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East - In a standard Bridge diagram, the player to the right side of the table (North at top). See Example
 

Eastern Cuebid - See Conventions

Eastern Scientific - Referring to a bidding style that relies on a more complex style of bidding to quantify their holdings. See Details
 

East-West - In a standard Bridge diagram, the players to the left and right side of the table (North at top). See Example
 

EBL - Abbreviation for the European Bridge League, comprised of 42 European countries plus Lebanon and Israel.
 

EBU - Abbreviation for the English Bridge Union
 

e-bridge - See Bridge Service Providers

Echo - Referring to a defender discarding a high card on the initial play of a suit, followed by a low card in the suit on a subsequent trick.  Echo partnership agreements include attitude (encouragement or discouragement), count (odd or even number of cards).  See Signaling
 

Either Or Squeeze - A Simple Squeeze also known as a "Alternative Squeeze" or a "Criss-Cross Squeeze", played as a Double Squeeze.  See Example
 

EHAA - The speculative system, "Every Hand An Adventure".  EHAA includes a Weak Notrump, 4-card majors, and marginal preemptive Weak Two bids.
 

Eight - Represented by 8 pips. Example

8 Ever, 9 Never - A dubious cliché of marginal value, based on a generalized rule to decide when to finesse for a missing Queen.  According to the Rule of 9, a declarer should finesse with a combined holding of 8 cards in a suit.  With 9+ cards in a suit, the rule advocates playing the Ace and King, hoping opponent's Queen to drop.
 

11 Rule - See Rule of 11
 

Elimination - A play to remove opponent's safe exit cards in preparation for an Endplay.  See Example

Also see Books on Elimination
 

Elopement - The tactic of ruffing with small trump cards.  A common tactic is cross-ruffing, another is En passant.
 

Empty - A descriptive shorthand phrase for insignificant holdings, such as King-empty sixth, referring to holdings as: K 6 5 4 3 2
 

Bidding

Play

Encouraging -
 

1.	A call suggesting partner continue bidding to a bonus score.
2.	A defensive positive attitude signal, requesting continuance of the suit. See Signaling

Encrypted Call - A conventional call that can only be deciphered by the partner of the bidder making the Encrypted Call.  These bids are prohibited by many Bridge ruling bodies including the ACBL.
 

Encrypted Signal - A discard signaling system , decipherable by the partner of the player making the Encrypted Signal. These bids are prohibited by many Bridge ruling bodies including the ACBL.
 

End Of Round Or Session - See Law 8
 

Play

Ending -
 

1.	The general layout of the cards near the end of the play.
2.	A specific layout of the cards at a given point of play, whose pattern is identifiable by an observant player.

Duplicate

Endless Howell - A variation of the Howell Movement where all pairs play all other pairs regardless of the field size.  Table 1 becomes a stationary North/South base. All pairs playing East/West move down one table each round; all North/South players (except Table 1), move up one table each round. After each East/West pair plays at table 1, they switch to become North/South players. At the highest numbered table, the pair moving in as North/South plays the round normally but then move back to East/West at that table.
 

Endplay - To force an opponent to return an unprofitable lead, causing the opponents' to forfeit winning cards.  Tactics include: Throw-In Play (Forced Lead), Squeeze Play, and the Coup (Trump-Reducing Play).

Also see books on End Plays, Squeezes and Coups
 

Laws

Enforced Pass -
Action in violation of obligation to pass - See Law 37
Adjusted score for damage resulting from - See Law 23
Affecting right to review auction - See Law 20
After bid out of rotation - See Law 31
After double out of rotation - See Law 32
After exposed card - See Law 24
After irregularity - See Law 23
After pass out of rotation - See Law 30
After redouble out of rotation - See Law 32
Condonation of action in violation of obligation to pass - See Law 35
 

En passant - A favorably-placed low value trump, located behind opponent's higher trump.  See Example
 

Enter - To place an initial call in an auction.

Entry - A high card available to transfer the lead from one hand to the other.

Entry Shifting Squeeze - A positional squeeze depending on an entry between the hands to promote winners in the squeezed suit. See Example
 

Entry Killing Play - A tactical play which prevents transportation between the declarer (Scissors Coup) or the defenders (Merrimac Coup).  See Example
 

Entry Squeeze - A squeeze which forces defenders to discard seemingly low cards in a suit, yet allowing the declarer to subsequently overtake cards in a given suit.  See Example
 

Environmental Factors - In addition to counting traditional High Card Points, other conditions affect the ability to make tricks.  See Details

Also see Hand Evaluation Books
 

Epson Worldwide Bridge Contest - A cross-the-world simultaneous event, involving over 100,000 Bridge players over 80 countries and 1,000 locations.  The 24 board tournament is sponsored by Seiko-Epson and coordinated by the World Bridge Federation.
 

General

Equal -
 

1.	Referring to adjacent cards of equal rank in a player's hand, such as K Q J 10
2.	Referring to both sides having the same Vulnerability Non-Vulnerable / Non-Vulnerable Vulnerable / Vulnerable

Equal Level Conversion Doubles (ELCD) - When the partnership agree to play Equal Level Conversion Doubles (ELCD), the doubler is allowed to have shortness in the Club suit - provided the overcalling doubler has 5 Diamond.  This allows the doubler to rebid Diamonds when partner (advancer) responds in the Club suit - overcaller's short suit.  See Details
 

Equity - A process in accordance with Law 12 for the Director to award an adjusted core.
 

Laws

Errors -
In explanation of partnership agreement - See Law 75
In giving review of auction - See Law 20
In procedure - See Law 90
In ruling by director - See Law 82
In score - See Law 79
In stating contract doubled - See Law 19
In stating contract redoubled - See Law 19
 

Escape - To change strains of the contract, such as fleeing away from a Notrump Contact when an opponent makes a Double.  A "SOS" redouble is a common mechanism used to request partner's support to Escape.  See SOS Redouble, Moscow Escape
 

Play

Laws

Establish -
 

1.	To offer the opponent a trick by playing their high card in a suit, in order to promote lower ranking cards into winners.  For instance, leading a King to drive out opponent's Ace from a holding of K Q J 10 9.
2.	To make a subsequent play after making a revoke, forcing a more inflexible law to restore equity than if the revoke was immediately corrected.  See Law 63  67

Estimate - The player's forecasted score of a board or a session, before the actual results are available.
 

Laws

Ethics - An ACBL objective based on vigorous efforts to ensure equity in Bridge.  A primary objective of the ACBL is to instill in all players the concept that vigorous efforts should be made to provide equity in bridge. Every player should take pains to make sure that the opponents have in no way been harmed through incomplete or misleading information as to the meaning of conventional calls and treatments. An aggressive approach along these lines on the part of each and every individual will ensure that bridge remains a game that everyone can enjoy.  See Active Ethics
 

Laws

Etiquette - Polite, courteous, and considerate manners at the Bridge table. Much of the popularity of contract bridge is attributable to the high standards of etiquette that are observed by the players. At all times, a player should maintain a courteous attitude toward partner and the opponents. A player should carefully avoid any remark or action that might cause annoyance or embarrassment to another player or might interfere with another player’s enjoyment of the game.  See Law 74.
 

1.	Not paying sufficient attention.  See Slow Play
2.	Making gratuitous comments during the play as to the auction or the inadequacy of the contract
3.	Detaching a card from the hand before it is the players turn
4.	Arranging the cards played from a previous trick in a disorderly manner or mixing the cards together before the result has been agreed by all players
5.	Making a questionable claim
6.	Prolonging play unnecessarily

General

Even -
 

1.	A suit where two players have the same number of cards, as an even three-three split.
2.	A player's holding of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 cards.
3.	A spot card with 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 pips.

Exchanging Hands - See Law 43
 

Exclusion - A call asking or showing information about suits other than the one named.
 

Exclusion Blackwood/Key-Card Blackwood - See Conventions.
 

Exhaust - To remove one's cards in a suit through successive play.
 

Explanation Of Conventional Meaning Of Calls -

During auction period - See Law 20
During play period - See Law 20  41

Laws

Extraneous Information -

Accidentally received information - See Law 16
Action by partner - See Law 16
Exposed card - See Law 50
Remark by partner - See Law 16

Exodus - See Conventions
 

Exit - To play a low card in order to get out of the lead.
 

Bidding

Expectancy - The mathematical probability of players holding the remaining strength and length, not including one's own 13 cards.  For instance, before bidding begins one could "expect" partner's High Card Points to be one-third of the remaining HCP; holding 16 HCP, subtract 40-16=24 and 24/3=8 so partner's HCP Expectancy is 8.  Also 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)

Also see books on Probabilities
 

Expected Controls - The percentage of expected controls (Ace = 2, King = 1 control) for balanced hands (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2 distribution) based on HCPs, first published in "Bridge World" (December, 1974)  by George Rosencrantz. See Example
 

Bidding

Expected Value (EV) - The theory balancing probability and payoff of a certain result.  The expected payoff of a hand is calculated by multiplying the probability of each possible outcome by the payoff from each.  Imagine there are two possible outcomes from an event, perhaps drawing a red or black card.  Drawing a red card plays $10 but drawing a black card pays nothing.  The EV for the scenario is $5 over time assuming a randomly dealt deck with no prior knowledge about prior cards drawn. In Bridge, a skilled player is aware when to leverage the EV to determine the most appropriate action based on knowledge of Percentages, scoring bonuses, and Environmental Factors.
 

Expert - A player of superior ability, ergo a player who has made far more mistakes than the rest of us but refuses to continue doing so.
 

Expertise - The expected ability of the non-offending side  may be relevant information for the Director when making a ruling.

See Director Tech File
 

Laws

Explanation of a Call - All conventional calls must be properly alerted or announced, according to Laws 73 and 75.  Also, at any player's turn, they may ask opponent's partner for a full explanation of any call. After the final pass and throughout play, any player except the dummy may, at their turn to play, ask for an explanation of the opponent's calls or conventions associated with play. However, a player should refrain from unnecessary questions which might be helpful to one's partner.
 

Laws

Exposed Card - A card whose face becomes prematurely exposed according to Law 24 (Auction) and Law 48, 49, or 68 (Play).  An exposed card may be treated as a Penalty Card (accidental exposure), unless the Director makes another ruling
 

1.	Before the auction
	If the board has not been played and becomes exposed before the last card was dealt, shuffle and redeal.  If all cards were dealt, refer to the Penalty Card Law.
	If the board has been previously played, the Director may assign an artificial adjusted score or find a substitute player.
2.	During an auction, the card shall be left facing up.  If the offender's side defends the auction, the exposed card becomes a Penalty Card
	If the card was not an honor nor prematurely lead, only the above penalty applies.
	If the card was an honor or a prematurely lead card, it becomes a major Penalty Card.  Offender's partner must pass once.  If the pass damages the non-offenders, an adjusted score may be awarded by the Director.
3.	During play, if declarer exposes card/s:
	If accidentally dropped, there are not any penalties
	If all cards are faced intentionally, the declarer is assumed to have made a claim or concession (except opening lead, per below).
	If the opponent's led out of turn and the next player faces the cards, the hand becomes the dummy, whose partner becomes the declarer.
4.	During play, if a defender exposes card/s:
	Such that partner could have possibly seen the face (whether looking or not) or otherwise let the partner know of a cards existence, the card becomes a Penalty Card.
	However, if an external influence caused a card to become exposed (player bumped, spilled drink, etc), the Director may apply discretionary powers or invoke Unauthorized Information Laws.

As claim or concession by declarer - See Law 68
Declarer's visible card - See Law 48
Defender's - See Law 49
During auction period - See Law 24
During deal - See Law 6
During making of claim - See Law 70
During shuffle - See Law 6
Extraneous information - See Law 47
More than one - See Law 24
Opening lead out of turn - See Law 48  54
Penalty card - See Law 50
Rank, significance of - See Law 24
Retracted card - See Law 47
Simultaneous play of cards - See Law 58
Visibility of defender's card to partner - See Law 49

See Duplicate Decisions   Director Tech File
 

Exposed Hand - Normally referring to the dummy hand.  However, a hand may become accidentally exposed or deliberately during the course of a claim or concession.  See Laws 48, 49, 62, 64, and 68
 

Extended Responsive Double - An "informational" double used to show values and length in unbid suits in a sequence where Opponent's Bid And Raise (OBAR), with partner interjecting an overcall.

Also Details and Books on Doubles
 

General

Extras - To show additional values not previously disclosed.  For instance, showing honors in dummy when partner unilaterally bids game.
 

General

Extra Trick - An overtrick.
 

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