Joseph Elwell - Bridge Axioms and Laws

The best Bridge players are undoubtedly those who can draw inferences quickly and correctly.

Observation is an art enabling one to discover what other people's play conceals – as well as reveals.

Observation always infers, and one inference will lead to another.

Each card played speaks through its silence, and its language must be understood.

To converse intelligently through the medium of the cards, each must be seen as it falls with eyes that grasp its meaning.

Failure to note the play of a card is not lack of memory, but lack of heed.

Situations are kaleidoscopic and constant, and success may only be achieved by being perpetually alert to note them.

All time at Bridge should be devoted earnestly to what confronts a player, not to what is past.

It is better not to play at all, than to play without earnestness.

One careful game is worth any number of slipshod, careless efforts which are disconcerting to your partner, and the delight of your adversaries.

Bridge abounds with situations which must be learned.

Promptness in making a conclusion is a mental inspiration as well as an aid to expeditious play.

Hap-hazard play, first from one suit and then from another, will not induce a successful campaign in Bridge.

Haste and waste are anti-types in Bridge, as they are in everything.

To improve your Bridge, theory and practice must go hand in hand.

Bridge is a game of which much is learned through the mistakes made and heeded.

Do not fail to profit in future games by the mistakes that you discover in present play.

When you see clever plays that are new to you, analyse the motives that underlie them.

The soundest play will sometimes lose, and the worst will sometimes win.

Uniform good play, no matter what the luck may be, will ultimately triumph over bad play.

Tricks heedlessly lost mar the successful enjoyment of Bridge.

That you happily did not lose on a hand, is no palliation for the bad play of which you may have been guilty.

Do not overlook the tricks which may be gained by the use of a little card strategy.

Memory is simply a matter of observation and practice.

Careful Bridge cultivates memory.

What is done with a hand cannot be undone.

A successful partnership game must be based on perfect faith and confidence between partners.

Combined play in Bridge is absolutely essential to success.

When you accept a partner, you accept him as he is, not as you might wish him to be.

A trust in your partner's Bridge ability will overcome many obstacles in the way of drawing inferences.

If your partner objects to moving, do not advise him to change.

Do not begin by abusing your partner for the make; you practically say your hand is weak and the situation hopeless.

Your partner will play a better game if he does not fear your adverse criticism.

Do not tell your partner, after seeing all the cards, what he should have done; but think what you would have done in your partner's place.

The chronic complainant is a pessimistic partner and a peevish adversary.

One grain of encouragement is worth a pound of scolding in Bridge.

If you take advantage of your partner's breach of etiquette, you lay yourself open to adverse criticism.

The moment that you show subserviency you admit superiority.

Cards do not carry with them a license to be unfair or rude.

It is more important to inform your partner than to deceive your adversary.

Be generous with your praise of a well played hand.

Play the weak hands as interestedly as the strong.

Do not criticise at all; but – if you must – criticise fairly.

Never call attention to the score after the cards have been dealt.

No matter how cleverly the cards are managed, the player who underestimates the attention the state of the score demands will unnecessarily lose many a rubber.

The necessity for keeping the score constantly in mind grows upon all players as their experience in Bridge increases.

Know the requisite number of tricks to be taken, both to win and to save the game.

When you are a game behind, do not hesitate to gamble.

When you are a game to the good, make none but a conservative and sound declaration.

When the score is 18 to nothing against you on the first game, or when you are a game to the good, avoid a doubtful declaration which may enable the adversaries to win the game on your deal.

When the make is passed to you at a score of 24 all on the rubber game, declare your best suit.

When the game is saved, but cannot possibly be won, the seventh trick should be the objective point.

When you cannot reach game, never hazard the odd trick in an attempt to win two odd.

Many times the game can only be won or saved in case the cards lie in a certain position. Assume that the cards are favourably placed and play the hand accordingly.