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Before bidding, establish your adjusted point count: high card points (Ace 4, King 3, Queen 2, Jack 1) plus length points when opening, minus one for any singleton or doubleton containing a queen or jack with no higher honor (except K-Q, A-Q, A-J, and K-J pairs). Once a trump fit is agreed, supporting hands count shortness (void 5, singleton 3, doubleton 1) instead of length.
When responder bids a new suit at the two level, that bid promises enough strength for game, and the partnership may not stop below game.
This game-force rule requires two conditions: responder is an unpassed hand and the auction is uncontested. Unpassed hands with 10–11 points respond 1NT (semi-forcing).
| Opening | Condition |
|---|---|
| 12+ adj. pts | Always open. |
| 11 adj. pts | Open unless shape is 4-3-3-3. |
| 10 HCP or fewer | Open if Rule of 20 is met (HCP plus lengths of your two longest suits equals 20). |
| ♠ / ♥ (1♥, 1♠) | 5+ cards in the suit, up to 21 adjusted points. With two 5-card suits, open the higher-ranking. With 6-5, open the longer. |
| ♣ / ♦ (1♣, 1♦) | Up to 21 adjusted points, denies a 5-card major. Open longer minor; with 4-4, open 1♦; with 3-3, open 1♣. |
| 1NT | 15–17 balanced adjusted points (no singleton or void). Exceptions: 6-card major or 5-4-2-2 shape open the major/5-card suit first. |
| 2NT | 20–21 balanced adjusted points. |
| 2♣ | Strong, artificial, forcing opening for 22+ balanced points or 9+ playing tricks. |
| Weak Two (2♦, 2♥, 2♠) | 5–10 points with a good 6-card suit (do not count length in the bid suit). |
| 3+ level | Preemptive bids showing 7+ card suits with less than opening strength. |
Responder must not pass:
Competitive bidding and overcalled auctions are separate situations not covered here.
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