opening bids

OPENING BIDS & HAND EVALUATION

	1 OF A SUIT	13 - 20 TPC * (Total Point Count )
	1 NO TRUMP	16 - 18 HCP (High Card Points) BALANCED HAND
	2 CLUBS	21 TPC or LESS THAN 5 LOSERS. THE BIG HAND.
	2 DIAMONDS 2 HEARTS 2 SPADES	6 - 10 HCP. 6 CARD SUIT. WEAK TWO BID. MILD PRE EMPT.
	2 NO TRUMP	21, 22 HCP BALANCED HAND
	3 OF A SUIT	LESS THAN 10 POINTS. 7 CARD SUIT. PRE EMPT
	3 NO TRUMP	26, 27 HCP. BALANCED HAND
	4 OF A SUIT	LESS THAN 10 POINTS. 8 CARD SUIT. PRE EMPT
	5 OF A SUIT	LESS THAN 10 POINTS. 9 CARD SUIT. PRE EMPT

DISTRIBUTION POINTS (DP)
3 Points - Void
2 Points - Singleton
1 Point - Doubleton

LENGTH POINTS (LP)
1 Point - 5 Card Suit
2 Points - 6 Card Suit
3 Points - 7 Card Suit
4 Points - 8 Card Suit

	ASSETS (A)*** 1 Point - 4 Aces (Subtract 1 Point with zero Aces) 1 Point - 4 Card Trump Support 1 Point - 5 or 6 Card Suit ½ Point - for each “10” in No Trump
	DUMMY POINTS (DUP)** 5 Points - Void 3 Points - Singleton 1 Points - Doubleton
	BIDDING RANGES (Combined TPC in both hands) Less than 25 Points - Part Score 26 Points - 3 No Trump, or 4 of a Major 29 Points - 5 of a Minor 33 Points - Small Slam (12 Tricks) 37 Points - Grand Slam (13 Tricks)

	TPC = HCP + DP (or LP)+ A
	Total Point Count = High Card Points + Distributional Points (or Length Points) + Assets

*NOTE: to evaluate a hand consider either Distributional Points (DP) or Length Points (LP), but not both. Which to use depends on player preference, partnership agreement or time of day.

**Dummy Points (DUP) are
used only after a trump fit is
found and replaces
Distributional Points (or Length Points).

***Assets (A) are optional
and can be used in borderline bidding cases, such as: pass or bid; or go to game or go to slam. Borderling player are another topic and beyond the
scope of this text.

Scripto finito est; let the play commence