3 More on how far to go

Use the Strength Scale. Learn these point-count indicators. The two values are for opener and responder respectively::

Strength 1: 12-14,    6-9

Strength 2: 16-18.   10-12

Strength 3: 19-22,   13-15

(With 15, opener should upgrade or downgrade his hand one point)

Most of this will already be familiar, the important thing is to know your strength figure 1-3.  Care, these are rough indicators, and may be influenced by other factors.  But give them a try. What use are they? Well, once you know your partner’s strength figure by his bidding behaviour, just add your two figures together and that is the safe level for your side. In other words, one of you has to have an extra trick to make the 3-level safe, if both of you have it, game beckons, perhaps. In most cases you should now:

2 Stop

3 Try for game or stop

4 Bid game

5 Try for slam

6 Bid slam

N.B. None of this applies if you have a proper fit, that has its own rules.