Bridge for BeginnersBridge for Beginners

Lesson 5Lesson 5

Introduction to BiddingIntroduction to Bidding

BiddingBidding

MiniBridge has shown us how to playMiniBridge has shown us how to play But you could select the contractBut you could select the contract After seeing both handsAfter seeing both hands In Bridge you have to take part in an In Bridge you have to take part in an

AuctionAuction Seeing only your handSeeing only your hand And opponents may interfereAnd opponents may interfere

The AuctionThe Auction

To arrive at a sensible contract we mustTo arrive at a sensible contract we must Use a system of bids that you and partner Use a system of bids that you and partner

understandunderstand There are many systemsThere are many systems You will learn a version of ACOLYou will learn a version of ACOL The Version of ACOL is Standard EnglishThe Version of ACOL is Standard English Developed by the EBU (English Bridge Developed by the EBU (English Bridge

Union)Union)

General Rules for BiddingGeneral Rules for Bidding You can bid NT; a suit; or PassYou can bid NT; a suit; or Pass Dealer makes the first BidDealer makes the first Bid The bidding continues round the table in a The bidding continues round the table in a

clockwise directionclockwise direction Any player can Pass but if you bid it must Any player can Pass but if you bid it must

outrank any previous bidoutrank any previous bid The lowest bid is 1The lowest bid is 1 Then 1Then 1;Then 1;Then 1 ; then 1 ; then 1 ; then 1NT ; then 1NT Next 2Next 2; 2; 2; 2; 2 ; 2 ; 2 ; 2NT ; 2NT Next 3Next 3 etc…. To 7NT etc…. To 7NT

General Rules for BiddingGeneral Rules for Bidding You can make as many bids as you like in You can make as many bids as you like in

turnturn But 3 passes in a row ends the auctionBut 3 passes in a row ends the auction The side to make the last bid wins the The side to make the last bid wins the

auctionauction Declarer is the first person on that side to Declarer is the first person on that side to

have bid the contract suit (or NT)have bid the contract suit (or NT) NOT the last person to bidNOT the last person to bid If all 4 players Pass on the first round the If all 4 players Pass on the first round the

board is not played – a throw inboard is not played – a throw in

After the Auction is completeAfter the Auction is complete The player to the left of Declarer makes The player to the left of Declarer makes

the opening leadthe opening lead Dummy is put down AFTER the opening Dummy is put down AFTER the opening

lead has been madelead has been made Declarer may get a nasty shockDeclarer may get a nasty shock Or a pleasant surpriseOr a pleasant surprise If you both know the system well declarer If you both know the system well declarer

should know what to expectshould know what to expect Because there is a clear set of rulesBecause there is a clear set of rules Play now continues as you have learnedPlay now continues as you have learned

The BiddingThe Bidding

In any system:In any system: Each bid should tell partner more about Each bid should tell partner more about

your handyour hand So that your pair arrive at the best contractSo that your pair arrive at the best contract It is our only means of communicationIt is our only means of communication You may not speak to partner to explain You may not speak to partner to explain

your bidyour bid Nods and winks are cheating!Nods and winks are cheating!

Bidding BoxesBidding Boxes

Help with the biddingHelp with the bidding Show all of the bids in the bidding Show all of the bids in the bidding

sequencesequence Are very easy to use after a bit of practiceAre very easy to use after a bit of practice

Open your bidding boxesOpen your bidding boxes

Opening the BiddingOpening the Bidding

If it is your turn to bidIf it is your turn to bid And no one else has bid other than PASSAnd no one else has bid other than PASS And you have 12+ HCPAnd you have 12+ HCP More than ¼ of the HCP in the packMore than ¼ of the HCP in the pack You should not PASSYou should not PASS You must make a bidYou must make a bid Our first opening bid to learnOur first opening bid to learn Is 1NTIs 1NT

1NT Opening Bid1NT Opening Bid

Shows 12-14 HCPShows 12-14 HCP No 5 card majorNo 5 card major No singleton or voidNo singleton or void Not more than 1 doubletonNot more than 1 doubleton Very specific bidVery specific bid

1NT Opening hands1NT Opening hands

12HCP12HCP Very balanced shapeVery balanced shape 43334333 Open 1NTOpen 1NT

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1NT Opening hands1NT Opening hands

14 HCP14 HCP Balanced shape 4432Balanced shape 4432 Open 1NTOpen 1NT

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1NT Opening hands1NT Opening hands

13 HCP13 HCP Semi balanced shape Semi balanced shape 53325332 The 5 cards are a The 5 cards are a

minorminor Open 1NTOpen 1NT

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1NT Opening hands1NT Opening hands Remember the rulesRemember the rules 12-14 HCP12-14 HCP No 5 card majorNo 5 card major No singleton or voidNo singleton or void Not more than 1 doubletonNot more than 1 doubleton

If your hand fits these criteria and no one If your hand fits these criteria and no one else has bidelse has bid

You WILL open 1NTYou WILL open 1NT

When Partner Opens 1NTWhen Partner Opens 1NT

We play 12 – 14 HCPWe play 12 – 14 HCP But there are many other systems with But there are many other systems with

different HCP for 1NT Openerdifferent HCP for 1NT Opener To make it clearTo make it clear As soon as partner puts the 1NT bid downAs soon as partner puts the 1NT bid down You must say “12 to 14”You must say “12 to 14” This is termed an This is termed an AnnouncementAnnouncement

Partner has opened 1NTPartner has opened 1NT And your opponent has passedAnd your opponent has passed What will you reply?What will you reply? Lots more rulesLots more rules We know that we need 25 HCP for gameWe know that we need 25 HCP for game And partner has 12 – 14 HCPAnd partner has 12 – 14 HCP With 10 or fewer HCP game is not onWith 10 or fewer HCP game is not on Without a 5 card suit we PassWithout a 5 card suit we Pass With a 5 card suit we bid that suit at the 2 With a 5 card suit we bid that suit at the 2

levellevel

Responding to 1NTResponding to 1NT

6 HCP6 HCP No 5 card suitNo 5 card suit The bid is PassThe bid is Pass If you bid anything you If you bid anything you

may end up in a very may end up in a very poor contractpoor contract

Partner may just get to Partner may just get to 1NT 1NT

With a following wind!With a following wind!

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Responding to 1NTResponding to 1NT 6 HCP6 HCP 5 card suit5 card suit Bid 2Bid 2 A weakness take outA weakness take out Opener MUST PassOpener MUST Pass

Any 2 level suit response Any 2 level suit response to 1NT is weak and to 1NT is weak and MUST be PassedMUST be Passed

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It may be this weak!It may be this weak!

0 HCP!0 HCP! 1NT has no chance1NT has no chance 22 may well fail but not may well fail but not

quite so disastrouslyquite so disastrously

The weaker the hand The weaker the hand the more important is the more important is the weakness take outthe weakness take out

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Above 10 HCPAbove 10 HCP Game may be on Game may be on We should tell partner moreWe should tell partner more With a balanced hand With a balanced hand And 11-12 HCPAnd 11-12 HCP Bid 2NTBid 2NT Opener will Pass with a minimum (12)Opener will Pass with a minimum (12) Or bid 3NT with a maximum (14)Or bid 3NT with a maximum (14) With 13 it’s a bit of a guessWith 13 it’s a bit of a guess Are you an optimist or pessimist?Are you an optimist or pessimist?

Responding with 11 – 12 HCPResponding with 11 – 12 HCP Partner opened 1NTPartner opened 1NT We have 11 HCPWe have 11 HCP Balanced handBalanced hand Game may be onGame may be on But we are not certain But we are not certain

we have enough HCPwe have enough HCP Bid 2NTBid 2NT Invitational Invitational Showing 11 – 12 HCPShowing 11 – 12 HCP

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Responding with 11 – 12 HCPResponding with 11 – 12 HCP Partner opened 1NTPartner opened 1NT We have 12 HCPWe have 12 HCP Semi balanced handSemi balanced hand Game may be onGame may be on But we are not certain But we are not certain

we have enough HCPwe have enough HCP Bid 2NTBid 2NT Invitational Invitational Showing 11 – 12 HCPShowing 11 – 12 HCP

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Responding with > 12 HCPResponding with > 12 HCP Partner opened 1NTPartner opened 1NT We have 14 HCPWe have 14 HCP Balanced handBalanced hand Game is onGame is on We know we have We know we have

enough HCPenough HCP Bid 3NTBid 3NT Showing 13+ HCPShowing 13+ HCP Good Luck PartnerGood Luck Partner

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Opening 1 NT SummaryOpening 1 NT Summary What are the rules?What are the rules? 12 – 14 HCP12 – 14 HCP Balanced handBalanced hand 4333; 4432; 53324333; 4432; 5332 No 5 card majorNo 5 card major No singleton or voidNo singleton or void Not more than 1 doubletonNot more than 1 doubleton

Responding to 1NT SummaryResponding to 1NT Summary 0 – 10 HCP with no 5+ card suit0 – 10 HCP with no 5+ card suit PassPass 0-10 HCP with a 5 card suit0-10 HCP with a 5 card suit Bid the suit at the 2 levelBid the suit at the 2 level A weakness take outA weakness take out 11 – 12 HCP and balanced11 – 12 HCP and balanced Bid 2NT InvitationalBid 2NT Invitational 13+ HCP and balanced13+ HCP and balanced Bid 3NT ( Game)Bid 3NT ( Game)