1. Lesson 12 Bidding Strong Hands
Bridge for Beginners
Lesson 12
Bidding Strong Hands

2. Homework – Question 1 What is your opening bid?  AJ76543  876  8
 KQJT876
 7
 QT98654
 Q8
 Q65
 A76
 K6
 7
 QJT8654
Vul P
NV 3
Vul 1
NV 1
Vul P
NV P
Vul 1
NV 3
 754 
 93
 AJ987653
 A54 
 93
 AJ987653
 AK754 
 QT98765
 3  
 QT98765
 JT5432
Vul 3
NV 4
Vul 1
NV 1
Vul 1
NV 1
Vul 3
NV 3

3. Bidding Strong Hands 1 Level is a normal opening strength
2 level is strong
3+ level is weak and pre-emptive
Strong means
20+ HCP or
8 Playing Tricks

4. 2 Level Openings In ACOL all 2 level bids are strong
Many other systems are different
Often a 2 level bid is weak and pre-emptive
When the bid is made the opener’s partner should Announce or Alert
An Announcement will indicate a strong or weak bid
An Alert shows a convention bid i.e. not showing the suit bid

5. This is our strongest opening bid. Open 2 with 23+ HCP
Not a natural bid
Says nothing about 
Partner must ALERT
The ALERT card shows a convention bid
Make sure both opponents see the card
Then return it to the box  A  K  4  K  Q  J  A  7  6  A  K  T  3

6. Responding to 2 Opening
You MUST not Pass
If you have fewer than 8 HCP you bid 2
Which says nothing about ’s
It tells partner your HCP count
And partner MUST ALERT
Another convention bid
Any other bid shows 8+ HCP
Based on needing 33 HCP for 6NT

7. Opening 2NT Open 2NT with 20-22 HCP Shows a balanced hand A  K  4
Open 2NT with HCP
Shows a balanced hand
But can be bid with 2 decent doubletons
In response
You may Pass with <3 HCP
With 3+ you must bid
Responses shortly  K  Q  J  A  7  6  5  A  J  T  3  2

8. With < 8 HCP respond 2NT
Opening 2, 2 or 2
Open 2 of a suit
With 20 to 22 HCP
And a good long suit
Or 8 playing tricks
Partner MUST announce
‘STRONG FORCING’
With this hand open 2
In response
You must bid
With < 8 HCP respond 2NT  A  4  6  A  K  Q  6  5  A  K  J  3  2

9. Calculation of Playing Tricks
An estimation of likely winners
Count:
Number of top cards
A is 1
AK is 2
AKQ is 3
KQ is 1
Add 1 for a suit of 5 cards, 2 for 6, 3 for 7
If you have a total of 8 or more
Consider a 2 level opening bid (Not 2)

10. Playing Tricks example 4
3 winners in ’s
2 winners in ’s
Plus 2 for length in ’s
and 1 for length in ’s
17 HCP
But 8 playing tricks
So open 2
Partner will announce ?
‘STRONG FORCING’  6  A  K  Q  6  5  2  A  K  J  3  2

11. Remember An Opening 2 level suit bid is forcing You must respond
PASS is NOT an option
If you have fewer than 8 HCP
You MUST respond 2NT (negative)
Partner needs to know where to stop
At game
Or slam

12. What will you Open? You have 24 HCP 4441 shape Bid is 2 With 23+ HCP A  K  Q  4
You have 24 HCP
4441 shape
Bid is 2
With 23+ HCP
Always open 2 NB
Partner MUST Alert!  K  Q  J  5  A  K  T  5  K

13. What will you Open? You have 22 HCP 4333 shape Bid is 2NT A  K  Q  4
You have 22 HCP
4333 shape
Bid is 2NT
With HCP
And balanced shape
Always open 2NT  K  Q  J  A  T  5  K  9  8

14. What will you Open? You have 22 HCP Good ’s Bid is 2 With 20-22 HCP K  Q  4
You have 22 HCP
Good ’s
Bid is 2
With HCP
Or 8 playing tricks
And a good suit
Always open 2 of the suit
(Except 2)  A  K  Q  J  9  A  5  K  9  8

15. Good ’s and second suit
What will you Open?  5  4
You have 16 HCP
Good ’s and second suit
Playing tricks ?
Bid is 2
With 8 playing tricks
And a good suit
Always open 2 of the suit
(Except 2)
Partner Announces 8  A  K  Q  J  9  2  K  Q  J  5  9

16. What will you Open? You have 20 HCP Good ’s and second suit Q  J  5  4
You have 20 HCP
Good ’s and second suit
Playing tricks ?
Not good enough for 2
Too good for 1
Bid is 2NT
Even with 2 doubletons
Partner may pass a 1 level bid 5  A  J  K  5  A  K  Q  9  4

17. What will you Open? You have 20 HCP 5 ’s and 4 ’s Playing tricks ?J  5  4
You have 20 HCP
5 ’s and 4 ’s
Playing tricks ?
Bid is 1
’s not good enough for 2
’s not good enough for 2NT
Hope partner has enough to respond  3 6  A  K  J  5  A  K  4  2

18. Responding to 2 level openings
You have 2 HCP
Partner has opened 2
What is your response?
Response is 2
After a 2 opening
Showing a big hand
You MUST bid
With fewer than 8 HCP
Negative response is 2  Q  3  2  5  4  3  2  8  3  2  7  6  4

19. Responding to 2 level openings
You have 2 HCP
Partner has opened 2NT
What is your response?
Response is PASS
After a 2NT opening
Showing HCP
You may Pass
With fewer than 3 HCP
With more you MUST bid  Q  3  2  5  4  3  2  8  3  2  7  6  4

20. Responding to 2 level openings
You have 2 HCP
Partner has opened 2
What is your response?
Response is 2NT
After a 2 of a suit opening
Showing a big hand
You MUST bid
With fewer than 8 HCP
Negative response is 2NT  Q  3  2  5  4  3  2  8  3  2  7  6  4

21. Positive responses to 2 opening
You have 9 HCP
Partner has opened 2
What is your response?
Response is 3
With more than 7 HCP
Bid your longest suit
A natural bid
Forcing to at least game  Q  3  2  5  4  3  8  3  A  K  4  3  2

22. Positive responses to 2 opening
You have 9 HCP
Partner has opened 2
What is your response?
Response is 2NT
Showing more than 7 HCP
Very balanced hand 4333
And no 4 card major
Forcing to at least game  Q  3  2  5  4  3  8  3  2  A  K  4  3

23. Positive responses to 2NT opening
You have 5 HCP
Partner has opened 2NT
What is your response?
Response is 3NT
Showing more than 2 HCP
Balanced hand
And no 5 card major
Forcing to at least game  Q  3  2  K  5  4  3  8  3  2  5  4  3

24. Positive responses to 2NT opening
You have 5 HCP
Partner has opened 2NT
What is your response?
Response is 3
Showing more than 2 HCP
And a 5 card major
Forcing to at least game
Opener selects the game
NT or ’s  Q  3  2  K  T  5  4  3  8  3  5  4  3

25. Positive responses to 2NT opening
You have 5 HCP
Partner has opened 2NT
What is your response?
Response is 4
Showing more than 2 HCP
And a 6 card major  T  3  2  K  T  5  4  3  2  8  5  4  3

26. Positive responses to 2 of a suit openings A  J  8  7  6
Partner has opened 2
You have 9 HCP
And 5 ’s
Response is 2
Any response other than 2NT
Shows 8+ HCP
And 4+ of the suit bid  Q  8  9  5  4  Q  3  2

27. Positive responses to 2 of a suit openings A  J  8
Partner has opened 2
You have 9 HCP
And very balanced hand
Response is 3NT
3NT shows 8+ HCP
4333 shape
And no 4 card major
NB. 2NT would be negative so you must jump  Q  8  6  9  5  4  Q  4  3  2

28. Re-Bids
After the response opener knows whether to aim for game or slam
A negative response usually ends in game
A positive response often ends in slam
2 is forcing to game
2 of a suit is forcing for 1 round
But if opener bids a different suit
That is forcing for 1 more round
Rare to pass before game after 2 level opening

29. NT Re-Bids After a 2 opener There are two NT re-bids
Showing specific point counts

30. NT Re-Bids You have 24 HCP balanced Opening bid is 2 Partner bids 2 A  K  Q
You have 24 HCP
balanced
Opening bid is 2
Partner bids 2
Showing fewer than 8 HCP
Re-bid is 2NT
Showing 23 or 24 HCP  K  Q  J  A  K  T  5  K  7  6

31. NT Re-Bids You have 25 HCP balanced Opening bid is 2 Partner bids 2 A  K  Q
You have 25 HCP
balanced
Opening bid is 2
Partner bids 2
Showing fewer than 8 HCP
Re-bid is 3NT
Showing 25 or 26 HCP  K  Q  J  A  K  T  5  K  J  6

32. Remember Opening Bid Negative Response Limit 2 2 <8 points 2NT
2, 2 or 2
2NT
PASS
<3 points

33. Summary 2 level bids are strong hands You MUST respond
Except fewer than 3 HCP after 2NT opening
Re-bids are natural to find a fit looking for best contract
Remember the negative bids
Next week
Special bids for getting to slams