We play Chicago-style rubber bridge at TGRs, with straightforward bidding and play conventions.
Table money varies with the stake, but you can enjoy an afternoon's bridge for as little as £10.
Players cut for partners at the start of each four-deal Chicago, and the highest card deals the first hand.
The vulnerability is: love all on the first hand, dealer's side non-vulnerable on the second and third hands, and game all on the fourth hand.
(Note that this may be different from other places where you have played Chicago).
Game and slam bonuses are added to the score of each hand according to vulnerability. Part scores carry over as at rubber bridge,
and there is a bonus of 100 points for a part score on the last deal of a Chicago.
In games over £5 per 100, overtricks do not count towards the score on any deal unless the contract is doubled.
Players are encouraged to claim as soon as they can see enough tricks to make the contract.
You should agree with partner at the start of each Chicago what methods you will play (four- or five-card majors;
weak, strong or variable no trump; and so on). Only simple conventions are allowed — Stayman, Blackwood, fourth-suit forcing, the Unusual 2NT overcall
and splinter bids. It is as well to agree with partner at the start of a deal whether a four heart response to one spade is a splinter —
or to brush up your handling of 2-1 trump fits.
Negative doubles, transfers and other popular tournament conventions are not played at TGRs.
Jump overcalls are intermediate or strong — weak jump overcalls are not played.
Two-level opening bids are forcing for one round (two clubs is 23-24 balanced or any game force).
Other aspects of “Standard TGRs” will be explained on request.
Stakes range from £2 to £30 per 100 points. Usually, everyone at a table will play for the same stake,
but it is possible for one player at a table to play at a lower stake than the rest of the table.
For an example of an actual Chicago, see here.