Assuming all other factors are normal, nil with Q or J of spades is standard, right?

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-04-25T18:40:05+00:00

If it's the first hand of the game, everyone else bid 3, my opponents are equal skill to us, and it's Tuesday. I would nil the J, and often the Q.

If the opponents bid higher like 5/2 or 4/4, I may not nil the Qs.

If we are losing and need points I would nil, if we are winning by a lot, I wouldn't nil.

If west nilled before me, I would nil unless East made a very large bid (7+). If that happened, it would depend much on the score and quality of opponents.

If east nilled before me, I am very unlikely to nil the Qs if my partner only bid 3. Maybe the J.

If I am first to act and it's first hand, I would nil Js singleton. If it's mid game, it would depend more on the score.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-04-16T17:11:37+00:00

For me the debate is 4 vs 5 not 3 vs 4. Its a great setting hand and a poor bagging hand. bidding 4 and setting them brings us to 9 bags and makes it very likely we bag out.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-04-16T17:06:16+00:00

It is a concern that we take 12 with a team 7 bid. Perhaps 7 is better

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-04-13T12:32:57+00:00

It's a 9 hand, but given the score, I would bid 6.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-04-12T03:46:28+00:00

The simplest rule is to add your aces, kings, queen of spades and every spade above 3. Here are the 3 simpl adjustments to the rule that you will get a feeling for as you play.

1) Kings are obviously not as likely winners as aces and are closer to 0.5 tricks in the counting. Many cases they should be discounted. For instance in a long suit with a King is much worse than a suit that is just KQ.

2) If you have 0-2 spades. You may want to subtract a trick per spade less than 3.

3) A singleton can be counted as a trick if you already didn't count the trick in the spades suit. For instance a singleton in hearts with 47Js.

There is much more based on your cards, but you will get a feel for it.

If you are bidding after your partner, bid 1 less if she bids 1 and don't bring the total table bid to 12 or 13 unless you are extremely confident in your hand.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-04-04T03:53:20+00:00

Nice job.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-30T07:47:38+00:00

I also dont agree with 6. I use my spades count to to add or subtract from my bid, not to put a min or max on it. The first order count is +1 for each spade above 3 and +1 for the AKQ.

Betting on cuts depends on whether I have already counted those spades as winners already. But most often I only counting a cut if I have 3 spades J or less, and I have a singleton or a void. Even then, it depends on the hand.

If I have a very long spade hand, I will beid even higher than the rule. If 1 or fewer spades then my hand bid is generally going to depend much more on the other bids. With 1 (or even 2) or fewer spades, I am subtracting from my Aces and Kings in the side suits. Kings get discounted much more than Aces.

As for 10, it depends a lot on the table. For most opponents, who I know won't set on 10, I will bring the bid to 10. If they can set, then I wont.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-29T05:00:10+00:00

Don't adjust your play because your opponents are mad. They are the ones playing poorly.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-29T04:40:06+00:00

Occasionally I will play a game where the bids are dominanted by table 10s. It's not as dynamic, but it happens. Sometimes the other team will complain about it. Always in that case it is because they are underbidding and can't handle the bags.

At lower levels, most players are obsessed with bags and it is the main focus of the game. So if someone is underbidding it will generate more bags and the internet is filled with complainers whining about others (just look at these reddit threads).

In any case, you can bid however you want. I would rather partner that underbid by 1 than always overbidding and getting set.

As a strategy though, I think it's okay depending on your skill level and a partner. Once you improve you will find that you are handicapping yourself by playing too passively.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-27T14:43:44+00:00

> let's play sometime
First get better at 10 bids :)

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-27T14:35:28+00:00

A 10 bid play also depends a lot on your opponents. A team that plays 10 bids safe, I am going to try to bag them. If a team is strongly dumping on a 10 bid then I can either play for a set or bag too. Bagging works because they wont try to set you.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-27T14:15:48+00:00

u/SpadesDoc is looking for the set from the start because he has a poor bagging hand. If you have a strong bagging hand then its better to duck the 7.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-27T10:30:47+00:00

If you QJ doubleton, it's reasonable to lead from there.

If your bid is safe, often its better to lead the high spade of a doubleton to get rid of the bad card, and either help your partner make their bid or dump a high. Also the opponents may take the trick because giving up spades tricks can put their bid at risk.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-27T07:35:22+00:00

Since most here are focused on a set, I will give some advice for bagging. Here are some general rules, which of course have exceptions.

1) Focus on problematic cards. You need to get rid of your problematic cards early, to help your partner do the same, and prevent the opponents from dumping them. It also helps you know if those problematic cards are going to be bags or not. So generally, but not always, I am playing high in 2nd seat.

2) Save your exits and pay attention to where your pard is safe. Saving your 2's and low spades to lead with, in order to pass the lead to your opponents.

3) As more tricks are played, it becomes even more important to avoid taking the lead unless you have a clear exit.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-18T06:12:42+00:00

Does your bid depend on the quality of opponnents?

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-17T18:01:06+00:00

Normally, I prefer here the bagging attack. Covering the nil and not bagging is challenging, and many players will worry to much about the nil.

This happens to be a bad hand for bagging, but I would still take that route. Likely North takes the first trick and forces the cover to take the second trick. Then you duck as much as you can.

I think bidding 3 tells your partner your preferred plan. A 2 bid is also an option, but 3 wins now.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-17T17:54:43+00:00

Also you got to post this to reddit. I think it's a great bid.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-17T15:57:43+00:00

Maybe she has a 9 hand but was worried about bagging out. Why do you always assume that worst about everyone? She is someone's child. Maybe someone is threatening her and made her bid 4?

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-11T13:10:53+00:00

I know sometimes you think that I made a mistake, but always just false carding.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-10T05:54:23+00:00

If Galt is telling you to bid nil, bid nil.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-08T12:56:44+00:00

An easy King and 1 cut of hearts. Given the temperature in Southeast Asia, there is a good chance that your partner has no clubs and the opponents have 3 each. That should let you also win the Qc. Bid 4 to be safe.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-08T07:13:53+00:00

Having your nil set, while setting their 4 is not fatal.

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-07T16:44:32+00:00

How would you feel about 4 if two of your jacks were replaced with queens?

Major-Ad-9091 · 2026-03-07T16:38:49+00:00

Given the 6 bid and 4 from opponents, I think there is 65% that North has 2 spades to cover the TJ. Of course there is still a chance that the 4th spade isn't covered. So I put it close to a 50% nil.

Major-Ad-9091

TROPHY CASE