Bidding Guidelines

Question 1

When is the only time you will open the bidding 1D with a three-card suit?

Answer 1

If your distribution is four spades, four hearts, three diamonds and two clubs and you have 13-21 total points. This happens less than 5% of the time. 95% of the time when you open 1D, you will have four or more diamonds.

Question 2

What is the minimum length of a suit to open it with 13-21 total points?

Answer 2

5+ cards in the majors, H and S
4 cards in D, except in special case then 3 cards
3 cards in C

Question 3

With two five-card suits, open the – ranking suit first, regardless of the strength

Answer 3

higher

Question 4

When you open the bidding with a suit bid, you are showing 13-21 TP in your hand. But you are not promising any HCP in the suit you bid. You are …

Answer 4

promising length, but not strength

Question 5

You are In fourth seat, and the auction has gone three passes to you. If you now pass, the hand is not played. In fourth seat if your hand is a marginal opener, let the Rule of 15 guide you. What is the Rule of 15?

Answer 5

Add your HCP to the number of spades you hold. If this total is 15 or more, you can open. The logic is in spades being the ‘boss’ suit. Spades control the two-level in a competitive auction.

Question 6

What is the Rule of 20?

Answer 6

The Rule of 20 accounts for HCP and distribution working together in the same hand. In the first and second seat, add your HCP to the lengths of your two longest suits. If this total is 20 or higher, open the bidding.

Question 7

What is a dead bid response?

Answer 7

Stops the bidding. aka Signoff Bid

Question 8

What is a caution bid?

Answer 8

Invites the opener to bid again if she has a maximum hand. A caution bid is an admission by responder that she requires assistance in deciding where to play this contract. aka Invitational bid

Question 9

What is a live bid?

Answer 9

means the auction is still alive and opener must bid again. aka Forcing bid