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Bridge bidding guide
Inspired by the American Standard

These basic charts are helpful to refresh memory. One must keep in mind that context judgment overrides any bid, because any grid will always be incomplete - like these which don't take opponent's bid into account.

In each table, bids are ordered from the most to the least preferred, if hesitating.

Openings

3NT 24+ points, balanced hand
2C 22+ points, at least a 5+ card suit, forcing for a turn.
At next turn, bid that color
2NT 21-23 points, balanced hand
1NT 16-18 points, balanced hand
1S 13-21 points, 5+ spades
Bid the longest major; if of equal length, with 16+ points bid 1H or else 1S
1H 13-21 points, 5+ hearts
Bid the longest major; if of equal length, with 16+ points bid 1H or else 1S
1D 13-21 points, 3+ diamonds
Bid the longest minor; if of equal length, bid 1C with 3 cards, else 1D
1C 13-21 points, 3+ clubs
Bid the longest minor; if of equal length, bid 1C with 3 cards, else 1D
3C, 3D, 3H, 3S 6-12 points, 7+ cards in this suit.
2H 6-12 points, 6 hearts
This suit must hold 2 of the 3 honors or 3 of the 5 honors
2S 6-12 points, 6 spades
This suit must hold 2 of the 3 honors or 3 of the 5 honors
2D 6-12 points, 6 diamonds
This suit must hold 2 of the 3 honors or 3 of the 5 honors

Replies to {1C}

2D 16+ points, nice diamonds
2H 16+ points, nice hearts
2S 16+ points, nice spades
3C 10+ points, 5+ clubs
2NT 10+ points, balanced hand, maybe a fit
1D 6+ points, 4+ diamonds
1H 6+ points, 4+ hearts
1S 6+ points, 4+ spades
2C 6-9 points, 5+ clubs
1NT 6-9 points, less than 5 clubs

Replies to {1D}

2H 16+ points, nice hearts
2S 16+ points, nice spades
3C 16+ points, nice clubs
3D 10+ points, 5+ diamonds
2NT 10+ points, balanced hand, maybe a fit
2C 10+ points
2C and support at next turn 10-11 points, 5+ diamonds
1H 6+ points, 4+ hearts
1S 6+ points, 4+ spades
2D 6-9 points, 5+ diamonds
1NT 6-9 points, less than 5 diamonds

Replies to {1H}

2S 16+ points, nice spades
3C 16+ points, nice clubs
3D 16+ points, nice diamonds
3H 10+ points, 3+ hearts
2NT 10+ points, balanced hand, maybe a fit
2C 10+ points
2C and support at next turn 10-11 points, 3+ hearts
2D 10+ points
2D and support at next turn 10-11 points, 3+ hearts
1S 6+ points, 4+ spades
2H 6-9 points, 3+ hearts
1NT 6-9 points, less than 3 hearts

Replies to {1S}

3C 16+ points, nice clubs
3D 16+ points, nice diamonds
3H 16+ points, nice hearts
3S 10+ points, 3+ spades
2NT 10+ points, balanced hand, maybe a fit
2C 10+ points
2C and support at next turn 10-11 points, 3+ spades
2D 10+ points
2D and support at next turn 10-11 points, 3+ spades
2H 10+ points
2H and support at next turn 10-11 points, 3+ spades
2S 6-9 points, 3+ spades
1NT 6-9 points, less than 3 spades

Replies to {1NT}

4C 16+ points, Gerber (aces inquiry)
4NT 15-16 points, balanced hand
3S 9+ points, 5+ spades, forcing
3H 9+ points, 5+ hearts, forcing
3C 9+ points, 5+ clubs, forcing
Ponder 3NT if chelem is not foreseeable
3D 9+ points, 5+ diamonds, forcing
Ponder 3NT if chelem is not foreseeable
3NT 9-14 points, no fit in major color, to play
4S 8+ points, 6+ spades, to play
4H 8+ points, 6+ hearts, to play
2NT 7-8 points, balanced hand
2D 6+ points, 5+ hearts, Jacoby Transfer
2H 6+ points, 5+ spades, Jacoby Transfer
2C 6+ points, Stayman (4-card major inquiry)
4D 0+ points, 6+ hearts, Texas Transfer
4H 0+ points, 6+ spades, Texas Transfer

Replies to {1NT}-{2C} Stayman

2H 4+ hearts
2S 4+ spades
2D Neither 4+ spades nor 4+ hearts

Replies to {1NT}-{2D} Jacoby Transfer

2H To keep strong hand hidden

Replies to {1NT}-{2H} Jacoby Transfer

2S To keep strong hand hidden

Replies to {1NT}-{3H}

4H Hearts fit
3NT No hearts fit

Replies to {1NT}-{3S}

4S Spades fit
3NT No spades fit

Replies to {1NT}-{4C} Gerber

4D 0 or 4 aces in hand
4H 1 ace in hand
4S 2 aces in hand
4NT 3 aces in hand

Replies to {1NT}-{4D} Texas Transfer

4H To keep strong hand hidden

Replies to {1NT}-{4H} Texas Transfer

4S To keep strong hand hidden

Replies to {1NT}-{4NT}

6NT 17-18 points

Replies to {2C}

2H 7+ points, 5+ hearts
2S 7+ points, 5+ spades
3C 7+ points, 5+ clubs
3D 7+ points, 5+ diamonds
2NT 8-10 points, balanced hand
2D Default bid if nothing else is possible

Replies to {2D}

2H 10+ points, 5+ hearts, forcing
2S 10+ points, 5+ spades, forcing
3C 10+ points, 5+ clubs, forcing
2NT 10+ points, game invitation
Partner will bid a new suit at the 3rd level with a stopper in that suit or will return to the original suit if not possible
3D, 3NT, 4H, 4S 10+ points, to play

Replies to {2H}

2S 10+ points, 5+ spades, forcing
3C 10+ points, 5+ clubs, forcing
3D 10+ points, 5+ diamonds, forcing
2NT 10+ points, game invitation
Partner will bid a new suit at the 3rd level with a stopper in that suit or will return to the original suit if not possible
3H, 3NT, 4H, 4S 10+ points, to play

Replies to {2S}

3C 10+ points, 5+ clubs, forcing
3D 10+ points, 5+ diamonds, forcing
3H 10+ points, 5+ hearts, forcing
2NT 10+ points, game invitation
Partner will bid a new suit at the 3rd level with a stopper in that suit or will return to the original suit if not possible
3S, 3NT, 4H, 4S 10+ points, to play

Replies to {2NT}

4C 10+ points, Gerber (aces inquiry)
4NT 10+ points, balanced hand
3D 0+ points, 5+ hearts, Texas Transfer
3H 0+ points, 5+ spades, Texas Transfer

Replies to {2NT}-{3D} Texas Transfer

3H To keep strong hand hidden

Replies to {2NT}-{3H} Texas Transfer

3S To keep strong hand hidden

Replies to {2NT}-{4C} Gerber

5D 0 or 4 aces in hand
5H 1 ace in hand
5S 2 aces in hand
5NT 3 aces in hand

Replies to {2NT}-{4NT}

6NT 22-23 points

Replies to {3C, 3D, 3H, 3S}

Judgment 15+ points

Replies to {3NT}

4NT 8+ points, Blackwood (aces inquiry)
4D 0+ points, 5+ hearts, Texas Transfer
4H 0+ points, 5+ spades, Texas Transfer
4C 0+ points, Stayman (4-card major inquiry)

Replies to {3NT}-{4C} Stayman

4H 4+ hearts
4S 4+ spades
4D Neither 4+ spades nor 4+ hearts

Replies to {3NT}-{4D} Texas Transfer

4H To keep strong hand hidden

Replies to {3NT}-{4H} Texas Transfer

4S To keep strong hand hidden

Replies to {3NT}-{4NT} Blackwood

5C 0 or 4 aces in hand
5D 1 ace in hand
5H 2 aces in hand
5S 3 aces in hand

Bridge, bidding guide

Creation : 2002
Villeray
N 45° 33′ W 73° 36′

Bridge, bidding guide

Last update : August 27th, 2008,
Villeray,
N 45° 33′ W 73° 36′