Sample exercises from Pratap K. Srivastava's two books.
Six free practice hands — spanning declarer play, bidding, and defense. Three come from A Bridge Guide for Beginners and Intermediate Players; three from the Bridge Self-Study Companion Guide. Each shows the deal, the auction, and a question. Work out your plan, then reveal the worked solution to check your thinking.
Deal 4 · Chapter 26 · A Bridge Guide
You hold eight trumps missing the Q, J, 10, and 9. Should you finesse, or play for the drop? Learn when "Eight Ever, Nine Never" applies — and when it doesn't.
Try this hand →Deal 10 · Chapter 26 · A Bridge Guide
You hold five spades and four hearts opposite partner's 1NT. Why bid 3♥ after the transfer instead of jumping to 4♠?
Try this hand →Deal 15 · Chapter 26 · A Bridge Guide
Partner leads against 3NT. Apply the Rule of 11 to find declarer's exact spade holding — and protect your tenace from being squandered.
Try this hand →Deal 1, Group 5 · Chapter 21 · Bridge Self-Study Companion Guide
You have nine top tricks in 3NT and West leads the ♠K. Take it, or hold up? Learn how ducking twice can save the whole hand.
Try this hand →Deal 1, Group 3 · Chapter 11 · Bridge Self-Study Companion Guide
Partner opens 1♠, you respond Jacoby 2NT, and partner shows a heart singleton — but you hold ♥AQ3. Slam try, or sign off?
Try this hand →Deal 5, Group 5 · Chapter 24 · Bridge Self-Study Companion Guide
Partner leads a King against 3NT. Which spot card do you play, and what does it tell them? A quick lesson in defensive signaling.
Try this hand →Want all 45 practice deals?
These six hands are samples from Pratap K. Srivastava's two books — A Bridge Guide for Beginners and Intermediate Players (15 deals) and the Bridge Self-Study Companion Guide (30 deals). Together they cover every major bidding convention, declarer play technique, and defensive tool with detailed step-by-step solutions.