Basic Rules To Opening the Bidding
There are some simple rules to remember if you are the first person to open the bidding.
- You need at least 12 high card points (HCP) to open the bidding.
Count:
- 4 HCP for an Ace
- 3 HCP for a King
- 2 HCP for a Queen
- 1 HCP for a Jack
There are a total of 40 high card points in a pack.
- Open 1NT if you can. This should always be your
first preference as it forces your opponents to bid at the 2-level
should they wish to enter the bidding. To do this you must have 12 to
14 HCP and a no trump distribution (see Lesson 2
for more details).
- Open your longest suit as the second preference.
- With equal legth suits bid a major suit before a minor.
- With two 5-card suits open the higher ranking suit first.
- With two 4-card suits open the lower ranking suit first.
Examples:
- With 5-card D suit and 4-card S suit bid 1D: Longest Suit
- With 5-card D suit and 5-card S suit bid 1S: Major before Minor
- With 5-card C suit and 5-card D suit bid 1D: Higher Ranking
- With 5-card H suit and 4-card S suit bid 1H: Longest Suit
- With 4-card S suit and 4-card H suit bid 1H: Lower Ranking
