Asked Brian about competitive doubles after an opponent's 1NT overcall and got the clearest explanation I've ever seen. I've bought bridge books that explained it worse.
Carol W.
Intermediate player · 5 years
AI-Powered · Free to Use
Bridge Hand Analyzer
Paste a hand from your game, or enter it card by card. Brian analyzes bidding, lead, and play plan — like having an expert review your hand at the table.
3 of 3 free analyses today
Trusted by 500+ bridge players
· Expert-level AI analysis · No signup required
Paste Your Hand
Any format: S:AKJ43 H:Q2 D:KT87 C:93
Your Hand
Enter cards per suit (A K Q J T 9 ... 2)
HCP (live) —
Add Context (auction, vulnerability)
Try an example:
Recent Analyses
🔍
Paste or enter your hand
Brian will evaluate your hand, recommend a bid, suggest the best lead, and outline a play plan — like having an expert at your table.
⚠️
Couldn't analyze this hand
Hand Summary
HCP
Shape
Type
Strength
B
Brian's Takeaway
🗣️
Bidding Analysis
🎯
Opening Lead
♠
Play Plan
❌
Things to Watch
💡
Key Principles
Practice This Type of Hand
Want to drill similar hands? Try the Bidding Trainer.
How to Use the Hand Analyzer
📋
Step 1: Enter Your Hand
Paste from BBO, use the card picker, or type it out. We accept most common bridge notation formats — just paste and we'll figure it out.
🧮
Step 2: Add Context (Optional)
Include the auction, vulnerability, and your seat for a deeper analysis. Without context, Brian focuses on hand evaluation and recommended opening bid.
🤖
Step 3: Get Brian's Analysis
Brian evaluates bidding, recommends the best lead, outlines a play plan, and highlights key principles — like a post-mortem with an expert partner.
Bridge Hand Analysis: Common Questions
How the tool works, what Brian looks at, and how to get the most from your analysis.
What is a bridge hand analysis tool?
A bridge hand analysis tool evaluates a bridge hand (13 cards held by one player) and gives expert-level feedback on how to bid it, what opening lead to make, and how to approach the play. Traditionally this required a human expert or a partner post-mortem. AI-powered tools like Bridgetastic's Hand Analyzer can evaluate any hand in seconds, using knowledge of bidding systems, conventions, and card play principles.
How does Bridgetastic analyze a bridge hand?
When you paste a hand, Brian, Bridgetastic's AI bridge coach, counts your high card points (HCP), evaluates your distribution (hand shape), and applies SAYC and standard 2/1 bidding principles to recommend an opening bid or response. If you include the auction and vulnerability, Brian also recommends an opening lead using standard lead conventions and outlines a declarer play plan with key card combinations to watch for.
What formats can I use to enter a bridge hand?
You can paste a hand in almost any standard format. BBO hand records, PBN notation, and plain text all work. For example: ♠AKJ43 ♥Q2 ♦KT87 ♣93 or S:AKJ43 H:Q2 D:KT87 C:93. You can also use the card picker to click cards into each suit. Brian parses your input and shows a preview before analyzing.
What does Brian look at when analyzing a hand?
Brian evaluates four things: (1) Bidding: what to open or respond, given your HCP, distribution, and any auction context you provide; (2) Opening lead: if the auction is complete, which card to lead and why, based on standard lead conventions; (3) Play plan: as declarer, what your overall strategy should be (how many losers, where to develop tricks, which finesses to take); (4) Key principles: the underlying bridge concepts at work in your specific hand, so you learn, not just get an answer.
Is the hand analyzer free to use?
Yes. You get 3 free hand analyses per day without signing up. If you want more, signing up for the free newsletter gives access to additional analyses. The tool works on any device (desktop, tablet, or phone) and requires no download or installation.
What bidding system does Brian use?
Brian defaults to Standard American (SAYC) with common additions: 5-card majors, 15-17 1NT, weak two bids, Stayman, Jacoby Transfers, and Blackwood/RKCB. Brian also understands 2/1 Game Force methods and common conventions like Splinters, Jacoby 2NT, and Lebensohl. If your partnership plays something different, you can mention it in the optional context field and Brian will adjust.
Can I analyze a full deal, not just one hand?
The Hand Analyzer focuses on one player's 13-card holding. For a complete double-dummy analysis of all four hands: which card combinations guarantee tricks, what the optimal line of play is. Try the Playable Bridge feature, where you can see all four hands and get double-dummy analysis from Brian. You can also paste in your hand and include dummy's hand in the auction context field for deeper play plan analysis.
How is this different from a double-dummy solver?
A double-dummy solver shows the mathematically optimal result when all four hands are visible: it's a calculation, not an explanation. Brian explains the reasoning a human expert would use, accounts for what you can see during real play, and teaches you the underlying principles. The goal is to make you a better player, not just give you an answer for one hand.
What Players Say About Brian's Analysis
Bridge players use Brian to review hands and improve their game.
What surprised me most is how Brian pushes back. I said '3NT seems right' and Brian said 'Actually, no — here's why 4♠ is better.' It doesn't just tell you what you want to hear.
Patricia M.
Bridge club regular
My partner and I use Brian together before tournaments to talk through tricky system agreements. It's helped us get on the same page without endless argument.
David L.
Tournament player
Enjoying Brian? We'd love to hear your story.
Share your experience →Want More Bridge Analysis Tips?
Get weekly hand breakdowns, bidding tips, and Brian AI updates — free in your inbox.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy.
Already subscribed? Explore the encyclopedia →