https://esther-bridge.com/DL_misc.html
LAST Updated: 2/22/26 07:54

Drawing of Esther YOUR HOST: Esther Klinktoast-Houstonhousen, a hypothetical Quintuple Emerald Gold Life Master (20+ million ACBL Masterpoints), who vacillates between insisting on being called "Ms. Klinktoast-Houstonhousen," and "Esther, because I am so warm and caring," and who in her downloadable lesson dialogs torments (usually, but not always) her earnest bridge student, Bruce.

Return to the "Esther Bridge Lessons" website.
Go to the "Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quizzes" website.
Go to the "Bridge Bruce's Way ('BBW') Introductory (but Sophisticated) Lessons" website.

Drawing of Esther "Esther Bridge Dialogue Lessons:
Miscellaneous or Multiple Bridge Topics"
Bruce Thompson

As advertised in the December, 2023 ACBL Bridge Bulletin.
Also see the article about Esther in the Winter, 2024 issue of the
the American Bridge Teachers' Association (ABTA) Journal, or the
article about Esther in the Summer, 2024 issue of the ABTA Journal.

Esther's Bridge Lessons Dialogs...

Note: You can download a PDF version of any lesson by clicking on the blue title any of the following Lessons. The Lessons are numbered in order of their creation by Esther.

A. Miscellaneous or Multiple Topics
        102. Esther discusses "When Leading on Defense or Bidding, Take Into Account 'Reciprocal Fit Probabilities' and Ron Klinger's 'Rule of Suit Length Parity'". ["l_parity.pdf" =]
        100. "3 Cardinal Superordinate Bridge Principles That May Be Particularly Helpful for New/Beginner Bridge Players: Esther's Centennial Bridge Lesson". ["3_Prin.pdf" =] Esther says, "This 'Esther Centennial Bridge Lesson #100' is a 'Real BIGGIE'!!!"
          77. Now available: "Esther's Bridge Bible of 'Tips' About Bridge Bidding and Play: Everything (or At Least All the Basics) that the New or Advancing Bridge Player Needs to Eventually Know". ["BridgeTips.pdf" =]
          54. Esther discusses "How Badly Can a Single Board Affect Your Overall Bridge Result?" ["bad_hurt.pdf" =]
          52. Esther discusses "A Primer on the Basics of Bidding, and Making the Initial Lead: The First Steps of Bridge Play". ["primer.pdf" -]
          56. Esther discusses "Advancer's Responses to Partner's 'Takeout'/Demand Double, and as Declarer Playing a Long Side Suit with Numerous 'Touching Honors'". ["t_Honors.pdf" +]
          55. Esther discusses "3 Methods as Responder for Transfering Partner's 1NT Opening into a 3-Level Contract in a Minor, with a Brief Discussion of the "Rule of 8" to Decide Whether to Overcall Opponents' 1NT Opening". ["TtoMinor.pdf" -]
          16. Esther discusses "Do Not Be a 'Results Player', and the Importance of 'Playing the Room'". Esther says, "If you were a New or Rising Player, would you bid the same playing in a Novice game, or a 249er game, or in the Shark Tank??? No, no, no, only my friend Bruce would do that! You are not playing against cards!!! You are playing against specific people. And you MUST take this into account while bidding!!!". ["Bds_11_12.pdf"] Revised/Expanded 10/31/23 to emphasize the import of not being a "Results Player". On this topic also see "Esther 'Pop' Quiz #40".
          9. Esther discusses the "Rule of 11", the most important "rule" in bridge. ["rule_11a.pdf" -]
          12. Esther discusses the importance of "touching" card sequences as regards both bidding and play. ["interest_4.pdf"]
          15. Esther discusses (1) opening 1NT versus a Major, and (2) communicating "Attitude" during play. ["interest_2.pdf" +]
          1. Esther discusses Two Interesting Boards: One Involving Bidding, One Involving "Line of Play". ["interest2.pdf" +]
          20. Esther discusses the critical importance of Listening to the Auction! ["listen.pdf" +]
          32. Esther talks about the importance as Declarer of (1) "Listening to the Auction", and (2) Interpreting the First Lead. ["listen_2.pdf" +]
          34. Esther discusses a Board involving transfer to a Minor after a 1NT opening bid, and play of a 3NT contract thereafter. ["mnr_trans.pdf" -]
          35. Esther discusses both (1) in setting Suit contracts, count primarily Trump cards, and not HCPs, & (2) various bidding and play strategies, and the importance of "leading Low to High". ["n_Trump.pdf" -]
          33. Esther discusses Two Boards: One involving a Jacoby Transfer leading to a 6NT contract, and One the use of the "Rule of 5" leading to a 4H bid. ["2_Boards.pdf" -]
          36. Esther discusses (1) bidding Stayman, (2) formulating a NT "Line of Play" by first counting "winners", and (3) "promoting" long-suit low-card winners. ["NT_line.pdf" +]
          49. Esther discusses "Correctly Bidding Stayman, and Leading When Opponents Fail to Find a 4-4 Fit in a Major and Then Set a NT Contract". ["Opps_Stay.pdf" -]
          46. Esther discusses her personal "45 Pearls of Bridge Wisdom". ["pearls.pdf" =]
          47. Esther presents "The Esther Klinktoast-Houstonhousen Patented Bridge Quiz". Esther encourages her interested readers to print her Patented Bridge Quiz, then jot down their answers, and finally then go to "Esther Bridge Lessons" website where Esther's suggested Quiz answers are posted. The web link to the Answers web page is posted at the Top of the Quiz. ["est_quizQ.pdf" =] ["est_quizA.pdf" =]
          40. Esther discusses: "8 Different Categories of Bridge Probabilities, and How These May Help Guide Your Bidding and Play". And, quite remarkably, in this Esther Bridge Lesson, for they very first time in the several years of the Esther Bridge Lessons, Esther is ACTUALLY NICE to Bruce, and does not insult Bruce even only a little!!! ["8_probs.pdf" ++]
          25. Esther discusses some of the "40 or So Bridge Bidding/Play 'Rules'", in rank order of their import. ["rules.pdf" =] "Rule of 11". "Rule of 20". "Rule of 5". "Rule of 15". "Rule of 14". "Defender's Rule of 14". "Rule of 17". Finally, Esther strictly admonishes Bruce, "Please, in particular do not forget the very important 'Rule of 5' when you opened 1 of a Major and Partner gave you a 'constructive' raise!"
          30. Esther presents her Miscellaneous Bridge Bidding/Play "Rules of Bridge". ["bt_rules.pdf" =]
          61. In celebration of the posting of the 61st "Esther Bridge Lesson", and from exhaustion, Esther Klinktoast-Houstonhousen has gone out on strike. So this, the 61st "Esther Bridge Lesson", is presented by fellow Quintuple Gold Emerald Life Master (20 Million+ ACBL MasterPoints), DONKEY from the Movie with Shr*k and Fi*na, on the topic: "Wisely Using 'Touching Honors' During Play as Declarer, and While Playing on Defense and Holding Losing 'Touching Honors'". ["donkey.pdf" =]
          69. Bridge is a game of "Cardinal Bridge Principles". But, then there are Exceptions to the "Cardinal Bridge Principles". And, of course, there are then "Exceptions, to the Exceptions, to the 'Cardinal Bridge Principles'." So, in this "Esther Bridge Lesson", Esther discusses "Playing Second Hand Low, and Exceptions Thereto, and Exceptions to the Exceptions Thereto" . ["SecHandLow.pdf" -]