The Rule of Twenty
In the early days of bridge a full thirteen point hand was required in order to open the bidding. Now standards have dropped to twelve. In addition there is a very useful rule - taking distribution into account - that sometimes allows you to open the bidding with even less. Add your total points to the number of cards in your two longest suits; if the total is twenty or more then it is winning bridge to open the bidding. Using The Rule of Twenty, an eleven point hand with a five-four shape or with a six card suit will be opened; as will a ten point hand with a five-five or six-four shape.
This week's South must have been a trifle nervous - having opened the bidding with just nine points he heard his partner had put him into Slam. How did he fare?
South Deals
None Vul |
| ♠ |
Q 4 |
| ♥ |
K Q 10 9 |
| ♦ |
A J 8 6 |
| ♣ |
J 6 4 |
|
| ♠ |
A 8 |
| ♥ |
7 |
| ♦ |
Q 9 4 3 |
| ♣ |
A K 10 8 7 3 |
|
|
| ♠ |
10 9 2 |
| ♥ |
4 3 2 |
| ♦ |
K 10 7 |
| ♣ |
Q 9 5 2 |
|
| |
| ♠ |
K J 7 6 5 3 |
| ♥ |
A J 8 6 5 |
| ♦ |
5 2 |
| ♣ |
— |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1 ♠ |
| 2 ♣ |
2 ♦ |
3 ♣ |
3 ♥ |
| 5 ♣ |
6 ♥ |
Pass |
Pass |
| Pass |
East-West's vigorous ♣ bidding convinced North - correctly - that his partner was almost certainly void of the suit. So his 6 ♥ bid over 5 ♣ was not quite the wild leap it first appears.
West led ♣ A and declarer trumped. He crossed to ♥ Q, cashed ♥ K and led to ♥ A, drawing the four opposing trumps. He then led ♠ 3 to ♠ Q and ♠ 4 to ♠ J and West's ♠ A. West switched to ♦ 3 - too late. Declarer won dummy's ♦ A, trumped ♣ 6, cashed ♠ K and his three remaining ♠s and took the last trick with dummy's remaining trump.
West can hardly be blamed for his ♣ A lead but the opening lead of a ♦ would have established a ♦ trick for the defence, which they would have been able to cash when in with ♠ A.
THE RULE OF TWENTY: Open the bidding when your total points added to the number of cards in your two longest suits equal twenty or more.
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