Hand Valuation Flashcards
Losing Trick Valuation - Opening Hand
Count up to 3 cards in all suits - any card less than Queen is a losing trick and unsupported Queens and Kings are also losers - 7 losing tricks is minimum opening hand - 6 losing tricks is medium opening hand - 5 losing tricks is maximum opening hand
Losing Trick Valuation - Responder hand
Count up to 3 cards in all suits - any card lower than Queen is a losing trick and unsupported Queens and Kings are also losers - 9 losing tricks is minimum responder hand - 8 losing tricks is medium responder hand - 7 losing tricks is maximum responder hand
Rule of 20 - Opening Hand Valuation
Count number of cards in 2 longest suits and then count high card points in all suits - if the total of both calculations is 20 or more you have an opening hand
Re-Valuation of Responder hand when partner opens 1 level major suit and responder has 3 card support
Re-Valuation (high card pts + short pts)
Short Points:
5 points for void
3 points for singleton
1 point for doubleton
Special Note - if short suit contains honor, count either short pts or honor pts, but not both
Standard Hand Valuation - Opener
Count all honor points (A4, K3, Q2, J1) plus length points - add 1 point for each card over 4 cards in each suit - add honor points and length points together and if total is 13+ then you have an opening count hand
Minimum - Medium - Maximum - Standard Valuation
Minimum Opening Hand = 13-15 pts
Medium Opening Hand = 16-17 pts
Maximum Opening Hand = 18+ pts
Minimum Responder Hand = 6-10 pts
Medium Responder Hand = 11-12 pts
Maximum Responder Hand = 13+ pts
Minimum - Medium - Maximum - Losing Trick Valuation
Minimum Opening Hand - 7 losing tricks
Medium Opening Hand - 6 losing tricks
Maximum Opening Hand - 5 losing tricks
Minimum Responder - 9 losing tricks
Medium Responder Hand - 8 losing tricks
Maximum Responder - 7 losing tricks
Win-able Partnership Tricks Standard Valuation
Assuming 8 card fit has been found Minimum + Minimum = 2 level game
Minimum + Medium = 3 level game
Minimum + Maximum = 4 level game
Medium + Medium = 4 level game
Medium + Maximum = 4 level game
Maximum + Maximum = Slam
Win-able Partnership Tricks Losing Trick Valuation
Assumes 8 card fit has been found Minimum + Minimum = 2 level game
Minimum + Medium = 3 level game
Minimum + Maximum = 4 level game
Medium + Medium = 4 level game
Medium + Maximum = 4 level game
Maximum + Maximum = Slam
Opening Light - double verification
We have 3 methods of valuing opening hands - Standard (honors + length) - Losing Tricks (cards less than Queen) - Rule of 20 (2 longest suits + honors) - when both Losing Trick and Rule of 20 generate opening hand valuations then you can open with less than 13 points
Dog Fight Valuation - when both partnerships have approximately even points (20/20)
When both partnerships have 20 points either can win 2 level game - vulnerability and unbalanced distribution breaks the tie - the partnership that is not vulnerable and has unbalanced distribution should push up to 3 level with 8 card fit
Penalty Double - when should you do it?
Only if you have the setting tricks (sure winners) in your hand - this is an indirect form of valuation asking am I strong enough to do penalty double?
Sacrifice - when should you do it?
Vulnerability is the most important consideration - do not sacrifice when you are vulnerable - opponent can double and win extremely high score by defeating your contract - however if you are not vulnerable and believe you can lose no more than 2 tricks, go for it
Standard Hand Valuation - Responder
Count honor points in all suits (A4, K3, Q2, J1) + length points (1 point for each card over 4 in each suit) - add honor points and length points together and when total is 6+ you have a minimum responder hand (revalue after partner opens and responder has support cards)
Third Position Light Opening - how is it calculated?
count high card (honor) points in all suits + count all spade cards in hand and then combine both counts - open in third position if combined count = 15+
