Opening Bid

/ Sunil Khanna

Read about two basic bridge grammar concepts.

There are 4 broad categories for opener to consider in Standard American 2 over 1 Forcing.

When to open a Suit

To get best outcome while engaging with BBO ROBOTS, open a suit with following guidelines:

  • 13 HCP hand – Bid a suit without any other consideration.
  • 12 HCP hand – Bid a suit when Either you have 2 quick tricks (2 Aces or AK in a suit) or losing trick count up to 7.
  • 11 HCP hand – Bid will be prudent when both i.e. 2 quick tricks and also, loser count up to 7 are TRUE.

Minor Suit 1!c or 1!d 3+ cards in the bid suit

IF A single MINOR has 3+ cards open that (1 CLUB or 1 DIAMOND)

1!c by East can be the only opening bid as both majors are 4 cards each (any one of it needs to be 5 cards for opening bid). !d are just 2 cards.
Play this hand

ELSE IF Both MINORS have 3 cards each, open lower ranking CLUB suit.

1!c must be bid when hand has 3 cards each of !d and !c. Bridge grammar has kept this rule to ensure !d are mostly, 4 cards when bid as opening except for 1 rare configuration 4!s 4!h 3!d 2!c.
Play this hand

ELSE IF Both MINORS have 3 or more cards just open the longer suit

1!c by South as no major with 5 cards and higher strain other minor !d is only 3 cards. So the longer minor is bid even when it is lower strain
Play this hand

ELSE IF Both MINORS have 4 cards each, open higher ranking DIAMOND suit.

South has 4 cards each of both minors. 1!d is the correct bid.
Play this hand

ELSE IF there is just one long suit with 5+ cards, bid that suit even if it is a MINOR.

1!c by West as the hand is single suited with 5 cards club suit
Play this hand

ELSE IF Two SUITS with 5+ always open the higher ranking

(Last Statement is true for all suits including HEARTS or SPADES)

Major Suit 1!h or 1!s 5+ cards bid Major suit

IF One MAJOR with 5+ cards, open that suit (1!h or 1!s)

1!h by South is major suit bid. Hearts must be 5+ cards

Play this hand

ELSE IF both MAJORS with 5+ always open higher ranking 1!s

Note:

  • There are 4 strains or suits in Bridge. !s called Spades & !h called Hearts, are Majors with !s being higher in hierarchy. !d is Diamonds and !c is Clubs, classified as Minors. Minors are lower in hierarchy from Majors. In Minors !d is higher suit.
  • Rule of fixing Major suit opening when 5 cards and Minor suit opening at 3 cards ensures that you always have a suit for opening bid.
  • Bridge grammar mandates 1!C opening bid when the hand has 3 CLUBS and 3 DIAMONDS. This facilitates that 1!d mostly reflects 4 cards diamonds suit. The only configuration when 1!D will open with 3 cards is 4!S 4!H 3!D 2!C.
1!d with 3 cards of diamonds. This is the only configuration i.e. 4 of each major and 2 of !c, where opening bid of diamonds will have 3 cards rest all !d openings will be 4+ cards.
Plat this hand