2/1 – OPENING BID REQUIREMENTS
Counting high-card points (HCP) only for opening bid purposes:
- 12+ HCP – Congratulations you have an opening bid in any seat!
- 11 HCP – you may have an opening bid as long as your hand doesn’t have 2+ flaws. Possible flaws could include:
- a balanced hand
- a hand without 2 defensive tricks
- high-cards in short suits
- no convenient rebid
- poor quality suit(s)
For a good 11 HCP opening bid, you’d like to have a good 6-card suit (preferably a major) or 2 touching (in rank) 5-card suits with 2 defensive tricks and high-cards in your long suits.
DESCRIPTION OF OPENINGS:
1♥/♠ = 5+ cards
1♣/♦ = 3+ cards
1NT = 15-17 HCP, usually balanced, some semi-balanced hands OK, 5-card major not only OK but often the mandatory opening.
2NT = 20-21 HCP, also usually balanced but also sometimes semi-balanced.
2♦/♥/♠ = weak 2’s, usually 5-11 but not 11HCP with 2 defensive tricks; decent suit #1 priority.s
2♣ = strong, artificial and forcing, 22-24 HCP if balanced and intending to rebid 2NT.
OTHER PARAMETERS:
With 3-3 in minors, open 1♣.
With 4-4 in minors, open 1♦ unless ♦’s very poor and something in each major.
With 2 5-card suits, open higher ranked except with ♠’s and ♣’s and 12-14 HCP’s or 18+ HCP’s, open 1♣.
With 4 good D’s and 5 so-so ♣’s, open 1♦ to facilitate a rebid.
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