The Penguin Book of Card Games: Everything You Need to Know to Play Over 250 Games (9 page)

High-card points (hcp):

Count for each Ace held 4, King 3, Queen 2, Jack 1 hcp.

Distribution: Add 1 for holding four Aces.

Deduct 1 for a singleton King, Queen or Jack, or a doubleton Queen or Jack.

Deduct 1 for a 4-3-3-3 pattern, unless intending to bid No Trump.

In an opening bid only:

Add 1for each card above four in any suitor suits, unless intending tobid NT.

If a trump fit is found in the course of the auction:

Add for a plain-suit doubleton 1, singleton 3, void 5.

Quick tricks: AK = 2 quick tricks, AQ = 11/2 qt, A = 1 qt, KQ = 1 qt, Kx = 1/2qt 2. In general, but not without exception, you should have:

to open 1 of a suit:

13 points and 21/2 quick tricks

to support 1 of a suit: 6+ pts and 4-card support

to bid or support NT: a balanced hand (suit pattern 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2) for game (NT or major): 25-26 pts in combined hands

for game (minor suit): 28-29 pts in combined hands

for a small slam:

33-36 pts in combined hands

for a grand slam:

37 pts in combined hands

3. Opening bids and responses

Opening one of a suit. You show 13-20 pts and promise to re-bid (unless partner has passed). Of two biddable suits, bid the longer first, or, if equally long, the higher-ranking. But:

Of two non-touching 4-card suits (

,

,

), bid the lower first.

Of three 4-card suits, bid the suit below the singleton (but 1 if singleton ).

Partner’s response to opening one of a suit.

With 6-9 points, bid:

2 of opener’s major suit if you hold at least four.

1 of a major over an opening minor if you hold at least four.

1 No Trump if your hand is balanced (you need 8-10 to bid 1NT over 1 ).

Your own biddable suit at lowest level(you need 8 to bid at ‘2’ level).

With 10-12 points, bid: