Bridge Glossary

Icy

(slang) laydown; cold; easily makable.

Idiot coup

the creation of a situation in which an opponent is given an opportunity to do something foolish.

Idle

(of a card) suitable to be discarded or played without loss.

Illegal

not in accordance with the laws.

IMP or imp

(1) (noun) International Match Points; a special unit of scoring used in tournament play.

(2) (verb) calculate the imp score on a deal.

IMPs

bridge scored by International Match Points.

Immaterial squeeze

a squeeze in which (at least) one of the plays by the victim loses a tactical or strategic asset but does not directly yield a trick to the other side.

Impossible negative

a negative one-diamond response to a strong one-club opening with the values for a positive response and three-suited distribution.

Impropriety

a violation of the proprieties.

In back of

to the left of; behind; over.

In-card

entry.

Incomplete rubber

unfinished rubber.

Individual

a form of duplicate bridge contest in which each player's score is kept separately from those of all the others.

Informatory

(1) takeout;

(2) showing values.

In front of

to the right of; under.

Instant matchpoints

matchpoint scoring from a predetermined scale (as opposed to results achieved in actual play).

Insufficient bid

a bid that is illegal because it is not higher than the previous bid.

Insurance bid

a sacrifice against a very high-scoring contract.

Interference

a call that disrupts the flow of the opponents' bidding sequence.

Interior sequence

a sequence that does not include the highest card held in a suit. [King-jack-ten is an interior sequence; the jack-ten are in sequence, but are not in sequence with the king.].

Intermediate

(1) (of a card) roughly of the rank of ten or nine;

(2) (of a jump overcall) showing fair values, usually interpreted as a hand in the minimum opening-bid range with a strong six-card or longer suit;

(3) (of an opening two-bid) just under the values for a forcing opening bid.

International Bridge Press Association

the major organization of bridge writers.

International Match Points

a form of duplicate-bridge scoring.

Intervene

after an opposing opening bid, to make the first non-pass call for one's side.

Intervening bid

overcall.

Intervenor

the player who intervenes; doubler, overcaller or cue-bidder; advancer's partner.

Intervention

a double, overcall or cue-bid after an opposing opening bid.

In the money

qualifying for a prize.

Inverted

opposite in meaning to the natural, usual or traditional (such as inverted raises, where a single raise is stronger than s double raise); sometimes phrased as "upside-down".

Inverted minors

a minor-suit single raise as strong with a minor-suit double raise as weak.

Invitation

request that partner continue to game (or slam) if with maximum values.

Invitational

offering an invitation.

Iron Duke

(slang) a card of significant trick-taking rank. [Usage: (by the second to play to a trick putting up a high card) "Not through the Iron Duke."]

Irregularity

an occurrence not in conformity with the Laws.

Isolate

(1) (of a hand) remove the last entry to the opposite hand;

(2) (of a menace card) remove the guard of one opponent.