16 teams qualify for next round

ON WEDNESDAY, the third day of the 48th Winter National Bridge Championship, 16 teams qualified for the next round. All leading teams, including Formidable Delhi, India Blues and Railways registered their name in the last 16 teams.

ON WEDNESDAY, the third day of the 48th Winter National Bridge Championship, 16 teams qualified for the next round. All leading teams, including Formidable Delhi, India Blues and Railways registered their name in the last 16 teams.

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The 16 teams were selected from the 64 teams that qualified for the next round on Tuesday. After two days of rounds, the intensity in the championship was seen on the third day. The contestants were giving their best for every move. Such was the concentration of the participants that on many occasions that there was a pin drop silence on various tables.

Contract bridge, usually known as bridge, is a card game of skill and chance (the relative proportions depend on the variant played). It is played by four players who form two partnerships (sides); the partners sit opposite each other at a table. The game consists of the auction (often called bidding) and play, after which the hand is scored.

The bidding ends with a contract, which is a declaration by one partnership that their side shall take at least a stated number of tricks with specified suits and trump or without trumps. The rules of game are similar to other trick-taking games besides the fact that one player’s hand is displayed face up on the table as the “dummy”.

The contestants expressed satisfaction over the arrangements. “The championship is being organised well,” said a Subroto Saha, a participant from Kolkata.

According to championship chief technical director  MBV Subramaniam, the bridge is gaining popularity. “We hope that the game will be common like any other game in near future,” said Subramaniam.

The 63 teams teams that could not qualify on Tuesday are participating in the swiss league round. Teams are giving tough time to each other in these rounds also.