4. Opening Bid Options

The chart to the right contains the 19 possible opening bids. Each bid shows a brief summary of the requirements for that bid.

The charts below are grouped by frequency of occurance. The opening bid selection is based upon the hand's HCPs. The open bid falls into one of three categories:
   ●  1-Level Opening:     12 to 21 HCPs (34%)
   ●  Weak Opening:         9 to 11 HCPS (27.4%)
   ●  Strong Opening:             20+ HCPs (1.4%)

If the hand does not fall into one of the categories, the player makes the call PASS.

1-Level Opening

The 1-level bids are the most common opening bids and will be encountered most of the time. It makes sense to learn these opening bids first, along with their corresponding responses.

Weak Opening

Opening a suit at the 2-level reduces the bidding room which makes it more difficult for the opposition to communicate with each other. These are sometimes referred to as "defensive opening bids".

Weak Opening

Opening a suit at the 3-level significantly reduces the bidding room which makes it more difficult for the opposition to communicate with each other. These are sometimes referred to as "defensive or disruptive opening bids".

Weak Opening

Opening a suit at the 4-level eliminates the bidding room for the opposition - the opposition's next bid must be a game level bid.

Strong Opening

Even though these 2-level bids leave bidding room for the opposition, everyone knows the opener is holding at least half the high card points (HCPs) in the deck. These are intimidating opening bids.

Open  2 ♣ 
Open  2 NT 

Strong Opening

These are incredibly rare, high point count hands. The opener is exploring the possibility of a slam-level contract. The opposition will likely bid PASS.

Open  3 NT 
Open  4 ♣ Gerber 
Open  4 NT Blackwood