Did you know that in a bidding auction, if you are in first or second seat, there are minimum requirements for making an opening 1-level bid? Unlike weak 2-level bids (normally 2D, 2H, or 2S) or preemptive bids at the 3-level or higher, where we are allowed to open with very few HCP, at the 1-level if you make a natural bid (meaning you promise at least 3 of a minor or 4-5 of a major) or a quasi-natural bid (where you open a "could be short" minor, usually 1C), then you promise that you have at least what is called a "near average strength" hand. What is that? Since there are 40 high card points (HCP) in a deck, an average strength hand is 10 HCP. The ACBL defines a "near average strength" hand as a hand that either (1) has at least 8 HCP or (2) satisfies the rule of 17 (meaning that, added together, your HCP and the length of your two longest suits equal 17 or higher; for example, if you only had 5 HCP, for it to be legal for you to open at the 1-level in first or second seat, you would have to have at least 12 of your 13 cards in two suits). If you notice that your opponents have made an illegal 1-level bid, please call the director as soon as you realize what has happened, either during play, or even after the game is over. If the director determines that your opponent did in fact make an illegal bid, they have the power to assign an adjusted score.

What about 1-level opening bids in third or fourth seat? Here we are given more flexibility. But it is still a requirement that you reveal to opponents what your partnership agreement is. If you will open extremely light hands in third or fourth seat, you must indicate this on your convention card.

You can find more information about bidding and convention rules on the ACBL website here: https://www.acbl.org/tournament/#charts.

I've had reports that there are people who have been repeatedly (and illegally) opening light hands at the 1-level in first or second seat, including someone who recently opened a could-be-short 1C in first seat with 4 HCP and 7 clubs.

Paul