Introduction to Bidding
Void	No cards in a particular suit
Singleton	1 card in a particular suit
Doubleton	2 cards in a particular suit
Fit	At least 8 cards in a particular suit between both partners
Balanced Hand
Suits are split 4-3-3-3  4-4-3-2  5-3-3-2				No void, no singleton, not 2 doubletons
Unbalanced Hand
Anything else!
Points Count
Ace	4pts		40 points between all players
King	3pts
Queen	2pts
Jack	1pt
To Be in Game
3NT	25+ pts  and two balanced hands (or mainly balanced)
4S or 4H	25+ pts and 8+ hearts/spades between both hands
5C or 5D	27+ pts and 8+ clubs/diamonds between both hands
Don't open with less than 12pts
With a balanced hand and 12-14 pts bid 1NT
With an unbalanced hand and 12+ pts……..next week!
Partner's response to a 1NT Opening
Pass	Balanced Hand and 0-9pts
2C	Stayman Bid (we'll be talk more about this again)
2D	5+ D and 0-10pts					Opener passes
2H	5+ H and 0-10pts					Opener passes
2S	5+ S and 0-10pts					Opener passes
2NT	10-11 pts and balanced hand					Opener raises to 3NT if he has 13/14 pts
3C	Ignore for time being
3D	Ignore for time being
3H	5+ H and 12+ pts					Opener chooses between 4H and 3NT
3S	5+ S and 12+ pts					Opener chooses between 4S and 3NT
3NT	12+ pts and balanced hand					Opener passes
4H	13pts and 6+ hearts					Opener passes
4S	13pts and 6+ spades					Opener passes
Copyright 2004 Eoin O Fiachain  http://www.eoinofiachain.com