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Hackett - See Conventions
 

Half Table - Referring to the two additional players during a duplicate round without competitors, resulting in a sit-out due to the odd number of pairs in the event.  The Director organizes the movement so sitouts rotate between pairs.
 

Half Trick - A term associated with a possible winner in a given suit, with a 50 percent likelihood of winning a trick.  A classic example would be holding an Ace-Queen combination, anticipating finessing the King from the Right Hand Opponent.
 

Hall of Fame - A special acknowledgement for veteran bridge players in recognition of outstanding achievement.
 

Hamilton - See Conventions (Cappelletti, Pottage)
 

Hamman's Rule - A quote attributable to Bob Hamman, loosely stated:

"When three No Trump is the (most attractive) alternative, choose it."
 

Hand - Referring to the cards held by one or more players.
 

 Handbook for ACBL Clubs - Rules and guidelines to assist ACBL Clubs conduct sanctioned games.  See Handbook
 

General

Hand Distribution - The priori probability of holding a certain hand pattern is based on mathematical odds.  Aspiring Bridge players make mental references the hand distribution when bidding or determining the best line of play, particularly the most probable hand distribution.  Among the 39 possible hand patterns, 5 hand patterns comprise 70 percent of the the possible hands.  See Probability of Hand Distribution

Card Distribution (remaining two hands)
Hand Distribution (suits within a hand)
High Card Point Count (HCPs in one hand)
Miscellaneous Probabilities (assorted interesting odds)
Number of Cards (card quantity in a suit)
Posteriori Probability (example when additional information is known)
Suit Combinations (best lead and plays)
Expected Controls (based on HCP)
 

Hand Evaluation - See High Card Points, Environmental Factors

Also see Hand Evaluation Books
 

Jargon

Hand Hog - A player who regularly outbids their partner in an attempt to become declarer.
 

Hand Pattern - See Hand Distribution
 

Hand Records - A bridge diagram of the player's hands.  Common uses include sheets used to duplicate hands before a session and provide hand records to players after the session.  See Law 13
 

 Handicapping - An pre-determined adjustment to scoring players based on one's prior performance or level of competency (masterpoint attainment).
 

 Handicap Games - ACBL clubs may offer handicap games where the contestants are given a handicap (either plus or minus) based on previous performance or degree of competence to create a more level competitive group.
 

Duplicate

Handicap Pairs - The Handicap Pairs is conducted like an Open Pairs game, however the scoring method is different. The game produces two sets of winners, scratch and handicap. The scratch standings are the same as they would be in an open game. However, the handicap standings are based on the scratch score plus handicaps that are awarded to make the event more evenly contested.  The handicap can be figured in either of two ways. First, it can be based on the players’ ranks (a measure of expertise), with more matchpoints awarded the lower the rank. Second, it can be based on recent performance as compiled either by the director or the computer. Full awards are given for scratch scores that place overall. Fifty-percent awards are given for handicap scores that place overall. A pair that is eligible for matchpoints, both scratch and handicap, receives the higher of the two awards, not both.
 

Laws

Handling Cards - In a duplicate event, it is not proper to handle other player's cards without their permission.  Even with their permission, player's must be careful to ensure the each card is returned to the correct player to avoid a fouled board.  See Law 7 , 90
 

Hard Cheating - Referring to both improper pre-arranged communication (Law 73.b.2) and other egregious activities.  See Cheating
 

Hard Values - Top honors (quick tricks), including Aces and Kings.
 

HCP - The abbreviation for High Card Points.  See Details

Also see Hand Evaluation Books
 

High Card Point Probability - See High Card Point Count

Card Distribution (remaining two hands)
Hand Distribution (suits within a hand)
High Card Point Count (HCPs in one hand)
Miscellaneous Probabilities (assorted interesting odds)
Number of Cards (card quantity in a suit)
Posteriori Probability (example when additional information is known)
Suit Combinations (best lead and plays)
Expected Controls (based on HCP)
 

Heartbreaker - A hand or play of one's cards that results which is significantly less than originally anticipated.
 

Hearts - The second highest ranking suit, using the symbol.  See Example
 

Hedgehog Squeeze - A squeeze of one opponent in three suits and the other opponent in two or three suits.  See Example
 

Help Suit - Once partner's bidding indicates an agreement of the trump suit, the bid of a secondary "help suit" may be used to inquire about partner's controls in that suit (high cards or shortage).
 

Help Suit Game Try (Two Way Game Try) - See Conventions
 

Herbert Negative - A negative response using the cheapest available suit, attributable to Walter Herbert.
 

Herman Trophy - The trophy awarded based on the best individual overall performance at the ACBL Fall National Championship.
 

Laws

Hesitation - A delay or break of one's normal tempo in bidding or play.  Doing so may provide "unauthorized information" to a partner about one's holdings.

Accidentally received information - See Law 16
Action by partner - See Law 16
As extraneous information - See Law 16
Adherence to proper procedures - See Law 74
Annoyance of opponent - See Law 74
Communication between partners - See Law 73  75
Deception -  See Law 40  73
Emphasis -  See Law 73
Gesture of player - See Law 73
Hesitation - See Law 73
Inadvertent variation in manner or tempo - See Law 73
Intentional deception - See Law 72  73
Intentional variation in manner or tempo - See Law 73
Mannerism of player - See Law 73
Prearranged unsanctioned communication - See Law 73
Speed - See Law 73
Tempo, variation in - See Law 73
Variation in manner - See Law 73
Variation in tempo - See Law 73

See Duplicate Decisions

See Director Tech File, More
 

Hexagon Squeeze - A squeeze where all three menacing suit cards must be protected by both opponents (double guard).  See Example
 

Hexagon Trump Squeeze - A squeeze where opponents are menaced by declarer in the trump suit.
 

Hideous Hog - A whimsical character created by Victor Mollo.  The Hideous Hog is noted as being intensely boring albeit a remarkably effective player.
See Bridge Books by Victor Mollo
 

High Card - Holding the highest ranking card at a given trick during the play of the hand.
 

High Card Points - See HCP
 

High Gerber - See Conventions
 

High Low Signal - See Conventions
 

Bidding

High Reverse - A non-jump reverse used to indicate a strong hand. A high-reverse bid is made by making a three-level bid in a lower suit than the original bid, after partner or opponent's two-level response.  See Details
 

Laws

Highly Unusual Method (HUM) - An alertable bid which goes contrary to the typical use of the expected meaning for a given bid.  For instance, most players would consider a double of opponent's one or two level bid a takeout bid; if a partnership agreed to use such a double for penalty, the call would be a Highly Unusual Method.  See Alerts
 

General

History of Bridge - Bridge found its roots from the British game of whist, originated in the 1500s. Many historians believe the game of Bridge began at the Galata Bridge in Istanbul, traversed by British soldiers during the Crimean War (1853-1856).  The British would stop in Istanbul coffeehouse to played cards. In the 1920s, Harold Vanderbilt modified the game to Contract bridge while on a cruise ship, adding a novel element to Bridge scoring.  See Details
 

Hit - To either ruff or double an opponent.
 

Hit the Table - To pass.
 

Hog - A player who regularly outbids their partner in an attempt to become declarer.
 

General

Hold -
 

1.	Referring to a card or cards held
2.	To preclude an opponent from making additional tricks
3.	To maintain the lead

Holding - Referring to a card or cards held
 

Hold Back, Hold Off, Hold Up - To wait until a more opportune  time to take a trick, attempting to disrupt the opponent's transportation from one hand to the other.
 

Honeymoon Bridge - A two-handed variation of bridge.
 

Laws

Honor Cards - The Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the four suits.  See Example

As major penalty cards - See Law 50
Scoring table - See Law 77
 

Rubber

Honor Bonus - Additional points associated with Rubber Bridge scoring:
 

Four trump honors in one hand	100 point bonus
Five trump honors in one hand	150 point bonus
Four Aces (if Notrump) in one hand	150 point bonus

See Law 81
 

Honor Lead - Leading a honor card, often providing a context about one's remaining holdings to their partner.  See Opening Leads, Passive Lead, Trump Lead
 

Honors - See Honor Bonus
 

Honor Tricks - See HCP
 

Hook - To finesse a trick.
 

Hop - To play a high card on a trick.
 

House Player - Referring to an employee of a bridge Club assigned to complete a foursome.
 

House Rules - Local rules which are added to or amend the Laws.  See Alternative Club Laws (Rubber Bridge)
 

General

Duplicate

Howell Movement - A duplicate movement where all pairs and boards move from table to table.  The Howell movement is frequently used  when the Director determines there are an insufficient number of players to use a Mitchell movement.  Unlike the Mitchell movement, pairs do not maintain a North/South or East/West direction throughout the session.  See Howell Guide Card
 

General

Hoyle -
 

1.	A leading authority and author of the original book on Whist.
2.	The expression "According to Hoyle" implying strict adherence to the rules.

HTH - Abbreviation for Hope This Helps
 

Huddle - To make an out of tempo hesitation before a bid or play.  This often gives others the player is facing a difficult decision.  See Hesitation
 

Laws

HUM - See Highly Unusual Method.
 

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