Length Points

Who counts length points?

Declarer always counts length points. Dummy will never count length points. Dummy gets to count Dummy Points. Those are shortness points. If you have shortness in a suit you automatically have length somewhere else. If you count both dummy points and length points most of the time you will be counting the same points twice and will therefore get too high in the bidding.

For more information on dummy points see the following posts:
Distribution Points
Distribution - Counting Shortness with Honors

What are length points?

Declarer gets one length point for every card they hold in any suit which has more than four cards in it.

So if Declarer has a five card suit they get one extra point.
If Declarer has a six card suit they get two extra points. One point for the fifth card in the suit. One more point for the sixth card in the suit.
If Declarer has two five card suits they get two extra points. One point for the fifth card in the first suit. One more point for the fifth card in the second suit.

Does the suit have to be trump?
No. Just any long suit.

When does Declarer count length points?
Just like Dummy could only count extra points when they knew they were Dummy, Declarer should only count extra points when they know they will be Declarer.

I recommend to all players starting out to only count length points when you and your partner have found a fit. Then and only then do I recommend you give yourself one extra point for any bonus length you have in a suit.

What is bonus length?
Basically any length you have NOT already promised.

Don't really understand that? Let's look at some examples:

Example 1:
♠AJ873
♥Q86
♦KJ2
♣Q8

You are Dealer. You have 13 HCP and a five card major so you open 1♠. Now Partner bids 3♠. This is a limit raise showing 11 or 12 points with four trump. Partner is showing points. This is both HCP and Dummy points. They know they have a fit so they can start counting extra points for any shortness they might have.

What is your bid? You are Declarer -- should you now count length points?

Well if you blindly count an extra point for your five card suit you come to 14 points. Together with Partner's 11 or 12 points you should have enough for game.

But think about it. When you opened the bidding you promised Partner 13 HCP and a five card suit. Partner knew that and still couldn't bid a game. Do you have ANYTHING more than what you promised Partner when you opened?

No. You should just Pass Partner's limit raise.

Let's change that hand slightly.

Example 2:
♠AJ8763
♥K8
♦KJ2
♣J8

You are Dealer. You have 13 HCP and a five (actually six) card major so you open 1♠. Now Partner bids 3♠. This is a limit raise showing 11 or 12 points with four trump. Partner is showing points. This is both HCP and Dummy points. They know they have a fit so they can start counting extra points for any shortness they might have.

What is your bid? You are Declarer -- should you now count length points?

Think about it. When you opened the bidding you promised Partner 13 HCP and a five card suit. Partner knew that and still couldn't bid a game. Do you have ANYTHING more than what you promised Partner when you opened?

Yes. Now you do. You have an extra trump. Count an extra point for that. Now you can bid game if Partner gives you a limit raise.

Let's look at a different example:

Example 3:
♠AQT863
♥Q83
♦Q2
♣KJ8

You are Dealer. You have 14 HCP and a five (actually six) card major so you open 1♠. Now Partner bids 1NT.

What is your bid? You want to show that you have a six card major. Bidding 2♠ would show 13 to 15 points with a six card suit. Bidding 3♠ would show 16 to 18 points with a six card suit. Should you now count length points to get yourself up to 16 points?

No. You have no idea you have a fit with Partner. Do not count length points. Rebid 2♠ on this hand. You will get too high otherwise.

Example 4:
♠AQT863
♥93
♦82
♣KJ8

This time Partner opens the bidding 1♣. You respond 1♠. Partner bids 2♠. You are Declarer. Should you count length points?

Absolutely. Here you have two bonus trump. You only showed a four card suit when you bid 1♠. You have six. Give yourself an extra two points. This brings your hand total to 12 and since Partner opened the bidding you should bid game (4♠) right now.

Can we use length points when in NT?

Do NOT count length points when opening.

♠AJ8
♥KT8
♦KJT82
♣Q8

Here you have 14 HCP and 1 more point for length if you want to count that. Should you open 1NT?

No. Opening NT is for HCP only. You will get too high if you start counting length here.

BUT you can use length points if Partner is asking you if you have a maximum or a minimum and you are in the middle.

♠AJ8
♥KT8
♦KJT82
♣A8

You have 16 HCP and a balanced hand. You open the bidding 1NT. Partner responds 2NT. Partner is asking you to bid 3NT if you are at your maximum (17 HCP) and to Pass if you are at your minimum (15 HCP). You are in the middle. What should you do?

Here I think you can now give yourself an extra point for your length and accept the game invitation. Bid 3NT. You have a good chance at setting up that ♦ suit.