Game Try

A game try (also called a game trial bid) in the card game of bridge is a bid that shows interest in bidding a game and asks partner to help in making the decision.

For example (using Acol or Standard American bidding) if opener, with around 16-17 HCP, bids 1♥ and partner responds 2♥ (showing 6 – 9 support points) opener is in a quandary: if responder has a maximum strength hand, with well-positioned high cards, then game will probably make; but the information revealed so far is not accurate enough for either partner to decide whether to play in game or only part score.

Originally, opener would make a game try by bidding 3♥ (inviting game) and responder would then bid game with maximum (8-9) points or pass with minimum (6-7) points.

Modern game try bids permit more accurate decision-making. Following a simple raise by partner (e.g. 1♥ – 2♥), opener bids a new suit to show extra values. By partnership agreement, this can be a long suit, short suit, or help suit game try. Whichever method has been adopted, responder will evaluate the additional information and make one of the following choices: sign off in 3 of the agreed suit; jump to game in the agreed suit; jump to game in NT if the suit is a minor; or make a counter try in yet another new suit.

Read more about Game Try:  With A Major Suit Fit, With A Minor Suit Fit, If Opener Has A Weak Hand, If Opener Has A Very Strong Hand, Other Methods of "trying" For Game

Famous quotes containing the word game:

    One of life’s primal situations; the game of hide and seek. Oh, the delicious thrill of hiding while the others come looking for you, the delicious terror of being discovered, but what panic when, after a long search, the others abandon you! You mustn’t hide too well. You mustn’t be too good at the game. The player must never be bigger than the game itself.
    Jean Baudrillard (b. 1929)