Standard American Bidding (5-Card Major System)
Point Count: Ace = 4 pts. King = 3 pts. Queen = 2 pts. Jack = 1 pt. There are 40 total points in the deck.
Suit Rank (lowest to highest) -- Minors:
Clubs
Diamonds Majors:
Hearts
Spades Notrump
A good trump suit -- A "fit" of 8 or more cards in one suit, combined in your two hands in any way (4-4, 5-3, 6-2, etc.). Your first choice for a trump suit is a major (hearts or spades). If you have no major-suit trump fit, choose notrump if you have balanced strength; choose a minor (clubs or diamonds) if you have unbalanced hands and an 8-card fit.
- Contract requirements -- what you and your partner need in your two hands to make these contracts:
Suit part score (bid of 1, 2 or 3 in any suit) -- 18-24 pts. and at least an 8-card trump fit.
Notrump part score (bid of 1NT or 2NT) -- 20-24 pts. and preferably no 8-card major-suit fit.
Major-suit game (4H, 4S) -- 25-26+ pts. and at least an 8-card fit. (Game and slam contracts pay a scoring bonus.)
Minor-suit game (5C,5D) -- 28-29+ pts. and at least an 8-card fit.
Notrump game (3NT) -- 25-26+ pts. and preferably no 8-card major-suit fit.
Small slam (any bid of 6) -- 33+ pts.
Grand slam (any bid of 7) -- 36+ pts. and all four aces.
These guidelines apply when you have relatively balanced hands. If you have a strong trump fit, long side suits and/or unusual distribution, you'll need fewer points to make these contracts.
Rules for Opener (the first player to make a bid other than Pass)
Your first bid:
Always open the bidding at the 1-level if you have 13-20 pts. You can open a hand of 11-12 pts. if you have a long suit, distributional strength and/or good quick tricks. The meanings of your opening bids are:
1NT = Exactly 16-18 pts. and balanced distribution -- at least 2 cards in every suit, but no more than one 2-card suit. (Some pairs choose to use a range of 15-17 pts. for a 1NT opening bid.)
1H or 1S = 13-21 pts. and a 5+-card suit.
1C or 1D = 13-21 pts. and at least 3 cards in the suit. An opening bid of 1C or 1D is often called a "convenient minor" -- it tells partner that your hand doesn't meet the requirements for an opening bid of 1H, 1S or 1NT. Choose your longer minor; if you have two 3-card minors, open 1C to keep the bidding low.
2NT = Exactly 21-23 pts. and balanced distribution. (If you play 1NT is 15-17 pts., you should adjust the opening 2NT range down to 20-22 pts.).
2 of a suit = A very strong hand (21+ pts.) and a long suit (5+ cards).
3 of a suit = A weak hand (5-9 pts.) with a long, strong suit (6+ cards).
If you have two 5-card suits, open the higher-ranking suit, then rebid the lower-ranking suit (if you have 5 clubs and 5 diamonds, open 1D and bid clubs at your next turn). This allows partner to choose between your two suits without raising the level of the bidding.
Your second bid: (after partner responds to your opening bid)
A new suit (1C-1H-1S) -- At least 4 cards in the suit, 13+ pts.
Simple rebid of your first suit (1C-1H-2C) -- Extra length (usually a 6+ cards) and a minimum opener (13-15 pts.). To show a stronger hand with a long suit, you can jump-rebid your suit -- 1C-1H-3C.
Single raise of partner's suit (1C-1H-2H) -- 4 cards in the suit partner responded and a minimum opener (13-15 pts). To show a stronger hand with a fit for partner, you can jump-raise his suit -- 1C-1H-3H or 4H.
Notrump (1C-1H-1NT) -- A balanced minimum opener (13-15 pts.) WITHOUT 4 cards in partner's suit and without a new 4-card suit you could bid at the 1-level. To show a stronger balanced hand, you can open 1NT (with 16-18 or 15-17 pts.). To show a very strong balanced hand (19 pts.), open a suit bid and then jump in notrump -- 1C-1H-2NT.
- If you have fewer than 16 pts., DON'T go to the 2-level unless you're:
1 - Raising partner's suit (to confirm a trump fit);
2 - Rebidding your own extra-long suit; or
3 - Showing a 2nd suit of lower rank than your first suit (1D-1S-2C).
Rules for Responder (after your partner opens the bidding)
Respond to partner's opening bid if you have 6 pts. or more.
If partner opens 1H or 1S and you have 3-card support, always raise to confirm the 8-card trump fit.
If partner opens 1C or 1D and you have a 4+-card major, always respond 1 of your major.
If you have two 4-card majors you can bid at the 1-level, respond the cheaper one to keep the bidding low.
If you have fewer than 10 pts., DON'T bid at the 2-level unless you're raising partner's suit or rebidding your own long suit. With some unbalanced hands, you'll have to bid 1NT.
Your first response:
1 of a new suit (1C-1H ) = At least 4 cards in the suit, 6+ pts.
2 of a new suit (non-jump) (1H-2D) = A 4+-card suit AND at least 10 pts.
Single raise of partner's major (1S-2S) = At least 3 cards in partner's suit and a minimum response (6-9 pts.). To show a stronger hand with a fit for partner, you can jump-raise his suit -- 1S-3S or 4S.
Single raise of partner's minor (1D-2D) = A minimum response (6-9 pts.) with at least 4-5 cards in partner's suit AND no 4+-card major suit. To show a stronger hand with a fit for partner, you can jump-raise his suit -- 1D-3D.
Notrump (1S-1NT) = A weak hand (6-9 pts.) with no support for partner AND no suit you can bid at the 1-level. To show a stronger balanced hand, jump in notrump -- 1S-2NT or 3NT.
Jump in a new suit (1S-3C) = A very strong hand (18+ pts.) and a long suit.
- As Opener OR Responder, you show your point-count any time you:
1 - Open or rebid notrump -- 1C-1NT; 1C-1H-1NT ; 1S-2H-2NT .
2 - Raise partner's suit (to confirm that you have an 8-card fit) -- 1H-2H; 1C-1H-2H.
3 - Rebid your own long suit -- 1H-1S-2H; 1H-1S-1NT-3S.The level you choose for these bids shows whether you have a minimum, invitational or forcing point-count range.
Rules for Overcaller (after an opponent opens the bidding)
1-level suit overcall (1H-1S) = 10+ pts.; good 5+-card suit.
2-level, non-jump suit overcall (1H-2D) = 12+ pts.; strong suit
Jump overcall (1H-3C) = Weak hand (4-8 pts.) with a long, strong suit (6+ cards)
1NT (1H-1NT) = 16-18 pts.; balanced; good stopper(s) in the opponent's suit.
Double (1H-DBL) = 12+ pts., shortness in the opponent's suit and at least 3-card support for all unbid suits. This is called a "takeout double" because it asks partner to take it out of the auction by bidding his longest suit.