The term “TYP” is online bridge player shorthand for saying “thank you, partner!”

It’s great to hear it, but it’s just as important to say it – at least if you want your bridge partnership to last past the current game. Thanking your partner isn’t a way to inspire overconfidence, but a way to tell them they’ve done well (even if the past game was rocky to say the least).

Here are 10 times where it’s good to say TYP.

1. After a Game’s Loss

Just because you lost, it doesn’t mean that either of you played badly:

Saying thank you partner says that you’ll stick with them through both good games and bad ones – especially if this one was for high-stakes or national reputation.

2. After a Disagreement

The bow before and after sparring, usually seen in martial arts, is a form of respect towards your opponent. The same way, bridge disagreements – some of which end in verbal sparring matches – should end with TYP just the same.

Why?

For the same reason many married old men go fishing every year: To keep the peace!

3. After a Win

Don’t just congratulate yourself after a good game, remember to say TYP to the person who helped you to get there!

4. After the End of a Partnership

The end of a bridge partnership can be painful for both, regardless of the reasons behind the split. Saying TYP for this one is very literal, and says thanks for the games you’ve played together.

5. After a Useful Tip

Everyone learns something from their bridge partnership and a few games together. Remember to say TYP if your bridge partner points you in the direction of useful advice, tips, links or anything else (and of course, pay it forward by doing the same thing for them).

6. Before the Game

Thanks isn’t just for after the game: There’s a lot of good reason to say it to your partner before the game has even started. They’re taking some time out of their day because they like playing bridge – and with you. That’s worth a TYP any day.

7. Inbetween Technical Difficulties

Disconnected because you’re trying to play bridge in the backseat of a bus driving around a mountain and the signal can’t keep up for a second? It’s happened to me before. Remember to say TYP inbetween any kind of technical difficulties, whether related to online bridge play or a flat tire on the way to a game! They stuck around until the game could continue.

8. Upon Meeting

Online play means that bridge partnerships are more instantly forged. Say TYP when meeting your new bridge partner for the first time: After all, you’re about to see what you can do as a team.

9. On the Forums

You’ll often see the term TYP said on the bridge forums, directed at saying thanks to anyone in the world of bridge even where they aren’t your direct bridge partner.

10. As a Last Word

We’ve lost many bridge players (and undoubtedly family members and friends) over the years who joined us in the game; every bridge player eulogy deserves to have a “thank you, partner” in there somewhere from the bridge partners who shared their lives and games.