How Do You Spell SMALL SLAM?

Pronunciation: [smˈɔːl slˈam] (IPA)

The term "small slam" refers to a contract in the card game bridge, where a partnership must win 12 out of the 13 tricks in a game. The pronunciation of "small slam" is /smɔl slæm/, with the first word pronounced with the "o" sound as in "hot" and the second word pronounced with the "a" sound as in "cat". The spelling of the word is phonetically straightforward, with each letter corresponding to a distinct sound in the pronunciation. Proper spelling is important in bridge, as it ensures clear communication between partners.

SMALL SLAM Meaning and Definition

1. "Small slam" is a term used in the game of contract bridge, referring to a specific achievement within the game. In contract bridge, players are tasked with bidding and making a certain number of tricks, which are won by playing the highest card of the suit led. A small slam is the successful accomplishment of making twelve tricks out of thirteen, either by the declarer or their partnership.

   To achieve a small slam, the partnership needs to have a strong hand with well-distributed cards, enabling them to bid and make twelve tricks. The bidding process helps players communicate the strength of their hands and determine the final contract. The declarer, the player entering the final contract, selects a suit or a no-trump contract and leads the play.

   If the declarer or their partnership manages to win all but one of the thirteen tricks, it is considered a small slam. With twelve tricks, the partnership earns a game bonus, which awards extra points and improves their score in the game. However, winning all thirteen tricks is known as a grand slam, a more significant accomplishment in bridge.

   The successful completion of a small slam requires skillful card playing, effective bidding strategies, and solid communication between partners. Bridge is a game of strategy and tactics, and achieving a small slam demonstrates the players' abilities to assess the distribution of cards, communicate bidding information, and play their hands effectively.

Common Misspellings for SMALL SLAM

• amall slam
• zmall slam
• xmall slam
• dmall slam
• emall slam
• wmall slam
• snall slam
• skall slam
• sjall slam
• smzll slam
• smsll slam
• smwll slam
• smqll slam
• smakl slam
• smapl slam
• smaol slam
• smalk slam
• smalp slam
• smalo slam

Etymology of SMALL SLAM

The term "small slam" is a phrase used in the card game of contract bridge to refer to the winning of twelve out of the thirteen available tricks. The etymology of "small slam" is derived from the game of whist, which the bridge is based upon.

In whist, there were different levels of accomplishment, such as "slams" and "great slams". A "slam" occurred when a player won all thirteen tricks in a hand. However, if a player only missed one trick, winning twelve out of the thirteen, it was called a "small slam". This term eventually carried over to contract bridge when it was developed in the early 20th century.

The prefix "small" in "small slam" is used to differentiate it from a "grand slam", which is winning all thirteen tricks.

Similar spelling words for SMALL SLAM

• small stores,
• small-cap,
• smallish,
• small ship,
• smallest,
• small cap,
• small stuff,
• small cane.