Bridge Glossary

OBAR

opponents bid and raise.

Obligatory

(1) (adjective for finesse) in the form of a duck in the hope that an opposing high card will drop [For example, if declarer, with king=fourth opposite queen-fourth, leads to an honor that holds the trick, the usual play is to play low from both hands on the next round of the suit.]

(2) (adjective for falsecard) required to preserve best chances. [For example, if declarer, South, leads a low card toward dummy's king-jack-low and wins the trick, West has an obligatory falsecard of the queen when the king is cashed (bexause declarer presumably already knws that he holds that card. Other such falsecards are more subtle.]

-odd

(1) of a level, as "one-odd" (at the one-level).

(2) of tricks, six more than the number specified, as "two odd tricks" (eight tricks altogether)

Odd-even discards

a defensive signaling method in which odd-numbered cards (the three, the five, etc.) are encouraging, the even-numbered ones are discouraging and may have suit-preference implications.

Odd trick

a trick taken by declarer in excess of six.

Off

(1) (slang) down; set;

(2) (slang) offside.

Off the top

(adjective) describing tricks that can be taken without gaining the lead or lost before gaining the lead [Usage: Four spades was down off the top = the defenders could take at least four tricks before declarer gained the lead.]

Offender

a player in violation of the laws or regulations.

Off-shape

not having one of the usual or expected distributions.

Offside

unfavorably located;

Ogust

the use of artificial step rebids by an opening weak two-bidder after a two-notrump response. [The most popular version: three clubs = weak hand, weak suit; three diamonds = weak hand, strong suit; three hearts = strong hand, weak suit; three spades = strong hand, strong suit; three notrump = six-card suit headed by ace-king-queen.].

Olympiad

one of the groups of world championships.

On

(1) (slang) makable;

(2) (slang) onside; favorably located.

-on

indicating the amount of a part-score, as "60-on" (having a partscore of 60).

On score

having a part-score. ["60 on score" = having a part-score of 60.].

One-bid

a bid of one; a bid at the one level (usually refers to the opening bid).

One-club system

a bidding method based on an artificial one-club opening.

One hundred honors

the honor cards (four of the five trump honors in one hand) entitling their holder's side to a bonus of 100 points.

One hundred fifty aces

all four aces in one hand at notrump, entitling the holder's side to an honor bonus of 150.

One hundred fifty honors

all five trump honors in one hand, entitling the holders side to an honor bonus of 150.

One-over-one response

the bid of a higher-ranking suit at the one-level after partner's opening bid in a different suit.

One-round force

a call that requests that partner not pass on the current round of bidding, without sending any message about later in the auction.

One-spot

ace.

One-suiter

a hand including only one suit of four or more cards, but generally not applied to 4-3-3-3 distribution, and often not to 5-3-3-2 distribution.

Onside

favorably located.

On the fence

(slang) without any other cards in the suit.

Open

(1) (verb) make the first bid;

(2) (verb) be the first to play (a suit);

(3) (adjective for event) in tournament play, unrestricted as to who may enter.

(4) (adjective for hand) dummy's; visible.

(5) (adjective for room) permitting spectators.

Opener

the player making the first bid.

Opener's rebid

the second bid (if any) made by the opener.

Open hand

dummy's hand.

Opening (or Opening bid)

the first bid made in an auction.

Opening bidder

the player making the first bid.

Opening lead

the lead to the first trick, made by the player to the left of the declarer before dummy's cards are exposed.

Opening leader

the player, to declarer's left, who leads to the first trick.

Open room

in tournament play, a room in which spectators are permitted.

Opponent

adversary; member of the other partnership.

Optional double

a double that, by partnership agreement, allows partner the option of passing (for penalties) or bidding on.

Our hand

(slang) a deal on which "our side" can make a higher contract than the opponents.

Out

(1) having no cards in (a suit); having no more cards in (a suit);

(2) not currently an active player. [Usage: sitting out = not one of the four players at the table.]

Out-of-the-blue cue-bid

advance cue-bid.

Over

(applies to players during the auction and to cards) to the left of; behind.

Overbid

(1) (verb) bid more than one's partnership can make;

(2) (verb) bid unwarrantedly high (result aside);

(3) (verb) overcall;

(4) (noun) the bid made in (meaning 1), (meaning 2) or (meaning 3).

Overbidder

(1) one who overbids;

(2) overcaller.

Overboard

(slang) having bid above a makable contract.

Overcall

(1) (noun) a bid following an opposing bid.

(2) (verb) to make the call described in (1).

Overcaller

a player who overcalls.

Overruff

ruff with a higher trump after another player ruffs.

Overtake

play a higher card of the suit led as the highest such card already played to the trick. [Usually refers to playing a higher card than partners.]

Overtrick

trick made in excess of those required to fulfill the contract.

Overtrump

overruff.