Lesson 3: Let the Games Begin! (9-12)
Handout 9

Bidding Charts

 

 

Guidelines for How to Open the Bidding

Points

Opening Bid

0-12

Pass

13-15

Open 1 in your "best" major suit

(Preferably a five card heart or spade suit)

or

Next best: Open 1 in a minor suit

(diamonds or clubs with four or more cards in the suit)

16-18

1 NT (with even distribution)

 

 

 

 

No Trump Responses to an Opening of One No Trump

(*This occurs with a fairly even distribution of suits)

Points

Response

0-7

Pass

8-9

2 NT

10-14

3 NT

 

 

 

 

Major Suit Response to an Opening of One No Trump

(*This usually occurs when you have a five card or longer major suit)

Points

Suit Length

Response

1-7

5+

2 or 2

10+

5+

3 or 3

10-14

6+

4 or 4

 

 

 

New Suit Responses to Your Partner’s Bid of One in a Suit

Points

Suit Length

Response

6+

4+

1 of suit

11+

4+

Cheapest bid in suit

17+

5+

Jump in suit

 

 

 

 

Minor Suit Raises to your Partner’s Opening Minor Suit Bid

Points

Trumps

Raise to

6-10

4+

2 or 2

13-16

4+

3 or 3

 

 

 

 

Rebids by the Opener in the Partner’s Suit

Points

Trumps

Raise to

13-15

4+ (rarely 3)

2 level

16-18

4+

3 level

19+

4+

4 level

 

 

 

Bidding a New Suit as a Rebid by the Opener

Points

Suit Length

Rebid

13-18

4+

Cheapest bid in suit

19+

4+

Jump in suit

 

 

 

 

Rebids of the Original Suit by the Opener

Points

Suit Length

Rebid

13-15

6+ (rarely 5)

2 of your suit

16-18

6+

3 of your suit

19+

7+ (rarely 6)

4 of your suit

 

 

 

Rebidding No Trump by the Opener to a Response of One in a Suit

Points

Hand Pattern

Rebid

13-15

Balanced

1 NT

19-20

Balanced

2 NT

 

 

 

Rebidding options by the Opener to a Response of One No Trump

Points

Hand Pattern

Rebid

13-15

Balanced or almost balanced

Pass

16-18

Almost balanced

2 NT

19+

Balanced or almost balanced

3 NT

 

 

 

 

Reevaluating Your Point Count After Your Partner’s Bid

Short Suit

Point Value

Void

5

Singleton

3

Doubleton

1

 

 

 

 

Reevaluating Your Point Count After Your Partner’s Bid

Short Suit

Point Value

Void

5

Singleton

3

Doubleton

1