Bidding starts each hand, and the points (hcp and or long/short suit) determine how you bid, or not.
The basic rule for opening bid in each level, w/ hcp:
- NT 16-18; suit: 12-13 (♦️♣️: 3; ♠️♥️ 5 in suit)
- NT 21-23; suit: 22 hcp in ♠️♥️♦️♣️ 5 card suit
- of a suit: Preemptive; weak (5-9 hcp) 7-card suit
- of a suit: Preemptive; weak (6-10 hcp) 8-card suit; NT
- NT slam bid asking for kings
Conventions are used in bidding.
Responses
Responses to partner’s 1NT opening bid: (Responses to a 2NT opening bid are the same, except 2NT 3C is Stayman)
- Pass: Normal if game is out of reach, unless 2D 2H or 2S is a safer contract.
- 2C is Stayman, promising some 4+ card major and asking partner to bid her 4-card major (2H or 2S) if she has one, otherwise to bid 2D. You can subsequently shift to a major to show a 5-card suit and invite game.
- 2D, 2H, or 2S is a sign-off; partner must pass.
- 2NT is invitational to 3NT; partner will raise if at the high end of her 16-18.
- 3-of-a-suit is forcing. Partner will raise with 3+ card support, and otherwise bid 3NT.
- 3NT or 4H or 4S is a sign-off in game.
- 4C is Gerber, asking for aces. Partner responds 4D with 0 or 4 aces, 4H with 1, 4S with 2, 4NT with 3.
- 4NT is invitational to 6NT (This is quantitative, not Blackwood.)
Responses to partner’s 1-of-a-suit bid
- Pass with 0-5 points.
- 1H → 2H = 6-10 points and support in the suit (8+ cards between you)
- 1H → 3H = force a game, 13 points and support.
- 1H → 4H = is a sign-off, indicating a weak hand but with many trumps.
- 1H → 1S = 6-18 points, and 4+ cards in the suit. Forcing, i.e. don’t let the bidding stop there.
- 1H → 2C = 10-18 points, and 4+ cards in the suit. Forcing (except by passed hand).
- 1H → 2S = 19+ points. Forcing to game, and slam is likely.
- 1H → 1NT =: 6-9 points, no fit in partner’s suit, no other suit that can be bid at one level. Not necessarily balanced.
- 1H → 2NT = 13-15 points and a balanced hand, and usually no 4+ card major suits.
- 1H → 3NT = 16-18 points and a balanced hand.
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