Bridge Glossary

PABF or The Pacific Asia Bridge Federation
Also: Pacific Asia Bridge Federation. This the offical site for all members of the Zone Six of the World Bridge Federation. It is an organization formed in 1957 as Far East Bridge Federation to administer bridge activities in the respective geographical area. It was later renamed to Pacific Asia Bridge Federation. The PABF comprises World Bridge Federation Zone 6 and includes 13 members including Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Pacific Bridge League
This was an organization founded and promoted by Mr. Tom Stoddard in 1933. The Pacific Bridge League was an organization founded by Mr. Tom Stoddard in 1933. The organization continued to be developed by Mr. Tom Stoddard throughout the fifteen years of its existence. The official operations of the Pacific Bridge League ceased in the year 1948/9, although final arrangements were effective first in 1956 through the incorporation. The Pacific Bridge League included the eleven far-western States, plus the territories of Hawaii and Alaska and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Mr. Earl Ackerman was the President of the Pacific Bridge League from 1942 to 1945.

The Pacific Bridge League quickly reached a membership numbering in the thousands, and promoted two major tournaments, in addition to many minor tournaments and bridge events. The All-Western tournament was conducted first in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1935, and Bridge Week in 1936. Bridge Week was conducted half in Los Angeles, California, and half in San Francisco, California, United States.

Collaboration between the American Contract Bridge League and the Pacific Bridge League began in 1940 as soon as a uniform masterpoint system(s) was negotiated and agreed upon. A closer affiliation was planned in 1948 when the time, efforts, and services of Mr. Tom Stoddard were recognized. He was named President Emeritus of the American Contract Bridge League's Western Division, with permanent status on the Executive Committee. The final merger of both Leagues were finalized by Mr. Tom Stoddard and by Mr. Waldemar von Zedtwitz, and became effective for both Leagues on January 1, 1956.

Pacific Northwest Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament, conducted over six days, and held annually since 1949 in Alaska, British Columbia, or in the state of Washington, United States. Also prior to the year 1967 the tournament was conducted also in Oregon. From the beginning the tournament was conducted at a time that it coincided with the birthday of George Washington, the first President of the United States, but only until 1958. Starting in 1959 the tournament was conducted in the early fall, and starting in 1968 the tournament was conducted either in late May or early April.

During the years from 1963 and 1967 the tournament was conducted twice annually, once in the spring and once in the fall. The designation for the tournament conducted in the spring was not always identical or regular since it was also known as the Polar-Canadian Regional, or Polar, Canadian, British Columbia Centennial, and also as Vancouver, but the tournament was designated in 1968 as the Pacific Northwest Regional when the tournament, which was conducted in the fall, was replaced by the Canadian and Puget Sound Regionals.

Pacific Southwest Regional Championships
This was a bridge tournament, conducted over six days, and held annually in Coronado, California, United States, beginning in the year 1946. Beginning with the year 1968 the tournament was conducted in Anaheim, California, United States.

Pack
A deck of cards with a specific number of cards consisting of a specific composition. The nature of a pack of cards depends on the date and on the country of origin.

Packet
A portion of the deck held together, as in gathering tricks, or in dividing the cards for shuffling purposes.

Pagan 3 Clubs Response to 1 Heart or 1 Spade Opening Bid
The origin of this response is unknown. This first response to a Major suit opening bid by partner has a double meaning and shows either 1. a Limit Raise with a 4-card support, or 2. a natural strong jump shift in Clubs. The actual meaning of this first response is revealed in the ensuing auction. Source: Orange Book EBU 2002, Section 13.2.2.

Pair
A term to describe one partnership; two players acting as partners; North-South or East-West.

Pairs
A duplicate-bridge tournament or event in which the players compete as pairs.

Pairs Events - General Condition of Contest
A duplicate bridge tournament or event in which the players compete as pairs.

Pajama Game
A duplicate bridge session with many Tops and Bottoms. The designation is also employed sometimes for a midnight session.

Pakistan Bridge Federation or PBF
The Pakistan Bridge Federation (PBF) is the national governing body for all duplicate bridge activities in Pakistan. Founded in 1972, as Pakistan Bridge Association in Karachi, it obtained affiliation with Pakistan Sports Board in 1979, which confirmed bridge as a recognized sport by the Government of Pakistan. It became the founder member of the Bridge Federation of Africa, Asia & the Middle East (BFAAME) in 1981, which now boasts of 22 member countries and is represented as Zone 4 of the World Bridge Federation. In 1985, we hosted the 3rd Zonal Championships in Karachi. Then, in 1993, we became officially known as Pakistan Bridge Federation.

Palooka
Slang: a very poor player.

Panama: Asociacion Panamena de Bridge - Contacts

Panama
A defensive bidding system against the Forcing Club. Any bids at the Two Level show either a weak jump overcall in the suit bid or a three-suiter with shortage in the bid hand.

Pan American Bridge Championships
The first Pan American Bridge Championships and Pan American Games were held in June, 1992, in Corpus Christi, Texas, and sponsored by the World Bridge Federation.

Pan American Invitational Championships
An invitational pair championship, which was first conducted in 1974 in Mexico City, Mexico. The scoring system was IMPs. This competition was discontinued in 1978.

Pancake
Slang: a colloquial term in the bridge community to describe a flat distribution of 4-3-3-3, very similar to the appearance of a pancake.

Pannol Bidding System
The development and invention of this bidding system was accomplished by Mr. James Wanless and Ms Claire Gilman, who are the copyright holders, and which they present on the Internet at the provided link. The article begins with the following explanation: Always bid the safest, highest scoring bid you expect to make, given average distribution of cards among the unseen hands, in the absence of, or taking into account, any information from your partner's bid(s). Also in .pdf file format for future reference only.

Par
The result on a deal on which both sides do as well as possible.

Paradox Principle
Dr. Chris Ryall devised this method and it is a call or bid of the suit you do not hold when length in one of two suits has been shown or implied by partner's bid, generally when the partnership expects to subside in one of these suits. These bids are also referred to as paradox responses / advances. They can be viewed on his website.

Paraguay - Asociation Paraguaya de Bridge
Contact Address
Chaco Boreal 381
Asuncion
Paraguay
Telephone: 595-21-611 302
Facsimile: 595-21-601 168

Par Contest
A bridge tournament using prepared hands, each of which has an already predetermined optimum or par result. The results of the players are then compared with par, rather than with each other.

Pard
Slang: Partner.

Par Hand
A bridge hand prepared in advance for use in a Par Contest.

Parity
1. the evenness or oddness of a suit length;
2. equal length, as with another player's length.

Parkes Two Spades
The origin of this conventional opening is unknown. The concept is frequently a Weak Two bid opening with multiple meanings and clarified by the opener with the second bid. The high card point values may be less than an opening count or exceedingly strong and the Weak Two bid is dependent on distribution. An opening bid of 2 Spades shows either:

1. a preempt in either Minor suit or
2. a semi-solid or solid Major suit or
3. a holding with 20 high card points plus with a 5-4-4-0 shape and a Minor suit void

The responder bids 2 No Trump, which is a Relay bid, in order that the opener clarifies his holding.

3 : Shows a preempt in Clubs
3 : Shows a preempt in Diamonds
3 : Shows a semi-solid or solid Heart suit with no less than Queen high
3 : Shows a semi-solid or solid Spade suit with no less than Queen high
3 NT: Promises a solid Major suit. The responder relays to discover which Major suit
4 : Promises values of 20 points plus and a void in Clubs
4 : Promises values of 20 points plus and a void in Diamonds

Partial Designation
A term for the incomplete request by the declarer for a card to be played from the dummy. If only the suit is named, then the lowest card in that suit must be played. If a card is named but not a suit, the card becomes ambiguous, and the card must be taken from the suit previously led, if at all possible.

Partial Elimination
An imperfect elimination that will succeed only against certain distributions of the cards of the opponents.

Partscore Bonus
This designation applies to the 50 points given for fulfilling a partscore contract in duplicate competion.

Partial Score
A partscore, used generally in rubber bridge, but applied to any score below that of game.

Partner
The other member of one's partnership. It also refers to the act of being the second member of a partnership, as in North partnered with South or x partnered with z.

Partner’s Suit
The suit bid or rebid by the player seated opposite during the bidding process.

Partnership
1. one of the two competing teams of two players;
2. the totality of understandings between two players.

Partnership Agreement Between A Bridge Playing Couple
In the publication The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion, authored by Mr. Albert A. Ostrow, published in 1955, the suggestion is strongly made that a bridge-playing couple have an Agreement. One possible wording of such an Agreement was made by Mr. Lee Brandt, of whom little is known. This example of an Agreement has been only preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format for future reference. The original can be found in the publication.

Partnership Bidding
The description of an auction in which the opponents do nothing except pass.

Partnership Understanding
An agreement between partners that enables them to draw information or inferences from the bidding and from the play of the cards. In tournament events, each partnership has the responsibility to disclose its partnership understanding to the opponents by use of the Convention Card, alerted when required, and explained if requested by the opponents.

Partscore
A trick score of less than 100; less than game; fewer than 100 points scored below the line, but also applied to any score below that of game. In general, a term used by rubber bridge players and duplicate bridge players alike.

Partscore Bonus
In duplicate competition, 50 points are scored as bonus for fulfilling a partscore contract. In Chicago, a bonus of 100 points is given for a partscore contract successful on the last hand.

Party Bridge - These are private bridge games consisting of two tables, although there are variations for only one table with four players. A so-called four-deal method is normally employed, which is sometimes referred to as Chicago. After each round each player enters on his/her tally sheet only his/her net gain or loss, not the total score. After the session has been completed, then these net gains and losses are totaled and the final score of the individual player, whether plus or minus, is entered on the tally sheet. These sessions are more or less governed by the Laws of Party Contract Bridge and should be conducted accordingly. However, such sessions may, and generally are, altered and/or varied to meet the requirements of the host. It is not necessary that a certified bridge director be present at such sessions. Irregularities are ascertained and resolved generally by the host.

Party Bridge - An Internet book has been written by Mr. Marvin French of San Diego and specifically for the Party Bridge Player. This book contains many guidelines and suggestions, rules and regulations, definitions and movements for Party Bridge players such as: Chicago, Rubber Bridge, Games for Individuals, Games for Fixed Partnerships, Marathons, Social Duplicate Bridge, Duplicate Bridge Games for Individuals, Duplicate Games for Fixed Partnerships, Duplicate Games for Teams-of-Four, Calcuttas. This is a .pdf file and will automatically be opened by your browser without being downloaded to your computer.

Pass
1. a call indicating no desire to bid, double, or redouble at that turn;
2. to make such a call;
3. after leading from declarer's hand or dummy, to play a smaller card from the opposite hand when a higher card was available.

Pass and Pull
In general, the act of making a forcing pass first and then bidding over partner's double.

Passed Hand
A player who passed when given the opportunity to open the bidding, therefore one who has denied having the values required to open.

Passed Out
A deal in which all four players pass on the first round of bidding. The score is then zero. This term is also applied to the action of the player who, after two passes, declines to reopen the bidding or balance.

Passel Preempt with Four of a Minor
In the early 1960s Mr. Bill Passel invented a conventional method, which involved the transfer to a Major suit. After an opening bid of a Minor suit either by partner of by the right hand opponent, a leap or jump to 4 Clubs promised a long, strong Heart suit and a jump to 4 Diamonds promised a long, strong Spade suit. The purpose for the transfer is to have the hand of the preemptor tabled as dummy and the hand of the partner hidden. Although this particular conventional method has not become readily adopted by the bridge community in the United States, it has achieved some popularity with bridge players from Canada and Mexico. The following illustrations clarifies the strategy behind this conventional method.

 
North
97
AJ5
AKJ1095
2
 
West
Q10863
7643
A1075
 
East
J62
K94
Q2
KQ964
 
South
AKQ108543
72
8
J3
   
 
North East South West (Dealer)
Pass
1 Pass 4 Pass
4 Pass Pass Pass

North, as the declarer, will be able to take eleven tricks. East is on lead and has no problem finding the Club lead. The defense takes the first two tricks and North/South scores up 650. At every other table South is the declarer, also at 4 Spades, and no West found a Club lead. With the Queen dropping doubleton, the South declarer takes all 13 tricks for 710.

Pass or Correct Bid
In certain bidding sequences one partner requests partner to pass or bid differently based on the holding. Such bids are sometimes features of and dependent on multi-purpose bids and/or openings. One partner, generally the responder, is requested to either pass with support or the other partner, who initiated the multi-purpose bid and/or opening, corrects to the intended suit. Such Pass or Correct bids are features of the Multi 2 Diamonds system, the Crash convention, and other. They are not to be confused with Preference Bids. See also: Paradox Responses and Convertible Bids

Pass Out Of Rotation
An irregularity in the bidding auction, which can occur in three different situations, and that is when it is the turn of the other three players to make a call or bid. Since unauthorized information can become a factor is such a situation, the prescribed penalties can vary. See Law 30 and Law 31.

Passive Defense
A defense tactic aimed principally to avoid establishing tricks for the declarer, rather than principally establishing tricks for the defense.

Passive Lead
An opening lead which is unlikely to hurt the defending side. Generally used when any other lead would assist the declarer.

Pass Or Correct
Regarding a call, a request that partner either pass or make an alternative call, depending on the, as yet unspecified, hand type held. For example: after an opening bid of 2 Diamonds to show a weak two-bid in Spades or Hearts, a 2 Heart response is pass-or-correct: opener passes with Hearts or bids 2 Spades with Spades.

Pass Out
1. to make the fourth consecutive pass, so that the cards are thrown in and dealt again;
2. to make the third consecutive pass, so that the last bid becomes the final contract;
3. the position in which a pass will end the auction.

Passout Seat
The position of any given player, who can terminate the auction by passing.

Pasteboards
A term which refers to the cards.

Patents for Bridge Equipment, Devises, Etc.
We have found several patents relating to the game of bridge and also to the game of Whist. This has been accomplished with the feature offered by Google called Google Scholar. We have listed our findings below.

Bridge Game For Two Or Three) - This is the designation for a card game, on which Mr. William Weigl of Troy, Ohio, has as of Issue Date, February 3, 1981, a patent (4,248,434), which was filed October 18, 1979. The Abstract states: Bridge game for two or three players who competitively bid for a face-down dummy hand which is incapable of verbal response but is capable of providing an approximate point count, indication of the suis of the majority of cards thereof and the specific number of Aces and Kings therein when called upon to do so, all without having any markings on the backs of said cards from such information can be determined. The history and instructions for the correct procedure of bidding and play are described by the inventor in the issued patent. Found on the Internet via Google Scholar.

Contract Bridge Game Card - Filed October 17, 1933. Issued July 2, 1935. Patent Number: 2,006,521. Inventors: Mr. Julian E. Stone, New York, assignor of one-half to Mr. Michael Freiman, Farmingdale, New York, with Mr. James F. Duhamel (Attorney). Serial No. 693,973. This invention relates to playing cards and more especially to a pack of cards adapted for use in the game of contract bridge whist and containing the usual fifty two cards to comprise the deck, the object of the invention being to eliminate certain picture cards such as the aces, kings, queens and jacks and the ten spot and substituting therefore cards having certain numerals or combinations of numerals.

Pattern
The hand distribution.

Pattern Out
The act of determining the most likely suit distribution of a player, including that of the partner.

Pearson Points
High Card Points plus Spade length. These are sometimes used in a guideline for deciding whether or not to open the bidding in fourth position, especially at matchpoints. If the player adds his HCPs and the number of Spades, and the total is 15 (Pearson) points, then the player should open the auction.

Peggy Bayer Trophy
See: The Home International Series

Penalty
1. the points awarded to the defenders when declarer fails to fulfill his contract;
2. a remedy for an infraction provided by the laws
3. an obligation or restriction imposed upon a side for violation of a Law or regulation.

Penalty Card
A card that is, for whatever reason, prematurely exposed by a defender, which must remain face up on the table until it can legally be played or be permitted to be picked up. Distinctions are made between Major Penalty Cards and Minor Penalty Cards. The declarer never has any penalty card. See Laws: 23, 49-52, 54, 56-58, 62.

Penalty Double
A double by the opponents of a contract indicating that the contract can not be fulfilled, and that the positive score of setting the contract will be more beneficial than playing the contract.

Penalty Pass
The pass of a double not intended as a penalty double. A pass by a player after a takeout double from his partner and a pass by the right hand opponent. This pass could possibly be the result of holding length and strength in the doubled suit of the opponent.

Pendergraph
In 1991 the ACBL commissioned Mr. Fred Gitelman, a Toronto programmer, to develop a computer vugraph program with a grant from the estate of Mr. Peter Pender. The vugraph was subsequently named the PenderGraph. The PenderGraph debuted at the Summer NABC in Las Vegas, where the final of the Spingold Knockout Teams was shown to a huge audience. In 1993 Gitelman wrote a new PenderGraph program to work under the Windows operating system, enhancing and enlarging the graphics and adding features that distinguished the PenderGraph as the top program of its kind.

People's Republic of China
The game of bridge was banned in the country of China for over 30 years, but in 1979 staged a come-back. In 1979, the All China Sports Federation formed the All China Contract Bridge League.

Percentage
A quotient obtained by dividing the actual matchpoint score of a contestant by the possible score of that contestant, which is then expressed as a percentage of the possible score.

Percentage Play
This is a strategic play, either in defense or as the declarer, which is influenced by certain mathematical factors and percentages, when more than one line of play is possible. Depending on the auction and the ensuing play of the hand, it becomes evident that a certain play could obtain a better percentage result of success than another play. These percentages have been calculated as to their probabilities.

Percentages
These are mathematical calculations of percentages, probabilities and possibilities of the cards having a certain distribution, upon which the play is based by the declarer and/or the defenders, and which influence the decision to play in a certain manner.

Perfect Bridge Hand
Defined as a holding that will produce 13 tricks in No Trump.

Perfecto
Slang: A descriptive adjective to describe a holding consistent with the bidding sequence, which has exactly the values and suit length necessary to make a designated and expected contract desirable, be it partscore, game or slam.

Permanent Trump
At Whist, a variation in which club card committees or other governing bodies declared a suit to be trump for all games under their jurisdiction. The rules of Whist provided that the trump suit would be the suit of the last card dealt by the dealer to himself.

Permutations
All the possible arrangements of the cards, usually the residue of a suit given the cards in two hands.

Personality of the Year
This Award is presented annually by the International Bridge Press Association and was known as The Charles H. Goren Award until 1989. Beginning in the year 1990, the award has been strictly an award presented by the International Bridge Press Association.

Peru - Comision National de Bridge
Contact Address
Av. Jorge Basadre 475
27 Lima
Peru
Telephone: 51-14 419 995
Facsimile: 51-14-423 138

Peter
A term used mainly in England to describe a high-low made in discarding, when unable to follow suit. In the game of Whist, the forerunner of the game of bridge, the term referred only to a high-low discard only in the trump suit.

Peter Pender Trophy
The Peter Pender trophy, donated by Mr. Peter Pender, is awarded to the winners of the ACBL Junior Bridge Championship (Team Trials) held every two years at the Summer NABC.

Petersen System Of Contract Bidding, The
This is the designation provided by the developer, Mr. Nils Petersen, to his bidding system and published in his book titled The Petersen System Of Contract Bridge Bidding, which was published in the year c1940 in Dodge City, Kansas, United States, LC: 40007436. Additional information would be greatly appreciated.

Petty, Little Odious Bid
A designation also known under the acronym of PLOB. See: PLOB below. The origin of the concept and the origin of the designation are unknown.

Phantom Pair
An imaginary pair deemed present to complete a tournament movement. The contestant scheduled to play against the Phantom Pair has a bye round.

Phantom Sacrifice
A sacrifice bid against a contract which would have been defeated anyway.

Philippine Tournament Bridge Association
Also: Phillipine Tournament Bridge Association
The Philippine Contract Bridge League, founded in 1957, is the national governing body for organized bridge activities. It is formally affiliated with the Pacific-Asia Bridge Federation (of which it is a founding member) and the World Bridge Federation. It participates yearly in the ASEAN Bridge Club Championships.

The PCBL is based in Makati City, in the National Capital Region, with one subsidiary unit in Baguio City. Most of its activities take place in the Metro Manila area where the majority of its membership resides. There are currently about 200 members.

Tournaments on the national and regional level are held fortnightly by the PCBL. It sends out a bi-monthly PCBL Newsletter to its members, runs three franchised weekly duplicates, and maintains records of Master Points won at PCBL tournaments and franchised games.

The Philippines has been host to five Zonal Championships, starting with the first one in 1957. In 1977, Manila was the site of the Bermuda Bowl. Manila has also hosted three ASEAN Bridge Club Championships.

Phillip Morris Championships
The Phillip Morris Corporation sponsors European bridge competitions such as open pairs in odd-numbered years, mixed pairs and mixed teams in even-numbered years.

Phone Number
Slang: a penalty in four digits;
Slang: any large penalty.

Phony Club
See: Short Club.

Phony Diamond
See: Short Diamond.

Pianola
Slang: a hand which presents no problem to the declarer in fulfilling the contract. A hand that almost plays itself. The name is taken from the musical player piano, which would play by itself after installing the metal disk with the punched holes corresponding to the keys on the piano.

Pick Up
1. to capture during the play;
2. to play a suit without loss, or with minimal loss;
3. to play with a recently met partner; not through pre-arrangement;
4. to collect from a table in a tournament. For example: a pickup slip is a paper on which the result of each deal in a tournament is recorded.

Pickup Slip
Any physical form devised for the recording of the result on the play of one board on one round. Generally, North (or South) player has the responsibility of entering this result and East and/or West has the responsibility of checking this entry. The information entered on this physical form include:

1. Identifying number of the player and/or pair.
2. The board number.
3. Which pair was the declarer.
4. The final contract.
5. Contract by which player.
6. Doubled, Redoubled, or Undoubled.
7. The result as:

a. trick-score,
b. extra tricks,
c. game bonus
d. doubled bonus,
e. partscore bonus,
f. slam bonus,
g. undertrick score

Picture Bid
A bid that shows specific values or types of values, rather than general strength or overall hand-type. For example: a jump in a suit to show values concentrated in that suit is a picture bid.

Picture Echo Calling
This is a designation for a bidding system or conventional method listed in the publication The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion, authored by Mr. Albert A. Ostrow, published 1955. During the early evolution of the game of bridge there occurred a proliferation of many such bidding systems. However, many have been forgotten and were discarded for the newest version of another bidding system. Any additional information would be greatly appreciated

Pictures of Bridge Players
We have attempted to compile the pictures of bridge players for the curious among us. We hear the names, but we can not put a face to the name. Please be aware that this is a larger web page which may take some time to load.

Picture Card
A King, a Queen, or a Jack.

Piece
Slang: a partscore;
Slang: referring to a high honor as in "a piece in Spades" means a high honor in Spades. The term may also simply, and colloquially, refer to any card in Spades.

Pin
To lead a card in order to cause a lower-ranking card to drop underneath, especially when there are yet higher cards of the suit outstanding. This play can be either executed by the declarer or defender.

Ping Pong Convention
This bidding method is to assist the opener to further clarify his holding when the first rebid by the opener is 1 No Trump, which can signify various hand types.

Pink Points
An obsolete term for Regional Points. It was at one time applied to distinguish points won at a Regional Tournament from those won at a National Tournament, where Red Points were awarded.

Pinpoint Astro
See: Astro and Brozel.

Pioneer
A system which was devised, developed and played for many years by Mr. Johan Bennet and Mr. Anders Wirgren. It is based on Super Standard, which in turn evolved from Modern Standard. It is a basically natural system, but with many gadgets and lots of new ways of thinking. The basic structure is very logical though, which makes it easy for its users, but difficult for the opponents.

Pip
1. A design or logo on each card indicating the suit to which it belongs. The Spade suit shows the Spearhead, the Heart suit shows the heart, the Diamond suit shows a diamond-shaped tile, and the Club suit shows the cloverleaf. The Spot Cards have as many pips as the rank of the card indicates. The pips vary according to the country of origin.
2. Slang: meaning to narrowly outrank, as on a trick, or defeat by the narrowest possible margin.

Pitch
Slang: the execution of playing discard;
Slang: the act of discarding;
Slang: the act of losing a trick and/or contract through an error, especially through an obvious error.

Pitch Count
An obsolete name for the 4-3-2-1 Point Count.

Pitt Coup
A play by which the declarer places himself in a position to lead through his left hand opponent in a suit in which the dummy holds a major tenace over the left hand opponent’s minor tenace.

Pivot
1. The designation for the player who remains in the same physical position at the table in a sequence of rubbers or chukkers;
2. The designation for the player, if any, who remains stationary in a Howell Movement;
3. The act of changing partners during a bridge session;
4. In pertaining to a suit the term describes a situation whereby the suit is guarded or petentially guarded by both opponents, as in a double-squeeze matrix.

Pivot Bridge
A form of social bridge where, instead of advancing from table to table as in party or progressive bridge, the players change or pivot among themselves at each individual table. Mr. Milton C. Work wrote the book Auction Bridge Complete - The Latest Official Laws of Auction Bridge and Also The Official Laws of Progressive Bridge and Pivot Bridge and The Laws of Duplicate Bridge, which was published by The John C. Winston Co. in 1929.

Pivot Mitchell
A method of incorporating a half table in Mitchell game, and mainly used in Scrambled Mitchell. The last table has no stationary pair and the moving pairs pass this table in the following manner: play East-West, then sit out, then play North-South, then continue to East-West at Table 1.

Pivot Teams
A team event popular in England in which each member of a team of four plays equally with each other member.

Plafond
A French card game which was the immediate predecessor of contract bridge. Mr. Harold S. Vanderbilt, the originator of contract bridge, used Plafond, which translated means ceiling, as the basis for contract bridge.

Plain Suit
Any suit other than the trump suit.

Planning The Play
The mental process applied by the declarer in deciding how to attack the cards, using the values he holds to fulfill the contract, or to develop tricks and/or overtricks, or to minimize the possible penalties.

Plastic Valuation
A phrase popularized in the writings of Mr. Ely Culbertson to describe the mental processes of the bidder as he receives more information regarding the holdings of his partner.

Platinum Points
Platinum points are awarded for NABC+ events (which are National-rated events with no upper masterpoint limit) and include the national-rated Senior and Women's events, but not Junior, Flight B or other restricted events.

Play
1. the phase of bridge in which the players try to take tricks to determine the outcome of bets made during the bidding;
2. to act as declarer;
3. to place a card in the center of the table or face up in front of oneself in correct rotation.

Play After An Illegal Play
This action forfeits any penalty incurred by the illegal play, unless the illegal play constitutes a revoke. This play can be made only by the player to the left of the hand making the illegal play, and the right under Law 60 is not enforced by the partner calling attention to the illegality of the play.

LAW 60 - PLAY AFTER AN ILLEGAL PLAY

A. Play of Card after Irregularity

1. Forfeiture of Right to Penalise

A play by a member of the non-offending side after his RHO has led or played out of turn or prematurely, and before a penalty has been assessed, forfeits the right to penalise that offence.

2. Irregularity Legalised

Once the right to penalise has been forfeited, the illegal play is treated as though it were in turn (but Law 53C applies to the player whose turn it was).

3. Other Penalty Obligations Remain

If the offending side has a previous obligation to play a penalty card, or to comply with a lead or play penalty, the obligation remains at future turns.

B. Defender Plays before Required Lead by Declarer

When a defender plays a card after declarer has been required to retract his lead out of turn from either hand, but before declarer has led from the correct hand, the defender's card becomes a penalty card (Law 50).

C. Play by Offending Side before Assessment of Penalty

A play by a member of the offending side before a penalty has been assessed does not affect the rights of the opponents, and may itself be subject to penalty.

Played Card
In duplicate, each player, except the dummy, plays a card by removing it from his hand and facing it in front of him/herself. The declarer plays a card from the dummy by naming the card he wishes to be played, after which the dummy picks up the card and faces it in front of him/herself.

Player
One of the four active participants at a table of bridge.

Play For
The act of assuming a certain holding, either as the basis for the declarer or for either defender. For example, North assumed, or had to play for, a 3-3 split in Hearts, in order to fulfill the contract, and upon which North based the ensuing play of the hand.

Player Number
The IBM number is the same as the IBM Number. This is a 7-digit number assigned by the ACBL to a member of ACBL. The last digit is a self-checking device by which the computer throws out incorrect numbers. The method by which the checking digit is computed is to multiply the first six digits by 7,6,5,4,3, and 2 respectively. Then add these results. Divide the total of the results by 11, and note the remainder. This remainder is then subracted from the divisor, 11, and the resulting difference is the check digit. If the net result of this work is a remainder of 1, then the number is not used. When a player achieves Life Master status, this is indicated by a change in his/her player number by the substitution of a letter for the first digit, alphabetically from J for 1 to R for 9. Player Numbers or IBM Numbers were first instituted by the ACBL in July 1961.

Player Of The Year
The ACBL designates each year one of its members as Player of the Year. The designated player is the one that earns the most masterpoints in North American championship events with no upper masterpoint limit. The winner is presented with the Goren Trophy.

Player's Guide to Duplicate Tournaments
An ACBL Guide for all duplicate bridge players.

Play From Equals
When holding cards of equal rank in a suit, it is sometimes more important in deciding which card to play to a particular trick. A certain card, according to partnership understanding, played by the defender can relay information to his partner, or it may deceive the declarer. Such a card played by the declarer can confuse and deceive the defenders or avoid surrendering unnecessary information.

Playing To The Score
This is the risk or wager taken in the bidding or play of a hand and is often affected by the vulnerability. The need to act aggressively or conservatively mainly depends on the actual standing of the pair or team involved.

Playing Tricks
A combination of cards likely to take a trick during the play, hence a measure of offensive strength.

Play Out of Turn
A play is deemed to be in turn if it is made after the player to the right has led or played, or if it is a lead by a player who has won the preceding trick or is the opening leader. Any other order constitutes a play out of turn governed by Laws 53, 54, 55, and 56.

LAW 53 - LEAD OUT OF TURN ACCEPTED

A. Lead out of Turn Treated as Correct Lead

Any lead faced out of turn may be treated as a correct lead. It becomes a correct lead if declarer or either defender, as the case may be, accepts it (by making a statement to that effect), or if the player next in rotation plays to the irregular lead, but see Law 47E1. (If no acceptance statement or play is made, the Director will require that the lead be made from the correct hand.)

B. Wrong Defender Plays Card to Declarer's Irregular Lead

If the defender at the right of the hand from which the lead out of turn was made plays to the irregular lead, the lead stands and Law 57 applies.

C. Proper Lead Made Subsequent to Irregular Lead

If it was properly the turn to lead of an opponent of the player who led out of turn, that opponent may make his proper lead to the trick of the infraction without his card being deemed played to the irregular lead. When this occurs, the proper lead stands, and all cards played in error to this trick may be withdrawn without penalty. (Law 16C2 applies to a defender.)

LAW 54 - FACED OPENING LEAD OUT OF TURN

When an opening lead is faced out of turn, and offender's partner leads face down, the Director requires the face down lead to be retracted, and the following sections apply.

A. Declarer Spreads His Hand

After a faced opening lead out of turn, declarer may spread his hand; he becomes dummy, and dummy becomes declarer. If declarer begins to spread his hand, and in doing so exposes one or more cards, he must spread his entire hand.

B. Declarer Accepts Lead

When a defender faces the opening lead out of turn declarer may accept the irregular lead as provided in Law 53, and dummy is spread in accordance with Law 41.

1. Declarer Plays Second Card

The second card to the trick is played from declarer's hand.

2. Dummy Has Played Second Card

If declarer plays the second card to the trick from dummy, dummy's card may not be withdrawn except to correct a revoke.

C. Declarer Must Accept Lead

If declarer could have seen any of dummy's cards (except cards that dummy may have exposed during the auction and that were subject to Law 24), he must accept the lead.

D. Declarer Refuses Opening Lead

When declarer requires the defender to retract his faced opening lead out of turn, Law 56 applies.

LAW 55 - DECLARER'S LEAD OUT OF TURN

A. Declarer's Lead Accepted

If declarer has led out of turn from his or dummy's hand, either defender may accept the lead as provided in Law 53, or require its retraction (after misinformation, see Law 47E1).

B. Declarer Required to Retract Lead

1. Defender's Turn to Lead

If declarer has led from his or dummy's hand when it was a defender's turn to lead, and if either defender requires him to retract such lead, declarer restores the card led in error to the proper hand without penalty.

2. Lead in Declarer's Hand or Dummy's

If declarer has led from the wrong hand when it was his turn to lead from his hand or dummy's, and if either defender requires him to retract the lead, he withdraws the card led in error. He must lead from the correct hand.

C. Declarer Might Obtain Information

When declarer adopts a line of play that could have been based on information obtained through the infraction, the Director may award an adjusted score.

LAW 56 - DEFENDER'S LEAD OUT OF TURN

When declarer requires a defender to retract his faced lead out of turn, the card illegally led becomes a major penalty card, and Law 50D applies.

PLOB
An acronym for Petty, Little Odious Bid, which is an artificial, investigative rebid by responder after a 1 No Trump rebid by the opener. The origin of the concept and the origin of the designation are unknown. This is a conventional method similar to New Minor Forcing, denoting a new Minor suit bid by responder, which has been unbid, after opener rebids 1 No Trump after a suit opening. The three examples below should clarify this method:

Opener Responder Meaning
1 1 Normal response to an opening bid.
1 NT Limits the holding.
2 The PLOB bid forcing the opener to further describe the holding. Strongly suggests a 5-card Heart suit.
1 1 Normal response to an opening bid.
1 NT
2 The PLOB bid forcing the opener to further describe the holding. Strongly suggests a 5-card Spade suit.
1 1 Normal response to an opening bid.
1 NT Limits the holding.
2 The PLOB bid forcing the opener to further describe the holding. Strongly suggests a 5-card Spade suit.

In the last example the partnership can make a distinction between bidding 2 Clubs and 2 Diamonds to indicate the values of the holding. All other responses are deemed normal bids based on partnership agreement.

Pochabo System
A bidding system developed by a bridge player, prominent in the upper echelons of the bridge circles, and who employed the pseudonym of Pochabo. Thus far we have been unable to demystify this person. A reference to the Pochabo System is made in the publication The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion authored by Mr. Albert A. Ostrow, published 1955. Additional information would be greatly appreciated.

Pocket
The receptacle for a hand in a duplicate board.

PODI
Acronym for Pass zerO, Double One (1), a method for showing Aces, or Key Cards, after interference over Blackwood or Key Card Blackwood.

Point
1. a unit of scoring;
2. a unit of hand valuation;
3. in describing a squeeze position, a unit of complexity. One point shows a one two-suit squeeze against one opponent.

Point A Board
The English term for Board-A-Match.

Point Count
A method of hand valuation in which numerical values or points are assigned to various features of a hand. Many point count systems have become obsolete such as Four Aces, the Reith, and the Robinson point count systems. In general, the point count system introduced by Mr. Bryant McCampbell in 1915 and publicized by Mr. Milton C. Work, after whom it was named. The Ace has a point count of 4, the King has 3, the Queen has 2, and the Jack has 1, making a total of 40 points in the pack.

Pointed Suit
Spades or Diamonds. The converse is "rounded" indicating Hearts and Clubs.

Pointing Cards
After four cards have been played to a trick, each player turns his card face down before him. If his side has won the trick, the card is pointed lengthwise toward his partner. If his side has lost the trick, the card is pointed lengthwise toward the opponents.

Points
1. the score earned by a pair as a result of the play of a hand;
2. a unit by which a hand is evaluated;
3. the holding of masterpoints that have been credited to a player/member of the ACBL.

Poland 1 No Trump Overcall - Polish 1 No Trump Overcall - Polish 1 NT Overcall
This designation, inofficial as it may be, refers to a partnership agreement used by nationally recognized bridge players from Poland and refers to an agreement to overcall in Second Postion with 1 No Trump indicating either a 12 to 14 high card point holding or 15 to 18 high card points, generally determined by the state of vulnerability. In Fourth Position after partner has passed an overcall of 1 No Trump is generally 15 to 18 high card points. A re-opening 1 No Trump after two passes is considered to be only 11 to 15 high card points and no stopper in the bid suit by the opponent is required or promised. The distribution of these holdings should meet the definition of No Trump as conditioned and required by the sponsoring organization. This agreement has been employed by Mr. Piotr Gawrys and Mr. Krzysztof Jassem of Poland among many others.

This conventional method has been also designated as Raptor 1 No Trump Overcall, or simply Raptor. The Polish No Trump is a designation more often heard in Europe than in the United States for the identical conventional method. There may be slight differences in the application and therefore the reason for the different designations, but the concept is the same.

Polar
See: Polar-Canadian Regional

Polar-Canadian Regional
This was a bridge tournament, conducted over six days, and held annually since 1949 in Alaska, British Columbia, or in the state of Washington, United States. Also prior to the year 1967 the tournament was conducted also in Oregon. From the beginning the tournament was conducted at a time that it coincided with the birthday of George Washington, the first President of the United States, but only until 1958. Starting in 1959 the tournament was conducted in the early fall, and starting in 1968 the tournament was conducted either in late May or early April.

During the years from 1963 and 1967 the tournament was conducted twice annually, once in the spring and once in the fall. The designation for the tournament conducted in the spring was not always identical or regular since it was also known as the Pacific Northwest Regional Championships, or Polar, Canadian, British Columbia Centennial, and also as Vancouver, but the tournament was designated in 1968 as the Pacific Northwest Regional when the tournament, which was conducted in the fall, was replaced by the Canadian and Puget Sound Regionals.

Polish Bridge Union - Polski Zwia¸zek Brydz·a Sportowego
Founded in 1956.

Polish Club Bidding System - Many of the following articles are present on the Internet and have only been archived on this site. The majority of this information has been presented for and posted to the Internet by Mr. Mike Mardesich. The information provided in these articles has also been through the contribution of several bridge experts, such as Mr. John Blubaugh, who for many years was a member of the expert panel of the Problem Solvers for the Brydz Magazine (online URL) of Poland, a magazine which is comparable to The Bridge World.

Polish Club is a term describing a set of conventions played mainly in the country of Poland. They were developed, devised and published by a group of experts of the Polish Brydz magazine in the 1960s. Although not a complete, universal, distinct or unified bidding system, but rather a family or set of bidding systems, which are used by individual partnerships, the Polish Club has experienced several advantages over other bidding systems. Other names for distinct Polish Club Systems, possibly even geographical, variations include the following. Although the different variations are generally referred to as Polish Club, this may not be the case with purists.

The main feature of the Polish Club bidding system is the artificial 1 Club opening. Since the 1 Club opening includes strong hands, the remaining one level openings are limited in strength.

The Cracow System, which was very popular in the southern city of Cracow, Poland, during the 1980s. Among its adherents were Mr. Kwiecien, Mr. Pszczola, Mr. Martens. No information available about this variation at this time.

Fiskforsk No Trump Structure - This is written in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will either be automatically opened by your browser or automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Source: http://home1.gte.net/yweare/pc-xnt.htm.

Martens-Szymanowski System, which is a variation of the Polish Club System used by the well-known bridge experts and parnership of Mr. Krzysztof Martens and Mr. Marek Szymanowski. of Poland. No information available about this variation at this time.

Nasz System - This is a variation of the Polish Club System and which is played in a certain geographical location within the country. The name translates to Our System and is commonly referred to as Strefa, which translates as Zone. The link is a .pdf file format, which is in Polish Language. The .pdf file may, depending on your browser, be downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat or may be opened by your browser. Anyone wishing to translate this article, please send it to the Bridge Guys. Anyone wishing to translate this article, please send it to the Bridge Guys.

Otwarcie Polish Club - This is a .pdf file format of the conventional bidding system used in Poland and which is written for the Bridge Forum, especially for the Internet Wspólne Forum. This file will be automatically downloaded to your computer and opened automatically with Adobe Acrobat, or, depending on your browser, opened by your browser. This file in only in the Polish language. It would be greatly appreciated if anyone wishing to translate these pages would send the translation to the Bridge Guys.

Polish Club Summary and 1 Club Auctions - This is written in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will either be automatically opened by your browser or automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Source: http://home1.gte.net/yweare/pc-1c.htm.

Polish Club 2 Clubs Auctions - This is written in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will either be automatically opened by your browser or automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Source: http://home1.gte.net/yweare/pc-2c.htm.

Polish Club 1 Diamond, 1 Heart, and 1 Spade Auctions - This is written in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will either be automatically opened by your browser or automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Source: http://home1.gte.net/yweare/pc-1dhs.htm.

Polish Scissors - This is written in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will either be automatically opened by your browser or automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader. This conventional bidding system is based on an opening bid, which originally promised a 5-5 distribution in any two of the four suits. This version is called The 2 Spades Opening in the HIGH System of the Polish Scissors bidding theory. This 2 Spades opening shows (at least) 5-5 in any two suits. The strength is either 5-10 high card points or a very strong hand (10 tricks) with at least 5-5 in the Minors. In most tournaments in Norway this convention is not allowed, as any preemptive opening bid must show at least one specified suit, so in the LOW system the 5-5 hands are opened 2 Hearts / 2 Spades / 2 NT (showing Majors / +another / Diamonds +Major respectively).

Polish 2 Diamond Convention or Wilkosz Convention or Wilkosza Convention - This is a .pdf file format and is in the Polish language. Any visitor wishing to translate this version would greatly benefit the bridge community. This information has been compiled by Mr. Marek Wójcicki Przemysl. Since the English-based computer keyboards do not recognize the Polish characters, this .pdf file has been printed off the Internet in its original form and therefore contains the URL in the content in Poland, where this information is located. This is a variation of the Wilkosza 2 Diamonds conventional method.A conventional bidding system devised by the expert bridge player Mr. Andrzej Wilkosz during the 1960s. The designation of the original version is also called The Polish 2 Diamond. There are several variations of this conventional method since the original version was deemed to be a "Brown Sticker", meaning that most bridge sponsoring organizations banned and/or limited the use of such methods.

Polish Club System Notes - Compiled by Mr. Gunther Schutzenmeier. This is written in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will either be automatically opened by your browser or automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Source: http://members.rogers.com/gmeier/.

Summary of System Sequences - This is written in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will either be automatically opened by your browser or automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Source: http://home1.gte.net/yweare/pc-odd.htm.

Wspolny Jezyk, which translates to Common Language. No information available about this variation at this time.

Polish End Signal
This conventional method was developed and devised by the Polish players Mr. Lukasz Slawinski and Mr. Andrzej Orlow. Usually, the End Signal is a bid of 4 Diamonds by the so-called Relayer, forcing the partner to bid 4 eartsH, after which the Relayer can sign off in the appropriate game or slam. The Scanian System also uses a 4 Clubs End Signal. Some natural bidding, that is without signing off, is an alternative.

Polish No Trump Overcall
A designation, by some international bridge players, for the conventional method of Raptor adopted and played by many bridge players from Poland.

Polish Standard or Wspolny Jezyk 2005
This is the updated version in publication form for the bidding system translated as Polish Standard. Our apologies for the inability to represent the Polish letters correctly with our software. The author is Mr. Krzysztof Jassem of Poland. This updated version for the year 2005 has been translated by Mr. Daniel J. Neill and is available on his web site. The Internet version is also available at: http://www.volny.cz/v.nulicek/WJ2005.pdf. It is only archived on this site in a .pdf file for future reference.

Poly Club Two Diamonds Opening - Polyclub 2 Diamonds Opening
The origin of this conventional method is unknown. The concept behind this method is to indicate either a two-suited holding or a possible one-suited holding. This opening bid is forcing for one round and the first response allows the opener to clarify his holding. The opening 2 Diamonds bid indicates values ranging from:

1. Either 7 to 9 high card points and a distribution of 5-5, one suit being a Major suit,

2. Or 8-10 high card points with at least a 7-card Minor suit with no Major suit tolerance.

3. The state of vulnerability may be a determining factor in the length of the two-suited holding: 5-5 or 5-4 in length.

The responses vary according to the partnership agreement, but the general guidelines include:

2 : This first response can be employed to show preference to Hearts, but the opener can correct to Spades if the 5-card plus suit is Spades.
3 : This first jump response shows good Clubs and is an attempt at committing to game.
3 : This first jump response shows good Diamonds and is an attempt at committing to game.
3 : This first jump response shows good Hearts and is an attempt at committing to game.
3 : This first jump response shows good Spades and is an attempt at committing to game.
2 NT: This first response asks the opener to further clarify his holding. See opener's rebids below:

Opener's rebids after 2 No Trump:

3 : Promises a 5-card plus suit in Clubs.
3 : Promises a 5-card plus suit in Diamonds
3 : Promises a 5-card Heart suit and an unspecified 5-card Minor suit.
3 : Promises a 5-card Spade suit and an unspecified 5-card Minor suit.
3 NT: Promises both Hearts and Spades.

Popular Bridge
This was a bridge magazine published by Mr. Gordon Behn and Mr. James Miller and which is now defunct. The First Edition was published August 1967. See Anniversary Issue August 1977 for ten years of Cover Pages. The Editor was Mr. Robert Wolenik; Associate Editor was Mr. Max Hardy; Contributing Editors were Mr. Edwin B. Kantar and Mr. Alfred Sheinwold, among other prominent bridge authors. The bridge magazine was published bi-monthly by Behn-Miller Publishers, Inc., and headquarters was located in Encino, California. The bridge magazine had an 11 inch times 8.25 inch format and was printed in color. These magazines are from the collection of Mr. Marvin French of San Diego, California.

June 1977 August 1977 October 1977
February 1978 April 1978 August 1978 December 1978

If any visitor would like to contribute any additional issues of this magazine, please send us a scanned copy of the front cover with at least 200dpi plus the details of the front cover for presentation. Any contributions will be greatly appreciated.

The announcement of the cessation of the publication was published by Mr. Alan Truscott in The New York Times.

Bridge: A Respected Publication Is Going Out of Business

By ALAN TRUSCOTT
Published: March 19, 1987

LEAD: A recent announcement is a sad blow for students of the game: Popular Bridge, which has been published bimonthly in Ventura, California, for two decades, has announced that it will cease publication.

A recent announcement is a sad blow for students of the game: Popular Bridge, which has been published bimonthly in Ventura, California, for two decades, has announced that it will cease publication.

The California periodical, with a large-page format, pleasing illustrations and contributions from top-ranked player-writers such as Eddie Kantar and Alfred Sheinwold, has offered the average player an alternative to The Bridge World, with its rather more expert readership.

The December issue of Popular Bridge included an entertaining article by Jared Johnson of Golden, Colorado, entitled ''Creative Hands,'' a collection of ''Believe It or Not'' situations.

Solutions to Problems:

It includes the solutions to some ''task'' problems. Among them are a hand with 32 high-card points that takes no tricks in defense; six spades that makes with a 2-2 fit in the absence of a trump lead; no makable game with 39 points in the partnership hands, and, conversely, a hand cold for seven no-trump with 11 partnership points.

The first item on that list refers to the celebrated ''Duke of Cumberland'' hand from whist days.

The last is the diagramed deal, which, like other constructed deals, does not have any bidding. An opening seven no-trump bid would be explicable if South had stacked the deck, and could also happen if that player mistakenly believed that he had the wrong number of cards and wished to cause a little excitement.

Seven no-trump is unbeatable for South, and strangely enough West can make the same contract. East fails by 13 tricks in seven no-trump but can make seven hearts. The best poor North can do with his Yarborough is to make six clubs.

Pop-Up Squeeze
A squeeze position in which declarer refuses a finesse in the ending because if the missing card(s) were onside it would have already been played, thereby allowing the declarer to avoid a guess between a finesse and a play for a drop. Sometimes referred to as a Show-Up Squeeze.

Portland Club
The principal bridge club of the British elite. The club established the laws applied to the game of bridge and are still used today as the foundation. The club was first founded as the Statford Club in 1815 and was reorganized in 1825. The game of bridge, introduced by Lord Brougham, was backed up by a Code of Laws in 1985, and amended as necessary over the years.

Portugal - Federação Portuguesa de Bridge

Position
1. the location at the table;
2. the order of speaking relative to the dealer. The dealer is in first position, the player to dealer's left is in second position, etc,;
3. the seat. First position means first seat, etc.;
4. the chair. First chair means first position, etc.

Positional
This term describes the action of making a call in order to place or intend to place the more advantageously located partner as the declarer.

Positional Factor
The value of honor cards during the auction can improve or become less valuable in relation to the bidding by the opposition. This positional factor influences greatly the bidding process.

Positional Squeeze
A reference to a squeeze maturing only against the opponent in one particular table location.

Positive Response
A natural and constructive response, confirming certain values, in a forcing situation where there is a bid available for an artificial negative or waiting response.

Positive Slam Double
See: Double For Sacrifice. This action is also referred to as: Negative Slam Double or Unpenalty Double.

Post-Mortem
A discussion of a bridge hand after the completion of play with the objective of deciding whether or not the bidding could have been different, the play could have been more strategically planned, and whether the hand had any unusual features which were disregarded.

Post Mortem Magazine
A Bulletin of the New York Chapter of the American Contract Bridge League. This bulletin continued to be published as of Volume 44-4, April 1997, which can be reviewed by clicking on the link. The possibly last Editor is Kathy Anday-Fallenius of the Greater New York Bridge Association, Inc. Post-Mortem was also an almost monthly feature editorial of The Bridge World beginning with the year 1973. The possible connection of the two publications is unknown. A starting and last issue date is unknown.

Pottage
See: Cappelletti and Hamilton

Power Control Bidding System
This is a designation for a bidding system or conventional method listed in the publication The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion, authored by Mr. Albert A. Ostrow, published 1955. During the early evolution of the game of bridge there occurred a proliferation of many such bidding systems. However, many have been forgotten and were discarded for the newest version of another bidding system. Any additional information would be greatly appreciated.

Power Dutch Doubleton - The author is unknown. In Dutch. Any assistance in a translation would be appreciated. This is written in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will either be automatically opened by your browser or automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Power Dutch Doubleton - Mr. Roy Reshef has been so kind as to contribute the translation of the web pages for this conventional method from the original Dutch into the English language. He has also included footnotes, which are essential in understanding this conventional method better. We thank him for his contribution. This is written in a .pdf file format, and, depending on your browser, will either be automatically opened by your browser or automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Powerhouse
Slang: a very strong hand. Another term is a Rock Crusher.

Power Precision Opening Bids
These opening bids are a variation of the Precision bidding system, most likely developed in The Netherlands, but the origin is unknown.

1 : 16+ HCPs Any shape
1 : 11-15 HCPs Various shapes
1 : 11-16 HCPs 5+ Hearts
1 : 11-16 HCPs 5+ Spades
1 NT: 15-17 HCPs Balanced shape
2 : 11-15 HCPs 6 Clubs
2 : 6-10 HCPs 6 Hearts
or: 17-24 HCPs Distribution: 4-4-4-1 or 4-4-0-5
or: 25+ HCPs Balanced shape
2 : 11-15 HCPs Distribution: 4-4-1-4 or 4-4-0-5 or 4-5-x-x
2 : 10-10 HCPs 6+ Spades
2NT: Preempt in Clubs

After a Major suit opening, the convention 1 No Trump Forcing is employed and is considered to be forcing for at least one round, if the partner has not passed already. First responses to a 1 Club opening are considered to be natural. Otherwise the subsequent bidding follows the basics of the Precision bidding system.

Power System Opening Bids
The Power System is closely related to the Polish Club system. Following are the most obvious differences as in the following Summary posted 1997:

2 : Opening shows 10-16 and six Clubs or five Clubs and four Diamonds.
1 NT: Opening shows 17-20 hcp, may have a five card Major or six card Minor. The Response Structure:
2 : is first move on shape showing relay sequence. Game force.
2 : is invitational strength Stayman with opener's 3 level rebids showing top of range.
2 : natural, to play.
2 : natural, to play.
2 NT: is a Club bust or any 4441 and 8-12 points.
3 : asks for a five card Major, 8-12 points.
3 : is a Diamond bust.
3 : is 8-12 points, at least eight cards in the Minors, 3-4 Spades and a stiff or void in Hsearts.
3 : is the same as 3 except short Spades and exactly three Hearts.
3 NT: is the same as 3 except four Hearts.
1 : five+ card suits and 10-18 points, 12-16 if exactly five and balanced.
1 : five+ card suits and 10-18 points, 12-16 if exactly five and balanced.
1 : five+ card suits and 10-18 points, 12-16 if exactly five and balanced.
1 -1 : negative, but potentially a bit stronger, 0-9.
1 -1 , 1NT: 15-16 points, balanced, may hold a four card Major; afterwhich Stayman and transfers.
1 -1NT: either 13-17 and five Diamonds or 17+ with any distribution.
1 -2 : 10-12 points with Clubs and no four card Major.
1 -2 : 13+ points, usually with Clubs.
1//-2: invitational strength relay, without the ability to bid 1/1; opener rebids 2 with all minimums.
1/-2: game forcing relay, without the ability to bid 1/1.
1x-1y, 1z-2: artificial 10-12 point hand, all other rebids are 6-9 points.

Practice Finesse
See: Finesse

Pragmatic Standard
This is a .pdf file and will be automatically opened by your browser. This concept was developed, devised and authored by Mr. Mahesh Shetye. In his own words: The work presented here is an attempt to add a practical edge to so called Standard American system. For the sake of completeness the presentation includes the best of today’s evolved system, originated from the time of Culbertson to Robson with my suggestions in the various areas such as opening bids, their requirements, responses, rebids and further specialized bidding treatment with full developments including some artificial gadgets, which have proved the test of the time, for improving its overall efficiency at the table. Overall approach is aimed on finding an exact degree of trump fit and locating singletons, which has a high frequency.

Pratt Family Medal
This medal and/or medals and medaillions are presented by the Pratt Family of Australia and are presented at Commonwealth Nations Championship games. Each participant in the Championship received a copper medallion (60 mm) designed by Michael Meszaros, a world recognized sculptor. A boxed copy was given to the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners. A large copy (175mm) of the trophy was given to the Championship winning team. The Pratt family donated the cost of the trophies. The medallion was named The Pratt Family Medal. Source: Victorian Bridge Association Bulletin, March 2006.

Pratt Medal

Pre-Balance
To act in direct position as one would in reopening or balancing position. For example: to bid 3 Clubs after 1 Spade - pass - 2 Spades - ? with the values usually associated with 1 Spade - pass - 2 Spades - pass - pass - 3 Clubs would be a pre-balance.

Pre-Acceptance
This is a method that occurs in transfer auctions. One method applies to a Major suit transfer, and one method applies after a Minor suit transfer. Generally after a No Trump opening, the opener can show maximum values, favorable acceptance of the transfer suit, even a held doubleton, and a strong interest in game, depending both on the values held by the partner and according to the partnership agreement as to the style of bidding.

Pre-Alert
In ACBL tournaments, the players are required to explain to the opponents, or pre-alert, certain partnership methods and treatments, and any unusual agreements plus any unusual carding methods.

Prebalance
This term describes the action in direct position as one player would in re-opening or balancing position. For example: 1 Spade - pass - 2 Spades - 3 Clubs or 1 Spade - pass - 2 Spades - pass - pass - 3 Diamonds would both be considered an act of prebalancing.

Precision
A bidding system, which has been developed, revised and varied according to the preferences of the bridge community. Many variations exist and some are included, whether they are individual partnership understanding or partially adopted by the majority of the bridge community.

Precision8
This variation has been attributed to Mr. Kelvin Ward. This variant of Precision includes canape, Multi Two Diamonds, Lucas Two Bids, and a weaker 1NT opening of 11-13 high card points. This variation is in .pdf file format. Depending on your browser, the .pdf file may be downloaded to your computer and automatically opened with Adobe Acrobat or opened automatically by your browser.

Canapé Precision
This variation is a partnership understanding between two players and hence its name of Sher-Neill Canapé Precision. The .pdf file represents the System Notes of these two players. This variation is in .pdf file format. Depending on your browser, the .pdf file may be downloaded to your computer and automatically opened with Adobe Acrobat or opened automatically by your browser.

Precision Asking Bids
The Precision Club system allows the 1 Club opener to use asking bids for three purposes. First purpose is to find out about the length and quality of the trump suit. Second purpose is to discover responder’s control of a particular suit. Third purpose is to find out whether the responder can fill in the opener’s semi-solid suit and what other Aces he holds.

Precision Award
The Precision Award was donated by C.C. Wei and after his death continued to be donated by his widow, Kathie Wei, presently Kathie Wei-Sender. It is awarded by the International Bridge Press Association for the Best Article or Series on a System or Convention.

Precision Club
A bidding system developed by Mr. C.C. Wei (1914 - 1987) in 1963 together with Mr. Alan Truscott. Other sources provide the information that the bidding system was originally called the China Bidding System, developed by Mr. C.C. Wei in 1965, and which later became the Precision Club Bidding System.

Mr. C. C. Wei was born in Sheng County, Zhejiang Province of China. He received his B.A. from Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1936, and majored in Electrical Engineering. During World War II, he traveled to the United States. After the war, he became a successful entrepreneur, running business in the shipping industry. After becoming fascinated with the game of bridge he developed a totally new bidding system and modified the features. After establishing contact with Mr. Alan Truscott, the concept of this bidding system was tested. The popularity of the bidding system did not catch on until it was proven effective when the emerging China Team, trained and led by Mr. C.C. Wei, won the Silver medal in the Bermuda Bowl first in 1969 and then again in the following year 1970, beating the more favored United States team. After these two victories the famous Blue Team from Italy adopted many features of the Precision Club bidding system, which assisted Italy to dominate in the international bridge tournaments for many successive years. In 1972, the Italian Blue Team headed by Mr. Benito Garozzo and Mr. Giorgio Belladonna used a variation of this bidding system called Super Precision. After being proved a successful bidding system, Precision Club was strongly adopted and advocated by the global bridge community, which also modified and revised the original concept to form other Precision Club-style bidding systems. We hope to present as many as possible below.

This particular bidding system has been, over the years, revised, modified, and altered to fit certain partnership agreements, varied to address certain flaws, and improved many times. There are many variations on this one theme and following are several. They are all in .pdf file format.

Power Precision of Mr. Alan Sontag and Mr. Peter Weichsel
These are the notes from the book by Mr. Alan Sontag and Mr. Peter Weichsel as transcribed by Mr. Eugene Hung as found on the web pages of Mr. Daniel Neill. At the 37th World Team Championships in Estoril, Bulletin 6, Friday, October 28, 2005, Mr. Alan Sontag was asked about the Power Precision system, the system published in book form, Mr. Alan Sontag said that when he and Mr. Peter Weichsel reformed their partnership in 1998 after a 15-year hiatus, they reviewed the Power Precision system and wondered how they could have won anything playing those methods. These notes are also only archived on this site in .pdf file format for future reference.

RM Precision
This is a form of Precision employed by Mr. Eric Rodwell and Mr. Jeff Meckstroth, whose partnership is generally referred to as Meckwell, which is an individual partnership agreement. Their version of Precision utilizes strong No Trumps, but with a 9-12 variation in First or Second Seat, at favorable vulnerability, in live competition. Strong Club openings have been slightly weakened after their initial employment and their variation contains schemes for postive responses and opener's rebids, which are not completely in corformity with the original Precision concept. Also, Weak Two Bids in either Major suit are opened with 2 Diamonds. The essence of their variation is that the agreement contains special treatments and gadgets depending on the state of the auction. Additional information is not available at this time.

Super Precision Club
The famous Italian bridge partnership of Mr. Benito Garrozzo and Mr. Giorgio Belladona adopted the Precision Club system, to which they added series of improvements and modifications. This continuous processing and modifying ended in a new variant in 1974, which they designated as the Super Precision Club. This .pdf file outlines the basic fundamentals of the Precision bidding system with responses and defense mechanisms. This file is in .pdf file format and, depending our your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adbode Acrobat or opened by your browser. This information has only been archived and preserved on this site.

Precision Club - 99
This is a bidding system developed by C.C. Wei in 1963 with assistance from Mr. Alan Truscott. This bidding system was used successfully y the Taiwan team in the 1967, 1968, and 1969 Far East Championships, and attracted international interest when Mr.. Patrick Huan, M.F. Tai, C.S. Shen and Frank Hwang lead Taiwan's entrance into the finals. This was actually the closest a non-European non-North-American team had come to capturing the world team title. The Taiwan team reached the final again in 1970.

In the United States a number of top-level teams were sponsored by C.C. Wei to employ and popularize the Precision bidding system. Starting around the year 1972, when the Italian Blue Team emerged from retirement to enter the World Team Olympiad, all three of its pairs were using versions of the Precision bidding system. The version employed by Mr. Giorgio Belladonna and Mr. Benito Garozzo was called Super Precision.

This .pdf file format is an outline of the Precision Club, and the origin is unknown as is the particular version. Any information would be appreciated as to its origin and the particular designation of this version. Depending on your browser, by clicking on this link, the .pdf file will automatically be downloaded to your computer and automatically opened with Adobe Acrobat or else automatically opened by your browser without any download. This information has only been archived and preserved on this site.

Precision 8
This version of the Precision bidding system was published by Mr. Kelvin Ward on the Internet and carries the number 8. This variant of Precision includes Canapé, Multi Two Diamonds, Lucas Two Bids, and a weaker 1 NT opening of 11 to 13 high card points. Depending on your browser, by clicking on this link, the .pdf file will automatically be downloaded to your computer and automatically opened with Adobe Acrobat or else automatically opened by your browser without any download. This information has only been archived and preserved on this site.

Sher-Neill Canapé Precision
This .pdf file format is the accumulation of System Notes. Depending on your browser, by clicking on this link, the .pdf file will automatically be downloaded to your computer and automatically opened with Adobe Acrobat or else automatically opened by your browser without any download. This information has only been archived and preserved on this site.

Precision Club Opening Bids
These opening bids have gained enormous popularity of the followers of the Precision bidding system, which was devised by Mr. C.C. Wei, and which was used to a great advantage by the Chinese National Team in many events. Only the opening bids with their definitions and/or requirements are shown in the schematic below.

1 : 16+ HCPs Any shape
1 : 11-15 HCPs 3+ Diamonds
1 : 11-15 HCPs 5+ Hearts
1 : 11-15 HCPs 5+ Spades
1 NT: 13-15 HCPs Balanced shape
2