D1 BIDDING FUNDAMENTALS

HAND EVALUATION

The Milton Work Point Count

Ace = 4 Points, King = 3 Points, Queen = 2 Points, Jack = 1 Point

There are 40 'High Card' points in the pack. Therefore, an average hand contains 10 points.

You may add 'distribution' points for extra length, one point for the fifth and subsequent card in any suit. e.g. a suit such as ª A Q 10 7 6 2 would count as 8 total points, 6 in high cards and 2 extra for distribution

OPENING BID

With 0 to 11 total points, pass.

With a balanced hand of 12-14 high card points open 1NT (Balanced hands are 4/3/3/3 or 4/4/3/2 or occasionally 5/3/3/2).

With 12 or more total points, bid your longest suit. LENGTH BEFORE STRENGTH.

SIMPLE RESPONDING TO OPENING BID OF ONE OF A SUIT

With 0 to 5 high card points, pass.

With 6 to 8 high card points, you must either bid a new suit at the one level or bid 1NT or support partner's suit at the 2 level.

With 9 or more high card points you must either bid a new suit (at the 2 level if necessary) or bid No Trumps or support partner's suit.

BIDDING OBJECTIVES

a) To Choose a Trump Suit.

The suit should ideally contain at least 8 cards between the two hands, i.e. at least three more trumps than they have.

To bid a suit once guarantees 4 cards, twice 5 cards and three times 6 cards.

If partner bids a suit and you have 4 cards in this suit, you have found the magic 8 card fit;. support partner either by passing or raising the level. Similarly if you have 3 cards in the suit and partner has repeat bid the suit then you again know that you have an 8 card fit; support partner either by passing or raising the level.

b) To Determine the Level to Play.

Set your sights on a part-score, game or slam. You do this by adding the points in your hand to those in your partner's hand to determine the level to play. How do you count points in partner's hand?!

Partner may make a 'limit' bid which defines his point count to within a point or two. From hereon in, you are in charge of the auction and normally pass or bid the final contract.

You may make a 'limit bid' yourself which defines your own point count. Now your partner is in charge and normally passes or bids the final contract.

LIMIT BIDS

Acol System Limit Bid Examples

ALL NO TRUMP BIDS e.g. 1¨ Pass 1NT

REPEAT OF YOUR OWN SUIT e.g. 1ª Pass 2© Pass 2ª

SUPPORTING PARTNERS SUIT e.g. 1ª Pass 2© Pass 3©

All limit bids may be passed, the bidding is not 'forced'.

BIDDING ZONES

Once you have made a limit bid, then partner can judge what level the hand is worth. Similarly if you have made a limit bid, partner is in charge and can judge the level.

COMBINED POINTS ZONE
L LESS THAN 20 POINTS OPPOSITION'S HAND
J 20 TO 24 POINTS PART SCORE
J 25 TO 32 POINT GAME ,, 3NT
J 28 TO 32 POINTS GAME 5¨, 5§
JJ 32 TO 36 SMALL SLAM
JJJ 36 PLUS GRAND SLAM

OPENER'S REBID

After opener has bid a suit and partner has responded (with a bid which is not a limit bid), Opener must not pass just yet. Opener promises another bid.

i) Opener may repeat the original suit (showing 5 cards or more in that suit), a limit bid,

ii) Opener may bid no trumps, a limit bid,

iii) Opener may support partner's suit, a limit bid,

iv) Opener may offer a second suit as an alternative.

Note it is usually better to show a secondary 4 card suit to partner rather than repeating a 5 card suit. In this way you are offering a choice of suit

e.g. 1ª Pass 2§ Pass 2©

SIMPLE LIMIT BIDS

a) No Trump bids

The simplest limit bid in ACOL is the opening of 1NT which shows 12 to 14 points and a balanced hand pattern, 4,3,3,3, or 4,4,3,2 or 5,3,3,2. All the other no trump bids are laid out in the attached handout below..

No trumps is the cheapest game and 3NT is a very popular contract for experienced players.

b) Opener's Repeat of Suit

To bid a suit and then repeat it at the two level after partner's response in a new suit shows a minimum hand of around 13 points and a 5 card suit.

e.g. 1ª Pass 2§ Pass 2ª

To bid a suit and then repeat it at the three level after partner's response in a new suit shows a minimum hand of around 16 points and a powerful 5 or preferably 6 card suit.

e.g. 1ª Pass 2§ Pass 3ª

c) Support of Opener's Suit

If responder supports opener's suit immediately because there is an 8 card trump fit,

i) responder supports at the 2 level showing around 6 to 9 points, e.g. 1ª 2ª

ii) responder supports at the 3 level showing around 10 to 12 points, e.g. 1ª 3ª

iii) responder supports at the 4 level showing around 13 to 15 points, e.g.1ª 4ª

iv) Opener's Support of Responder's Suit

Support of responder's suit immediately by one level shows a minimum hand of around 13 points. e.g. 1ª 2§ 3§ .

THE NO TRUMP POINT COUNT LADDER

For balanced hands, 4,3,3,3, or 4,4,3,2 or 5,3,3,2, when the 5 card suit in clubs or diamonds(48% of all hands)

a) Opener's No Trump Bids

POINTS BID.

Step 1. 12-14 points
Open 1NT

Step 2. 15-16points
Bid 1 of a suit, then NT at minimum level.e.g 1ª - 2© - 2NT or 1§ - 1¨ - 1NT

Step 3. 17-18 points.
Bid one of a suit, then jump one level in NT e.g. 1ª - 2© - 3NT or 1§ - 1¨ - 2NT

Step 4. 19 points.
Bid one of a suit, then bid 3NT e.g 1ª - 2©-3NT or 1§ - 1¨ - 3NT

Step 5 20-22 points.
Open 2NT

Step 6. 23-24 points
Open 2§, then rebid 2NTe.g. 2§ - 2¨ - 2NT

Step 7. 25-26 points
Open 2§, then rebid 3NT e.g 1© - 2¨ - 3NT

Step. 8. 27+ points.
Open 2§, and hope partner limits his hand.

b). Responder's no trump bids after partner has opened one of a suit

Step 1. 6 - 9points
Respond 1NT
e.g.1ª -1NT or
1§ - 1© - 1ª - 1NT

Step 2. 11-12 points
Respond 2NT
e.g. 1ª - 2NT
or 1§ - 1© - 1ª - 2NT

Step 3. 13 -15 points
Respond 3NT
e.g. 1© - 3NT
or - 1ª - 2§- 3NT

Step 4. More tha 15 points
Bid a suit and hope partner limits.

c). Major 8 card fits

Game in an 8 card major fit (4© or 4ª ) is usually safer than 3 No Trumps, so always respond with a four card major suit at the one level first even if you have a balanced limit raise in no trumps. This doesn't apply to the minor suits, and ¨) since you need 11 tricks for game.