Suit Openings

Opening Strength

        You must have 13 total points to open. Remember to count both HCP and distribution:

AQT432 J8 4 A932

Open 1. If partner responds 1NT, you will rebid 2.

A76 Q643 A75 Q65

Pass. This hand is only worth 12 points.

K8652 QJ965 — A64

Open 1, counting 3 points for the void. If partner says 1NT, you will rebid 2.

QJ863 KJ6 532 KQ

Pass. The KQ doubleton is only worth 5 total points, and there is no reason to stretch with an aceless hand.

Which Suit to Open

AJ9542 KQ9 5 AQ7

An easy 1 opening. If partner responds 1NT, your next bid will be 3.

QT AKQT9 AQ62 87

Open 1, your 5-card major.

AJT5 A632 3 K652

Open 1. You need 5 cards to open in a major.

72 AKJ7 8652 A84

Open 1. Never open a 4-card major.

AQJ8 AJ5 Q53 732

Open 1. It is sometimes necessary to open a 3-card minor. When this happens, it is better to open with 3 clubs than with 3 diamonds.

KJ32 A765 J53 A3

Open 1. You may open a 3-card diamond suit with no other option available.

AK J75 Q964 A983

Open 1. Open the better of two four-card minors.

9 QT97 K984 KQJ2

Open 1. If you open 1, what will you do if partner responds 1? Always open 1 with 4-4 in the minors and a singleton major.

9 Q8 AK863 AKQ93

Open 1, and then rebid 3. Always open the higher of two 5-card suits.

AJ875 K4 AJ954 Q

1. Higher of two 5-card suits. (Minors can't compete with majors anyway.).

Q5432 AKQ87 6 75

Open 1, and then rebid 2. If your partner is weak, you can end up in either hearts or spades at the 2-level. (This is the advantage of opening the higher of two 5-card suits.)

AT6542 AQJT52 4 —

Open 1, the higher of two 6-card suits.

A8 AK65 AQ952 75

Open 1. If your partner responds 1 or 1NT, you will rebid 2(a reverse).

Q AKJT7 AQJT74 7

Same as last hand: open 1, and then reverse to 2on your second bid. With a strong hand, always bid your longest suit first.

KJT63 J8 — AKQJ94

Open 1, and then bid spades twice. Your partner will know you have more clubs then spades since you opened clubs.

KJ4 7 KQT7 A9532

Open 1. You do not have enough strength to show your suits in the proper order. (You would need about 2 more Aces to make a reverse.)

T8 AK T9642 A863

Open 1. There is no problem with this hand.

A6 A7 T642 K7532

Open 1. If your partner responds in a major, you are comfortable rebidding 1NT.

— AJ863 AJT975 Q3

Open 1. If you open 1, you will be stuck when your partner responds 1. When you don't have a strong hand, it is sometimes necessary to bid your suits in the wrong order.

J73 AK32 4 QJ975

You cannot open 1 with a 4-card suit, so you must open 1. If your partner responds 1, you will have to choose between 1NT, 2, and 2. I'm glad I don't have this hand!