point count system

POINT COUNT SYSTEM

Several methods have been devised to determine if a Bridge hand is worthy of an Opening Bid. The one that seems to have worked the best and is used exclusively today, is the Point Count System. This is a method of hand evaluation and has nothing to do with scoring. That later. In this system only the top four Honors ("Picture" cards and Aces) are considered. See Mr. Work and Friend. Cards that are not "Picture" cards or an Ace are "Spot Cards" The "10" is both a Spot Card and an Honor.

xxxxxxxxxxA K Q J 10 HONORSxxxxx

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 SPOT CARDS

HIGH CARD POINTS (HCP)

A = 4 points

K = 3 points

Q = 2 points

J = 1 point

DISTRIBUTIONAL POINTS (DP)

VOID
(no cards in a suit) = 3 points

SINGLETON
(one card in a suit) = 2 points

DOUBLETON
(two cards in a suit) = 1 point

TOTAL POINT COUNT (TPC)
The sum of High Card Points and Distributional Points.

TPC
TOTAL
POINT
COUNT

HCP
HIGH
CARD
POINTS

DP
DISTRIBUTIONAL
POINTS

Do TEST II A, B and C

MAX AND AVERAGES
The total number of High Card Points (HCP) in any one suit is 10.
                            A = 4
                             K = 3
                            Q = 2
                              J = 1
                      Total =10
Since there are four suits (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades) there is a total of 4 x 10 or 40 HCPs in the deck. The average HCP per hand is 40/4 (there are 4 players or hands) which is10 HCP per hand.

AN OPENING BID
An opening bid is the first bid made after the cards have been dealt. (Other then the call of a Pass.)
An opening bid in one (1) of a suit says: Partner, I have better than an average hand. (More than 10 points.) I'm giving you an idea of my strength and shape.

Experience has shown that a minimum of 13 points (TPC) is necessary for an opening bid in one (1) of a suit.

TO BID OR NOT TO BID
To determine if there is an Opening Bid, add up all the High Card Points (HCP) in the entire hand. Then add to that all the Distributional Points (DP) in the entire hand. If the sum - Total Point Count (TPC) - is13 or more, then you have a bid. Note: you do not need to have points in the suit that is bid.

RESPONDER
The Responder is the partner of the Opening Bidder. You just need six (6) points to respond to your partner's Opening Bid in one of a suit.

THE FIRST
BRIDGE
NUMBER
13

    13 cards in each hand
    13 cards in each suit
    13 tricks in the deck
    13 TPC for an opening bid
                 (one of a suit)

To test your knowledge try TEST II D .