Standard American Bidding
(5-Card Major System)
Point Count:
Ace = 4 pts. King = 3 pts.
Queen = 2 pts. Jack = 1 pt.
There are 40 total points in the deck.
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.). Your first choice for a trump suit is a
major (hearts or spades). If you have no major-suit trump fit, choose notrump
if you have balanced strength; choose a minor (clubs or diamonds) if you have
unbalanced hands and an 8-card fit.
- Contract requirements
--
what you and your partner need in your two hands to make these contracts:
-
Suit part score
(bid of 1, 2 or 3 in any suit) -- 18-24 pts. and at least an 8-card trump
fit.
-
Notrump part
score (bid of 1NT or 2NT) -- 20-24 pts. and preferably no
8-card major-suit fit.
-
Major-suit game
(4H, 4S) -- 25-26+ pts. and at least an 8-card fit. (Game and slam
contracts pay a scoring bonus.)
-
Minor-suit game
(5C,5D) -- 28-29+ pts. and at least an 8-card fit.
-
Notrump game
(3NT) -- 25-26+ pts. and preferably no 8-card major-suit fit.
-
Small slam (any bid of
6) -- 33+ pts.
-
Grand slam (any bid of
7) -- 36+ pts. and all four aces.
These 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 13-20 pts. You can open a hand of 11-12 pts. if you have a
long suit, distributional strength and/or good quick tricks. The meanings of
your opening bids are:
-
1NT = Exactly 16-18
pts. and balanced distribution -- at least 2 cards in every suit, but no
more than one 2-card suit. (Some pairs choose to use a range of 15-17 pts.
for a 1NT opening bid.)
-
1H or 1S = 13-21 pts.
and a 5+-card suit.
-
1C or 1D = 13-21 pts.
and at least 3 cards in the suit. An opening bid of 1C or 1D is often
called a "convenient minor" -- it tells partner that your hand
doesn't meet the requirements for an opening bid of 1H, 1S or 1NT. Choose
your longer minor; if you have two 3-card minors, open 1C to keep the
bidding low.
-
2NT = Exactly 21-23
pts. and balanced distribution. (If you play 1NT is 15-17 pts., you should
adjust the opening 2NT range down to 20-22 pts.).
-
2 of a suit = A very
strong hand (21+ pts.) and a long suit (5+ cards).
-
3 of a suit = A weak
hand (5-9 pts.) with a long, strong suit (6+ 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: (after
partner responds to your opening bid)
-
A new suit (1C-1H-1S)
-- At least 4 cards in the suit, 13+ pts.
-
Simple rebid of your first
suit (1C-1H-2C) -- Extra length (usually a 6+ cards) and a
minimum opener (13-15 pts.). 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 opener (13-15 pts). To show a stronger hand with a fit for
partner, you can jump-raise his suit -- 1C-1H-3H or 4H.
-
Notrump (1C-1H-1NT)
-- A balanced minimum opener (13-15 pts.) 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 16-18 or 15-17 pts.). To
show a very strong balanced hand (19 pts.), open a suit bid
and then jump in notrump -- 1C-1H-2NT.
- If you have fewer than 16
pts., DON'T go to the 2-level unless you're:
-
1 - Raising partner's suit (to
confirm a trump fit);
2 - Rebidding your own extra-long suit; or
3 - Showing a 2nd suit of
lower 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 pts. 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
you can bid at the 1-level, respond the cheaper one to keep the bidding
low.
-
If you have fewer than 10
pts., DON'T bid at the 2-level unless you're raising partner's suit or
rebidding your own long suit. With some unbalanced hands, you'll have to
bid 1NT.
Your first response:
-
1 of a new suit (1C-1H
) = At least 4 cards in the suit, 6+ pts.
-
2 of a new suit
(non-jump) (1H-2D) = A 4+-card suit AND at least 10 pts.
-
Single raise of partner's
major (1S-2S) = At least 3 cards in partner's suit and a
minimum response (6-9 pts.). To show a stronger hand with a fit for
partner, you can jump-raise his suit -- 1S-3S or 4S.
-
Single raise of partner's
minor (1D-2D) = A minimum response (6-9 pts.) with at least 4-5
cards in partner's suit AND no 4+-card major suit. To show a stronger hand
with a fit for partner, you can jump-raise his suit -- 1D-3D.
-
Notrump (1S-1NT)
= A weak hand (6-9 pts.) with no support for partner AND no suit you can
bid at the 1-level. To show a stronger balanced hand, jump in notrump --
1S-2NT or 3NT.
-
Jump in a new suit (1S-3C)
= A very strong hand (18+ pts.) and a long suit.
- As Opener OR
Responder, you show your point-count any time you:
-
1 - Open or rebid notrump --
1C-1NT; 1C-1H-1NT ;
1S-2H-2NT .
2 - Raise partner's suit (to confirm that you have an 8-card fit) -- 1H-2H;
1C-1H-2H.
3 - Rebid your own long suit -- 1H-1S-2H;
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-1S) = 10+ pts.; good 5+-card suit.
-
2-level, non-jump
suit overcall (1H-2D) = 12+ pts.; strong suit
-
Jump overcall (1H-3C)
= Weak hand (4-8 pts.) with a long, strong suit (6+ cards)
-
1NT (1H-1NT) =
16-18 pts.; balanced; good stopper(s) in the opponent's suit.
-
Double (1H-DBL)
= 12+ pts., shortness in the opponent's suit and at least 3-card support
for 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.
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