Opening with less than 12 points using the Rule of 20
The Rule of 20 combines high card points and length points into an easy method for deciding whether or not to open the bidding on hands with fewer than 12 points.
A hand with a long suit will normally take more tricks than a balanced hand and you may already be familiar with the hand evaluation concept of adding points for length when opening the bidding.
How to use the rule of twenty
- Count your high card points
- Add the length of your two longest suits.
- If the total equals 20 you have enough to open the bidding.
The following hand has just 10 high card points.
Your two longest suits are hearts, 5, and diamonds, 5, which equals 10 long suit points. 10 high card points + 10 long suit points = 20. You can open the bidding 1♥!
Adjustments
The rule of 20 is only a guideline, of course, and you're free to use your judgement in all cases.
Points in your long suits
Having points in your long suit can help you establish the little cards in that suit.
Points in your long suits. Nice!
This next hand isn't so good.
It'll be harder to establish extra tricks.
What's your rebid?
Having two touching 5 card suits makes subsequent bidding easier.
You have an easy rebid whatever partner responds
Ugh. Now what?
You can't bid clubs without going to the 3 level so you'll have to repeat your hearts.
Opening in third or fourth seat
The rule of twenty is used for opening in first or second seat.
The danger of opening this hand is that, given nobody opened in front of us, the points seem to be reasonably evenly split. But who has the spade suit? Not us, it would seem. Opening with this hand might just let the opponents back into the auction.
The Rule of 22
The Rule of 22 considers quick tricks in the calculation.
- Count your high card points
- add the length of your two longest suits.
- add your quick tricks.
- If the total equals 22 you have enough to open the bidding.
An ace is 1 quick trick. An Ace-King is two quick tricks. Ace-Queen is 1 and a half quick tricks. A King is half a quick trick but singleton kings count for nothing.
tags: #constructivebidding #handevaluation
