Basic Bridge Bidding 1 Basic Principles

1. There are 40 HCP in a deck, and so a hand with 10 HCP we will

consider as average

Contents 2. Opening at the 1-level requires an above-average hand. 11 HCP is

above average, but to be safe, we will put it at 12+ HCP.
1 Basic Principles 1 3. A bid is forcing if partner cannot logically pass it for one of the
following reasons:
2 Opening Bids 2
• ‘partner may still have more points, i.e. we might be missing
2.1 Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 game if I pass’
2.2 What to Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 • ‘partner does not necessarily promise anything in the suit bid,
i.e. partner made a conventional/artifical bid’
3 Responses 2
4. A bid is invitational if whenever partner has even 2 more points than
3.1 Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 what he initially promised, he should accept the invite. An easy guide
3.2 Specific Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 goes, if

[points in hand] + [partner’s minimum promised] = 22,

4 Opener’s Rebids 3
4.1 Opener’s Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 you may invite game. Again, partner will accept the invite if he
4.2 After Responder’s Major Suit Bid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 indeed has 2 more than the minimum that he promised. Of course, if
that sum above is 24 or greater, you must bid game, instead of invite,
4.3 After Partner’s New Suit at the 2-level . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 lest partner pass.
4.4 Bidding Balanced Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5. In competitive auctions (both sides bidding), bidding notrump
4.5 1NT Continuations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 promises a stopper in each of the opponents’ suits. A stopper holding
looks like A(x...), Kx(x...), QJx(x...) or better. Sometimes Qxx or
5 Responder’s Rebids 5 Jxxx will do but often times, the honor is easily picked up with an
unfavorable lay of cards. Any 5-card suit is a stopper.
5.1 Responder’s Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5.2 Specific Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6. General hand shapes/distributions are written without dashes, while
specific ♠ − ♥ − ♦ − ♣ shapes are written with dashes. For example,
5.3 Responder’s Rebids over 1NT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
‘5431’ means any hand with a 5 card suit, a 4 card suit, a 3 card suit,
and a singleton, while ‘5-4-3-1’ is taken to mean a hand with precisely
6 Competition 7 5 spades, 4 hearts, 3 diamonds and 1 club.
6.1 Showing support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 7. For the sake of brevity, we will refer to one’s right-hand opponent as
6.2 Competing Bids with No 5-Card Suit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 RHO, and one’s left-hand opponent as LHO.

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 8. Bids marked with a dagger (†) are natural and forcing for one round. 3 Responses
9. Bids marked with an asterisk (∗) are artificial - they do not necessarily Opener’s partner is called the responder and may bid with as little as 6
promise anything in the suit propsed. These are forcing for one round. HCP. His priorities are as follows:

2 Opening Bids 3.1 Priorities

1. Try to find an 8+ card major suit fit:
The one who opens the auction with a non-pass bid must have at least 12
HCP to do so. His priorities are as follows: (a) Show 3+ card support for partner’s major opening
(b) Bid a 4-card major at the 1-level
2.1 Priorities (c) If partner opened 1NT, show 4+ card major suit

1. Open a major suit 2. Bid a new suit (5+ cards) with 10+ HCP at the 2-level
3. Bid NT at the appropriate level
2. Open NT
4. Show support for partner’s minor opening
3. Open a minor suit
5. Bid 1♦ showing 5+ diamonds over partner’s 1♣ opening
The natural system is a 5 card major system. That is, a 1-level opening Note: Sometimes, priorities 3 and 4 may interchange.
of either major suit (♥/♠) promises at least 5 cards and takes top priority
over other 1-level bids. Other systems are 4 card major systems.
3.2 Specific Sequences
1. 1♥-?
2.2 What to Open
Priority Bid HCP Description
Bid Cards HCP Description
1 2♥ 6-9 3+ card support, con-
1♣ 3 12-21 No 5-card ♥/♠, may
structive
have 4+ ♦ if strong
3♥ 10-11 3+ card support, invita-
1♦ 4 12-21 No 5-card ♥/♠, can be
tional
4-4-3-2
4♥ 12+ 3+ card support, game
1♥/♠ 5 12-21 5+ card ♥/♠
1♠† 6+ 4+ card ♠, may have
1NT - 15-17 5332, 4432, or 4333
3+♥ if 12+
shape, no 5-card ♥/♠
2 2♣† /♦† 10+ 5+card ♣/♦, may have
2♣∗ - 22+ Artificial, strong, forcing
3+♥ if 12+
2♦/♥/♠ 6 6-9 preemptive, no second
3 1NT 6-9 no suitable bid covered
suit
above (can be unbal-
2NT - 20-21 Bal. or semibal. (5422,
anced)
6322, 5431, 4441), may
2NT 10-11 balanced, no ♥ support,
have 5-card ♥/♠
invitational to 3NT
3♣/♦/♥/♠ 7(6) < 10 preemptive 3NT 12+ balanced, no ♥ support

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 Responses over 1♠ are analogous. 4. 1♣-?

Priority Bid HCP Description

2. 1NT-? 1 1♥† /1♠† 6+ 4+ card ♥/♠
2 2♣ 6-9 HCP 5+ card ♣ support, no 4-
card ♥/♠
Priority Bid HCP Description 3♣ 10-11 HCP same as 2♣, invitational
1 2♦∗ 0+ having 5+ card ♥, forces to 3NT
p to bid 2♥ 3 1NT 6-9 no suitable bid covered
2♥ ∗
0+ having 5+ card ♠, forces above (can be unbal-
p to bid 2♠ anced)
2 2♣∗ 8+ having 4 card ♥ or ♠ (or 2NT 10-11 balanced, no ♦ support,
both) invitational to 3NT
3 2NT 8-9 no suitable bid covered 3NT 12+ balanced, no ♦ support
above, invitational 4 1♦† 6+ 5+ cards ♦, may have 4-
3NT 10-14 no suitable bid covered card ♥/♠ if 12+
above
4 Opener’s Rebids
3. 1♦-? When opener bids the second time around, he must immediately let part-
ner know the following information:

• a well-defined upper and lower limit for opener’s HCP (because we

Priority Bid HCP Description know he already has 12+)
1 1♥† /1♠† 6+ 4+ card ♥/♠
2 2♣† 10+ 5+ card ♣, no 4-card • whether there is a chance of playing at the Game-level
♥/♠
3 2♦ 6-9 HCP 4+ card  support, no 4- • more about his distribution
card ♥/♠
3♦ 10-11 HCP same as 2♦, invitational – whether his 1st suit gets longer (6+ cards)
to 3NT – whether he holds a two-suiter hand (5+ in one suit, and 4+ in
4 1NT 6-9 no suitable bid covered another)
above (can be unbal-
– whether his hand is balanced
anced)
2NT 10-11 balanced, no ♦ support,
invitational to 3NT 4.1 Opener’s Ranges
3NT 12+ balanced, no ♦ support
Opener must be mindful of the following ranges of HCP which he may
hold:

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 HCP Cover Term 2. Bidding a new suit of higher rank at the 2-level.
12-14 Minimum
16-17 Medium/Invitational (a) 1♣-?-2♦/♥/♠
18+ Maximum (b) 1♦-?-2♥/♠
Note: 15 HCP is a sort of ‘twilight zone’ depending on opener’s distribu- (c) 1♥-?-2♠
tion. At times it is minimum, other times it is medium. More often than
not, it is part of the minimum range. This manner of bidding is called a reverse. These bids are one-round
In general, the following rebids by opener show a Minimum opening hand: forcing.

1. Suit rebids at the 2-level: 3. Bidding a new suit of lower rank at the 3-level (whether partner
showed 6+ or as much as 10+).
(a) 1♣-?-2♣
(b) 1♦-?-2♦ 4. Skipping in NT (18-19)

(c) 1♥-?-2♥ Note: the following sequences are exceptions to the previous section.
(d) 1♠-?-2♠ These must show 18+ HCP whenever opener’s second suit is a new suit,
rather than just 16.
These hands hold 6+ cards in the suit rebid. Major suits must be
6+, minor suits can sometimes be 5+ if having a good honor holding. 1. 1♣/♦-1♥-2♠

2. Bidding a second suit at the 2-level which is lower in rank (recall 2. 1♠-?-3♥
♣ < ♦ < ♥ < ♠):

(a) 1♠-?-2♣/♦/♥ 4.2 After Responder’s Major Suit Bid

(b) 1♥-?-2♣/♦ 1♦-1♥-?
(c) 1♣-?-2♦
Priority Bid HCP Description
These hands hold 5+ cards in the 1st suit, and 1 2♥ 12-15 minimum, with 4-card ♥
4+ cards in the second suit 3♥ 16-17 invitational, with 4-card
♥
3. Bidding the cheapest level of NT after responder’s bid. These hands 4♥ 18-21 maximum, with 4-card ♥
usually do not have a second suit of lower rank (but may have one of 2 1♠ 12+ 4-card ♠, may have 4-
higher rank; opener is not strong enough to show) card ♥ if 16+
4. Passing after partner has made a non-forcing bid 3 1NT 12-14(15) no suitable rebid (no 6+
card suit, or second suit,
If the minimum sequences above do not exceed the 2-level of opener’s no support)
original suit, the following sequences must therefore be stronger than min-
imum (16+): Responses when we have 1♣ or 1♠ are analogous and follow the same
priorities. These auctions are sometimes called ‘1-over-1’ and are forcing
1. Suit rebids at the 3-level up to 1NT with no suitable rebids.

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4.3 After Partner’s New Suit at the 2-level After partner bids Stayman (2♣∗ ), opener’s responses are as follows:
1♠-2♣-?
Bid Description
Bid HCP Description 2♦∗ No 4 card ♥/♠
2♠ 12-13 6+ card ♠ 2♥† 4 card ♥, may have 4
3♣ 12-13 3+ card ♣ card ♠
2♦/♥ 12-13 4+ card ♦/♥ 2♠† 4 card ♠, denies 4 card ♥
2NT 12-13 no suitable rebid covered
above Opener’s rebids do not give away whether he is minimum (15 or bad 16)
3NT 14+ no natural suit rebid or maximum (16-17), only his shape is known. Responder’s rebids are in
3♦/♥/♠ 16+ natural 2-suiter/6+♠ the next section.
Other suit combinations are analoguous. In general, rebidding one’s suit
at the 2-level, supporting partner’s suit, showing a new and lower suit at
the 2-level or bidding 2NT all show minimum hands (12-13). Partner will 5 Responder’s Rebids
still go to game holding 12+. Everything else will force partner to game
(14+) even if he holds exactly 10 HCP. When responder gets to bid the second time around, like opener, he must
These auctions in which partner bids a non-jump new suit (1♦ − 2♠ also limit his points and tell partner more about his distribution (except
is an example of a jump new suit) at the 2-level are called ‘2-over-1’. of course when he has responded any NT bid, which already shows specific
Some systems will play 2-over-1 bids as forcing up to 2NT, others as game ranges). Responder must be mindful of his significant point ranges
forcing. In the natural system, they are simply 1-round forcing bids.
5.1 Responder’s Ranges
4.4 Bidding Balanced Hands
Range Cover Term
Balanced hands have a nice partition of HCP, and action whenever partner 6-9 Constructive
shows as little as 6 HCP is well defined: 10-11 Invitational
HCP Bid Rebid 12+ Game-forcing (GF)
12-14 1X 1NT
15-17 1NT - Action when opener shows a strong hand (at least invitational, 16+)
18-19 1X 2NT is easy, as the logic only goes ‘pass or accept’ the invite. The significant
20-21 2NT - cases for responder come about when opener only shows a minimum hand.
22+ 2♣∗ 2NT The weakest bid responder can give, of course is Pass, whenever part-
Going 1X-2NT is also sometimes called ‘one-and-a-half notrump’. ner has made a non-forcing bid. Like opener, when responder calls a
suit at the 2-level which does not exceed the 2-level of his original bid
(whether it is a second suit of lower rank, or simple rebid), he is showing a
4.5 1NT Continuations minimum/constructive hand. Partner may still choose to invite him with
After partner calls a transfer bid (2♦∗ /2♥∗ ) over a 1NT opening, opener is 16-17, and he should accept the invite with 8-9 and pass with 6-7.
simply forced to bid partner’s 5+ card major (2♥/♦). Responder’s rebids The invitational bids are 2NT, or the 3-level of any of opener’s or re-
are in the next section. sponder’s suits. Everything else is GF. We now go to specific cases

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5.2 Specific Sequences 3. 1♣-1♥-1NT-?
In all sequences below, 3NT is available as a signoff GF bid. Opener may Range Bid Description
correct the bid (or run to a safer contract) if he thinks they have a suit CONST P no suitable rebid, minimum
which the defenders can run. 2♣ 5+ (sometimes 4) card ♣ support
1. 1♦-1♠-2♦-? 2♦ 5+ ♥ and 4+ ♦
2♥ 5+ ♥
Range Bid Description INV 2NT 10-11, may have 5+ ♥
CONST P no suitable rebid, 1+ ♦ 3♣ 10-11, 5+ ♣ support
2♥ 5+ ♠ and 4 + ♥. 3♥ 10-11, 6+ ♥
2♠ 5+ ♠ GF 2♠ 5(4)+ ♥ and 4+ ♠
INV 2NT 10-11, may have 5+ ♠ 3♦ 5+ ♠ and 4 + ♦
3♦ 10-11, 2+ ♦ support 3♥ 3+♥
3♠ 10-11, 6+ ♠
GF 3♣ 5+ ♠ and 4 + ♣ Note that 3♠ makes no sense, as 2♠ is still available as a GF bid.
3♥ 5+ ♠ and 4 + ♥ Other partnerships may reserve special meanings for this bid.
4. 1♠-2♣-2♠-?
2. 1♥-1♠-2♣-?
In 2-over-1 sequences, only invitational and game-forcing ranges are
When opener shows 2 suits, a minimum responder must only show
available. Some principles from the sequences above may change.
preference by passing, correcting to opener’s first suit, or rebidding
his suit, when he cannot safely play in either of opener’s suits (i.e. Range Bid Description
<7 card fit). INV 2NT 10-11, no suitable rebid
3♣ 10-11, 6+ ♣
Range Bid Description
3♠ 10-11, 2 card ♠
CONST P preference for ♣ (3+ cards)
GF 3♦ 5+ ♠ and 4 + ♦
(2♦) (5+ ♠ and 4+ ♦)
3♥ 5+ ♣ and 4+ ♥
2♥ preference for ♥ (2 card ♥, < 3 card ♣).
2♠ 5+ ♠, usually 6+ Some partnerships will play 3♠ as a temporized sequence, and thus
INV 2NT 10-11, may have 5+ ♠ GF. They put 2NT as the bid when responder has exactly 2 card ♠
3♣ 10-11, 4+ ♣ support and 10-11 HCP.
3♠ 10-11, 6+ ♠
GF 3♦ 5+ ♠ and 4 + ♦ 5. 1♥-2♦-2NT-?
3♥ 3+♥ Any invitational but not GF hand should pass 2NT. Any action after
means a game-forcing auction.
Some partnerships would play the 2♦ bid as artificial and game forc-
ing, since responder will seldom need to try to find a fit in a 4th suit. Bid Description
The 3♥ bid under the GF range is called ‘temporizing’, since respon- 3♣ 5+ ♦ and 4+ ♣
der did not show his 3 card ♥ support right away (recall note after 3♦ 6+ ♦
1♥ − 1♠). Hands that temporize can force at least 1 round and so 3♥ 5+ ♦ and 4 + ♥
must be 10+. 3♠ 5+ ♦ and 4+ ♠

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 6. 1♠-2♦-3♦-? Range Bid Description
Any action other than pass is game-forcing: WEAK P 0-7 HCP, 5+ ♠
INV 2NT 5 card ♠ only
3♠ 6+ card ♠
Bid Description
GF 3NT 5 card ♠ only
3♥ 5+ ♦ and 4+ ♥
4♠ 6+ card ♠
3♠ temporize, 3+ card ♠
The notrump responses cater for the possibility of opener having only a
Note that the above are the most common forms/cases in which opener
doubleton in responder’s major (5-2 fit). Opener may correct to 3♠ or 4♠
shows a minimum and responder can bid again. Other suit combinations
if he has 3+ ♠ and depending on whether he has a minimum or maximum
are analogous.
1NT opening.

5.3 Responder’s Rebids over 1NT

The ranges over 1NT are a bit different, since partner’s opening already
6 Competition
shows a well-defined upper and lower limit, plus limited possibilities for
The sequences discussed above are all constructive and uninterrupted se-
hand shapes:
quences - only opener and his partner are conversing and trying to find
Range Cover Term the best contract for their partnership. Of course, this will not always be
0-7 Weak (no game) the case and the opponents will try to get in with their bids also. These
8-9 Invitational bids by the opponents are called ‘overcalls’. Hereon, take your opponents’
10+ Game Forcing seats and imagine that they have started the bidding.
When an opponent has opened the bidding, you may overcall with as
After Stayman 2♣ and opener denies any 4-card major 2♦, 2NT shows little as 8 HCP at the 1-level, and 10 HCP at the 2-level. Unlike opening
an invitational hand only, while 3NT shows a game-forcing hand. On the bids, overcalls in a suit always promise at least a natural 5 card suit or
other hand, if opener shows a 4-card major, like 2♠, the responses go better.
The general principle with direct overcalls is that they are:
Range Bid Description
INV 2NT No ♠ fit 1. constructive - they have a chance of winning the auction and playing
3 ♠ ♠ fit found declarer;
GF 3NT No ♠ fit
4♠ ♠ fit found 2. lead-directing - when they don’t win the auction, partner can safely
lead his suit; and
Responses over opener’s 2♥ are analogous. This is why responder must
have at least an invitational hand to bid Stayman, since his only recourse 3. preemptive - it gets in the opponents’ way, and if they are not pre-
after no major fit has been found is to bid 2NT/3NT. This contrasts with pared for interference, their system may get messed up.
the case of transfers where partner will always bid his major, and he can
pass with a weak hand. If opener has both 4 hearts and 4 spades, he can The third characteristic is not always a requirement for a sound overcall,
still correct to 4♥/♠ after partner’s 3NT, as below. but it helps in disrupting the opponents’ system. As one gets better in
Suppose the bidding went 1NT-2♥∗ -2♠. Responder’s rebids are as fol- judging hands, some overcalls may be allowed to lack the first or the second
lows: condition also.

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 Over RHO’s 1♠, for example, a hand holding Sometimes, you would also be holding an opening hand but with no 5-
card suit, and you would open the bidding, except that your RHO opened
♠53 ♥J65 ♦K102 ♣AQ985 ahead of you. In these cases, you usually have the option of bidding
a ‘Takeout Double’. As the name suggests, it asks partner to take out
is an example of a sound 2♣ overcall, since it is constructive (2♣ is playable the opponents’ suit with any other suit (or even with a NT bid). The
and probably makeable in case everyone passes) and lead-directing (he has requirements for a takeout double are:
the ♣A and Q, and is almost always worth at least 1 trick), while
• at least an opening hand (12+ HCP)
♠Q3 ♥K65 ♦A42 ♣J9852
• at least 3 cards in each of the unbid suits
is not, despite having 10 HCP also. This is because the J9852 club holding
The reason for having an opening hand is that partner will usually have
is not very ‘leadable’, and bidding 2♣ only serves to help declarer in his
few points, and your takeout double forces him to bid even if he has no
task, since he will be aware of the existence of at least 5 clubs in your seat.
points. As for the second condition, when partner takes out the opponents’
suit, he is required to bid his longest suit, and with a hand shape such as
6.1 Showing support 4432, 4333 or 4441, his ‘longest’ suit is a 4-carder. The second condition
assures at least a 7 card fit, which is playable.
Also, when both sides are bidding, the structure for supporting partner’s
Now, if you are the one facing partner’s takeout double, you are only
suit will change slightly. Any bid of partner’s suit cannot be invitational;
required to bid if your RHO passes. Should RHO bid, any bid from you
at best it is constructive (6-9). The level of the bid shows only how
is called a free bid, and promises at least 6 HCP and a 5-card suit.
many trumps you are promising partner. This is called ‘Total Trumps’ or
For example, over RHO’s 1♥ opening,
sometimes ‘The Law of Total Trumps’ (but of course, there will always
be exceptions). The way to show a good hand with support is to bid the
♠532; ♥83; ♦AKJ54; ♣KQ2
opponents’ suit. For example, when LHO has opened 1♦,

 2♠ 3 trumps is a good example of a hand that can bid a takeout double. Continuing,


3♠ 4 trumps we can have
(1♦)-1♠-(1NT)-
4♠ 5+ trumps
 (1♥) − X − (P) − 2♣ : 4+ clubs, 0+ HCP,

 ∗
2♦ 3+ trumps, limit raise or better
The logic of this is similar to that of simple artificial bids like Stayman and
2♣∗ , since partner cannot want to play in the opponents’ suit. Aside from (1♥) − X − (1♠) − 2♣ : 5+ clubs, 6+ HCP.
showing a strong hand, it also preempts the opponents, since you would as examples of a forced and a free bid respectively.
normally be ‘stealing’ their natural bid and would be forced to raise at
the next level if they still wanted to play in their suit.

6.2 Competing Bids with No 5-Card Suit

When you hold a hand that would open 1NT after an opponent has opened
the bidding, you may still bid 1NT to show 15-18 HCP, a balanced hand,
and a stopper in the opponents’ suit(s). The responses are the same
(Stayman, Transfers).