Rules 20 and 26 |
Rule of 20
Add the number of cards in the two longest suits to the number of points held.
If the result is 20 or greater the hand is worth an opening bid.
The Rule of Twenty six (Courtesy of Harold Schogger)
If your partner makes a splinter bid and you add up all your points outside the splinter suit and if it comes to 26 or more you should consider bidding a slam.
For example:
WEST EAST
SPADES AK873 QJ65
HEARTS 43 AK652
DIAMONDS AQ65 K83
CLUBS 62 9
BID 1 SPADE 4 CLUBS
Then West should immediately add his points outside the splinter suit to a known guarantee of 13-15 points. Since his points total 14 and his partner is promising 13-15, then he knows the total is 26 and he should immediately be interested in a slam as 6 Spades is an easy make. West should therefore make suitable overtures either by cue bidding or Ace asking.
But if the hands are as follows:
WEST EAST
SPADES AK873 QJ65
HEARTS 43 AK652
DIAMONDS Q2 K83
CLUBS KQ62 9
BID 1 SPADE 4 CLUBS
The points you have outside the splinter suit are now 9 and added to the guaranteed 13, totals only 22. So although you have 27 points between the two hands, a slam is impossible and game only is the contract.
|
|
|
|