Opening Bids

HCP Hand Type Bid

6 – 10 6-card suit w 3 honors, 2♦, 2♥, or 2♠ (pre-emptive 2 bid)
no 5-suit, 4-major, or void
6 – 10 7-card suit 3 of that suit (pre-emptive 3 bid)
6 – 10 8-card suit, or 7-4 hand 4 of that suit (pre-emptive 4 bid)
with 7 or 8 tricks
11 – 20 6-card suit 1 of that suit
12 – 20 5-card suit 1 of that suit
12 – 20 4-card suit 1 of minor suit
12 – 20 3 4-card suits 1♦, if singleton is ♦, 1♣
12 – 14 4-3-3-3 If 4 is major, 1♣, else 1 of minor suit
15 – 17 4-3-3-3 1NT
18 – 20 4-3-3-3 If 4 is major, 1♣, else 1 of minor suit
12 – 14 5-3-3-2 1 of 5-card suit
15 – 17 5-3-3-2 1NT
18 – 20 5-3-3-2 1 of 5-card suit
12 – 14 4-4-3-2 Longest minor suit
15 – 17 4-4-3-2 1NT
18 – 20 4-4-3-2 Longest minor suit
21 Unbalanced 2♣
21 Balanced 2NT
22 – 24 Any 2♣
25+ Unbalanced 2♣
25+ Balanced 3NT
Responses to Opening Bids

Open Promises Pts Hand Type Response

1♣ 12+ pts, 3-6 ♣ 6+ Unbalanced, <4♣ 1 of suit
6 – 10 Balanced, <4♣ 1NT
11 – 12 Balanced, <4♣ 1 of longest (then bid 2NT)
13 – 15 Balanced, <4♣ 2NT
16 – 18 Balanced, <4♣ 3NT
6-9 SP (5-3-1) 4+♣ 2♣
10-12 SP 4+♣ 3♣
13+ SP 4+♣ 1 of longest (then bid 3♣)

1♦ 12+ pts, 3-6 ♦ 6 – 10 ♣ longest 1NT

11+ ♣ longest 2♣
Everything else same as responses to 1♣

1♥ 12+ pts, 5+ ♥ 2–7 5+♥, 10/11 cards in 2 suits 4♥

6 – 10 <3♥, ♣/♦ longest 1NT
11+ <3♥, ♣/♦ longest 2♣/2♦
13 – 15 <3♥, balanced 2NT
16 – 18 <3♥, balanced 3NT
6-10 SP (3-2-1) Exactly 3♥ 2♥
11-12 SP Exactly 3♥ Longest suit, then 3♥
13-16 SP Exactly 3♥ Longest suit, then 4♥
6-9 SP (5-3-1) 4+♥ 2♥
10-12 SP 4+♥ 3♥
13-16 SP 4+♥ Another suit, then 4♥

1♠ 12+ pts, 4+ ♠ Same as responses to 1♥

1NT 15-17pts, balanced Bidding NT, add pts: 1 for 5 card suit w/ 2 honors, 2 for 5 card w/ 3 honors or 6 card w A or K,
3 for 6 card suit with 2 of top 3 honors
0-8 RP Balanced or 6♣/♦ Pass
9 RP Balanced or 6♣/♦ 2NT (invite game)
10-15 RP Balanced or 6♣/♦ 3NT
Any 5 or 6 card major 2 of suit under (Jacoby transfer)
8+ HCP 2 4-card majors 2♣ (Stayman) [If no major fit (♦ or wrong major),
9+ HCP 1 4-card major 2♣ (Stayman) 8-9 pts = 2NT; 10-15 pts = 3NT]
2c 21+ pts 0–7 Any 2d (negative response)
8+ 5 card suit 2h/s or 3c/d
8+ Balanced 2NT

2NT 21 pts, balanced 4+ 5 card major 3h/3s

4 – 10 6+ card major 4h/4s
4 – 10 Any 3NT

♣♦♥♠