BRIDGE GLOSSARY

TAB - Trump Asking Bid
An abbreviation for the term Trump Asking Bid. It is used in the Romex bidding system and occurs only after a 1 No Trump or 2 Clubs opening. If the trump suit has been agreed upon and the opener either raises the agreed trump suit below the level of game or bids a minimum number of No Trump, this bid is then a Trump Asking Bid. Compare with STAB or Romex Special Trump Asking Bid, which is employed only after a strong, artificial 2 Clubs opening bid.

Table
1. a bridge game, but also the four players in such a game.
2. the board; dummy;
3. one of the units of activity in a tournament;
4. to put down dummy's cards;
5. to play a card.

Table Feel
A manner of drawing inferences from the behavior of the opponents, rather than from their calls and plays, although drawing such inferences could result in the exchange of unauthorized information.

LAW 16 - UNAUTHORIZED INFORMATION

Players are authorized to base their calls and plays on information from legal calls and plays and from mannerisms of opponents. To base a call or play on other extraneous information may be an infraction of law.

A. Extraneous Information from Partner

After a player makes available to his partner extraneous information that may suggest a call or play, as by means of a remark, a question, a reply to a question, or by unmistakable hesitation, unwonted speed, special emphasis, tone, gesture, movement, mannerism or the like, the partner may not choose from among logical alternative actions one that could demonstrably have been suggested over another by the extraneous information.

Table Guide Card
A large card placed under the boards in the center of a table and on which are the instructions for the players regarding position, seat, how to move, what boards are to played and by which players, etc.

Table Manner
Since the game of bridge is a social activity, certain manners should be observed at the bridge table among the bridge players. See: Etiquette, Conduct, Propriety, Zero Tolerance.

Table Numbers
These are rectangular cards placed in the center of the table and provide the number of the table in the section. Different colored table numbers distinguish the different sections.

Table Presence
This is the designation which distinguishes a good bridge player into an expert bridge player. Although the term cannot be defined in and of itself, the term refers to a player with a combination of instinct, the drawing of correct inferences from any departure from the normal rhythm by the opponents, the exercise of discipline in bidding, the ability to coax maximum performance from the partner, and the ability to make the opponents feel that they are facing a player of a higher order. Sometimes also referred to as Table Feel.

Table Spacing
This is a term to describe the arrangement of bridge tables for a duplicate tournament. Since the play itself should be enjoyed, the encroachment upon other players has been determined to be a certain space. This distance between the tables should be spaced with nine foot centers. If this is not practical for the establishment, then the minimum has been determined to be around seven foot centers in a row. If the concept of the row can not be maintained, then the tables can be staggered in adjoining rows. The last spaced table should be near the first spaced table in order to maintain a certain flow of the boards and players.

Tactics
These are various maneuvers in the play of the hand, bidding nuances and choices of action or strategy. All together the tactics take into consideration the method of scoring, the quality of the competition and the conditions of the contest.

Takeout
A bid at a denomination other than the one previously called by the partner. This is contrast to the other methods such as a jump shift, a single or double raise, etc.

Takeout Double
The application of a low-level double under certain circumstances requesting partner to bid an unbid suit. It is known as a natural convention since a penalty double on the one level is quite unusual, unless it is a so-called trapping pass. The concept was devised independently by Major Charles Patton and Mr. Bryant McCampbell in 1912.

Tallies - Tally - Bridge Tally
These are prepared cards for the recording of results at the end of each round, usually four deals, used mainly in Progressive or Party Bridge. They assumed a personal touch since many were designed with pictures by artists depicting many motifs and scenes. The shown Tally is published by American Greetings of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

TAM II 2 Clubs and 2 Diamonds Openings
The origin of this conventional method is unknown. A. This is the designation for very strong holdings containing generally fewer than three Losing Tricks. An opening of 2 Clubs shows either:

1. a holding with fewer than 3 Losing Tricks and a point count between 26 and 29 high card points and balanced distribution. After the one-round forcing bid, the opener rebids No Trump to show range and point count.

2. a holding with fewer than 3 Losing Tricks, at least 25 plus high card points and an unbalanced distribution. After the one-round forcing bid, the opener rebids the long suit.

If the first response is 2 No Trump, the responder shows a holding with no values. If the first response is in a suit, then the responder promises at least one quick trick in the suit bid. Per individual partnership agreement, a jump in the level of the first response may indicate the possession of two or more quick tricks in the suit bid such as Ace-King or King-Queen-Jack.

B. An opening of 2 Diamonds promises a balanced distribution with values between 22 and 25 high card points. The relay response of 2 Hearts by the responder asks only whether the holding is minimum or maximum in strength. A rebid by the opener of 2 No Trump shows minimum values and a rebid of 3 No Trump shows maximum values.

Tangerine Club
This is a Bidding System described by Mr. Jan Eric Larsson of Sweden. The name is actually Clementinklover in Swedish. Source: http://www.geocities.com/daniel_neill_2000/sys/bridge-system-collection.txt.

About the Author:

Direct quote from website: I was born in Sweden in 1959, ....... During my student and Ph. D. years in Lund, Sweden, I played Bridge in local clubs. For a while, I belonged to the junior elite of southern Sweden, and later I played on an average club level. I have always liked to invent new systems and conventions. My best achievement is, at least in my opinion, the Tangerine Club, (Swedish: Clementinklover), where the opening 1C shows 8-9 or 15+ points.

Tank
A colloquial phrase used in the expression "to go into the tank", meaning to fall into a protracted huddle. The player does not take action for an extended period of time and seems to be in a state of intense concentration.

Tanzania Bridge Association
Founded in 1993
Contact Address
P.O.Box 5104
Dar-Es-Salaam
Tanzania
Telephone: 255-51-38 375/46 614
Fax: 255-51-112 949

Tap
1. Slang: to shorten a hand in trumps by forcing that particular hand to ruff;
2. TAP, an acronym for the Teacher Accreditation Program used by the Education Department of the ACBL, which is a ten-hour seminar and which participants must successfully complete to earn accreditation.

Tap the Table
A practice of many bridge players to signify an informal Alert or to signify a Pass, but which does not meet with the approval of all since such a practice can lead to confusion, thereby creating problems at the bridge table among the four players, since the intention is often open for interpretation.

Tartan Two-Bids
These two-bids were conceived by Mr. Hugh Kelsey and Mr. Tom Culbertson. The essence of the concept is: 2 Hearts and 2 Diamonds are Multi openings, which become clear after a series of relay responses. See the following chart for the general partnership understanding, which has been varied over the years:

Opener Responder Meaning
2 The meaning is yet to be determined
2 Relay or cheapest bid
2 NT Shows 21-22 high card points and balanced holding
3 Shows normally 5-5 in Hearts and Clubs
3 Shows normally 5-5 in Hearts and Diamonds
3 This rebid by the opener and all higher rebids are considered Acol Two bids showing Hearts
2 The meaning is yet to be determined
2 NT Relay or cheapest bid
3 Shows Spades and Clubs, 5-5 distribution, and 6-10 high card points
3 Shows Spades and Diamonds, 5-5 distribution, and 6-10 high card points
3 Shows Spades and Hearts, 5-5 distribution, and 6-10 high card points
3 This rebid by the opener and all higher rebids are considered Acol Two bids

Some partnerships have the understanding that an opening also of 2 Hearts is understood to show also a 5-card Heart suit and an unnamed (not unspecified) 5-card Minor suit, an unbalanced holding, and only 6 to 10 high card points as with the 2 Spades opening. This is by partnership agreement.

It is also possible that a 2 Diamonds opening could be Roman Two Diamonds showing a strong three-suiter, but this is by partnership agreement.

Tax
The first tax on playing cards in the United States was levied in 1862 to raise money for the War between the States and varied from 1¢ to 15¢, or 15% of the cost, whichever was greater, until 1866 when it became 6¢ per pack. This tax on playing cards was repealed in 1883 and was not levied until the depression under President Cleveland's second administration, whereupon a 2¢ per pack tax was imposed under the Act of August 27, 1894. Since that time it has been retained by the Federal Government as a constant source of revenue. The levy remained constant until the necessity of increased revenue following World War I caused an increase in 1920 to 8¢ per pack, which was increased to 10¢ per pack in 1925, and to 13¢ per pack in 1961. This first tax levied on playing cards, according to records, was discontinued on July 1, 1965. The history of taxing playing cards is vague, but old accounts show that King James I of England imposed a tax as early as 1615.

Team
Four, five or six players competing as a unit in a bridge tournament. In mixed team events, no two members of the same sex are permitted to play as partners.

Team Games
A team consists of two pairs who play in different directions at different tables for a common score. One pair plays North-South for a designated number of boards and the other plays East-West for the same number of boards at a different table. For example, if Team A plays Team B, a deal is played at table A-1 with the North-South pair from Team A and the East-West pair from Team B. Then the board is replayed at table B-1 with the North-South pair from Team B and the East-West pair from Team A. Each team plays the deal from each direction and the scores are compared.

Team-Of-Eight Match
A 4-table team contest in which each team has 8 active players.

Team-Of-Four Events
These are contests between team of four, five or six players, and such events are a standard part of duplicate tournaments beginning at the sectional level on up. The manner of scoring will sometimes vary.

Team Of Two Pairs
Both of a team's two pairs sit in the same direction in different sections in this unusual type of pair event. Everyone plays a session of matchpoint duplicate, just like a pair game. Of each team's two results on a board, only the better is entered to determine the matchpoint score. Naturally the score not used for your team is the "better" score for your opponents. Strategy is necessary to maximize potential matchpoints. To be successful, a team should not play or defend the same contract or make the same play at both tables. In other words, the methods used by the two pairs should be different to increase the possibility of a favorable result. This event is usually sanctioned only at sectionals.

Teammate
Any player on the same team, or sometimes one of the players on one's team at the other table.

Telephone Number
Slang: a term to designate a four digit penalty result.

Telling and Asking Cuebids
The origin of this conventional method is unknown. The concept is not to be mistaken for the Fourth Suit Forcing conventional method. These are cuebids below the level of 3 No Trump and are generally attempts to reach a final contract of 3 No Trump. When the partnership, without competition, has bid two suits, then the cuebid of the third suit is a Telling Cuebid, looking for a stopper in the fourth suit. When the partnership, without competition, has bid three suits, then the cuebid of the fourth suit is an Asking Cuebid, asking for a stopper in that suit. With competition the partnership must decide the continuances.

Opener Responder
1 2
3 3 3 is a Telling Cuebid
Opener Responder
1 2
3 3 3 is an Asking Cuebid

Tempo
1. refers to the element of timing in the play of the cards and sometimes important in order not to convey information to the opponents when making an attacking lead or play;
2. refers to the speed with which a bid or a play is made.

LAW 73 - COMMUNICATION

D. Variations in Tempo or Manner

1. Inadvertent Variations

It is desirable, though not always required, for players to maintain steady tempo and unvarying manner. However, players should be particularly careful in positions in which variations may work to the benefit of their side. Otherwise, inadvertently to vary the tempo or manner in which a call or play is made does not in itself constitute a violation of propriety, but inferences from such variation may appropriately be drawn only by an opponent, and at his own risk.

2.  Intentional Variations

A player may not attempt to mislead an opponent by means of remark or gesture, through the haste or hesitancy of a call or play (as in hesitating before playing a singleton), or by the manner in which the call or play is made.

Calculations of Card Play Time - An Exercise

If every trick were played in an unvarying tempo of 20 seconds, then a bridge hand would take over 17 minutes to play. No law prohibits that.

Taking the time of 20 seconds for each card to be played to a trick, the calculations are:

20 seconds x 52 cards = 1040 seconds x 24 boards = 24,960 seconds= 6 hours + 56 minutes

10 seconds x 52 cards = 520 seconds x 24 boards = 12,480 seconds= 3 hours + 28 minutes

8 seconds x 52 cards = 416 seconds x 24 boards = 9,984 seconds= 2 hours + 47 minutes

7 seconds x 52 cards = 364 seconds x 24 boards = 8,736 seconds= 2 hours + 26 minutes

6 seconds x 52 cards = 312 seconds x 24 boards = 7,488 seconds= 2 hours + 5 minutes

5 seconds x 52 cards = 260 seconds x 24 boards = 6,240 seconds= 1 hour + 44 minutes

4 seconds x 52 cards = 208 seconds x 24 boards = 4,992 seconds= 1 hour + 23 minutes

Allow 2 Minutes per Auction per Board = 2 x 24 = 48 minutes for all auctions.

1. at 7 seconds per play = 2 hours + 26 minutes + 48 minutes/auction = 3 hours + 40 minutes

2. at 6 seconds per play = 2 hours + 5 minutes + 48 minutes/auction = 2 hours + 53 minutes

3. at 5 seconds per play = 1 hour + 44 minutes + 48 minutes/auction = 2 hours + 32 minutes

Temporizing Bid
A term to describe a delay bid before taking any definitive action. Also called Waiting Bid.

Ten Commandments for Bridge Players

1. Thou shalt not play any game other than bridge whilst at the bridge table.

2. Thou shalt not call a misdeal just because thou hast been dealt no picture cards.

3. Thou shalt never take the rules of bridge in vain.

4. After losing three games, thou shalt not cry, nor stamp thy feet, nor set fire to thy bridge table.

5. Thou shalt honour thy tournament director’s decision, even though thou might find it unfavourable.

6. When thy partner makes a mistake, thou shalt not kill.

7. Thou shalt not resort to hand signals, meaningful looks or kicks under the table to instruct thy partner.

8. If thou breakest Commandment 7, thou must not get caught.

9. Thou shalt keep table talk to a minimum, unless thou hast some juicy gossip that will not wait.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy opponents’ aces, nor their kings, nor their success at making 7NT doubled and redoubled.

Found on and copied from a tea towel that hangs on the wall of the Severna Park Duplicate Bridge Club in Severna Park Maryland.

Ten or Ten Spot
The fifth ranking card in each suit, and in regards to trump, it is the lowest ranking honor card.

Tenace
This is a combination of two cards in the same suit where one card outranks the second card. However, they are not touching cards, but rather one card is two degrees lower than the other card. For example: Ace — Queen in the same suit form a major tenace. King — Jack in the same suit form a minor tenace.

Ten Implies
An opening lead convention in which the lead of a ten shows an interior sequence including the Ace, King or Queen.

Ten Tables
At duplicate, 10 tables provide for competition among 40 players as individuals, 20 pairs, or 10 teams-of-four. Playing as an individual, the 13-round Mingled Movement or the 10-round Irregular Rainbow Movement would be preferable. Playing as pairs, the preference would be the Mitchell movement.

-tenth
Within or heading a ten-card holding. For example: Ace-King-tenth shows ten cards headed by the Ace-King.

Terrorist Two No Trump - Terrorist 2 NT
The origin of this conventional method is unknown. The employment of this conventional method is only applicable if the player is the first player in rotation to make an opening bid. This conventional method is also known by the designation of Economou Two No Trump and Economou Two Spades.

Tertiary Pairs - Tertiary Teams - Tertiary Individuals
The designation of tertiary is defined simply as being third in place, order, degree, or rank .... or coming next after the second and just before the fourth in position. In the game of bridge there is a winner and a second winner. The first winner generally receives the Gold medal, the second winner generally receives the Silver medal, but the manner of how the third winner is selected may differ, especially in other countries and bridge zones. In some countries this selection is arrived at under the heading of Tertiary - (sponsoring organization designation). The decision to present and award gold, silver and bronze medals is a completely arbitrary feature and need not be employed by every bridge-playing country. In this example, Mr. I. Nan Liu, the Tournament Director, presents an example from such a tertiary pairs session. This example, among others, was first reported by Mind Sports Zine and is only archived and preserved on this site for future reference. In the selection of the third place or rank of any bridge event such sessions may be conducted and designated accordingly.

T-Rex Agreement
This is a .pdf file and will automatically download to your computer and be automatically opened by Adobe Acrobat Reader or automatically opened by your browser, depending on your server. This document is only archived here and the origin is unknown.

Texas Convention - Acol: Texas Transfer Bids
As the name indicates, this convention deals with transfers after a 1 No Trump or 2 No Trump opening by the partner. The Texas convention, or more commonly known as the Texas Transfer bids, was independently devised by Mr. David Carter of St. Louis, Missouri and Mr. Olle Willner of Sweden, and later developed and promoted by Mr. Oswald Jacoby. It also is part of the optional conventions used in the Acol Bidding System. The purpose of the Texas convention is to have the stronger hand concealed during the play, thus the responder transfers the No Trump bidder to the intended suit by bidding the suit ranking lower than the intended suit. These transfer bids are employed only when the partner realizes holds sufficient values for game or slam, not partscore. This difference is the fundamental key of the Texas convention.

Texas At The Two Level - Although quite similar to the Jacoby Transfer conventional method, this approach is different is several aspects. One main difference is that the responder is able to transfer partner to a Minor suit. A second feature of this conventional approach is that the partnership can use the two level, the three level, and the four level to communicate certain distributions.

Dutch Texas Transfer Bids - This is a variation of the Texas convention, which originated in The Netherlands, and which has become known by the country of its origin. The method is outlined below. The possible advantage to this conventional method is that the bidding sequence allows the hand holding the important tenaces to become the declarer.

Opener Responder Meaning
1 NT 4 A puppet to 4 . The responder will then sign-off in a Major suit.
4 Transfer to 4 .
4 Transfer to 4 .

Texas Star Awards
The Texas Star Awards were established in 1995. They honor those Unit volunteers who work so steadfastly at the Unit level to promote Bridge and to further Unit activities. Selection is made by the Unit Board of each Unit and the awards are traditionally presented during the February Lone Star Regional.

Much like the Oswald and Jim Jacoby Service Award, the Texas Star Awards are meant to go to worthy volunteers. Unlike the Jacoby Award, they go to unit-level workers for service performed in their own units. The decision on who is to get the award in a particular unit is left to the Board of Directors of that Unit. The Unit Board then merely informs the Texas Star Award Committee of the decision.

Thailand
Contract Bridge League of Thailand
Contact Address: Room 265, Sports Authority of Thailand
2088 Ram Kam Haeng Road
Hua Mark, Bangkapi
10240 Bangkok, Thailand
Telephone: 66-2-369-3434
Facsimile: 66-2-369-1528

Their Hand
Slang: a deal on which "their side" can conceivably make the highest possible score.

Thin
1. a hand without substance and lacking intermediates, although the high card points total 14 or more, such as 3 Aces and 2 Jacks;
2. a contract, which could be made, although both hands do not contain the traditional amount of points needed to make the contract.

-third
Within or heading a 3-card holding. For example: Jack-third shows three cards headed by the Jack.

Third And Fifth Leads or 3 and 5 or 3/5
This is a conventional lead method, by which a bridge partnership can exchange communication. It is an opening lead method in which the third highest card is led from a three card suit, and the fifth highest card from a longer suit. See also: Rule of 10 and Rule of 11 and Rule of 12.

Third From Even, Low From Odd
An opening lead method in which the third highest card is led from even length, the lowest card from odd length. This method is part, and perhaps the most distinctive feature, of Journalist leads against suit contracts.

Third Hand
1. in the bidding, the partner of the declarer;
2. in the play of the hand, the partner of the leader to a trick;
3. the player to have the third opportunity to make a bid or call.

Third Hand High
This describes a principle of card play from the game of Whist, whereby the third player to play to a trick generally plays the highest card from his holding in that suit, if possible, and is generally limited to the defenders as a part of their strategy, not the declarer.

Third Hand Play
The success or failure of the defense to a contract is usually determined at the first trick. The correct play by the partner of the opening leader generally provides and set the correct defensive strategy. It is traditionally correct to play the highest card on the third hand, although it is only necessary to play as high as possible. Possible encouraging, discouraging, attitude and preference signals can be made on third hand play, and the partnership understanding is most important.

Third Highest Lead
This is a defensive method of leading the highest card but two, and is standard defense when holding three cards headed by an honor.

Third Suit Alternative Relay
This method is attributed to Mr. Monroe Ingberman. TSAR, an acronym for Third Suit Alternative Relay, named for its most important standard-bidding application, designates a principle of bidding in situations meeting certain requirements. The most important requirement is the principle for relay bidding when one player has described a limited hand with a long Minor suit, plus some other distributional restrictions, through a sequence ending at two of the long Minor suit. The player opposite the long Minor suit is called the Tsar, and generally assumes the role of captain and establishes the final contract.

Third Suit Bid
Traditionally a bid in a third suit at the one level is considered as non-forcing. However, if two suits have been bid at the one level and the third suit is bid at the two level in a suit ranking higher than the first bid, then this situation is considered to be forcing. If the third suit is lower ranking then the bid is not forcing. There are and have been several bidding systems, such as the Baron System, where a bid of a third suit is considered forcing regardless of the bidding level.

Thirteener
Slang: the card remaining in a suit after all other cards in that suit have been played on the first three tricks of the suit.

The Thistletree System
This is a treatise written and composed by Mr. Jack Goodman and Mr. Albert Rice, and which appeared in several publications of that era, when the game of bridge was the social sport of the century in the United States, or otherwise around the middle 1930s. Among other publications the essay also appeared, by permission, in the successful book authored by Mr. Albert A. Ostrow titled The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion, published 1955. This system has only been preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format for future reference. It is only a source of amusement for all bridge players to read at their leisure.

Thomas Convention
The origin of this convention is unknown and is properly designated as the Thomas Four Diamonds convention. It can be used in several bidding systems, such as the Universal Club bidding system, but can also be employed as a stand-alone method of asking for Aces. The convention is used only used after an opening of a Major suit, not after a Minor suit opening.

Thomas Four Diamond Convention
See: Thomas Convention

Threat Card or Menace
The term for a potential winner. This card will take a trick if the opponent’s holding in that suit can be sufficiently weakened. See: Menace

Three Club Response as Major Raise
This method was devised by Mr. Alvin Roth in order to make a strong Major suit raise while conserving space for further exchange of information as to trump suit texture, singletons, and controls below the level of game.

Three Club Response To 1 No Trump
Depending on the bidding system used, this response can be applied with various partnership understandings:

1. strong and forcing, suggesting interest in slam;

2. weak and preemptive;

3. invitational and normal with four-suit transfer bidding systems;

4. transfer to Diamonds;

5. a type of Stayman asking for a major, which is now completely obsolete.

Three No Trump Opening
In standard methods, this bid shows 25 to 27HCPs, a balanced hand, and nine quick tricks.

Three No Trump Overcall
After a preempt on the three level, a bid of 3 No Trump indicates a strong balanced hand with at least one stopper in the preemptive suit. The call of double is also not possible because of lacking length in the suits which would be indicated by doubling. The bid of 3 No Trump can also actually be preemptive in nature.

Three No Trump Response
After an opening on the one level by the partner, the responder can bid 3 No Trump, and the meaning can vary according to the partnership understanding.

1. traditional: showing 16 to 18HCPs and any 4-3-3-3 distribution;

2. limit: indicating 13 to 15HCPs and any 4-3-3-3 distribution, as used in the Acol System;

3. conventional: this treatment, devised by Monroe Ingberman, is used with limit raises over an opening in a major suit showing a standard forcing jump raise;

4. distributional: indicates a 13 to 15 support point range with a singleton after an opening in a major suit;

5. extra strong or distributional: shows one of a series of conglomerate major raises with extra values;

6. ace-asking: See: Baby Blackwood;

7. psychic control: this indicates a holding of 23HCPs or more;

8. preemptive major suit raises: a similar bid to a direct raise to four of a major after an opening in a major suit, and showing only moderate defensive value.

Three-Odd
A term to describe three tricks over book or a total of nine tricks.

Three Quarter No Trump
The application by partnerships who use a weak No Trump when not vulnerable. Normal No Trump ranges are used when the partnership is vulnerable. Bridge partnerships which combine this feature with a fourth-hand Weak No Trump at all vulnerabilities, which is considered to be safe since neither opponent can double and dummy must have logically some values, is described as playing 13/16ths.

Three Spot
The second lowest card in any given suit, and sometimes referred to as "trey".

Three-Suiter
A hand with at least three suits of four or more cards, such as in the distribution of 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0.

Three Tables
At duplicate, three tables provide for competition among 12 players as individuals, 6 pairs, or 3 teams-of-four.

Through
A term meaning from the right.

Through Strength
A concept dating back to the days of Whist. The idea is that a defender seated left of the declarer should lead through strength located in the dummy. This percentage play has shown that one’s partner may hold the missing honors behind the dummy.

Throw Away
1. to discard a non-winner or a card that will not take a trick;
2. to defend or play in such a manner as to score very poor results.

Throw In
1. to make a throw-in play. See below.
2. in rubber bridge, to throw the cards into the center of the table after four consecutive passes.

Throw-In Play
Upon the execution of a throw-in play, an opponent is intentionally given the trick. However, the lead thereafter will cost the opponent also one trick or more. There are several types of throw-in plays:

1. tenace throw-in: the opponent takes the trick but is forced to lead from a broken honor holding which will cost at least one trick.
2. trump throw-in: the opponent takes the trick but is forced to concede a trick or tricks through a ruff and discard play by the declarer. This is also known as an Elimination Play.
3. entry throw-in: the opponent takes the trick but is forced to lead a suit in which the declarer already has established his tricks and to which there is otherwise no entry for the declarer.
4. double elimination: the opponent takes the trick but is forced to lead a suit which the declarer wins. The declarer then lets the opponent win a second trick but the opponent must again lead a suit which gives the declarer one or more tricks.
5. pseudo elimination: the opponent wins the trick believing that the declarer has purposely allowed him to win the trick in order to establish a ruff/discard or ruff/sluff situation, which in the end is not the case because the declarer is attempting to conceal a loser.

Throw-In Squeeze
A term for a squeeze which can only be executed when a trick is intentionally surrendered. Generally around the ninth or tenth trick, the declarer surrenders a trick, realizing that only the lead from the opponent who has taken the trick must lead, giving the declarer the final tricks to make the contract.

Thrump Double - A double developed and devised by Mr. Marty Bergen and which is employed generally after an overcall, usually by the immediate opponent, on the three level to discover the possibility of a possible No Trump contract.

Thurner Movement
This is a team movement for a round robin event between an even number of teams, in which for every round there are two tables sharing boards.

Timanus, Eddie
Mr. Eddie Timanus is no stranger to competitive games. The resident of Arlington, Virginia, born 1971, is well known to fans of the television game show Jeopardy as a five time champion of the program, a feat that trivia buffs revere the same way sports enthusiasts glorify winning the decathlon. Mr. Eddie Timanus, a sports writer for USA Today, who covers the collegiate beat (especially lacrosse), has now set his sights on tournament bridge. Why should this be unusual (or difficult) for such an obviously gifted young man? It is because Mr. Eddie Timanus is totally blind.

Despite being born without sight, Mr. Eddie Timanus developed a fascination with all types of games, and by the time he was in junior high school Timanus had developed a group of friends who shared his interests. One member of that group, Joe Hertz of Sterling, Virginia, has remained good friends with Mr. Eddie Timanus and is his bridge partner here in Washington.

Although Mr. Eddie Timanus has long been familiar with rubber bridge, Mr. Joe Hertz persuaded him to give duplicate a try at the Arlington regional last year. The pair entered the 0–5 masterpoint Newcomer Pairs on Friday afternoon where they finished fifth overall with a 59% game. In the evening game, they finished second overall, again with a 59% effort.

"I earned my first red points," said Mr. Eddie Timanus, who plays with the help of Braille cards (there are raised "dots" on the corners of the cards) and an "electronic bidding box" produced by Baron Barclay. The other players at the table announce their bids and their cards as play proceeds.

ACBL allows the use of Braille cards, but they must be supplied by the player who requests their use, so Mr. Eddie Timanus and Mr. Joe Hertz created several of the special decks.

Modifying game components to allow Mr. Eddie Timanus to participate is nothing new to Mr. Joe Hertz. "When we were younger, we played all kinds of board games, but the trick was to find ways to include Eddie," he said. The group even came up with their own name for the process - "Eddiefying".

"Eddiefying a game requires imagination, but we always came up with a solution, even for games like football," said Mr. Joe Hertz. Their football solution was to make Mr. Eddie Timanus the quarterback for both teams, so that the real strategy lay in which side could best plan the blind player's pass attempts during the huddle. Mr. Eddie Timanus was able to parlay his love of games and trivia into multiple Jeopardy championships. In 1999, Mr. Eddie Timanus won five days in a row on the popular game show earning $69,700. He was invited back to play in the program's Tournament of Champions (open only to other strong contenders) later that year, and made it to the semifinal round to earn another $5000.

With all of his accomplishments, Mr. Eddie Timanus has recently added one more. He was married in July 2002 to his girlfriend, Kelli. "Even though I'm a newlywed, I do have my wife's permission to be here. She's not a bridge widow yet!"

Tickets
1. a term to describe the pick-up slips;
2. private score cards or tallies;
3. a term describing the right high cards for a certain action.

Tie
The sameness or the equality in a competition, meaning no winner.
1. On a board;
2. In a Knockout match. The regulations determine that additional boards must be played, in accordance with the conditions of contest, to determine a winner;
3. In overall standings or section standings.
In all ACBL contests and competitions, since 1992, any margin is determined as a win.

Tierce
A term describing a sequence of three cards of the same suit, of which one or more is an honor. The term is derived from a card game called Piquet which was played by two persons using a deck of 32 cards. The cards from the deuce to the six were excluded. The term is now obsolete.

Tight
1. Slang: a term to describe a singleton or a stiff, normally a high ranking honor;
2. Slang: the term also refers to doubleton honors such as Ace-King or King-Queen;
3. Slang: describing the attribute of being conservative.

Timing
In planning the strategy of play there is an element of timing involved as to when the trumps should be pulled, when losers should be trumped, when side suits should be established. During the play, timing is important in deciding when to act passively or aggressively. This factor of timing is applied by both the declarer and both defenders.

Tip the Duke - Tip the Hand - Tip the Mitt
All three expressions have the same and identical meaning and that is to give away one's holdings by one's actions; to inform in some manner. The intent is to cheat by signaling to an accomplice the value of a down card or of the holdings of another player. These expressions are used mainly in the game of poker, but is not limited to such games of chance.

Duke: 1) The nuts, usually preceded by an expression as: I wouldn't call that bet with your money; he's got a duke this time. 2) Get rid of (a poker hand), as in: As soon as I called, he duked his hand.

Mitt: A poker hand, that is, a fistful of cards.

Mitt Joint: A crooked gambling establishment that relies on marked cards.

Nuts: 1) Very good hand; usually preceded by the. Every time I get a good hand, they show me the nuts. Also, the berries, a duke, the Holy City, the Brazilians, the Brass Brazilians, the Royal Brazilians, the como se llamos, the watchamacallits, los cojones, the golyoonies, the World's Fair, and others. 2) The best possible hand at a given point in a pot.

Tiroler Berg Weak Two Bids
The origin of this conventional method is unknown. The basis of the concept is the Weak Two bid in either Major suit with the original opening showing a specified suit. The opening can have several meanings, which are then clarified by the rebids. The following schematic illustrates the concept.

2 : 1. A Weak Two bid showing Spades or
2. A Weak Two bid promising Hearts and an unknown Minor suit.
2 : 1. A Weak Two bid showing Hearts or
2. A Weak Two bid promising Spades and an unknown Minor suit.

The responses, per partnership agreement, follow:

2 : To play after a 2 opening. The opener rebids the Minor suit when holding Hearts and a Minor suit.
2 NT: To play in Hearts. The opener rebids the Minor suit when holding Spades and a Minor suit.

Toad Club System
This bidding system was developed by Americans Mr. Ken Schutze and Mr. Jim Griffin, and played in the 2005 United States Women's Trials. The Toad Club system is a Big Club System in which all good hands (16 plus high card points or equivalent playing strength) are opened with 1 Club. Failure to open 1 Club, therefore, limits the hand to at most 15 points (except a 1 Heart opening may contain 17 high card points when holding a 5-card suit and unbalanced hand). The system actively encourages aggressive opening bids and, by design, allows the opener to get out at a low level in many auctions in which he has elected to open light. Consequently, many auctions that would be forcing in Standard American are non-forcing in Toad Club. The major component of the Toad Club system is the use of many distributional relays to ascertain partner’s exact distribution. This bidding system is only preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format for future reference. The visitor should select the link for the original version as presented by Mr. Marin Johnson.

Tollemache Cup
The Tollemache Cup is the inter-county championships for teams of eight. Entry is open only to County Associations of the EBU (English Bridge Union) and District Associations of the WBU. Teams are limited to 12 playing members, although not necessarily the same 12 in the qualifying round and the final. The qualifying event is normally played in November and will be played in four sections, in each of which every team plays every other. The composition of sections will be determined by open draw at noon on the first day of play, but the previous year’s finalists will be seeded, two into each section.

Tolleson Transfer Bids
Tolleson Transfer Bids, a new way of 4-way transfers after 1 No Trump opening. They have been invented and devised by American-born German bridge player Jeanine Greifswald-Tolleson, and contributed by Mr. Frank Göbel.

Tonto Convention - This conventional method was devised and developed by Mr. Robert Stone. The designation is an acronym for Transfers Over 3 No Trump Overcalls. It is a basically a means employed by the partnership to continue to explore for additional information after one partner has overcalled an opening preempt bid on the three level by the opponents with 3 No Trump.

Top
1. when playing a board, the best score made in the play of a hand in a duplicate tournament;
2. when playing a board, top refers to the value in matchpoint play and is one less than the number of times the board has been in competition;
3. the best score for a session of play among the contestants after completion of the competition;
4. a term to describe the highest card in the dummy’s suit when called by the declarer to play.

Top and Bottom
This term relates to a style of strategy and/or tactic that generally results in a very good or very bad result on each deal.

Top and Another Cuebids or T and A Cuebids
This method of the standard but combined Michaels Cuebid and Unusual No Trump as overcalls was developed by Mr. Gene Hendricks. The concept is as follows:

Direct Cuebids:

Opener
Overcaller
 Meaning
1
2
Promises Spades and a Red Suit, either Hearts or Diamonds.
1
2
Promises Spades and a Round Suit, either Clubs and Hearts.
1
2
Promises Spades and a Minor Suit, either Clubs or Diamonds
1
2
Promises Hearts and a Minor Suit, either Clubs or Diamonds.

Unusual No Trump Overcalls:

Opener
Overcaller
 Meaning
1
2 NT
 Promises the Red Suits, Diamonds and Hearts.
1
2 NT
 Promises the Round Suits, Clubs and Hearts.
1
2 NT
 Promises the Minor Suits, Clubs and Diamonds.
1
2 NT
 Promises the Minor Suits, Clubs and Diamonds.

The responses to the Top and Another cuebidder must be carefully made, of course, when requesting information about the other suit. At times a 2 No Trump first response will suffice, which asks the overcaller to specify the second suit. But in other situations, the responder will bid one of the other suits to show preference for that suit if the cuebidder has it and with the top suit being of secondary preference. The advantages of these coupled conventions are that all two suited holdings can be expressed and shown. The general guideline is for the player to bid in this manner when the holding is weak with less than 11 high card points or very strong hands with more than 17 high card points.

Top And Bottom Cuebids
The origin of these cuebids are unknown. They are employed after a suit opening of any opponent and not after any No Trump opening by the opponents. The direct cuebid of the suit of the opponent may be employed in direct seat or in the balancing seat. The concept behind this method is to show that the two suits of the cuebidder are known to be the highest unbid suit and lowest unbid suit of the suit of the opener. The two-suiter of the overcaller should contain either a 5-4 distribution by favorable vulnerability, otherwise a distribution of at least 5-5 should be the norm by non-favorable vulnerability.

Top Of Nothing
A defensive method of leading a relatively high spot card to show no honor in the suit.

Top Of A Sequence
In leading against either a suit contract or a No Trump contract the bridge player has the option of leading frm the top of a sequence, meaning that if the player holds Ace-King, then the player will lead the Ace. The information that partner can gain from this lead is that the King is behind the Ace, and the partner can, as a consequence of this information, communicate attitude and/or preference.

One definition of a sequence is that the holding is able to take two tricks. This means that the following holdings constitute sequences: AK, KQJ, QJ109. However, this defintion is rather strict and has been modified. In more modern thinking a sequence will show the possession of the next highest-ranking card, such as AK, KQ, QJ. In the case of a sequence headed by the Queen, the school of thought is that the sequence contain three cards: QJ10. However, even this sequence has been modified to include a broken sequence of one card, meaning that the possession of QJ9x fulfills the definition of a sequence. But if the holding is QJ8x, then this holding does not fit the defintion. In this instance the 'x' would be deemed the more correct card to play since it is the fourth down from the longest, strongest suit. (Source: Introduction To Bridge: Introduction to Defender's Play by Mr. Edwin Kantar in his publication of 1968.

Top Score
This is the highest number of matchpoints any contestant can score in direct competition.

Torino Bull
This is a trophy presented by the City of Turin, Italy, for the World Women’s Team Olympiad. The trophy was first presented in 1960 and is held every four years.

Torpedo Pairs Opening Bids
These opening bids are a variant of the Symmetric Club bidding system and employs Symmetric-like relays in generally all subsequent bidding. These bids were devised by Mr. Dean Eidler and Mr. Murat Genc of New Zealand, who intended Third Seat opening requirements of 12 to 16 high card points and Fourth Seat opening requirements of 17 high card points plus. These opening bids were, for all general purposes, the foundation of an individual partnership agreement based on their mutual bidding system, which gained some popularity.

1 : 15+ HCPs Any shape
1 : 10-14 HCPs 4+ Hearts
1 : 10-14 HCPs 4+ Spades
1 : 10-14 HCPs Distribution: 4-4 plus in both Major suits
1 NT: 12-14 HCPs Balanced shape; no 4-card Major suit
2 : 10-14 HCPs 6+ Clubs
2 : 10-14 HCPs 6+ Diamonds
2 : 5-9 HCPs 6 Hearts
2 : 5-9 HCPs 6 Spades
2NT: 5-9 HCPs Distribution: 5-5 plus in both Minor suits

TOSR 2003 as presented by Mr. Mark Abraham
The long designation is: 4-Card Transfer-Oriented Canapé Symmetric Relay System. A bidding system presented on the Internet by Mr. Mark Abraham. As self-described:

This system features a strong Club and limited transfer-style one-level openings with a normal Weak No Trump. Various game-forcing and invitational or better relay structures are described.

Reputedly this system was first invented in New Zealand and was known as Submarine, but I am sure we have warped it beyond recognition. We have based our structure and notes on those of Mr. Bruce Williams of Tasmania. The current versions incorporate John Fout's Overcall Structure for added psychosis in the auction.

TOSR 1999 Version as presented by Mr. Mark Abraham
As self-described: It is not a literal copy of the website, because the latter has some extraneous stuff on it. It has all the essential components, however, except the change to the 1C-1D-1H-1S-2C sequences. This Version has also be archived on this site as a .pdf file, and, depending on your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat or automatically opened by your browser.

See also: 4-Card Transfer-Oriented Canapé Symmetric Relay System by Mr. Mark Abraham and Mr. Tim Johnson, July 1998. This Version has also be archived and preserved on this site as a .pdf file, and, depending on your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat or automatically opened by your browser.

See also: 4-Card Transfer-Oriented Canapé Symmetric Relay System by Mr. Mark Abraham. This Version has also be archived and preserved on this site as a .pdf file, and, depending on your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat or automatically opened by your browser.

See also: SCRAPE - Strong Club Relay Avoiding Passing Ever - formerly known as Strong Club Relay, Opening Transfers Emphasising Majors. These pages have also been archived on this site in .pdf file format. See: Glossary

Included on the Website of Mr. Mark Abraham are:

Notes on T-Rex
CATOMULT
REGRESsion
Relay Precision
Suspensor Forcing Pass

TOSR as presented by Mr. Daniel Neill and Mr. Josh Sher
A bidding system presented in segments by Mr. Daniel Neill and Mr. Josh Sher. This bidding system is also known as 4-Card Transfer-Oriented Canapé Symmetric Relay System. The categories of this bidding system are listed below. Each is in .pdf file format and, depending on your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat or automatically opened by your browser.

This bidding system is represented on the Internet at the URL: http://www.geocities.com/daniel_neill_2000/sys/TOSR/frames.htm and are only archived and preserved here.

Description of Opening Bids

1 Club Opening

1 Diamond Opening

Continuations After a 1 Diamond Opening

1 Heart Opening

1 Spade Opening

1 No Trump Opening

2 Clubs Opening

2 Diamonds Opening

2 Hearts Opening

2 Spades Opening

2 No Trump Opening

Leads - Signals - Discards

Third and Fourth Seat Adjustments

Appendices

TOSR by Mr. Mark Abraham and Mr. Tim Johnson
A bidding system. By Mr. Mark Abraham and Mr. Tim Johnson, published on the Internet July 1998 in one segment. This bidding system is also known as 4-Card Transfer-Oriented Canapé Symmetric Relay System. These pages are only archived and preserved on this website. This is in .pdf file format and, depending on your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat or automatically opened by your browser.

Total Point Scoring - Total Points
Known in England as Aggregate Scoring. This is the computation of scores based on points earned minus the points lost. This computation can be used in various forms of bridge such as Contract Bridge, Duplicate, Rubber and/or Chicago.

Total Tricks
This is the sum of the numbers of tricks that each side can take, double-dummy, in its longest trump suit.

Total Trumps
This term is used for the sum of the number of trumps held by each side in its best combined fit.

Touching Cards
1. these are cards that are in sequence in the same suit;
2. the physical act of touching any cards other than one’s own cards, which is illegal in duplicate, unless the player is arranging the dummy’s cards and has explained his action prior to the act.

Touching Escape Bids
This convention method provides a so-called escape system in particular auctions whereby one player has opened the bidding with a suit and there has been an overcall of a natural 1 No Trump, which is then doubled for penalty by the next player in rotation. This conventional method is also employed when the opening bid of 1 No Trump has been doubled for penalty.

Touching Honors
A holding of two or more honors that are in sequence, although the holding may be longer.

Tournament
An organized competitive duplicate bridge event, which has been sponsored, publicized, promoted, organized, and directed to completion, meaning that a winner has been determined after the scoring has been totaled. During the earlier days of Whist and Auction Bridge, such an event was referred to as a Congress.

Tournament Director
The official and appointed representative of the sponsoring organization for the duration of any competitive duplicate bridge tournament, who is responsible for the element of play, the management of the event, and making decisions after the occurrence of an irregularity.

Tournament Events
Tournament events may be classified by type: Individual, Pair, Team. These types of events may be organized by 1. Expertise (masterpoint holdings) as: Open, Flighted, Stratified, Stratiflighted, Handicapped, Bracketed (Teams), Masters, Non-Masters, Life Masters, specific masterpoint restrictions (0-5, 0-20, etc.). Events may also be restricted by 2. Gender: men's, women's, mixed or unmixed, and by 3. Age: Junior (25 years of age or younger), Senior (55 years of age or older). Scoring Methods are: Individual (matchpoints or internations matchpoints - IMPs), Pair (natchpoints or IMPs), Team (win/loss, victory points, total points, board-a-match).

Tournaments
The ACBL sanctions the following types of tournaments: NABCs - three major national championships each year; Regionals - sanctioned to each of the 25 Districts; Sectionals - sanctioned to the 300+ units.

Towie
This is a form of bridge for three players but intended to be played usually by four, five or more players, of whom only three play at one time. The other players participate in the defenders' score against the declarer. The game was originated in Paris in 1931 by two Americans, Mr. J. Leonard Replogle and Mr. Paulding Fosdick. In 1935, Mr. J. Leonard Replogle, with the assistance of Mr. William Huske, sought to make Towie a popular game in the United States. This attempt had only moderate success, though the game is stilled played. The principal books on this variety of bridge were written by Mr. William Huske and by Mr. Stuyvesant Wainwright Jr. The play of Towie is that after dealing four hands, the dealer turns up six cards of the dummy, after which the auction proceeds as in any three-handed game. Scoring is based on the 1932 International Code, which differs from later codes in undertrick penalties and in the fact that No Trump tricks count 35 points each. The three active players bid for the dummy. The high bidder becomes the declarer. If the declarer fulfills the contract, he collects from every other player, actively or not actively participating. If the declarer fails to fulfill the contract, the declarer then pays every such player. After each deal, one player is replaced by an inactive player, in order of precedence except that a player who is not vulnerable takes precedence over a vulnerable player. If a game contract is reached, the hands are thrown in, and a Goulash follows, a deal in which the cards are distributed in large packets such as 5,5,3 or 5,4,4, instead of one at a time.

Track
Slang: the act of putting or laying down on the table, as in the dummy tracked with six strong Hearts.

Tram Tickets
Slang: a term, generally used in Britain, for a holding with very poor cards.

Tranare Bidding System
The origins of this bidding system is unknown and is only archived here. Any assistance in discovering the author and/or origins of this bidding system would be greatly 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.

Trance
Slang: a prolonged interruption in the tempo and rhythm of the play during which a player ostensibly tries to solve an unexpected problem. This interruption in the tempo can lead to ethical difficulties through misinterpretation of the intent and may lead to subjection of a call for the director to assess a ruling.

Transfer
1. a bid that shows length in a different suit;
2. a call that asks partner to make a certain call regardless of his holding;
3. to use a transfer;
4. to remove protection in a suit from one opponent and give it to the other;
5. a squeeze involving a transfer.

Transferable Values
This designation describes strength that is likely to be useful on either offense or defense, thus high cards in suits where the partnership is not known to have great combined length.

Transfer Advance Approach
This is a conventional method whereby the responder (advancer) first transfers the opener to the intended suit after an opponent has opened the auction in a suit and the next player (partner) in rotation overcalls. The object is to have the partner captain the auction and/or to become the declarer. The following illustration presents this concept:

West East
KQ876
87
K953
43
 
54
AKQ106
Q86
QJ10

South

 West North East
1 1 Pass 2

The 2 first response by East is the Transfer Advance to Hearts in this example.

Transfer Bids
These bids have only one goal, and that is to make the stronger of the two hands the declarer. They were first employed by Mr. David Carter, who devised Texas Transfers. After gaining popularity, other bridge players such as Mr. Oswald Jacoby for Jacoby Transfer Bid continued the development of Transfer Bids. Such bids were also devised independently by Mr. Olle Willner of Sweden, who published corresponding articles in Bridge Tidningen during 1953 and 1954.

Transfer Opening Preempts
The concept is that the partner of the preempting player transfers his partner to that suit, which is intended. Such a Transfer Opening Preempt is used with NAMYATS. Four No Trump Opening As Minor Preempt, Rubin Transfers, Transfer Opening Three Bids, Two-Under Opening Preempts.

Variation: A variation is also designated as Transfer Opening Preempts and has the following openings. The origin is unknown. The assumed advantage of such transfers is that the lead will come up to the player, who accepts the transfer.

2 NT: A standard preempt in Clubs. Partner should bid Clubs.
3 : A standard preempt in Diamonds. Partner should bid Diamonds.
3 : A standard preempt in Hearts. Partner should bid Hearts.
3 : A standard preempt in Spades. Partner should bid Spades.

Transfer Opening Three-Bids
This is a feature of the Texas principle, although the method was refined by Mr. Svend Novrup and Mr. Anders Lausten of Denmark in 1968, which they called Verdi. An opening of Three Clubs, Three Diamonds or Three Hearts transfers to the nest-higher suit and contains normal preemptive strength. An opening of Three Spades shows a solid Minor suit, which allows 3 No Trump to be played from the correct side. An opening of 3 No Trump shows a semi-solid Minor suit. NAMYATS is also used with this method. Opening on the Three Level with the intention of transferring has several advantages. The lead will be to the hand which holds the stronger side suits. The defense has little knowledge concerning the strength and distribution of the declarer. The opening bidder is able to show a two-suited holding by rebidding his second suit.

Transfer-Oriented Canapé Symmetric Relay System
See: TOSR

Transfer Precision Opening Bids
These opening bids are based on and is a variation of the Precision bidding system and was developed by Mr. Ian Wilson of California. One feature of priority of these opening bids was to, by relay bids after a 1 Club opening, make the opener the declarer. The similarity between these opening bids and the Truscott Symmetric Opening Bids is obvious, but the subsequent bidding process, however, differs significantly as does the opening No Trump range.

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: 11-13 HCPs Balanced shape
2 : 11-15 HCPs 5+ Clubs
2 : 11-15 HCPs Distribution: 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0; Diamonds shortage
2 : 8-10 HCPs 6 Hearts
2 : 8-10 HCPs 6 Spades
2NT: 22-23 HCPs Balanced shape

Transfers Following A Double - Transfers After A Double
There are many partnership agreements and many conventional methods for any following action after a double of a No Trump opening bid by the immediate opponent. Many of these practical methods dealing with the competition in the form of a double do not have specific designations, and are therefore difficult to classify. The attempt has been made to include these methods as a list.

1. Jacoby Transfer bids are generally accepted bidding actions since the double by the immediate opponent has in no manner interferred with the partnership agreement.
2. Since a 2 response by responder is an idle bid, this particular response has been adopted, especially by Acol players, to show the following. It should be noted that the range for an opening bid of 1 No Trump for Acol players is between 12 and 14 high card points.
1 NT
Double
2
 Promises a semi-balanced to balanced distribution and exactly 11 high card points. The response of 2 does not guarantee a stopper in any of the suits promised by the opponent.
1 NT
Double
2
 Promises a semi-balanced to balanced distribution and exactly 12 high card points. The response of 2 does not guarantee a stopper in any of the suits promised by the opponent.

This particular response has also been varied by partnerships to be employed as a way to transfer the No Trump bidder to a Minor suit. This method has been adopted by Acol players and is shown below:
1 NT
Double
2
 The responder shows either exactly 11 high card points or a long Minor suit.
2NT
Pass
The No Trump bidder rebids 2NT with a minimum values. This rebid generally promises a stopper(s) in one of the specified suit(s) of the intervenor. The responder then must decide between passing or bidding the long Minor suit. If the responder bids the long Minor suit, then the No Trump bidder is required to pass and the responder becomes the declarer if the auction ends.
3
The No Trump bidder rebids 3 with a maximum values. The responder then either choses to rebid 3 No Trump or to pass with non-game values and a long Club suit. If the responder choses to play in a long Diamond suit, then the responder will correct to Diamonds and the No Trump bidder is required to pass.
3. In the Acol bidding system transfers constituted a major element. Although the origins are unknown, in the early 1950s bridge authors (?) devised or reported about bouncing and breaking. This method has become more popular through the bridge books and publications by Mr. Paul Mendelson.
1. Bouncing: Following the standard initiation of a transfer sequence, such as:
North
East
South
West
 Meaning
1 NT
Pass (or Double)
2
Pass
3
The No Trump bidder promises maximum values (Acol = 14 points) and a 4-card Heart suit. When these requirements are not met by the No Trump bidder, then the No Trump bidder rebids 2.

Breaking: Following the standard initiation of a transfer sequence, such as:

North
East
South
West
 Meaning
1 NT
Pass (or Double)
2
Pass
3
The No Trump bidder promise maximum values (Acol = 14 points) and a doubleton in the bid suit such as Diamonds in this example. A second unexpected rebid by the No Trump bidder would be 3, by-passing the Hearts, to which the responder transfers.

The advantage of this method, referred to as bouncing and breaking, is that the partnership is able to discover game contracts at very little risk to the partnership. However, if the competition continues to the fourth player in rotation, then the partnership must decide upon which action to take.
4. See: Exit Transfer bids.

Transfers Over Doubles Of One No Trump
This is a four-suit escape treatment after an opening of 1 No Trump following by a double by the opponent. The partner of the No Trump bidder has several options. In the case the responder redoubles, and then bids 2 Diamonds over the forced 2 Clubs response, the request is that the partner bid his better Major.

Redouble: Transfer to Clubs
2 : Transfer to Diamonds
2 : Transfer to Hearts
2 : Transfer to Spades

Transfer Overcalls Of One No Trump
This concept was introduced by the Blue Team Club as part of their system. The responder generally is forced to accept the transfer if he would have normally passed the overcall. The transfer overcalls are to all four suits:

2 : Transfer to Diamonds
2 : Transfer to Hearts
2 : Transfer to Spades
2 : Transfer to Clubs

Transfer Preempts
This kind of transfer is generally a feature of the Precision or Mini-Precision Bidding Systems but may be employed independently. The origin of the concept is unknown. The following is a .pdf file compiled by Mr. Dirk Van Compernolle and is only archived on this site for future reference. This version is not to be regarded as the fundamental concept of transfer preempts.

Transfer Squeeze
A form of squeeze by the declarer resulting in transferring the menace by forcing an opponent to lead whereby the opponent forces his partner to become squeezed by having to discard.

Transferred Trick
A term for the trick given to the non-offending side after a revoke has been established. See Law 64.

Transferring The Menace
A defensive strategy by which the control of one suit by one opponent is transferred to his partner.

Transfer Over Doubles of a Preemptive Bid
In the case that a preemptive action is doubled, minimum actions can be applied to show length in the next-higher strain, with or without a fit with the opener. A transfer to the suit of the opener shows a fitting top honor.

Transformation Cards
These cards are specially designed cards and packs of cards, whose faces include the various pips on the suit cards. Mr. Albert Field published a book entitled Transformation Playing Cards and which can be purchased at the included link.

Trap Defense Method
The origin of the concept is unknown, but this defense method was popularized by Mr. Anthony (Tony) R. Forrester of Upton Bishop, England. It is a defensive bidding system employed after strong, artificial One Club openings.

Trap Bid
A term for describing an inconsistent bidding sequence by one partner which traps his own partner. At the second bid, one partner shows limited strength and length, but on the third bid denies the limit bid and shows more strength and length indicated by the second bid.

 

Trap Pass
A term describing a pass by a player, whose right hand opponent generally has opened the auction with a bid of a suit, in which the player is unusually strong, and who also has enough values to take some other action. Since the player realizes that his opponents may very well have a misfit, the player hopes for a better score with his defensive holding than deciding to enter the auction. Although there is no norm, percentages have determined that with values exceeding 18HCPs, any action other than a pass is preferable, since game is more likely than not.

Trash Stayman
The origin of this variation of the Stayman convention is unknown. Judging by the evidence it appears that the bridge community itself devised bidding sequences to show certain distributional patterns to overcome certain bidding problems. Trash Stayman is a treatment employed by holdings, which do not contain game values, and which have a certain distribution. These distributional patterns are defined as: 4-4-4-1, 3-4-5-1, 4-3-5-1, 4-4-5-0, 3-3-6-1, 3-4-6-0, and 4-3-6-0.

Traveler or Traveling Score Slip
A score sheet, an individual pick-up card, or a traveling scoreslip that accompanies every board played in a tournament.

Traveling
The act of not occupying the same seat or seats throughout the tournament movement.

Tray
1. a term for a board, now obsolete;
2. the device that was slid under the screen in championships, on which the bidding-box cards were carried from one pair of opponents to the other pair of opponents. This tray was created by Mr. Henny Dorsman of Aruba and first used at the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Aruba in 1977. These trays were subsequently altered and improved by Mr. Ernesto D’Orsi.

Treatment
A treatment is a natural bid that indicates a desire to play in the named denomination, or promises or requests values in that specific denomination. By partnership agreement, a treatment also gives or requests additional information on which additional action could be based. A convention, on the other hand, is a bid that gives or requests information unrelated to the denomination named.

Trelde Leads
This is a method of leading from honor sequences to distinguish between a genuine sequence of 3 touching honors and a false sequence of only 2 touching honors. From a sequence of a 3-card true sequence, the highest card is the correct lead, and from a sequence of a 2-card sequence, the second highest card is the correct lead. This concept was developed by Mr. John Trelde of Holland.

Tresboof Bidding System - Introduction
The origin of this concept can be found on the following web page. The concept is that it is a Forcing Pass System with Moscito Relays. The following .pdf files are only archived on this site and has been compiled by Mr. Todd Anderson, and can be viewed at: http://www.geocities.com/drtodd13/bridge_files/TresBoof.txt. The following .pdf files can also be found at this Internet address.

Tresboof Bidding System
Version 1992, .pdf file.

Tresboof Bidding System
The Version 2001 .pdf file has only been archived on this site for future reference.

Tresboof Bidding System
Version 2001, Last Revision, .pdf file.

Tresboof Bidding System 2003
This is un updated version of the Tresboof Bidding System and has been only archived as the Version 2003 .pdf file on this site for future reference.

TRex Bidding System - T-Rex Bidding System
As presented and hosted by Mr. Mark Abraham of Australia. The link will take the visitor to his website, where he has posted the bidding system in the form of downloads, some in MicroSoft Excel format. The bidding system is so constructed that most opening bids are highly multi-way with many different relay structures. Notwithstanding, it has been used at world championship level by Michael Ware and Andy Braithwaite in Maastricht in 2000 and Andy and Ian Turner. The T-Rex General Agreements have been filed, archived and preserved on this site in a .pdf file format, and depending on your browser will be either automatically downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader or automatically opened by your browser.

Trey
The three-spot card of any suit.

Triangle
Slang: a colloquial designation of a holding, which contains only three points. Often times used with the slang term Heartbreaker together as in the following example:

 
North
J652
Q7432
J102
7
 
West
8
J985
7
Q1086543
 
East
Q4
AK106
83
AKJ92
 
South
AK10973
AKQ9654
 
     
West
North
East
South
Pass
1
2
4
4
6
6
Pass
Pass
Double
Pass
Pass
Redouble
Pass
Pass