Opening bids provide essential information to your partner, particularly regarding the strength of your hand in terms of points and the length of your suits. These initial bids set the foundation for effective communication within the partnership. Likewise, your partner’s responding bids convey their own hand’s point count and suit length.
By combining the information exchanged in these bids, the partnership can determine whether there is a suitable fit for a trump suit or if notrump is a better option. This collaborative approach helps the partnership identify the most appropriate contract while avoiding the risk of overbidding. Effective bidding ensures that both partners have a clear understanding of each other’s hands, leading to successful and well-calculated outcomes.
The search for a major suit fit
In bridge, the goal is to select a trump suit where the partnership has a significant advantage in the number of trumps compared to the opponents. Ideally, the partnership should have at least eight trumps while the opponents have fewer, though having nine or ten trumps is even more advantageous for ensuring control during play.
Major suits (hearts and spades) score more points than minor suits (diamonds and clubs), so bidding systems are designed to prioritize identifying fits in major suits. When a player opens the bidding with a major suit, they are promising at least five cards in that suit. The partner then evaluates their hand to check for at least three cards in the same suit. If the partner has this support, they can make a bid confirming the partnership has found an eight-card major suit fit.
In some cases, the partnership may have an eight-card fit with four cards in the suit held by each partner. These 4-4 fits require a different approach to uncover. Instead of opening directly in the major suit, the partnership uses other bids initially and employs subsequent major suit bids to explore and reveal such fits. This structured bidding strategy ensures the partnership identifies the best possible trump suit, maximizing scoring potential and improving the chances of a successful contract.
One-level opening bids
Major suit openings
An opening bid of 1♥ or 1♠ communicates two key pieces of information to your partner. First, it promises that you hold at least five cards in the suit you are bidding, ensuring a minimum length that helps determine if a trump fit exists. Second, it shows a hand strength of 12 to 21 high-card points, which falls within the range for a standard opening bid.
This bid is designed to establish a foundation for the partnership’s communication, allowing your partner to assess their hand in relation to yours. If your partner holds at least three cards in the same suit, they can confirm a fit and take the bidding forward accordingly. By specifying both suit length and point range, an opening bid of 1♥ or 1♠ helps guide the partnership toward identifying the optimal contract, whether in a major suit, notrump, or another bid progression.
| ♠ J 6 5 3 2 ♥ A 9 ♦ A K Q J T ♣ 4 |
With 15 high card points (HCP), open 1♠. Although your spades are considerably weaker than your diamonds, the priority is given to opening five-card or longer major suits when possible. This approach aligns with standard bidding practices, which aim to explore potential major suit fits early in the auction.
| ♠ 6 5 4 3 2 ♥ K Q 9 ♦ Q 5 ♣ A K 7 |
With 14 high card points (HCP), open 1♠, even though the spade suit is weak. Your partner may hold three spades, and if you fail to bid your five-card suit, you risk missing an eight-card major suit fit. Identifying major suit fits is a top priority in bidding, as they offer the potential for higher scoring contracts and better playability.
| ♠ K Q 5 ♥ A Q 9 7 6 ♦ 4 ♣ A K J 3 |
With 19 high card points (HCP), open 1♥. This suit, featuring strong top honors, is much more typical than the previous examples with weaker suits. Starting with a solid major suit helps set the foundation for effective communication with your partner and maximizes the potential for finding a high-scoring contract.
| ♠ 8 ♥ K J 9 7 6 ♦ A K J T 8 7 6 ♣ – |
With 12 high card points (HCP), open 1♥. While your diamonds are longer and stronger, the standard priority in bidding is to favor major suits over minor suits. If you have five or more cards in a major, always open with that suit to prioritize exploring potential major suit fits.
Some bidding systems include detailed rules for determining whether to open with a five-card major or to choose a different opening bid.
This system is straightforward and easy to follow—if you have a five-card or longer major suit and sufficient points to open the bidding, you start with the major suit.
Follow-up bidding categorizes major suit opening hands into three groups:
- minimum – 12-15 hcp
- medium – 16-17 hcp
- maximum – 18-21 hcp
In the section on opener’s rebids, we will explore how our rebids communicate to partner the strength category of our opening bid.
Practice opening major suits
Example 1
| ♠ K Q T 8 2 ♥ A 6 ♦ Q J T 8 ♣ 6 3 |
How many points?
What do you bid?
Example 2
| ♠ 4 2 ♥ A K Q 4 2 ♦ T 9 8 ♣ J 5 2 |
How many points?
What do you bid?
Example 3
| ♠ A K J 9 8 7 ♥ A 2 ♦ K Q T 5 ♣ Q |
How many points?
If you thought this was a 19, 20, or 21 point hand, perhaps you should review how to count points.
What do you bid?
Example 4
| ♠ K 7 ♥ Q 8 7 3 2 ♦ A J T 5 ♣ A Q |
How many points?
What do you bid?
Example 5
| ♠ A Q J 7 4 ♥ K Q J ♦ A ♣ J T 9 8 |
How many points?
What do you bid?
Notrump type hands
Notrump bids convey information about both the high-card strength and the hand’s distribution. They indicate balanced distribution, meaning no short suits (singleton or void) and no long suits (six or more cards).
These bids are highly advantageous because they simplify future bidding decisions for your partner.
- With a balanced hand of 15-17 hcp, open 1NT.
- With a balanced hand of 20-21 hcp, open 2NT.
| ♠ K 7 ♥ A J 9 6 ♦ J T 7 2 ♣ A Q 5 |
You have a balanced hand of 15 hcp. Open 1NT.
Notice that it’s OK to have a four card major when you open with a NT bid.
| ♠ K 7 ♥ A J 9 6 2 ♦ J T 7 ♣ A Q 5 |
This hand is very similar to the previous one, with one card shifted from diamonds to hearts. You still have a balanced hand with 15 high card points (HCP). However, priority is given to five-card major suits, so open with 1♥.
| ♠ K 7 ♥ J T 7 ♦ A J 9 6 2 ♣ A Q 5 |
This time, the red suits are reversed. Five-card minors are acceptable for opening notrump bids, so begin with 1NT.
| ♠ A J 7 ♥ K T 8 5 ♦ A Q 6 5 ♣ A K |
Nice hand. 21 hcp – 1 for club honors with no spot card = 20 points. Open 2NT.
| ♠ K J 7 ♥ K 7 3 ♦ Q 6 5 ♣ A K 9 7 |
16 hcp – 1 for bad shape (4-3-3-3) = 15 points. Open 1NT. Your hand is minimum for 1NT.
A beginner might ask, “Wait a moment—you skipped some numbers. What about balanced hands with 12-14 HCP or 18-19 points? Should I just pass with those hands?”
Great questions! No, you don’t pass with those hands. Showing balanced hands with 12-14 or 18-19 points requires two bids to accurately convey the point range.
- With a balanced hand of 12-14 hcp, open your longer minor and rebid 1NT.
- With a balanced hand of 18-19 hcp, open your longer minor and rebid 2NT.
We’ll talk more about opener’s rebids after we learn about other opening bids and responses to opening bids.
Practice with opening bids for balanced hands
Example 6
| ♠ Q 9 8 2 ♥ A J 9 ♦ K 4 ♣ K Q 6 3 |
How many points?
What is your opening bid?
Example 7
| ♠ 8 2 ♥ A K T 6 ♦ Q J 4 ♣ K 8 6 3 |
How many points?
What is your opening bid?
Example 8
| ♠ A Q 3 ♥ K Q J ♦ A K Q J 4 ♣ 6 3 |
How many points?
What is your opening bid?
Example 9
| ♠ K T ♥ A J T 8 ♦ K Q 5 4 ♣ A Q 9 |
How many points?
What is your opening bid?
Example 10
| ♠ K 8 4 ♥ K Q 8 2 ♦ J 6 3 ♣ K 4 2 |
How many points?
What is your opening bid?
Minor suit openings
Minor suit openings cover the same range of 12 to 21 high card points (HCP) as major suit openings. However, they do not require the same suit length. This is because minor suit bids often serve as a flexible option for hands that lack a five-card major or do not meet the criteria for a notrump opening.
For example:
| ♠ K Q 8 3 ♥ A T 3 2 ♦ 6 5 ♣ K J 5 |
This hand does not have a five-card or longer major, nor does it fall within the 15–17 or 20–21 high card point (HCP) ranges for a notrump opening. Therefore, the correct choice is to open with a minor suit. The proper opening bid here is 1♣. When opening in a minor suit, we typically select the longer minor, even if it is only three cards long.
It may seem that every opening bid is an effort to establish a trump fit in the suit being bid. While this is true for major suits, the same does not always apply to minor suits.
For minor suits, the opening bid is often the start of a two-bid sequence, where the second bid carries greater significance than the suit initially bid. Minor suits hold less priority compared to major suits and notrump, which are generally preferred as final contracts.
| ♠ A K J T ♥ 2 ♦ Q T 9 6 5 ♣ A Q 5 |
With no five-card or longer major, we cannot open in hearts or spades. Although 16 high card points (HCP) falls within the 15–17 range for a 1NT opening, this hand is not balanced. The singleton heart makes it unsuitable for a notrump opening.
So we’re stuck with a minor suit opening. Open 1♦.
Opening bid practice
Example 11
| ♠ K J T 6 5 ♥ 8 7 2 ♦ A K 9 ♣ 8 5 |
What’s your opening bid?
Example 12
| ♠ T 7 2 ♥ A Q T 8 5 3 ♦ 9 ♣ A Q 5 |
Can you open 1♥?
Example 13
| ♠ Q 7 ♥ A K Q 4 ♦ J T 5 2 ♣ K T 6 |
What’s your bid?
Example 14
| ♠ A J 6 4 ♥ 9 ♦ K Q 3 ♣ A Q 8 7 2 |
Try this one.
Example 15
| ♠ Q 8 6 4 ♥ K Q J 9 ♦ J 9 3 ♣ A Q |
Be careful…
Example 16
| ♠ K J 6 4 ♥ A T 9 ♦ K Q 3 ♣ J 9 6 |
Opening the bidding in a three-card suit is less than ideal, as it doesn’t provide an accurate representation of the hand. However, when it’s necessary, we rely on partner to respond, even with a marginal hand, so we can follow up with a more descriptive rebid.
Which minor gives Partner the greatest chance of finding something to bid?
Example 17
| ♠ K J 8 ♥ A 9 ♦ K Q 4 3 ♣ Q J 8 6 |
What should we do when our minor suits are 4-4? These hands should not be handled the same way as when the minors are 3-3. With 4-4 in the minors, we open with diamonds; with 3-3, we open with clubs.
What do you open?
Two level opening bids
Big hands (opening 2♣ = 22+ hcp)
Occasionally, you may be fortunate enough to receive an exceptionally strong hand.
For example:
| ♠ A K 4 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A K Q 3 ♣ K Q 6 |
Incredible! 27 high card points (HCP). This hand doesn’t fit into any of the standard opening bids we’ve discussed. For such exceptionally strong hands, we use a special bid designed for these “powerhouses.”
An opening bid of 2♣ does not provide any information about the club suit. In fact, it’s possible to make this bid even without holding any clubs.
2♣ is opened on all hands of 22+ hcp.
We’ll talk about follow-up bidding after we’ve finished with opening bids.
Weak two bids
Some hands lack the high card point (HCP) strength for a one-level opening bid, but with six or seven cards in a suit, they can generate tricks through the length of the suit rather than relying solely on high cards.
| ♠ A Q J 9 7 4 ♥ 5 ♦ Q 8 3 ♣ T 7 2 |
This hand has only 9 high card points (HCP), but if spades are chosen as trump, you’ll have the opportunity to trump some of your opponents’ honor cards. It may feel bold, but it’s a strategy that will make your partner pleased. So go ahead and smile!
Opening at the two level takes up valuable bidding space, making it harder for your opponents to find their best trump fit and determine how high they should bid. That’s a strategic advantage—so smile!
What are the requirements for a weak two bid?
- 6 cards in your suit
- two of the top three honors in the suit
- 5-11 hcp
These hands qualify for weak two opening bids:
♠974 ♥K52 ♦KQJ432 ♣6 — Open 2♦
♠AQT974 ♥52 ♦83 ♣ T72 — Open 2♠
♠J65 ♥KQT752 ♦83 ♣A4 — Open 2♥
How about this one?
♠T4 ♥K3 ♦872 ♣ KQJT82
Do NOT open 2♣. We do not have a weak two available in clubs. Remember, 2♣ is a special bid reserved for big hands of 22+ hcp.
Three and four level opening bids
Preemptive opening bids
Opening bids at the three level or higher, known as preemptive bids, indicate weak hands with long suits. By preempting, you limit your opponents’ bidding space, making it harder for them to fully describe their hands before deciding on a contract. This forces them to make guesses, which can result in favorable outcomes for your side when their guesses are wrong.
| ♠ 7 ♥ Q J T 9 7 4 2 ♦ J T 3 ♣ 6 4 |
With a seven-card suit, you can open 3♥. While this bid might seem risky, it’s actually strategic. If your partner doesn’t have enough winners to support this contract, it means your side likely couldn’t stop your opponents from making a game or even a slam.
Consider this complete deal:
| Dummy ♠ T 9 6 2 ♥ K 8 ♦ 7 6 5 2 ♣ T 7 2 | |
| West ♠ K Q 4 3 ♥ 6 ♦ A K Q 9 8 ♣ Q 8 5 | East ♠ A J 8 5 ♥ A 5 3 ♦ 4 ♣ A K J 9 3 |
| You ♠ 7 ♥ Q J T 9 7 4 2 ♦ J T 3 ♣ 6 4 | |
With hearts as trump, you can take 6 tricks. Even in the worst-case scenario—being vulnerable and doubled in 3♥—the maximum loss would be 800 points.
Now consider what your opponents can achieve. They have 13 top winners and should be bidding and making a slam. If they fail to do so and allow you to play with hearts as trump, they end up with a poor result, while your side benefits.
This is why preemptive bids with weak hands and long suits are a vital part of every bidding system—they disrupt your opponents’ ability to reach their best contract.
What are the guidelines for making preemptive bids? With weaker hands, the length of your suit determines how high you should bid.
- with a seven card suit, bid at the three level
- with an eight or nine card suit, bid at the four level
Summary of opening bids
We base our opening bids on a system of counting points for honor cards, then adjusting the count for distribution.
A = 4 points
K = 3 points
Q = 2 points
J = 1 point
subtract 1 point for 4-3-3-3 distribution
subtract 1 point for each suit with honors but no spot card
First priority: Open the bidding in a major suit with 12-21 points and 5+ cards in the suit.
Second priority: Bid NT with balanced hands of 12-21 points.
- 12-14 points – open in a minor, look for a 4-4 major suit fit, then rebid 1NT
- 15-17 points – open 1NT
- 18-19 points – open in a minor, then rebid 2NT
- 20-21 points – open 2NT
- With 3-3 minors, open 1♣
- With 4-4 minors, open 1♦
Third Priority: Open your longer minor on unbalanced hands of 12-21 points that don’t have a 5+ major.
Other opening bids:
Open 2♣ on any hand of 22+ points.
Open 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠ with 5-11 points, and a good suit of 6 or more cards.
Open a 3 level preempt with a weak hand and a 7 card suit.
Open a 4 level preempt with a weak hand and an 8+ card suit.