How to Bid Suits in a Bridge Hand (Lesson 2)

The hand has been dealt, and you are the dealer. You are familiar with the Point Count System as described in my article, "How to Evaluate a Hand in Bridge." You know that if you have less than 13 High Card Points (HCP), you will pass in opening bidding position. There are a few exceptions (described below). Remember, in the game of Bridge (unlike the game of Spades) you must name a suit or Notrump as part of your numerical bid. In suit bidding scenarios you are searching for a common "fit" with your partner; that is, the same suit in quantity between both of your hands. For example, if you have five spades in your hand and your partner holds three spades, you want to land in a spade contract (final bid). The most common opening bid is on the ONE LEVEL. There are other opening bids which may be on the TWO, THREE OR FOUR LEVELS. In this article we will examine opening bids.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A well-lighted and ventilated room
• A card-sized table
• Pens/pencils and pieces of paper
• Two standard decks of cards
• Four players

Suit Bidding - Opening Round - One Level

1. ONE BIDS
   
   In order to bid at the One level, you must have an opening hand. This usually consists of 13 High Card Points (HCP). You may also have some distributional values, such as a void, doubleton or singleton.

2. SUIT EVALUATION
   
   In Bridge, the suits are ranked: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs. (Notrump is a separate topic). Spades and Hearts are called "Major" suits; Diamonds and Clubs are called "Minor" suits. Most players prefer to open with a Major suit only if they have FIVE cards in that suit; otherwise they bid their better (longer length) Minor suit.

3. ONE BID (MAJOR SUIT)
   
   If you have 13 HCP (or close to it with a distributional value) AND a five-card Spade or Heart suit, you (dealer, second seat after a "pass," third seat after two "passes" or fourth seat after three "passes") must open the bidding with a one bid of your five-card Major suit. This tells your partner that you have the HCP and the five-card Major suit.

4. ONE BID (MINOR SUIT)
   
   If you have 13 HCP and no five-card Major suit, you must open with the longer of your two Minor suits. This tells your partner that you do not hold a five-card Major suit. It does NOT necessarily tell your partner that your Diamond or Club suit is genuine; as a matter of fact, you might have only three cards in the Minor suit you choose to bid! We explore responses by partner in another of my articles.

5. TWO BIDS (STRONG)
   
   This is a special bid reserved to show a powerhouse hand of at least 20 HCP and possible distributional features. It is demand from your partner to bid at least once, as a reply. The same requirement for opening two bids of five-card Majors applies.

6. TWO BIDS (WEAK)
   
   Some partnerships prefer to use the opening two level bids as "weak," promising ONLY 6 to 12 HCP and a six-card suit. This system should only be used by more experienced players. By the way, the opening bid of two Clubs is ALWAYS a strong bid with the 20+ HCP requirement.

7. THREE BIDS
   
   These calls are sometimes referred to as "Preemptive" bids. They are intended to show unusual distribution and a seven-card suit. The HCP is also lowered to 6 to 10 points. The idea here is to disrupt the communication between the opponents and to tell your partner that you have this type of hand.

8. FOUR AND FIVE LEVEL BIDS
   
   These bids are very infrequent, yet they can be effective weapons. In order to open with four or five of a suit as an opening bid, you MUST have a powerful seven-card suit, or better yet, an eight-card suit AND distributional values. You are on your own here. Partner may have nothing. Vulnerability is discussed in another of my articles. High level bidding is often called "shutout" bidding. The idea is to steal the hand, or maybe sacrifice against a possible Slam by the opponents.

9. REBIDDABLE SUITS
   
   If you open with a five-card Major, you must be prepared for a response by partner. A strong suit is preferred. If you bid the same Major suit again, you are now promising at least SIX cards in that suit.

Tips & Warnings

• Research the topic "5-Card Major Suits" at the one level.
• Practice opening bidding with your partner. Deal out a hand and evaluate each of the hands, face up.
• Be aware of the score when you are making an opening bid.
• Do NOT make an opening bid if you have a balanced hand and less than 13 HCP.
• Do not make a strong opening bid on the two level with less than 20 HCP and a solid five-card suit (other than Clubs).
• Do not open with one of a Major suit, unless you hold a five-card Spade or Heart suit.