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Hand Evaluation

TO OPEN OR NOT TO OPEN THE BIDDING

– THAT IS THE QUESTION!

High Card Points (hcp) Ace = 4, K = 3, Q = 2, J = 1

Good way to decide roughly how good your hand is – but NOT the whole story!

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AK2 (7 hcps) will always make 2 tricks- - but no more

KQJ10 (6 hcps) will almost always make 3 tricks

– as long as we have time to knock out the Ace.

No perfect way to evaluate a hand – a lot depends on what partner has and other circumstances

How good is my hand?

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Rule of 19

Add your high card points (hcp’s) to the combined length of your two longest suits to find your Total Points (tp’s).

If it 19 or more, you should consider opening the bidding at the one level, as long as the number of hcps exceeds the suit length points.

♠AJxxx 10 hcps, 9 length points - 19 ‘tps’. ♠ Q109xxx(9 hcps+10 length= 19 tps)

♥AJxx It is reasonable to open 1♠ ♥ Kxxx Pass and then try to

♦xxx, ♦ Axx show your suits if

♣x ♣ x partner opens.

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High Card Points (hcp) are best used for balanced hands – ‘4333’, ‘4432’ and ‘5332’ (if 5 card suit is a minor).

Adjustments can be made up to maximum of 2 extra hcps.

Working 10’s – add ½hcp for each

Kxx opposite Q10x or Kxx opposite Qxx

QJ10 or QJx

Good 5 card suits – add 1 hcp

AQJxx (compare this to AQJx)

Poor shape - subtract ½ hcp

eg:-4333, no potential to devlop long cards in three of the suits (compared to 4432, where we have potential to develop long cards in two suits.

Long suits NOT headed by an honour or poor fillers - subtract ½ hcp

eg;- J8642 eg:- A5432

No trump contracts

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Suit contracts - if opening, use Rule of 19.

Adjustments if we know we have a fit of 8+ trumps

POSITIVES

If we are supporting partner’s suit: Add 2 extra hcps if we have a singleton AND at least 4 trumps. If we have a singleton but only 3 trumps, add 1½ hcps (you may not be able to use two of your trumps for ruffs).

If you have a void and 4 trumps, add 3 extra hcps but only 2 extra hcps if

you only have 3 trumps.

If you open and your partner shows support for your suit: Add 2 extra hcps for a 6^thtrump. Also, add 2 extra hcps if you have a singleton - and 3 extra hcps for a void

(but you can’t count both extra length and shortage).

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NEGATIVES

If your trump suit is poor (no intermediates or missing A or K)

eg:- A6543 or J9853 - deduct ½ hcp.

2. If more than half of your high cards are in your shorter suits

eg:-Q7532, K753, AK3, 6 - deduct ½hcp.

3. If you are supporting partner’s long suit but you have no ruffing value

eg:- Q53, K753, A75, J64, after 1♥ opener - deduct 1 hcp.

Suit contracts continued

Adjustments if we know we have a fit of 8+ trumps

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THE BAD NEWS

Most hands that are not balanced are ‘in between’ eg:- AJ954, 75, K832, A4 or KJ54, AQ753, K7, 64.

Start by using hcp and Rule of 19. Show you shape and then hope to find a fit for one of your suits.

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If your hand is balanced (or semi-balanced) use hcps, with adjustments if relevant.�If your hand is very distributional, first look at Rule of 19.�If you establish a fit for a suit, add or subtract points to decide how high to bid.

SUMMARY