Point Count: Ace = 4 points King = 3 points Queen = 2 points Jack = 1 point Total points in the deck = 40
Suit Rank (lowest to highest): Minors: ♣ Clubs ♦ Diamonds Majors: ♥ Hearts ♠ Spades Notrump
A good trump suit: A "fit" of 8 or more cards in one suit, combined in your two hands in any way (4-4, 5-3, 6-2, etc.).
First choice: A major (hearts or spades) if you have at least an 8-card fit.
Second choice: Notrump if you have balanced strength and no fit in a major suit.
Third choice: A minor (clubs or diamonds) if you have at least an 8-card fit and unbalanced strength.
Contract requirements -- What you and your partner need in your two hands to make these contracts:
Suit partscore (bid of 1, 2 or 3 in any suit) -- 18-24 points and at least an 8-card trump fit.
Notrump partscore (bid of 1NT or 2NT) -- 20-24 points and preferably no 8-card major-suit fit.
Major-suit game (4H, 4S) -- 25+ points and at least an 8-card fit. (Game and slam contracts pay a scoring bonus.)
Minor-suit game (5C,5D) -- 29+ points and at least an 8-card fit.
Notrump game (3NT) -- 25+ points and preferably no 8-card major-suit fit.
Small slam (any bid of 6) -- 33+ points
Grand slam (any bid of 7) -- 36+ points and all four aces.
These contract guidelines apply when you have relatively balanced hands. If you have a strong trump fit, long side suits and/or unusual distribution, you'll need fewer points to make these contracts.
Rules for Opener (the first player to make a bid other than Pass)
Your
first bid: Always open the bidding at the 1-level if you have
at least 13 points You may open a hand of 11 or 12 points if you have a long suit,
distributional strength and/or good quick tricks.
The meanings of your
opening bids are:
1NT = Exactly 15-17 points and balanced distribution (at least 2-3 cards in every suit). Balanced distributions are 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 and 5-3-3-2.
1H or 1S = 13-21 points and at least 5 cards in your suit.
1C
or 1D = 13-21 points and at least 3 cards in your suit. Choose
your longer minor. If you have two 3-card minors, open 1C to keep
the bidding low.
This is called a convenient minor -- it tells partner you have opening
points, but your hand doesn't meet the requirements for an opening bid of
1H, 1S or 1NT.
2NT = Exactly 20-22 points and balanced distribution.
2C = Artificial bid that starts the description of a very strong hand (22-23+ points). Partner must respond.
2D, 2H or 2S = A weak two-bid -- 5-9 points with a good 6-card suit.
3 of a suit = A weak hand (5-9 points) with a long, strong suit (7 cards).
If you have two 5-card suits, open the higher-ranking suit, then rebid the lower-ranking suit (if you have 5 clubs and 5 diamonds, open 1D and bid clubs at your next turn). This allows partner to choose between your two suits without raising the level of the bidding.
Your second bid (called a rebid), A rebid is made after partner responds to your opening bid.
A new suit (1C - 1H - 1S) -- At least 4 cards in the suit, 13+ points.
Simple rebid of your first suit (1C - 1H - 2C) -- Extra length (usually a 6+ cards) and a minimum (13-15 points). To show a stronger hand with a long suit, you can jump-rebid your suit -- 1C - 1H - 3C.
Single raise of partner's suit (1C - 1H - 2H) -- 4 cards in the suit partner responded and a minimum (13-15 points). To show a stronger hand with a fit, you can jump-raise his suit -- 1C - 1H - 3H or 4H.
Notrump (1C - 1H - 1NT) -- A balanced minimum opener (13-14 points) WITHOUT 4 cards in partner's suit and without a new 4-card suit you could bid at the 1-level. To show a stronger balanced hand, you can open 1NT (with 15-17 points). To show a very strong balanced hand (19 points), open a suit bid and then jump in notrump -- 1C - 1H - 2NT.
As Opener, if you have fewer than 16 points, DON'T go to the 2-level unless:
1 - You're raising partner's suit (to confirm a trump fit (1D - 1S - 2S); or
2 - You're rebidding your own extra-long suit (1D - 1S - 2D); or
3 - You're showing a second suit (4 cards or longer) that is lower in rank than your first suit (1D - 1S - 2C).
Rules for Responder (after your partner opens the bidding):
Respond to partner's opening bid if you have 6 points or more.
If partner opens 1H or 1S and you have 3-card support -- Always raise to confirm the 8-card trump fit.
If
partner opens 1C or 1D and you have a 4+-card major -- Always respond 1 of
your major.
If you have two 4-card majors, respond the cheaper
major to keep the bidding low.
If
you have fewer than 10 points, DON'T go to the 2-level unless
you're raising partner's suit (to confirm a trump fit) or
rebidding your own extra-long suit.
With some unbalanced hands, you'll have to
respond 1NT to keep the bidding low.
Your first response (after partner opens one of a suit):
1 of a new suit (1C by partner - 1H by you) = At least 4 cards in your suit and at least 6 points.
2 of a new minor (non-jump) (1H - 2D) = A 4+-card suit and at least 10-11 points.
2 of a new major (non-jump: the auction 1S - 2H) = A 5+-card suit and at least 10-11 points.
Single raise of partner's major (1S - 2S) = At least 3 cards in partner's suit and 6-10 playing points To show a stronger hand with support, make a jump-raise -- 1S - 3S or 1S - 4S.
Single raise of partner's minor (1D - 2D) = At least 4-5 cards in partner's suit, 6-10 points and no 4+-card major suit. To show a stronger hand with support, make a jump-raise -- 1D - 3D.
Notrump (1S - 1NT) = Weak (6-10 points) with no support for partner's suit and no suit you can bid at the 1-level. To show a stronger balanced hand, jump in notrump -- 1S - 2NT or 1S - 3NT.
Jump in a new suit (1S- 3C) = Very strong (18-19+ points) and a long, strong suit. This is a jump-shift.
As Opener OR Responder, you are showing your point-count range any time you:
1 - Open or rebid notrump -- 1C - 1NT 1C - 1S - 1NT 1S - 2H - 2NT
2 - Raise partner's suit (to confirm that you have an 8-card fit) -- 1H - 2H 1C - 1H - 2H 1C - 1H - 1S - 2S
3 - Rebid your own long suit -- 1D - 1S - 2D 1H - 1S - 1NT - 3S
The level you choose for these bids shows whether you have a minimum, invitational or forcing point-count range.
Rules for Overcaller (after an opponent opens the bidding)
1-level suit overcall (1H by left-hand opponent - 1S by you) = 10+ points with a good 5+-card suit.
2-level, non-jump suit overcall (1H - 2D) = 12+ points with a strong suit
Jump overcall (1H - 3C) = Weak hand (5-9 points) with a long, strong suit (6+ cards).
1NT (1H - 1NT) = 15-17 points (some play 15-18) with balanced distribution and stoppers in the opponent's suit.
Double (1H - DBL) = 12+ points, shortness in the opponent's suit, 3+ cards in all unbid suits. This is called a takeout double because it asks partner to take it out of the auction by bidding his longest suit.
© Karen Walker