Opening the Bidding

When you have 13 HCP (or more) you should open the bidding.

With a FIVE card major open the bidding 1 of that major.

If you have a balanced hand with 15-17 HCP you can open the bidding 1NT.

Otherwise open the bidding 1 of your longest minor. However this minor might only have THREE cards in it. Think of it -- if you have four ♠ and four ♥ you cannot open the bidding 1 of a major. You promise five in a major suit to open. Therefore that leaves you five cards in the minor suits. If they are split evenly you might only have THREE cards in a minor when you have to open the bidding because you have 13 HCP.

If you have three ♦ and three ♣ and must open 1 of a minor always open the bidding 1♣.

With two five card suits open the bidding with 1 of the HIGHER RANKING suit.

So to recap:

When you open the bidding:	You promise:
1NT	15-17 HCP and a balanced hand
1♠	13 or more HCP and at least five ♠
1♥	13 or more HCP and at least five ♥
1♦	13 or more HCP and at least three ♦
1♣	13 or more HCP and at least three ♣

On each of the following hands you are Dealer. First count your HCP. Then say what (if anything) would you open the bidding.

Hand 1

♠AK86
♥93
♦K3
♣KQ984



Hand 2

♠AJ95
♥A
♦AJT84
♣QT9



Hand 3

♠QT64
♥A54
♦AT74
♣KQ



Hand 4

♠Q74
♥A532
♦KQT
♣Q74



Hand 5

♠9542
♥J9
♦A875
♣AKJ



Hand 6

♠QJ3
♥K3
♦872
♣AK963



Hand 7

♠KT5
♥Q92
♦AK72
♣J72



Hand 8

♠K93
♥AJ
♦A86
♣AKT85



Hand 9

♠A32
♥AK
♦Q975
♣QT53



Hand 10

♠A
♥KQJ532
♦J9
♣Q874



Hand 11

♠AKJ7
♥QJ
♦643
♣QJ96



Hand 12

♠43
♥AKT3
♦K852
♣AK7



Hand 13

♠43
♥KT652
♦AQ62
♣AT



Hand 14

♠A2
♥A6
♦AKQT98
♣763



Hand 15

♠A54
♥QJT2
♦K64
♣AQ3



Hand 16

♠AJ74
♥QT5
♦4
♣AQ743



Hand 17

♠AQ6
♥AJ87
♦Q84
♣642



Hand 18

♠AT5
♥982
♦AQJ3
♣AQ7



Hand 19

♠KJ63
♥Q9
♦AK64
♣Q92



Hand 20

♠KJ976
♥A86
♦AQ86
♣8



Hand 21

♠KQ9
♥A42
♦A852
♣863



Hand 22

♠Q4
♥AT5
♦J63
♣AK754



Hand 23

♠KQ943
♥K82
♦AQ4
♣AT



Hand 24

♠Q62
♥QJ
♦KQ754
♣KQT



Hand 25

♠AJ
♥QT963
♦Q32
♣A73



Hand 26

♠AJ8
♥AQ7
♦T85
♣AK74



Hand 27

♠AK6
♥AK72
♦T532
♣KJ



Hand 28

♠AK74
♥9
♦KQ754
♣A92



Hand 29

♠A96
♥Q43
♦A5
♣A8653



Hand 30

♠KQ
♥A4
♦KQ953
♣9874



Hand 31

♠86
♥Q3
♦AKQT4
♣KJ93



Hand 32

♠AQT975
♥J
♦KQJ6
♣A5



Hand 33

♠AQ3
♥T542
♦AJ
♣AKJ9



Hand 34

♠J98
♥AQT86
♦AK93
♣6



Hand 35

♠73
♥KJ85
♦K83
♣AKQ4



Hand 36

♠AJ
♥8752
♦AK9
♣AK62



Hand 37

♠AJ982
♥AKJ
♦Q652
♣5



Hand 38

♠KQ43
♥5
♦AT
♣AT8743



Hand 39

♠AKT
♥Q64
♦J8642
♣AQ



Hand 40

♠Q2
♥KQJ865
♦AQ7
♣J5



Hand 41

♠9
♥AK542
♦K94
♣AK76



Hand 42

♠AQT543
♥
♦KQT
♣QJ52



Hand 43

♠QT3
♥AJT8
♦KQ
♣KQ83



Hand 44

♠QJ6
♥K2
♦AKQT6
♣Q42



Hand 45

♠KJT82
♥KQ9
♦A653
♣9



Hand 46

♠AKQJ52
♥9
♦K54
♣842



Hand 47

♠A
♥KJT
♦AJT75
♣T965