Strength Requirements for Major Suit Openers

Sound = Tricks, Not Just Points. Our system is based on 'sound' opening values: 12+ HCP points or 11 HCP points with two defensive tricks for first or second hand openings. "Points" for opening purposes are HCP, not distribution, for most hands. Weaker hands with two long suits may be opened with 10 or even with 9 HCP because they have great playing strength.

"Sound" changes over the years. It's come down a point in the past couple of years. Competition forces you to become better, and to take more chances with opening strength.

Opening Distribution. Open any hand (with sufficient strength) with any 5 cards in Hearts or Spades, regardless of HCP in the trump suit.  Your points have to be somewhere -- bidding is to find a trump fit, not to advertise HCP strength. You can make a major suit game contract missing all the honors in Spades, no?  Holding 8+ Spades and 26 HCP somewhere, why not?.

Coming In Later. Some hands will be passed that might open in other systems. However, the system includes several ways to get back into the auction later -- via   balancing and other competitive tools described in the Bidding in Competition section.

When partner can count on opener to have decent values every time the bidding is opened, partnership understanding and confidence is assured. The occasional passed-out hand is a small price to pay for this understanding. Passed-out hands may win in competitive bridge anyhow - why open a hand to get a minus score?

2 Five Card Suits. Hands with both five card majors should open Spades and rebid Hearts unless the hand is strong enough to reverse; i.e., with 17+ HCP. Hands with 5 Clubs and 5 Spades open Spades, not Clubs.

Rebidding. An unsupported suit -- one without a raise from partner -- may be rebid once for each additional trump - a second bid requires 6 and a third 7 cards. You may not rebid an unsupported 5 card suit. That is telling the same story twice, a sure road to bidding errors.

Our responses to major openings and rebid options are such that we won't be in a "I don't have anything else to bid" situation -- it's an important part of our system.

(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998  All Rights Reserved