bridge for beginners

Bridge for BeginnersBridge for Beginners

Lesson 12Lesson 12

Bidding Strong HandsBidding Strong Hands

Homework – Question 1Homework – Question 1 What is your opening bid?What is your opening bid? AJ76543 876 8 Q5

T763 K4 KQJT876

7 QT98654 Q8 Q65

A76 K6 7 QJT8654

754 93 AJ987653

A54 93 AJ987653

AK754 QT98765 3

QT98765 JT5432

Vul PVul P

NV 3NV 3

Vul 1Vul 1

NV 1NV 1

Vul PVul P

NV PNV P

Vul 1Vul 1

NV 3NV 3

Vul 3Vul 3

NV 4NV 4

Vul 1Vul 1

NV 1NV 1

Vul 3Vul 3

NV 3NV 3

Vul 1Vul 1

NV 1NV 1

Bidding Strong HandsBidding Strong Hands

1 Level is a normal opening strength1 Level is a normal opening strength 2 level is strong2 level is strong 3+ level is weak and pre-emptive3+ level is weak and pre-emptive

Strong meansStrong means 20+ HCP or20+ HCP or 8 Playing Tricks8 Playing Tricks

2 Level Openings2 Level Openings In ACOL all 2 level bids are strongIn ACOL all 2 level bids are strong Many other systems are differentMany other systems are different Often a 2 level bid is weak and pre-Often a 2 level bid is weak and pre-

emptiveemptive When the bid is made the opener’s partner When the bid is made the opener’s partner

should Announce or Alertshould Announce or Alert An Announcement will indicate a strong or An Announcement will indicate a strong or

weak bidweak bid An Alert shows a convention bid i.e. not An Alert shows a convention bid i.e. not

showing the suit bidshowing the suit bid

Opening 2Opening 2 This is our strongest opening bid.This is our strongest opening bid.

A

A

K

Q

A

K

K

J

7

6

Open 2Open 2 with 23+ HCPwith 23+ HCP

Not a natural bidNot a natural bid

Says nothing aboutSays nothing about Partner must ALERTPartner must ALERT

The ALERT card shows a The ALERT card shows a convention bidconvention bid

Make sure both opponents Make sure both opponents see the cardsee the card

Then return it to the boxThen return it to the boxT

3

4

Responding to 2Responding to 2 Opening Opening

You MUST not PassYou MUST not Pass If you have fewer than 8 HCP you bid 2If you have fewer than 8 HCP you bid 2 Which says nothing about Which says nothing about ’s’s It tells partner your HCP countIt tells partner your HCP count And partner MUST ALERTAnd partner MUST ALERT Another convention bidAnother convention bid Any other bid shows 8+ HCPAny other bid shows 8+ HCP Based on needing 33 HCP for 6NTBased on needing 33 HCP for 6NT

Opening 2NTOpening 2NT

A

A

K

Q

A

K

J

J

7

6

Open 2NT with 20-22 HCPOpen 2NT with 20-22 HCP

Shows a balanced handShows a balanced hand

But can be bid with 2 decent But can be bid with 2 decent doubletons doubletons

In responseIn response

You may Pass with <3 HCPYou may Pass with <3 HCP

With 3+ you must bidWith 3+ you must bid

Responses shortlyResponses shortlyT

3

4

2

5

Opening 2Opening 2, 2, 2 or 2or 2

A

A

6

A

4

K

Q

6

Open 2 of a suitOpen 2 of a suit

With 20 to 22 HCPWith 20 to 22 HCP

And a good long suitAnd a good long suit

Or 8 playing tricksOr 8 playing tricks

Partner MUST announcePartner MUST announce

‘‘STRONG FORCING’STRONG FORCING’

With this hand open 2With this hand open 2

In responseIn response

You must bidYou must bid

With < 8 HCP respond 2NTWith < 8 HCP respond 2NT

J

3

2

5

K

Calculation of Playing TricksCalculation of Playing Tricks An estimation of likely winnersAn estimation of likely winners Count:Count: Number of top cardsNumber of top cards

A is 1A is 1 AK is 2AK is 2 AKQ is 3AKQ is 3 KQ is 1KQ is 1

Add 1 for a suit of 5 cards, 2 for 6, 3 for 7Add 1 for a suit of 5 cards, 2 for 6, 3 for 7 If you have a total of 8 or moreIf you have a total of 8 or more Consider a 2 level opening bid (Not 2Consider a 2 level opening bid (Not 2))

Playing Tricks examplePlaying Tricks example

A

A

6

4

K

Q

6

3 winners in3 winners in ’s’s

2 winners in2 winners in ’s’s

Plus 2 for length inPlus 2 for length in ’s ’s

and 1 for length inand 1 for length in ’s’s

17 HCP17 HCP

But 8 playing tricksBut 8 playing tricks

So open 2So open 2Partner will announce ?Partner will announce ?

‘‘STRONG FORCING’STRONG FORCING’

J

3

2

5

K

2

RememberRemember

An Opening 2 level suit bid is forcingAn Opening 2 level suit bid is forcing You must respondYou must respond PASS is NOT an optionPASS is NOT an option If you have fewer than 8 HCPIf you have fewer than 8 HCP You MUST respond 2NT (negative)You MUST respond 2NT (negative) Partner needs to know where to stop Partner needs to know where to stop At gameAt game Or slamOr slam

What will you Open?What will you Open?

K

A

K

Q

A

K

J

K

T

You have 24 HCPYou have 24 HCP

4441 shape4441 shape

Bid is 2Bid is 2With 23+ HCPWith 23+ HCP

Always open 2Always open 2NBNB

Partner MUST Alert!Partner MUST Alert!

Q

5

4

5


K

A

K

Q

A

K

J

T



Bid is 2NTBid is 2NT

With 20-22 HCPWith 20-22 HCP

And balanced shapeAnd balanced shape

Always open 2NTAlways open 2NT

Q

5

4

9

8


K

A

K

Q

K

J


GoodGood ’s’s

Bid is 2Bid is 2With 20-22 HCPWith 20-22 HCP

Or 8 playing tricksOr 8 playing tricks

And a good suitAnd a good suit

Always open 2 of the suitAlways open 2 of the suit

(Except 2(Except 2))

Q

5

4

9

8

A

9


K

K

Q

J


GoodGood ’s and second suit’s and second suit

Playing tricks ?Playing tricks ?

Bid is 2Bid is 2With 8 playing tricksWith 8 playing tricks

And a good suitAnd a good suit

Always open 2 of the suitAlways open 2 of the suit

(Except 2(Except 2))

Partner AnnouncesPartner Announces

5

Q

4

9

A

9

2

J

5

88


K

J


GoodGood ’s and second suit’s and second suit


Not good enough for 2Not good enough for 2Too good for 1Too good for 1

Bid is 2NTBid is 2NT

Even with 2 doubletonsEven with 2 doubletons

Partner may pass a 1 level Partner may pass a 1 level bidbid

Q

J

A

A

5

55

5

4

K

9

4

Q



55 ’s and 4’s and 4 ’s’s


Bid is 1Bid is 1’’s not good enough for 2s not good enough for 2’’s not good enough for 2NTs not good enough for 2NT

Hope partner has enough to Hope partner has enough to respondrespond

J

A

A

5

66

5

4

K

4

2

A

3

K

J

Responding to 2 level openingsResponding to 2 level openingsYou have 2 HCPYou have 2 HCP

Partner has opened 2Partner has opened 2What is your response?What is your response?

Response is 2Response is 2After a 2After a 2 opening opening

Showing a big handShowing a big hand

You MUST bidYou MUST bid

With fewer than 8 HCPWith fewer than 8 HCP

Negative response is 2Negative response is 2

3

7

5

3

2

6

4

Q

4

8

3

2

2


Partner has opened 2NTPartner has opened 2NT

What is your response?What is your response?

Response is PASSResponse is PASS

After a 2NT openingAfter a 2NT opening

Showing 20-22 HCPShowing 20-22 HCP

You may PassYou may Pass


With more you MUST bidWith more you MUST bid

3

7

5

3

2

6

4

Q

4

8

3

2

2



Response is 2NTResponse is 2NT

After a 2 of a suit openingAfter a 2 of a suit opening

Showing a big handShowing a big hand

You MUST bidYou MUST bid


Negative response is 2NTNegative response is 2NT

3

7

5

3

2

6

4

Q

4

8

3

2

2

Positive responses to 2Positive responses to 2 opening openingYou have 9 HCPYou have 9 HCP


Response is 3Response is 3With more than 7 HCPWith more than 7 HCP

Bid your longest suitBid your longest suit

A natural bidA natural bid

Forcing to at least gameForcing to at least game

3

A

5

3

2

K

4

Q

4

8

3

3

2

Positive responses to 2Positive responses to 2 opening openingYou have 9 HCPYou have 9 HCP



Showing more than 7 HCPShowing more than 7 HCP

Very balanced hand 4333Very balanced hand 4333

And no 4 card majorAnd no 4 card major


3

A

5

3

2

K

4

Q

4

8

3

3

2

Positive responses to 2NT openingPositive responses to 2NT openingYou have 5 HCPYou have 5 HCP





Balanced handBalanced hand



3

5

3

2

5

4

Q

4

8

3

3

2

K




Response is 3Response is 3


And a 5 card majorAnd a 5 card major


Opener selects the gameOpener selects the game

NT or NT or ’s’s

3

5

3

2

5

4

Q

4

8

3

3

K

T




Response is 4Response is 4


And a 6 card majorAnd a 6 card major

3

5

2

5

4

T

4

8

3

3

K

T

2

Positive responses to 2 of a suit Positive responses to 2 of a suit openingsopenings

Partner has openedPartner has opened 22You have 9 HCPYou have 9 HCP

And 5And 5 ’s ’s

Response is 2Response is 2Any response other than 2NTAny response other than 2NT

Shows 8+ HCPShows 8+ HCP

And 4+ of the suit bidAnd 4+ of the suit bid

J

Q

Q

5

8

7

3

2

A

6

8

9

4

Positive responses to 2 of a suit Positive responses to 2 of a suit openingsopenings

Partner has opened 2Partner has opened 2You have 9 HCPYou have 9 HCP

And very balanced handAnd very balanced hand


3NT shows 8+ HCP3NT shows 8+ HCP



NB. 2NT would be negative so NB. 2NT would be negative so you must jumpyou must jump

J

Q

Q

5

8

3

2

A

8

9

4

6

4

Re-BidsRe-Bids After the response opener knows whether After the response opener knows whether

to aim for game or slamto aim for game or slam A negative response usually ends in gameA negative response usually ends in game A positive response often ends in slamA positive response often ends in slam 22 is forcing to game is forcing to game 2 of a suit is forcing for 1 round2 of a suit is forcing for 1 round But if opener bids a different suitBut if opener bids a different suit That is forcing for 1 more roundThat is forcing for 1 more round Rare to pass before game after 2 level Rare to pass before game after 2 level

openingopening

NT Re-BidsNT Re-Bids

After a 2After a 2 opener opener There are two NT re-bidsThere are two NT re-bids Showing specific point countsShowing specific point counts


K

A

K

Q

A

K

J

K

T


balancedbalanced

Opening bid is 2Opening bid is 2Partner bids 2Partner bids 2

Showing fewer than 8 HCPShowing fewer than 8 HCP

Re-bid is 2NTRe-bid is 2NT

Showing 23 or 24 HCPShowing 23 or 24 HCP

Q

5

7

6


K

A

K

Q

A

K

J

K

T


balancedbalanced

Opening bid is 2Opening bid is 2Partner bids 2Partner bids 2

Showing fewer than 8 HCPShowing fewer than 8 HCP

Re-bid is 3NTRe-bid is 3NT

Showing 25 or 26 HCPShowing 25 or 26 HCP

Q

5

J

6

RememberRemember

Opening BidOpening Bid Negative Negative ResponseResponse

LimitLimit

22 22 <8 points<8 points

22, 2, 2 or 2or 2 2NT2NT <8 points<8 points

2NT2NT PASSPASS <3 points<3 points

SummarySummary 2 level bids are strong hands2 level bids are strong hands You MUST respondYou MUST respond Except fewer than 3 HCP after 2NT Except fewer than 3 HCP after 2NT

openingopening Re-bids are natural to find a fit looking for Re-bids are natural to find a fit looking for

best contractbest contract Remember the negative bidsRemember the negative bids Next week Next week Special bids for getting to slamsSpecial bids for getting to slams

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