honor trick: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Hobbyist
Quick answer
What does “honor trick” mean?
In contract bridge, a defensive trick that a partnership is expected to win based on the high cards they hold.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In contract bridge, a defensive trick that a partnership is expected to win based on the high cards they hold.
A concept in contract bridge where a defending partnership's combined high-card strength in a suit is such that they should be able to win a trick during play. The term is often used when discussing defensive strategy and card evaluation, e.g., "We have two honour tricks in spades."
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primary difference is spelling: UK uses 'honour trick', US uses 'honor trick'. No difference in meaning or application within the game.
Connotations
None beyond the technical bridge context.
Frequency
Identically very low frequency in both dialects, confined to bridge players and literature.
Grammar
How to Use “honor trick” in a Sentence
[subject] has/holds [number] honour trick(s) in [suit].[subject] counted their honour tricks.The [Ace/King/Queen] is an honour trick.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “honor trick” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You must honour the lead with your King to establish the honour trick.
- He failed to honour his Queen, losing the trick.
American English
- You must honor the lead with your King to establish the honor trick.
- He failed to honor his Queen, losing the trick.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. The term is not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable. The term is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Their honour-trick count was insufficient.
- The honour-trick evaluation is a basic skill.
American English
- Their honor-trick count was insufficient.
- The honor-trick evaluation is a basic skill.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used outside of game theory or mathematics of card games.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Exclusively used in the technical lexicon of contract bridge for card evaluation and defensive planning.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “honor trick”
- Using it in non-bridge contexts.
- Confusing it with a 'trick' in magic.
- Spelling 'honor/honour' inconsistently within a text.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is specialised jargon for contract bridge and related trick-taking games like whist.
A 'trick' is any set of four cards played, one from each player. An 'honour trick' specifically refers to a trick that a side expects to win because of the high-card strength (Ace, King, Queen) they hold in that suit.
This follows the standard British and American English spelling conventions for the word 'honour/honor'. The meaning in bridge is identical.
No, not always. In standard evaluation, a Queen is only considered a full honour trick if paired with the King in the same hand or suit. Otherwise, it's often counted as a partial trick.
In contract bridge, a defensive trick that a partnership is expected to win based on the high cards they hold.
Honor trick is usually technical / hobbyist in register.
Honor trick: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɒnə ˌtrɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑnər ˌtrɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Count your honour tricks”
- “Cash your honour tricks”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'honour' as in high cards (Ace, King, Queen) that are honoured to win a 'trick'.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE IS HEIGHT (high cards); CERTAINTY IS SOLIDITY (a sure trick).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'honour trick' exclusively used?