Important Takeaways Sept 27, 2019 A=4, K=3, Q=2, J=1 plus 1 point for length for each card over 4 With fit of 8 Void = 3, Singleton = 2, Doubleton =1, With fit of 9, Void = 5, Singleton = 3 Change the count based on the auction. K in front of A = 0. Game in major takes 25 to 26 pts 11 tricks takes 29 points (game in minor) 12 tricks takes 33 points 13 tricks require 37 points Use some common sense In showing openers points: Less than 12 – pass (unless can preempt or in 3rd seat NV) 12 - 14 One of a suit and rebid NT if balanced. Second suit if unbalanced. Raise with support 15 – 17 Bid 1NT if at least semi balanced 18 – 19 Open one of a suit and jump in NT if partner responds and have other suits stopped. If response is 1 NT, bid 2NT. Consider reversing 20 -21 Bid 2NT if semi balanced. Otherwise bid one of suit and jump to game with any response 22 + Open 2C With big responder hands With Support – Jump in support or other suit (unless doing weak jump shifts) Without support for opener’s suit 13-15 and strength in other suits, balanced, bid 3 NT. Forcing bids (new suits) until game 16 + jump to other suit, reverse if possible, keep making forcing bids Boards from last week Board 8 ♠ J 6 5 4 West Deals ♥ J 7 4 None Vul ♦ Q 9 6 4 ♣ J 8 ♠ K Q 8 7 ♠ A 10 9 3 N ♥ K 8 5 3 ♥ A Q 2 W E ♦ — ♦ A K J 7 2 S ♣ A Q 10 6 4 ♣ K ♠ 2 ♥ 10 9 6 ♦ 10 8 5 3 ♣ 9 7 5 3 2 EW 7N; EW 7♠; EW 7♥; EW 6♣; EW 5♦; Par −1520 Board 10 ♠ A K Q 9 East Deals ♥ K 7 Both Vul ♦ A 8 5 ♣ Q 10 3 2 ♠ 10 ♠ J 8 6 5 3 2 N ♥ 10 5 4 3 2 ♥ J 8 6 W E ♦ J 10 9 3 2 ♦ 7 6 S ♣ 7 4 ♣ 9 8 ♠ 7 4 ♥ A Q 9 ♦ K Q 4 ♣ A K J 6 5 NS 7N; NS 7♣; NS 5♠; NS 5♥; NS 5♦; Par +2220 Board 21 ♠ 5 4 2 North Deals ♥ Q J 10 7 4 2 N-S Vul ♦ 9 6 3 ♣ 8 ♠ A 9 6 3 ♠ K Q J N ♥ A ♥ K 9 6 3 W E ♦ A Q 2 ♦ K J 7 4 S ♣ A J 10 4 3 ♣ K Q ♠ 10 8 7 ♥ 8 5 ♦ 10 8 5 ♣ 9 7 6 5 2 EW 7N; EW 7♠; EW 7♦; EW 7♣; EW 4♥; Par −1520 Board 6 ♠ Q 9 7 3 2 East Deals ♥ Q 7 3 E-W Vul ♦ A 8 6 3 ♣ 6 ♠ K J 10 5 4 ♠ A 8 N ♥ K 10 5 2 ♥ A 8 6 4 W E ♦ — ♦ K J 10 9 5 4 S ♣ A Q 5 3 ♣ J ♠ 6 ♥ J 9 ♦ Q 7 2 ♣ K 10 9 8 7 4 2 EW 5♥; EW 4N; EW 4♠; EW 4♦; EW 1♣; Par −650 Who’s in charge? Person who makes a limiting bid gives up the helm to the Captain. 1 NT limits the hand to 17 points. Duty is to answer questions and take orders 1 NT response limited to 10 points 1 NT rebid limits opener t0 14 points 2 NT rebid is limiting. Responder first bid of raising suit limits hand Pass and then bid limited hand 2 level preempts limited to 10 points. Answer questions or pass Lots more examples Odds of getting to slams. (Kidd, 2015) https://www.lajollabridge.com/Articles/PartialGameSlamGrand.htm) Based on double dummy analysis, ignores preempts, so slightly off Tidbits: The total number of possible Bridge hands is 635,013,559,600. Better odds to win the lottery than to have the same hand twice. Bryant McCampbell introduced the 4-3-2-1 point count in 1915, for auction pitch. Milton Work (1864 - 1934), who was an expert on whist, bridge whist, auction bridge and contract bridge, gets credit for popularizing the point count for bridge with a 1923 publication. In the 1940’s William Anderson determined that a small mathematical improvement was possible, but that the simplicity of the 4-3-2-1 method made the results about as good as one could get. Anderson then developed the 3-2-1 distribution evaluation. Charles Goren popularized the point count with his 1949 book “Point Count Bidding in Contract Bridge.” Notes .