Beginner’s Guide to

Standard American Bidding

Larry Hohm and Steve Hoffman

Contents
Introduction

Topics For Beginners

1. Evaluating Your Hand

2. Some Terminology
3. Opening Bid
4. Responses to One Club
5. Responses to One Diamond
6. Responses to One Heart
7. Responses to One Spade
8. Responses to One No Trump
9. Responses to Two No Trump
10. Rebids by the Responder

Topics For Intermediate Beginners

11. Two-Club Opening

12. Weak Two-Bids
13. Overcalls and Takeout Doubles
14. Responses to Overcalls at the One-Level
15. Responses to the Takeout Double

Appendix A: Summary of Bidding

Appendix B: Scoring

Introduction
This guide is written exclusively for beginners. It deliberately oversimplifies many difficult areas of bidding. Our purpose is
to help beginners learn the basics quickly. We hope this guide will help mitigate the steep learning curve that prevents many people
from enjoying the game of Bridge. To keep this guide simple, we address only the most common bidding situations, and make no
attempt at completeness. The bidding suggestions are listed in order of preference—if your hand fits more than one listed description,
use the one listed first.

April 9, 2000 1
 1. Evaluating Your Hand
Rank of Suits:
No Trump (high)
Spades
Hearts
Diamonds
Clubs (low)

Spades and Hearts are major suits. Diamonds and Clubs are minor suits.

High Card Points (HCP):

A = 4 points
K = 3 points
Q = 2 points
J = 1 point

Total of 40 high card points in the deck.

Long Suit Points:

1 point for each card after the 4th card in a suit. For example, 1 point for a 5-card suit, 2 points for a 6-card suit, etc.

Short Suit Points—count them only after you and partner find a trump fit:
1 point for doubleton
2 points for singleton
3 points for void

Total Points:
Any reference to points in this guide refers to the combined high card points and long-suit points in your hand, unless specifically
restricted to high card points (HCP) only. It also includes short-suit points after you and partner have found a trump fit.

Balanced Hand:
No voids, no singletons, and no more than one doubleton. Possible distributions are: 4-3-3-3, 5-3-3-2, 4-4-3-2

Minimum Contracts:
Need 6 tricks to make book.
Minimum Game contracts: 3NT 4♠ 4♥ 5♦ 5♣
Small Slam contracts: 6NT 6♠ 6♥ 6♦ 6♣
Grand Slam contracts: 7NT 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ 7♣

Point-Count Requirements for Games and Slams:

3NT, 4♥, or 4♠: 26 points
5♣ or 5♦: 29 points
Any small slam: 33 points
Any grand slam: 37 points

2 April 9, 2000
 2. Some Terminology
Honor: Any A, K, Q, J, or 10 is an honor.

Bid Up-The-Line: Disregard the strength of the suits and bid the one that keeps the bidding lowest first.

Jump, Raise, Shift:

A jump bid is any bid that skips one or more levels of bidding.
A single jump bid skips one level and is a strong bid.
A double jump bid skips two levels and is a weak bid.
A raise is a bid in the same suit as partner’s last bid.
A shift is a bid in a different suit from partner’s last bid.
A jump-shift is a single jump bid in a new suit.

A one-over-one bid is a bid in a new suit at the one-level in response to an opening bid at the one-level.
A two-over-one bid is a nonjump bid in a new suit at the two-level in response to an opening bid at the one-level.

Small Slam: any contract at the six-level (6NT, 6♠, 6♥, 6♦, or 6♣).
Grand Slam: any contract at the seven-level (7NT, 7♠, 7♥, 7♦, or 7♣).

3. Opening Bid
With 0-12 Points
Pass: need minimum of 13 points to open
(intermediate beginners should consider weak two-bids)

With 13-21 Points

With a 5+ major: open longer major (with 5-5 in majors open 1♠) not forcing
With a balanced hand and 15-17 HCP: open 1NT not forcing
With a balanced hand and 20-21 HCP: open 2NT not forcing
With 4-4 or 5-5 in minors: open higher-ranking minor (1♦ ) not forcing
With 3-3 in minors: open lower-ranking minor (1♣ ) not forcing
Otherwise: open longer minor not forcing

With 22+ Points

Open 2♣: strong artificial bid (for intermediate beginners) forcing

April 9, 2000 3
 4. Responses to One Club
a. With 0-5 pts: pass
b. With 5+ in a new suit: bid longest new suit shows 6+ pts and a 4+ suit forcing
c. With 4 in a new suit: bid lowest-ranking new 4-card suit shows 6+ pts and a 4+ suit forcing
d. With 6-10 pts: bid 2♣ (raise) shows 6-10 pts and 4+ support not forcing
e. With 11-12 pts: bid 3♣ (jump-raise) shows 11-12 pts and 4+ support not forcing
f. With a balanced hand and bid 2NT shows 13-15 HCP pts forcing to game
13-15 HCP:
g. Otherwise: bid 1♦ (one-over-one) shows 6+ pts forcing

5. Responses to One Diamond

a. With 0-5 pts: pass
b. With a 5+ major: bid longer major shows 6+ pts and a 4+ major forcing
(with 5-5 in majors bid 1♠)
c. With a 4-card major: bid your major shows 6+ pts and a 4+ major forcing
(with 4-4 in majors bid 1♥)
d. With 4+ ♦ and 6-10 pts: bid 2♦ (raise) shows 6+ pts and 4+ support not forcing
e. With 4+ ♦ and 11-12 pts: bid 3♦ (jump-raise) shows 11-12 pts and 4+ support not forcing
f. With 6-10 pts: bid 1NT shows 6-10 pts not forcing
g. With a balanced hand and bid 2NT shows 13-15 HCP and a balanced forcing to game
13-15 HCP: hand
h. Otherwise: bid 2♣ (two-over-one) shows 11+ pts and a 4+ ♣ forcing

6. Responses to One Heart

a. With 0-5 pts: pass
b. With 3+ ♥ and 6-10 pts: bid 2♥ (raise) shows 6-10 pts and 3+ support not forcing
c. With 3+ ♥ and 11-12 pts: bid 3♥ (jump-raise) shows 11-12 pts and 3+ support not forcing
d. With 4+ ♠: bid 1♠ (one-over-one) shows 6+ pts and 4+ ♠ forcing
e. With 6-10 pts: bid 1NT shows 6-10 pts not forcing
f. With a balanced hand and bid 2NT shows 13-15 HCP and a balanced forcing to game
13-15 HCP: hand
g. Otherwise: bid longer minor (two-over-one) shows 11+ pts and a 4+ minor forcing

7. Responses to One Spade

a. With 0-5 pts: pass
b. With 3+ ♠ and 6-10 pts: bid 2♠ (raise) shows 6-10 pts and 3+ support not forcing
c. With 3+ ♠ and 11-12 pts: bid 3♠ (jump-raise) shows 11-12 pts and 3+ support not forcing
d. With 6-10 pts: bid 1NT shows 6-10 pts not forcing
e. With 5+ ♥: bid 2♥ (two-over-one) shows 11+ pts and 5+ ♥ forcing
f. With a balanced hand and bid 2NT shows 13-15 HCP and a balanced forcing to game
13-15 HCP: hand
g. Otherwise: bid longer minor (two-over-one) shows 11+ pts and 4+ minor forcing

4 April 9, 2000
 8. Responses to One No Trump

a. With 5+ ♥: bid 2♦ (Jacoby transfer to ♥) shows 5+ ♥ forces 2♥

b. With 5+ ♠: bid 2♥ (Jacoby transfer to ♠) shows 5+ ♠ forces 2♠
With a 4-card major and . . .
c. . . . 0-7 HCP: pass
d. . . . 8+ HCP: bid 2♣ (Stayman) shows a 4-card major, and asks forces 2♠,
partner to show a 4+ major 2♥, or 2♦
With no 4-card major and . . .
e. . . .0-8 HCP: pass
f. . . .9-10 HCP: bid 2NT shows 9-10 HCP invites 3NT
g. . . .11-15 HCP: bid 3NT shows 11-15 HCP
h. . . .16-17 HCP: bid 4NT shows 16-17 HCP invites 6NT
i. . . .18-19 HCP: bid 6NT shows 18-19 HCP

The Stayman Convention

After opener bids 1NT, a response of 2♣ is the Stayman Convention: it is artificial and asks the opener, “Do you have a four-card
major?” It shows 8+ HCP and a 4+ major.

Rebids by the 1NT Opener after Stayman

a. With a 4+ major: bid 2 of your major shows a 4+ major
b. Otherwise: bid 2♦ denies a 4+ major

Rebids by Responder After the 1NT Opener Responds to Jacoby Transfer

a. With 0-6 pts: pass
b. With 8-10 pts and a balanced bid 2NT invites game
hand:
c. With 8-10 pts and an unbalanced raise partner to the three-level (3♥ or 3♠) invites game
hand:
d. With 11+ pts and a balanced hand: bid 3NT
e. With 11+ pts and an unbalanced jump-raise partner to game (4♥ or 4♠)
hand:

April 9, 2000 5
 9. Responses to Two No Trump

a. With 5+ ♥: bid 3♦ (Jacoby transfer to ♥) shows 5+ ♥ forces 3♥

b. With 5+ ♠: bid 3♥ (Jacoby transfer to ♠) shows 5+ ♠ forces 3♠
With a 4-card major and . . .
c. . . . 0-4 HCP: pass
d. . . . 5+ HCP: bid 3♣ (Stayman) shows a 4-card major, and asks forces 3♠,
partner to show a 4+ major 3♥, or 3♦
With no 4-card major and . . .
e. . . . 0-4 HCP: pass
f. . . . 5-11 HCP: bid 3NT shows 5-10 HCP
g. . . . 12 HCP: bid 4NT shows 11-12 HCP invites 6NT
h. . . . 13-15 HCP: bid 6NT shows 13-14 HCP

Rebids By the 2NT Opener After Stayman

a. With a 4+ major: bid 3 of your major shows a 4+ major
b. Otherwise: bid 3♦ denies a 4+ major

10. Rebids by the Responder

A. After Opener Raised Your Major to the Two-Level

a. With 6-10 pts: pass

b. With 11-12 pts: bid 3 in your major shows 11-12 pts invites game
c. With 13-17 pts: bid 4 in your major shows 13-17 pts not forcing
d. With 18+ pts: explore slam

B. After Opener Raised Your Minor to the Two-Level

a. With 6-10 pts: pass

b. With 11-12 pts, balanced hand, bid NT at lowest level possible
and stoppers in all unbid suits: (2NT or 3NT)
c. With 11-12 pts and unbalanced pass
hand or missing stoppers:
d. With 13-15 pts, balanced hand, bid 3NT
and stoppers in all unbid suits:
e. With 13-15 pts, and unbalanced bid 3NT or 4 in your minor
hand or missing stoppers:
f. With 16-17 pts: bid 3NT or 5 in your minor
g. With 18+ pts: explore slam

6 April 9, 2000
C. After Opener Rebid His Opening Major at the Two-Level

a. With 6-10 pts: pass

b. With 11-12 pts: bid 3 in partner’s major
c. With 13-17 pts: bid 4 in partner’s major
d. With 18+ pts: explore slam

D. After Opener Rebid His Opening Minor at the Two-Level

a. With 6-10 pts: pass

b. With 11-12 pts, balanced hand, bid 2NT
and stoppers in all unbid suits:
c. With 11-12 pts and unbalanced pass
hand or missing stoppers:
d. With 13-15 pts, balanced hand, bid 3NT
and stoppers in all unbid suits:
e. With 13-15 pts, and unbalanced bid 3NT or 4 in your minor
hand or missing stoppers:
f. With 16-17 pts: bid 3NT or 5 in your minor
g. With 18+ pts: explore slam

April 9, 2000 7
 Topics for Intermediate Beginners
11. Two-Club Opening
With 22+ pts and at least 18 HCP: bid 2♣ strong artificial bid forcing

The strong artificial two-club opening is the ONLY opening bid that is forcing.

Two-Club Opening: Response

a. With 0-3 HCP: bid 2♦ negative response, shows 0-3 HCP
or no suitable positive response
b. With a 5+ major: bid 2 of your longer major shows 4+ HCP and a 5+ major
(with 5-5 in majors bid 1♠)
e. With a 5+ minor : bid 3 of your longer minor shows 4+ HCP and 5+ ♦
(with 5-5 in minors bid 3♦)
g. With a balanced hand: bid 2NT shows 4+ HCP and a balanced hand
h. Otherwise: bid 2♦ negative response, shows 0-3 HCP
or no suitable positive response

Two-Club Opening: Rebids by Opener

After a Negative Response
Bid 2NT not forcing

After Partner Bid 2 of a Major

a. With 3+ support for partner’s major: bid 4 in partner’s major not forcing
b. With 4+ in an unbid major: bid your major at the lowest forcing
available level
c. With stoppers in the unbid suits: bid 3NT not forcing

After Partner Bid 3 of a Minor

a. With stoppers in the unbid suits: bid 3NT not forcing
b. With 4+ support in partner’s minor: bid 5 of partner’s minor not forcing

After Partner Bid 2NT

Bid 3NT not forcing

Note: after opening 2♣, any suit rebid below game by opener is forcing.

8 April 9, 2000
 12. Weak Two-Bids
a. With an opening hand: use normal opening bids—do not use
weak twos
b. With 5-11 HCP and a 6-card bid 2 of your major shows 5-11 HCP and a 6-card not forcing
major with 2 of top 3 honors major with 2 of top 3 honors
(AK, AQ, or KQ): (AK, AQ, or KQ), denies an
opening hand
c. Otherwise: pass

13. Overcalls and Takeout Doubles –

After Right-Hand Opponent Opens One of a Suit

If Opponent Opens in Your Long Suit

Pass

With 0-8 points

Pass

With 9-12 points

a. With a 5+ higher-ranking suit and 2 bid 1 in that suit shows 9-17 pts and a strong 5+ suit not forcing
of top 3 honors (AK, AQ, or KQ):
b. Otherwise: pass

With 13-17 points

a. With a 5+ higher-ranking suit and 2 bid 1 in that suit shows 9-17 pts and a strong 5+ suit not forcing
of top 3 honors (AK, AQ, or KQ):
b. With a 5+ lower-ranking suit and 2 bid 2 in that suit shows 13-17 pts and a strong 5+ suit not forcing
of top 3 honors (AK, AQ, or KQ):
c. With a balanced hand, two stoppers bid 1NT shows 15-17 HCP and a balanced not forcing
in the enemy suit, and 15-17 HCP: hand
d. With 4+ support in each unbid double (takeout double) shows 13+ pts, 4+ support in each forcing
major, and ideally 4+ support in unbid major, and maybe 4+ support
each unbid minor: in each unbid minor; OR shows 18+
pts
e. Otherwise: pass

With 18+ points

With any distribution: double (takeout double); shows 13+ pts forcing
after partner responds, bid your
best suit shows 18+ pts not forcing

April 9, 2000 9
 14. Responses to Overcalls at the One-Level

If Partner Overcalls 1NT

Use normal responses to 1NT

With 3+ In Partner’s Suit

a. With 0-6 pts: pass
b. With 7-11 pts: raise partner’s suit shows 7-11 pts and 3+ support not forcing
c. With 12-14 pts: jump-raise partner’s suit shows 12+ pts and 3+ support not forcing
d. With 15+ pts and partner bid a jump to game in partner’s major shows 15+ pts and 3+ support not forcing
major:
e. With 15+ pts and partner bid a bid 3NT shows 15+ pts and a stopper in not forcing
minor, and with a stopper in the the enemy suit
enemy suit:
f. Otherwise: jump-raise partner’s suit shows 12+ pts and 3+ support not forcing

With a Good 5+ Suit

a. With 0-7 pts: pass
b. With 8-12 pts: bid your suit shows 8-12 pts and a good 5+ not forcing
suit
c. With 13+ pts: jump-bid your suit shows 13+ pts and an not forcing
independently strong suit

With a Stopper in the Enemy Suit

a. With 8-11 pts: bid 1NT shows 8-11 pts not forcing
b. With 12-14 pts: bid 2NT shows 12-14 pts not forcing
c. With 15+ pts: bid 3NT shows 15+ pts not forcing

10 April 9, 2000
 15. Responses to the Takeout Double

With 0-5 Points

a. With a 4+ unbid major: bid your best unbid major shows 0-9 pts and a 4+ major not forcing
b. Otherwise: bid your best unbid minor shows 0-9 pts and a 4+ minor not forcing

With 6-9 Points

a. With a 4+ unbid major: bid your best unbid major shows 0-9 pts and a 4+ major not forcing
b. With a stopper in the enemy suit: bid 1NT shows 6-9 pts and a stopper in not forcing
the enemy suit
c. Otherwise: bid your best unbid minor shows 0-9 pts and a 4+ minor not forcing

With 10-12 Points

a. With a 4+ unbid major: jump bid your best unbid major shows 10-12 pts and a 4+ major not forcing,
invites game
b. With a stopper in the enemy suit: bid 2NT shows 10-12 pts and a stopper in not forcing,
the enemy suit invites game
c. Otherwise: jump bid your best unbid minor shows 10-12 pts and a 4+ minor not forcing,
invites game

With 13+ Points

Cue-bid the enemy suit. This artificial bid asks partner to shows 13+ pts forces to game
bid his best suit. You are
promising to bid again (if below
game).

April 9, 2000 11
 Appendix A: Summary of Bidding
Opening Bids
a. 1 minor shows 13-21 pts and a 3+ minor not forcing
b. 1 major shows 13-21 pts and a 5+ major not forcing
c. 1NT shows 15-17 HCP and a balanced hand not forcing
d. 2NT shows 20-21 HCP and a balanced hand not forcing
e. 2♣ (strong artificial) shows 22+ pts forcing
f. 2♦, 2♥, or 2♠ (weak twos) shows 5-11 HCP, exactly-6-card suit with 2 of top 3 not forcing
honors (AK, AQ, or KQ); denies an opening hand

Responses to One in a Suit

a. One-over-one shows 6+ pts and a 4+ suit forcing
b. Two-over-one shows 11+ pts and a 4+ suit forcing
c. Raise partner’s major shows 6-10 pts and 3+ support not forcing
d. Raise partner’s minor shows 6-10 pts and 4+ support not forcing
e. 1NT over 1♠ shows 6-10 pts, denies 3+ ♠ not forcing
f. 1NT over 1♥ shows 6-10 pts, denies 3+ ♥, denies 4+ ♠ not forcing
g. 1NT over 1♦ shows 6-10 pts, denies 4+ ♦, denies a 4+ major not forcing
h. 1NT over 1♣ shows 6-10 pts, denies 4+ ♣, denies a 4+ major not forcing
i. 2NT shows 13-15 pts, balanced hand, and stoppers in all forces game
unbid suits
j. Jump-raise partner’s major shows 11-12 pts and 3+ support not forcing
k. Jump-raise partner’s minor shows 11-12 pts and 4+ support not forcing
l. Jump-shift shows 17+ pts forces to game, invites slam

Rebids by the Opener

a. Raise partner’s major shows 13-15 pts and 4-card major not forcing
b. Raise partner’s minor shows 13-15 pts and 4+ in minor, denies 4-card major not forcing
c. Rebid your opening suit shows 13-15 pts and a 6+ suit not forcing
d. Bid new major shows 13-18 pts and 4-card major not forcing
e. Bid new minor shows 13-18 pts and a 6+ minor not forcing
f. 1NT shows 13-14 HCP and a balanced hand—or no good not forcing
alternative
g. 2NT-over-one shows 18-19 HCP and a balanced hand not forcing invites game
h. 2NT-over-two shows no good alternative not forcing
i. Jump-raise partner’s suit shows 16-18 pts and 4+ support not forcing invites game
j. Jump-raise your opening suit shows 16-18 pts and a 6+ suit not forcing invites game
k. Jump-shift shows 19+ pts forcing

Overcalls and Takeout Doubles

a. Overcall at the one level shows 9-17 pts and a strong 5+ suit not forcing
b. Overcall at the two level shows 13-17 pts and a strong 5+ suit not forcing
c. Takeout double shows 13+ pts, 4+ support in each unbid major, and forcing
maybe 4+ support in each unbid minor; OR shows 18+
pts

12 April 9, 2000
 Responses to the Takeout Double

a. Bid new suit shows 0-9 pts and a 4+ suit not forcing
b. 1NT shows 6-9 pts and a stopper in the enemy suit, denies a not forcing
4+ unbid major
c. 2NT shows 11-12 pts and a stopper in the enemy suit, denies not forcing
a 4+ unbid major
d. 3NT shows 13-16 pts and a stopper in the enemy suit not forcing
e. Jump in a new major shows 10-12 pts and a 4+ major not forcing
f. Jump in a new minor shows 10-12 pts and a 5+ minor not forcing
g. Cue-bid the enemy suit shows 13+ pts, responder promises to bid again (if forces to game
below game)

Appendix B: Scoring
Trick Score:
Minor Suits: 20 pts per trick
Major Suits: 30 pts per trick
No Trump: 40 pts first trick, 30 pts for each additional trick

Bonuses: Not Vulnerable Vulnerable

Part-Score: 50 pts 50 pts
Game: 300 pts 500 pts
Small Slam: 500 pts 750 pts
Grand Slam: 1000 pts 1500 pts

Penalties when Doubled: Not Vulnerable Vulnerable

Down 1 trick: -100 -200
Down 2 tricks: -300 -500
Down 3 tricks: -500 -800
-300 for each additional trick

April 9, 2000 13
 Opening Leads Against Trump

Which Suit to Lead

The following is a list of attractive options to lead against trump contracts. They are NOT listed in order of preference, because the
order would depend on further details of your hand.

a. A suit with A K x.
b. A suit with a three-card sequence headed
by an honor.
c. A suit bid by partner.
d. A short suit. In the hope of getting a ruff.
e. A trump (but not a singleton trump). To diminish opponent’s ruffing power.

Which Card to Lead

a. With a doubleton: lead higher card
b. With A K in a 3+ suit: lead K
c. With A in a 3+ suit: lead A Root, How to Defend, p. 4.
d. With any sequence headed by an honor: lead top of sequence
e. With a 4+ suit: lead fourth best
f. Otherwise: lead lowest card

Opening Leads Against No Trump

Which Suit to Lead

a. If partner bid a suit: lead partner’s suit.
b. Otherwise: lead from longest and strongest friendly suit.

Which Card to Lead

a. With a doubleton: lead higher card
b. With A K x: lead K Root, How to Defend, p. 2
c. With A K x x [x] [x]: lead K or fourth best Root, How to Defend, p. 2
d. With any sequence headed by an honor: lead top of sequence Root, How to Defend, pp. 1-3
e. With any honor: lead fourth best Lead low from strength
f. Otherwise: lead highest card Lead top of nothing

14 April 9, 2000
After a One-Over-One Response

After a One-No-Trump Response

After a Two-Over-One Response

After Partner Raised Your Major Suit to the Two-Level

After Partner Raised Your Minor Suit to the Two-Level

After Partner Jump-Raised Your Suit to the Three-Level

After a Two-No-Trump Response

After a Jump-Shift Response

April 9, 2000 15