Total Points (TP)

To get your total points add together: distribution points (DP) + high card points (HCP) = Total Points (TP)

Distribution Points (DP)

When opening the bidding count the HCP and add DP. *Note: DP’s are not used in NoTrumps

Long Suit Distribution Points (LSDP or DP’s)  *before a ‘fit’ is found 

• Add 1 point for every card over 4 in each suit
• Each 5-card: Add 1 point
• Each 6-card: Add 2 points
• Each 7-card: Add 3 points

Short Suit Distribution Points (SSDP or DP’s)  *for suit contracts after a ‘fit’ is found 

• Void = count 5 points
• Singleton = count 3 points
• Doubleton = count 1 point

Points Required To Bid Game  

• 3NT = 25 High Card Points (HCP);
• 4♠  4♥ = 26 TP (HCP + DP)
• 5 ♣  5♦ = 29 TP (HCP+ DP)

No Trump Slam Points required

• Small Slams – 6NT = 33-36 points;
• Grand Slams- 7NT = 37+points;

Suit Slams 

• Small Slams – 6♠  6♥   6♣  6♦  = 32-36 points;
• Grand Slams – 7♠,  7♥  7♣   7♦  = 37+ points

Note: Unbalanced hands in suit slams may need less points

Vulnerability 

Vulnerable

• Each trick light -10 points
• Game bonus +500 points

Not Vulnerable

• Each trick light -50 points
• Game bonus +300 points

Opening Bids

Suit Bids – If your hand is unbalanced

• 12+ points including DP’s = Open with a 1 level suit bid
• If you have 11 points you should have at least one five card and one 4 card suit
• If you open either 1♠, 1♥ you should have four or more cards in the suit
• If you have 10 points you should have two 5+ card suits

Which suit first?

• With a holding of 5+ cards in a suit open your longest suit first
• With 2 x 5 card suits bid the highest ranked suit first
• With two or more 4 card suits bid the lowest ranked suit first (bidding up the line)
• With a singleton and 3 4-card suits if the singleton is:
• – the black suits(clubs or spades) open the middle of the other three suits
• – the red suits (hearts or diamonds) open the suit below the singleton

No-Trump (NT) – If your hand is balanced (4333 or 4432 or 5332) distribution

• 1NT = 12 – 14 HCP
• 2NT = 20 – 22 HCP
• 3NT = 25 – 27 HCP
• NOTE* Opening 1NT can contain a five card major or minor suit

Responding Bids

At the 1 level is forcing on partner for 1 round of bidding 

• With 5 points AND a 5+ card suit bid at the one level
• With 6+ points and a 4 card suit

Not forcing 1 level bid

• Pass = with 0-4 points
• 1NT = 6-9 points, denies 4 spades or 3 hearts NOT forcing

At the 2 level with a new suit forcing for one round of bidding

• A lower ranked suit at the 2 level = 10+ points and 4+ cards 
• A higher ranked suit = jump bid = 16+ HCP and 5 card suit, gameforce bid, slam prospects 

At the 2 level not forcing

• 2NT = 11-12 HCP balanced no 4 card major
• 3NT = 13-15 HCP, 4-3-3-3 shape, no 4 card major 

Raising partner’s opening suit not forcing

• By one level: 4 card support and 6-9 points, eg.1♦ – 2♦
• By two levels: 4 card support and 10-12 points eg.1♥ – 3♥ 
• By three levels: 5+ card support, unbalanced hand, less than 10 points eg. 1♠ – 4♠ 

To show 13 – 15 points and support for opener

• Bid a new suit initially and then jump to game on the second round of bidding. This bid is a delayed game raise 

Notes

• 1. Holding enough points bid your longest suit first, if you are too weak to bid a new suit at the 2 level you may need to bid a 4 card major ahead of your longer minor suit.
• 2. Bid a 4 card major suit before raising partners minor
• 3. Bid your 4 card major suiit rather than NoTrump if you have a good rebid
• 4. Bidding 1♠ – 2♥  means you promise 5 heart suit cards or more 

*Discuss and agree to play 1 of the following 3 systems with partner

System One

1. Strong Two Opening bids 

• 2♣ = 23+ points or 10 playing tricks -partner must bid to game (a gameforce bid)
• 2♠,  2♥ or  2♦ = 17 – 22 points or 8 playing tricks.
• 2NT = 20-22 HCP and a balanced hand (4333 or 4432 or 5332) distribution. *this bid can have 1 five card major suit ?

  Responses to Strong 2 Openings ?

  • After bids of 2♠,  2♥ or  2♦,   2NT is negative showing 0-7 points.
  • After a 2♣ bid, 2♦ is negative showing 0-7 points.
  • All other responses are positive showing 8+ points and at least 4 cards in the suit bid.

System Two

2. Weak Two Opening bids 

• 2 ♠,  2♥ = 6 card suit and 6-10 points, having least 1 honor card Q or higher in the long suit. It denies a 4 card holding in the other major suit.
• 2 ♦ = 6 card suit and 6-10 points, having least 1 honor card Q or higher in the long suit.
• 2 ♣ = 23+ points or 10 playing tricks -partner must bid to game (gameforce)
• 2NT = 20-22 HCP and a balanced hand (4333 or 4432 or 5332) distribution. *this bid can have 1 five card major suit

  • Responses to Weak Two bids 

  • New suit bid is a forcing bid opener must respond
  • Single raise of opener is a sign off.
  • 2NT = Strong enquiry

System Three

3. Benjamised Opening Two bids 

• 2♠,  2♥ = 6 card suit and 6-10 points, having least 1 honor card Q or higher in the long suit. It denies a 4 card holding in the other major suit.
• 2 ♦ = 23+ HCP a gameforce bid – partner must keep bidding going until game is reached
• 2 ♣ = 18-22 points or 9 playing tricks.
• 2NT = 20-22 HCP and a balanced hand (4333 or 4432 or 5332) distribution. *this bid can have 1 five card major suit ?

  • Responses to Benjamised 2♣ or 2♦ 

  • 2♣ – 2♦ OR 2♦ – 2♥ = a negative response 0-7 TP’s
  • All other responses are positive 8+ TP’s
    • a new suit after 2♣  is not forcing
    • A positive response (8+ points) to 2♣ or 2♦  is a gameforce
    • A positive suit reply to 2♦ suggests slam values
    • A positive suit reply = 5+ suit
    • 2NT = positive and balanced hand

Opening Bids

Opening 1NT – 12-14 HCP

• 1NT = 12-14 HCP and a balanced hand (4333 or 4432 or 5332) distribution. *this bid can have 1 five card major suit

• Responding to 1NT Opener

  Responders bid without a 4 card major suit 

  • With a long (6+) club suit bid 2♣ and then bid 3♣
  • 2♠, 2♥, 2♦ = Weak – less than 11 points, but holding a five card suit – Opener must pass this takeout bid
  • 2NT =  invitation to game 11-12 HCP, with no 4 card major suit, opener passes with only 12 HCP bids 3NT with 13-14 HCP
  • 3NT, 4♠, 4♥ =  Opener must pass as responder wants to play in game
  • 4NT Quantitative – inviting Opener with higher points to bid 6NT

  Stayman – Responders bid with one or two 4 card major suits

  1NT – 2♣   An artificial bid asking opener to bid any major suit they have in ascending order. So with 2 four card majors responder bids the hearts first. must have a least one four-card major and at least 8 high-card points to use the Stayman convention.”
  

  • Opener’s response to partner’s Stayman bid 

  • 2♠ =  I have 4 spades and I don’t have 4 hearts
  • 2♥ = I have 4 hearts and I may have 4 spades also
  • 2♦ = I don’t hold a 4 card major 

  Jacoby Transfers (also called transfers) 

  *Agree with partner before if playing Jacoby Transfers responder should have a point count = 3-28 TP

  Openers Bid	Responders Bid	Meaning of Responders Bid
  1NT	2♥	Responder has 5+ spades, and is asking partner to please bid spades
  1NT	2♦	Responder has 5+ hearts and is asking partner to please bid hearts

  
  

  Super Accept Bids after Transfers

  Most of the time, the notrump opener will accept a Jacoby transfer bid and make a minimum response, but there is one exception. With a maximum hand, including four-card support for partner’s major, the 1NT opener should jump to the three level in responder’s suit. This is called super-acceptance.

  
  

  Minor Suit Transfers  

  *Agree with partner before if playing Minor Suit Transfers responder should have a point count = 3-28 TP
  

  Openers Bid	Responders Bid	Meaning of Responders Bid
  1NT	2♠	Responder holds 6+ clubs, asks partner to bid 3C or 2NT in the case of having a good club suit, usually headed by a high card (e.g. Axx, K10x, Qxxx, QJx).
  1NT	2NT	Responder has 6+ diamonds and asks partner to bid 3NT or 3C in the case of having a good suit.

  
  

  Opening 2NT Bid (20-22 HCP)

  2NT = 20-22 HCP and a balanced hand (4333 or 4432 or 5332) distribution. *this bid can have 1 five card major suit

  Responses to 2NT Opening Bid

  The same as the responses to 1NT opening but one level higher Includes Stayman, Transfers and Minor Suit Transfers

  Responding to 2NT Opener

  Stayman Convention (but at the 3 level) 

  • 3♣ = – responder has 3+ points and at least 1 four card major suit and is asking opener for any 4 card major they hold (bid in ascending order) 
    
  • 3♠, 3♥, 3♦ = a gameforce with 5+ cards in bid suit, bid until game has been bid
    
  
  

  Responders bid without a 4 card major suit 

  • 3♦ = a gameforce with 5+ cards in bid suit, bid until game
  • 3NT = 3-7 points and no 5 card Major suit
  • With a long (6+) club suit bid 3♣ and then rebid 5♣
  
  

  Responders bid with a 5 card suit 

  • 3♠, 3♥ 3♦ = a gameforce with 5+ cards in bid suit, bid until game has been reached
  
  

  Responders Slam or Game Try after 1NT opener

  Responder bids 4NT  Quantitative= Inviting Opener to keep bidding and show strength

  Openers Points and Responses
  With 20 HCP Opener passes
  With 21 HCP Opener bids 5NT
  With 22 HCP Opener bids 6NT

  
  

  Opening a weak and gambling 3NT

  This bid is used to describe a hand containing a minor suit of at least seven cards in length and headed by the ace, king and queen, at minimum. The bid has the objectives of preempting the opponents’ bidding if they they hold the major suits and trying for a game in notrump on the hope that partner might hold adequate support.
  Because this conventional bid replaces the standard use of opening 3NT (a hand with 25-27 high card points and a balanced distribution), partnerships must use other bids to show the standard 3NT hand

  Responding to a weak gambling 3NT opener

  4♠, 4♥ =  Opener must pass as responder wants to play in a suit game

  4♣  or 5♣   Pass openers 3NT if your suit is clubs

  4♦  or 5♦   Responder takes opener out to diamonds if that is their 7 card suit

Balanced hand and after a 1 level suit opening bid 

• 1NT = 15-16 HCP
• 2NT = 17-18 HCP denies a four card Major
• 3NT = 19 HCP

After partner’s new suit at the 2 level bid and with a balanced hand

• 2NT = 15-17 HCP
• 3NT = 18-19 HCP

Unbalanced hands showing minimum 12-15 points 

• Raise responder to the 2 level with 3-4 trump cards
• Bid a major suit at the 1 level
• Bid a lower ranked suit at the 2 level
• Rebid your own opening suit (must have 5+ cards for this bid)

Unbalanced hands showing medium strength with 16-18 points 

• Jump raise responder to 3 level with 4 trump cards
• Bid a new suit of a lower rank
• Bid a new suit of a higher rank (a reverse bid)
• Jump and rebid your own suit to the 3 level- shows 6+ cards

Unbalanced hands showing a strong hand with maximum 19-22 points 

• Bid game in responders major suit
• Bid game in your major suit
• Jump shift in a new suit (game force)

Notes

• 1. Don’t raise partners 1 level response with only 3 cards in their suit if your hand is balanced
• 2. Raise a 1 level response to the 2 level with only 3 trump cards if your hand is unbalanced
• 3. A jump raise of responders suit promises 4 trump cards
• 4. A delayed support of responders suit eg.1♦ – 1♠, 2♣ – 2♦,  2♠…  promises responder that opener has a 3 card spade suit and 16-18 points.
• 5. If you have a 5 card minor suit and a 4 card major suit do not rebid your 5+ card minor or rebid NoTrumps, rebid your major suit
• 6. Openers jump rebid of the same suit is not a forcing bid if responder responded at the 1 level
• 7. Openers jump rebid of the same suit is a forcing bid for 1 round if responder bid at the 2 level

Responder showing a minimum hand 6-9 points

• Raise openers 2nd bid suit
• Support opener’s 1st bid suit “giving preference”
• Repeat your own suit at lowest level
• Rebid 1NT

Responder showing a medium hand

Bids showing 10-12 points 

• Jump to 2NT
• Jump to 3 in an already bid suit
• Bid a new suit

Responder showing a maximum hand

Bids showing 13+ (game going) points 

• Insist on game
• Jump in a new suit
• Bid the 4th unbid suit (called fourth suit forcing often looking for a NoTrump contract)
• Make a Reverse Bid by bidding a higher ranked suit than your first suit

Notes

• 1. Don’t raise opener’s second suit with 3 trumps
• 2. Prefer to find game in a major over 3NT
• 3. Prefer to find game in 3NT rather than game in a minor suit
• 4. Don’t rebid a 5 card suit unless there are no other options
• 5. After 3 other suits have been bid, do not bid NoTrumps unless you have a stopper in the 4th suit
• 6. Rebidding your suit promises extra length but not extra strength
• 7. Jump rebids by responder are not forcing unless in a new suit
• 8. Fourth suit forcing shows game interest

Opening Pre-Empts

Requirements for a 3 Level Pre-Emptive Opening 

• A poor hand 7-10 TP
• Singleton or a void
• 7+ card suit
• With 2+ honors in the long suit
• No other 4+ card major suit
• Within 2 tricks of your bid when vulnerable
• Within 3 tricks of your bid when non-vulnerable

Requirements for a 4 Level Opening 

• 5-8 TP include your long suit distribution points -LSDP
• With 2+ honors in the long suit
• Singleton or a void
• An 8 card suit
• No other 4+ card major suit
• Within 2 tricks of your bid when vulnerable
• Within 3 tricks of your bid when non-vulnerable

Overcalling Pre-Empts

Requirements for a 4 Level Overcall 

• 7-10 TP
• Singleton or a void
• 7+ card suit
• With 2+ honors in the long suit
• No other 4+ card major suit interest

Notes

• 1. A preemptive overcall skips two levels of bidding from the most recent opposition bid
• 2. Don’t pre-empt higher than game
• 3. Do not bid again after pre-empt
• 4. Count your playing tricks
  • A,K or Q in partners suit=1 trick each

Responses to PreEmpt Opening Bids or Pre-Empt Overcalls 

Vocabulary

Dealer – first player to bid
Opener – the first player to bid anything apart from Pass
Responder – the openers partner
Overcaller – any bids made by the opposition after the Opener has bid
Declarer – the first player to bid the suit of the final suit, they play their own hand and Dummy their partners hand
Opening Lead – the player to the left of the Declarer who makes the first lead of the game
Dummy – cards placed face up on the table after the opening Lead
Balanced hand – no singleton or void and only one doubleton with no 5 card Major Suit
The Rule of Twenty – A formula to calculate if a hand is strong enough to open the bidding even though the hand may not have 12+ points. Add: Total Points + Count of longest suit in hand + count of second longest suit in hand = If the number is equal to or greater than 20 you can open the bidding

Signals

Attitude This signal is used for showing partner if the suit they led is one you would like to be continued. Play a high card if you want partner to continue leading this suit and play a low card if you prefer them to switch suits

Reverse Attitude This signal is also used for showing partner if the suit they led is one you would like to be continued. Play a low card if you want partner to continue leading this suit and play a high card if you prefer them to switch suits. Low = Like & High = Dislike. The benefit of using Reverse attitude is that you aren’t playing a high card out of a suit you like

The Count Use this signal when Declarer leads a suit. When you follow suit with small cards play low – high to show an odd number of cards in that suit. Play high – low to show an even number of cards in the suit you are playing.

Lavinthal Discards When Declarer leads and you can’t follow suit throw a card from a suit you don’t want, if you throw a high card (meaning 6 or higher) you want back the higher ranking of the other two suits. If you throw a low card so 2-5 then you want back the lower ranking of the other two suits. Although it sounds complex you just basically discarding a suit you don’t want.

Suit Preference Most often when you are playing a card which partner will ruff.
Play a high card (6-10) if you want partner to return a high ranking suit and a low card (2-5) if you want the lower ranking side suit

Leads

Which suit should you lead?

Partner’s suit If partner has bid a suit, lead it
No Trump Contract Lead a card from your longest suit
A Suit Contract A singleton can promote a ruff for your side

Which card should you Lead?

Never underlead an Ace against a suit contract! Lead the Ace itself if no better lead is available

Description	Cards in Hand
Top of a sequence	A K Q J
”	K Q J T
”	Q J T
Low card promises an Honour – 4th Highest	Q 9 3 2     K 8 5 3 2
Top of a sequence (High/Low)	9 2
MUD – Middle Up Down from three small cards	9 7 2

Scoring

Trick Value
1♦ / 1♣   20 points per trick
1♠ / 1♥   30 points per trick
NoTrumps 40 points for the first trick and then 30 points for each subsequent trick

Bonus Points

Contract	Not Vulnerable	Vulnerable
Part Game	50 points	50 points
Game	300	500
Small Slam	800	1250
Grand Slam	1300	2000

Made Contracts

		Not Vulnerable						Vulnerable
Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
1♣-1♦	1	70	140	230			70	140	230
	2	90	240	430			90	340	630
	3	110	340	630			110	540	1030
	4	130	440	830			130	740	1430
	5	150	540	1030			150	940	1830
	6	170	640	1230			170	1140	2230
	7	190	740	1430			190	1340	2630

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
1♠-1♥	1	80	160	520			80	160	720
	2	110	260	720			110	360	1120
	3	140	360	920			140	560	1520
	4	170	460	1120			170	460	1120
	5	200	560	1320			200	960	2320
	6	230	660	1520			230	1160	2720
	7	260	760	1720			250	1360	3120

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
1NT	1	90	180	560			90	180	760
	2	120	280	760			120	380	1160
	3	150	380	960			150	580	1560
	4	180	480	1160			180	780	1960
	5	210	580	1360			210	980	2360
	6	240	680	1560			240	1180	2760
	7	270	780	1760			270	1380	3160

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
2♣-2♦	2	90	180	560			90	180	760
	3	110	280	760			110	380	1160
	4	130	380	960			130	580	1560
	5	150	480	1160			150	780	1960
	6	170	580	1360			170	980	2360
	7	190	680	1560			190	1180	2760

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
2♠-2♥	2	110	470	640			110	670	840
	3	140	570	840			110	670	840
	4	170	670	1040			170	1070	1640
	5	200	770	1240			200	1270	2040
	6	230	870	1440			230	1470	2440
	7	260	970	1640			260	1670	2840

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
2NT	2	120	490	680			120	690	880
	3	150	590				150	890	1280
	4	180	690	1080			180	1090	1680
	5	210	790	1280			210	1290	2080
	6	240	890	1480			240	1490	2480
	7	270	990	1680			270	1690	2880

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
3♣-3♦	3	110	470	640			110	670	840
	4	130	570	840			130	870	1240
	5	150	670	1040			150	1070	1640
	6	170	770	1240			170	1270	2040
	7	190	870	1440			190	1470	2440

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
3♠-3♥	3	140	530	760			140	730	960
	4	170	630	960			170	930	1360
	5	200	730	1160			200	1130	1760
	6	230	830	1360			230	1330	2160
	7	260	930	1560			260	1530	2560

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
3NT	3	400	550	800			600	750	1000
	4	430	650	1000			630	950	1400
	5	460	750	1200			660	1150	1800
	6	490	850	1400			690	1350	2200
	7	520	950	1600			720	1550	2600

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
4♣-4♦	4	130	510	720			130	710	920
	5	150	610	920			150	910	1320
	6	170	710	1120			170	1110	1720
	7	190	810	1320			190	1310	2120

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
4♠-4♥	4	420	590	880			620	790	1080
	5	450	690	1080			650	990	1480
	6	480	790	1280			680	1190	1880
	7	510	890	1480			710	1390	2280

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
4NT	4	430	610	920			630	810	1120
	5	460	710	1120			660	1010	1520
	6	490	810	1320			690	1210	1920
	7	520	910	1520			720	1410	2320

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
5♣-5♦	5	400	550	800			600	750	1000
	6	420	850	1000			620	950	1400
	7	440	750	1200			640	1150	1800

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
5♠-5♥	5	450	650	1000			650	850	1200
	6	480	750	1200			680	1150	1600
	7	510	850	1400			710	1250	2000

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
5NT	5	460	670	1040			660	870	1240
	6	490	770	1240			690	1070	1640
	7	520	870	1440			720	1270	2040

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
6♣-6♦	6	920	1090	1380			1370	1540	1830
	7	940	1190	1580			1390	1740	2230

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
6♠-6♥	6	980	1210	1620			1430	1660	2070
	7	1010	1310	1820			1460	1860	2470

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
6NT	6	990	1230	1660			1440	1680	2110
	7	1020	1330	1860			1470	1880	2510

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
7♣-7♦	7	1440	1630	1960			2140	2330	2660

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
7♠-7♥	7	1510	1770	2240			2210	2470	2940

     

Bid	Made	Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled			Undoubled	Doubled	Redoubled
7NT	7	1520	1790	2280			2220	2490	2980

     

     

Defeated contracts

			Not Vulnerable				Vulnerable
Each Trick Light		Undoubled	Doubled ‘X’	Redoubled ‘XX’		Undoubled	Doubled ‘X’	Redoubled ‘XX’
1		50	100	200		100	200	400
2		100	300	600		200	500	1000
3		150	500	1000		300	800	1600
4		200	800	1600		400	1100	2200
5		250	1100	2200		500	1400	2800
6		300	1400	2800		600	1700	3400
7		350	1700	3400		700	2000	4000
8		400	2000	4000		800	2300	4600
9		450	2300	4600		900	2600	5200
10		500	2600	5200		1000	2900	5800
11		550	2900	5800		1100	3200	6400
12		600	3200	6400		1200	3500	7000
13		650	3500	7000		1300	3800	7600

Calculation of Undertrick Points

Penalty	Not Vulnerable	Vulnerable
Each undertrick	50	100
Doubled 1st trick light	100	200
Doubled 2nd, 3rd tricks light	200	300
Doubled 4th and subsequent tricks light	300	300