Phil Read's Rules

1. If you had good support for your partner's suit and you never raised, there was probably something wrong with the bidding.
2. If you got to the wrong contract, it was because you didn't raise your partner's suit.
3. An opponent who overcalls often has a singleton in your trump suit.
4. If you can't decide whether to bid, pass, or double; you should pass.
5. Don't play bridge if you are drunk or sick.
6. Look at each card before you play it.
7. Don't take a sacrifice unless you think you have some chance to make your contract.
8. Decide how you are going to play the whole hand before you play a single card.
9. Don't take out your partner's business double into a contract you think will go set.
10. The player who is criticizing his partner the loudest is the one who made the worst mistake.
11. If you have two suits, you bid one suit and then you bid the other suit.
12. Slams should be played in the partnership's best trump suit.
13. Hold your cards close to your chest.
14. Play the system your partner is used to playing, but omit the junk bids and gadgets.
15. Your opponents don't cheat.
16. If you know what contract the partnership should play in, you bid it.
17. If you have 5-card support for your partner, you should raise, even if you have to stretch your values considerably to do so.
18. If your right hand opponent opens the bidding with your best suit, you pass.
19. ANTICIPATE:  Don't wait until it is your turn before you start thinking.
20. On defense, there are 3 things to count:  the declarer's distribution, his high card points, and how many tricks he has.
21. If you have a choice of bids or plays of equal merit, make the one that is easier for your partner.
22. An opponent who fumbles with his cards does not have the queen of the suit led.
23. If you decide to pre-empt, bid as high as you dare and then shut up
24. Don't pre-empt in second position unless you have a textbook hand.
25. Don't count distributional values until you have found a fit.
26. If you can't decide between two bids, make the cheaper bid.
27. Don't use Blackwood with a suit wide open.
28. Make the bid required by the system you have agreed to play, even if it turns your stomach.
29. Look for opportunities to give your partner honest praise.
30. Don't claim.
31. (Rule Zero:)  There are no rules for eight card suits.
32. If you think the hand is a misfit, you pass.
33. If a violation of bridge rules occurs at your table, call the Director.
34. If your partner needs to have a specific hand to make a slam, he doesn't have it.
35. Let your partner know what suit is trumps before you start cue bidding all over the place.
36. If you have already described your hand, let your partner make the decision.