the District 8 and Tri-Unit Regionals. This bridge tournament consisted of Open Teams, Open Pairs, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, and Mixed Pairs.
Mid-West Spring Regional Championships
This bridge tournament was contested over five days and sometimes six days. The tournament was conducted annually in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana, United States, beginning in the year 1944. This bridge tournament consisted of Open Teams, Masters Pairs, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, and Mixed Pairs.
Michaels Cuebid
A direct cuebid over an opening bid. For example: North 1 Club, East 2 Clubs. This cuebid is made to show distributional strength. In its modern form, a Minor suit cuebid shows length in both Majors, a Major suit cuebid shows length in the other Major and one of the Minors, with the second suit unspecified. Devised by Mr. Mike Michaels.
Specified Michaels
This conventional method is employed after the opponents have opened the auction with one of a Major suit. The rank of the Major suit is not relevant with the application of Specified Michaels. The following overcalls contain the following information for the advancer, the partner of the overcaller:
Overcaller: Meaning Cuebid of Major opening: Promises Clubs and the other Major suit. 2 NT: Promises both Minor suits. 3 Promises Diamonds and the other Major suit. If the opening bid has been one of a Minor suit, the rank again being irrelevant, the overcaller can, with the proper values, distribution and strength, make the following overcalls, providing the advancer, the partner, with the following information:
Overcaller: Meaning Cuebid of Minor opening: This is a natural promising a 6-card+ suit. 2 NT: Promises Hearts and the other Minor suit. 3 Promises Spades and the other Minor suit. Modified Michaels Cuebid
A variation of the Michaels Cuebid played in Canada. An effective and efficient variant which uses Jump Cuebids.
Minor For Major
This is another designation given to the variation of the Texas convention known properly as the South African Texas convention as developed by Mr. Max Sapire. A second designation is Super Texas.
MicroBridge
A software application for playing bridge based on a bidding system database, artificial intelligence, and Monte Carlo simulation. The company is based in Japan and the software is developed by Mr. Tomio Uchida and Yumiko Uchida. The enclosed .pdf file helps to explain the software application and, if clicked on by the visitor, will be downloaded to your computer and will be automatically opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Mid-Atlantic Bridge Conference Standard Bidding
MABC Standard is based on Bridge World Standard with certain changes that appear to be popular among Mid-Atlantic Bridge Conference Players. Bridge World Standard (BWS) is a system based on the majority preferences of approximately 125 leading experts and thousands of The Bridge World magazine readers. The changes from BWS are the results of talking to numerous MABC expert players and studying over 500 convention cards from players of all range of expertise in the MABC. The system can and will be changed from time to time if an overwhelming majority of players want a change.
MIDMAC
A designation used by Mr. Jon Drabble in his publication A New Approach to Bidding: Complete Hand Valuation (Cv) and the Midmac Bidding System, whereby the designation is a mnemonic for Minors bid a Diamond, Majors bid a Club.
Midnight Game
A contest staged after the main events of the day have been completed. A midnight game is either an open pairs, a Swiss Teams of a Knockout Teams with abbreviated matches. The contest usually ends at 3:00am. At sectionals, the awards are in silver points. At regionals and at North American Championships, the awards are in red points.
Midnight Swiss
A common play of bridge around midnight, which consists of five matches of five boards played at a rapid pace, generally no more than 25 minutes each round. The average time is thus 5 minutes and not the usual 7+ minutes allowed for 1 board. Sectional games pay in silver points, regional and North American games pay in red points. The game is sometimes referred to as Zip Swiss.
Mikey's Rules
Mr. Mike Cappelletti and Shannon Lipscomb offer assistance to other bridge players at bridge events. At the age of 32, Mr. Mike Cappelletti earned over 12,000 master points. Giving back to the bridge community, both hold lectures, one of which is entitled Mikey's Rules, which are:
1. Pitch losers. Keep winners. For example, when declarer is forcing you to make discards and your last three cards are A4 and another good card, throw the four. Sounds easy, right? Then why do so many defenders discard that other good card? 2. Lead partner's suit - he risks his neck to overcall. He overcalled for a reason, so he can't get upset if you lead his suit. Here's a warning to all. Make sure your overcalls are good, K10654 would be the lightest. Only if you have an overwhelming reason should you lead a suit other than partner's. 3. Jumps to slam end the auction - you may not raise. Sometimes partner jumps on speculation or to sacrifice. He could also be counting on a specific opening lead by the defense. 4. Mikey says, "Only God saves - the 5-level belongs to the opponents." To sacrifice you must be sure it is profitable. You also know your opponents, which is helpful. Sacrifices at the 5-level are dangerous. 5. Lead a J or 10 and if it holds, continue. Obviously, the partner holds something in that suit, so keep leading it. 6. ASBF (All strange bids are forcing). It's better to play one level higher than play the wrong contract. 7. Never pass a forcing bid. Mike opens 1 spade and Shannon responds with 2 clubs. Mike can bid 2 spades safely because Shannon's call is a 2-over-1 bid which cannot be passed. Thus, it is not necessary for Mike to use up bidding space and jump in his suit in order to force partner to bid again. 8. Double Trouble. a. Don't double anything you can't beat. b. Take out partner's take- out double. (c) Leave in partner's penalty double unless you have a surprise. Don't double because you might beat it. Have a good reason. Team players do not double for a one trick set. Even if you are lucky and the setting trick cashes, the points you receive are not worth the chance you took. You will gain only 1 or 2 IMPs depending upon the vulnerability. The opponents bid 2 hearts and partner doubles. 9. Lead a singleton (versus suit contracts with no void in trumps) or AK if you have it. Not a singleton trump unless against doubled part score. Aces are meant to take kings or queens. Partner must know that if you don't lead the king or ace (some lead ace from AK), you don't have that combination. Also, if you have led a spot card in a particular suit and later show up with a second card, you have no singletons. 10. Preemptor can only bid once unless answering a question asked by the partner. When opening a weak two-bid and partner raises to three, it is not an invitation to bid four. A preemptive opening two- or three-bid tells your story. You should never have to say, "But I had an extra......" 11. Aces are meant to take kings. Assume you are left of dummy and declarer leads the 4 from Q64. Don't jump up with ace. Though you may get a free trick if declarer holds a stiff king, he later can get a free discard on dummy's queen. If declarer holds K62, that queen may be the only entry he has to dummy. If you refuse to jump up with the ace, you have made a superior defense by denying him his dummy. 12. There are no rules, only guidelines. Always keep in mind that these are guidelines. There are no rules as nothing is right 100 percent of the time. A good declarer or defender must be able to use his imagination.
Miles Convention - Miles Conventional Method
An artificial, forcing opening bid which describes a three suited hand (4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0) with 17 points or more not counting distribution. The singleton and/or void can be in any suit. The response of 2 Hearts is negative. The opener rebids his singleton or void and the responder places the contract. Attributed to bridge expert Mr. Marshall Miles.
Miles Trophy
This trophy was donated by Mr. R.L. Miles, Jr. to be awarded at the Summer Nationals beginning in the year 1950 for the winner of the Masters Pair Championships, which was played by qualifying Senior and advanced Senior bridge players. This event was discontinued in 1954.
Miles Responses to Two No Trump Openings
A method of responding to opening bids of 2 No Trump devised by Mr. Marshall Miles to assist in the safe exploration for slams, games, or partscores in any suit.
After a 2 No Trump opening, the principal responses are:
1. a response of 3 Clubs is Stayman.
1.1. Following a Stayman inquiry, a rebid by the responder of 4 Clubs is Gerber.
1.2. Following a Stayman inquiry, a rebid by the responder of 4 Diamonds is an artificial slam attempt.
2. a response of 3 Diamonds or 3 Hearts is a Jacoby Transfer Bid.
3. any response at the Four Level are natural, showing a broken suit and also slam interest.
4. a response of 3 No Trump is a transfer to 4 Clubs and promises a good 6-card suit.
4.1. a rebid of a second suit by the responder promises a 4-card suit.
5. a response of 3 Spades transfers the opener to 3 No Trump.
5.1. the responder may pass the 3 No Trump rebid by the opener with insufficient values.
5.2. the responder can rebid 4 Clubs to show a good Diamond suit or a Diamond-Major suit two-suited holding.
5.3. the responder can rebid any other suit on the Four Level to show a 4-4-4-1 distribution, promising shortness in the bid suit.
5.4. the responder can rebid 4 No Trump to show 5-5 plus distribution in both Minor suits.
Miller Convention
This conventional slam bidding method was published in The Bridge World reportedly in the early 1960s by Mr. M.M. Miller of Toronto, Canada. The concept behind this conventional method was to reach the slam try immediately upon finding first a suit fit, and especially after a 1 No Trump opening by partner, and also, added later, following a 2 No Trump opening by partner. The 1 No Trump opening was considered to be a strong No Trump opening with a range from a strong 15/16 to 18 high card points. The 2 No Trump opening was considered to have a range from a strong 19/20 to 21 high card points.
Milton Work Count
See: Losing Trick Count
A method of hand valuation as set forth in the book The System the Experts Play, as portrayed by Mr. F. Dudley Courtenay in 1934. The general idea was that when a suit fit was discovered, the partnership added the number of worthless cards in the hand to the number of losers revealed by the partner’s bidding. The total was subtracted from the number 18, and the result would inform the partnership how many odd tricks the combined hands were likely to take.
Mind Sports Olympiad Worldwide
The First Annual Mind Sports Olympiad, a festival of thinking games that includes bridge, is scheduled for August 18 to August 24 and was conductyed at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England. Other contests on the schedule include such classic, strategic contests as chess, draughts (checkers), backgammon and Go. The mind sport of bridge was included in all other following annual Olympiads (possible exception in 2002). In 2004 the Mind Sports Olympiad included the game of bridge in partnership with the English Bridge Union. The Prize Fund for bridge was a guaranteed 8,500 Pounds. The results are presented by the Manchester Bridge Club, and are also archived and preserved on this site in .pdf file format for future reference. Updated link: The Mind Sports Olympiad.
The results of the competition in the category of bridge was:
Bridge Duplicate Pairs
Gold Medal M. Gold and D. Higgenson England Silver Medal P. Hecht-Johnasen and K. Blakset Denmark Bronze Medal M. Beyer and J. Tesselaar Holland Bridge Swiss Pairs
Gold Medal M. Beyer and J. Tesselaar Holland Silver Medal G. Horscroft and M. Walsh England Bronze Medal M. Gold and D. Higginson England Bridge Team Championship - Saturday
Gold Medal S. Burn, P. King, T. Townsend, N. Sandqvist Silver Medal S. Dannell, P. Shepperson, M. Beyer, J. Tesselaar Bronze Medal R. Eaton, A. Salem, Bharat, T. Nnando Bridge Team Championship - Sunday
Gold Medal S. Burn, P. King, T. Townsend, N. Sandqvist Silver Medal S. Mohandes, A. Bowles, D. Stoev, H. Iukovici Bronze Medal M. Gold, D. Higginson, M. Beyer, J. Tesselaar
Mingled Movement
A method for individual movement for one session with two or more groups of players, where the groups are mingled so that a player will have most of the other players during the contest either as partner or as opponent. Devised by Mr. Olov Hanner.
Mini-
A prefix designation to describe something of lesser strength or weaker than the usual kind. For example: a Mini-Roman 2 Diamonds, which is a 2 Diamonds opening showing the identical hand-type or pattern but less strength than a Roman 2 Diamonds opening.
MiniBridge
This style of the game was first introduced in Holland, where it was developed as an introduction to bridge for school children. It was quickly found to be very effective, not only for teaching youngsters, but for adults as well. Not surprisingly, therefore, it has spread like wildfire into many parts of Europe and no doubt other parts of the world as well. In England, it has become the EBU recommended route into bridge for all beginners. This is a .pdf file format and will automatically be opened by your browser.
Mini-Lightner Double
As with the original concept of the Lightner Double, the Mini-Lightner Double can be employed at the four and at the five level in the game of bridge. This is generally the case when the opponents see the strong possibility of a suit contract being declared.
Mini-Maxi
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Mini McKenny
The McKenny Trophy was established in 1938 to recognize the ACBL member who won the most masterpoints during a calendar year. At present, players compete to win the Barry Crane Top 500. In 1974, the ACBL voted to recognize masterpoint achievement among the bridge players below the rank of Life Master, and created the Mini McKenny award for honoring the various ranks of Rookie, Junior Master (Non-Master prior to 1987), Club Master (Master), Sectional Master (National Master), Regional Master (Senior Master), and NABC Master (Advanced Senior Master).
Mini-McKenney Competition
In 1974 the ACBL Board of Directors voted to recognize masterpoint achievements among players below the rank of Life Master. The Bridge Bulletin recognizes leaders ACBL-wide. At the unit level, winners in each category receive recognition and special medallions. All points won during a calendar year are counted in these races. The Mini-Mckenney competition is divided into several categories:
Rookie:
0-5 points Junior Master:
5 to 20 points Club Master:
20 to 50 points Sectional Master:
At least 50 points, including 5 silver Regional Master:
At least 100 points, including 15 silver plus 5 red or gold NABC Master:
At least 200 points, including 50 pigmented points,
of which 5 must be gold, 15 must be red or gold and 25 must be silver
