Before starting to bid, you need to count the value of your hand. This is done by assigning each Honours card (ace, king, queen, jack) a value, and then adding on any distribution points.

Here the hand counts as follows :

• 4 points for an ace
• 6 points for 2 kings
• 4 points for 2 queens
• 1 point for a jack
• 2 distribution points for the singleton diamond (one diamond card)

So the value of this hand is 17.

Here the hand counts as follows :

• 4 points for an ace
• 2 points for a queen
• 1 point for a jack
• 3 distribution points for the void in spades (no spades cards)
• 1 distribution point for the doubleton in clubs (two clubs cards)

So the value of this hand is 11.

If the contract you end up by wanting to get into is no trumps, an uneven distribution is often a disadvantage, so distribution points may need to be subtracted again during the bidding for no trump contracts.

Here you have an ace, a king, 2 queens, and 2 doubletons, giving you exactly 13 points. Clubs is your longest suit, so you bid 1 Club.

Example 2

Here you have an ace, a king, 3 queens, a jack and a doubleton, giving you 15 points. Hearts and clubs are of equal length, but hearts is the higher ranking, so you bid 1 Heart.

Example 3

Here you have an ace, 2 kings, a queen, and no distribution points, giving you 12 points. You have insufficient points to open the bidding, so your bid is 'no bid' or 'pass'.

Note

If there has already been a bid from the opposition, and you have opening points, but the ranking of the suits forces you to open your bidding at the 2 level, you should only bid if you have 15 points, and at least a 5 card suit. On this basis, if the opposition had bid 1 Spade, you could not bid on any of the example hands given, in examples 1 and 3 because of insufficient points, and on example 2 because you do not have a 5 card suit.

If the value of your hand is 16 to 19 points, you should open with 1 No Trump with a fairly flat hand, otherwise 1 of your longest suit. For a fairly flat hand you must have at least 2 cards in each suit, preferably 3.

Example 1

Here you have 2 aces, 2 kings, and a queen, giving you 16 points. You have a flat hand, so you bid 1 No Trump.

Example 2

Here you have 2 aces, 2 kings, 2 queens and a doubleton. You have a fairly flat hand, so you bid 1 No Trump.

Note

A distribution point for the doubleton was not included, because you bid No Trump.

Example 3

Here you have 2 aces, a king, 2 queens, a jack and a singleton, giving you 18 points. You have an uneven distribution, and 3 suits of equal length, of which spades is the highest ranking, so you bid 1 Spade.

If the value of your hand is 20 or more points,

• with an uneven distribution, you should open with 2 of your longest suit (preferably you should hold at least a 5-card suit);
• with a flat hand, you should open with 2 No Trumps (preferably, you should hold at least 3 cards in all suits).

   

Example 1

Here you have 3 aces, 2 kings, 2 queens, a jack, a doubleton, and a singleton, giving you 26 points. The distribution is uneven, and you have 2 5-card suits, of which hearts is the higher ranking, so you bid 2 Hearts.

Example 2

Here you have 1 ace, 3 kings, 3 queens, and a jack, giving you 20 points. You have a flat hand, so you bid 2 No Trumps.

Note

The ACOL convention of bidding 2 Clubs to indicate 23 or more points is not used in the BOOP system.

After your partner has done an opening suit bid at the 1 level (e.g. 1 heart), your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 5 points or less, you say 'no bid' or 'pass'.

Example

After your partner has done an opening suit bid at the 1 level (e.g. 1 Heart), your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 6 to 9 points, you have these options :

• Bid 2 of the same suit as your partner bid, if you have at least 4 cards in your partner's suit.
• Bid 1 of a different suit, if you have at least 4 cards in a suit that is higher ranking than that bid by your partner (e.g. 1 Spade as a reply to 1 Heart)
• Bid 1 No Trump to indicate your points, if you have no other correct bid that you can make.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Note :

A distribution point is not counted on the last example, because the reply bid is in 'no trumps'.

After your partner has done an opening suit bid at the 1 level (e.g. 1 Heart), your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 10 to 12 points, you have these options :

• Raise the bid in a different suit to that bid by your partner, providing that you have at least 4 cards in the reply suit. Raising the bid means that you make a bid at the lowest level allowed by the rules. So, assuming that your partner bid 1 Heart, if your reply suit was spades, you would bid 1 Spade, but, if your reply suit was diamonds, you would bid 2 Diamonds.
• Bid 3 of the same suit as your partner bid, if you have at least 4 cards in that suit.
• Bid 2 No Trumps to indicate that you and your partner have cover in all suits. This means that in each suit you either have length (e.g. 4 cards) or good Honours (e.g. aces and kings).

Example 1

Here you have 2 aces, a king and a doubleton, giving you 12 points. Let us assume that your partner opened the bidding with 1 Heart. Then you raise the bid in a different suit by replying with 1 Spade because you have 4 cards in spades, and insufficient length in hearts. Spades is higher ranking than hearts, and so your bid is at the 1 level. You do not bid 2 Clubs because this is the lower ranking of 2 equal length suits.

Example 2

Here you have a king, 2 queens, a doubleton, and a singleton, giving you 10 points. Assume again that your partner opened the bidding with 1 Heart. Then on this hand you should raise the bid in a different suit by replying with 2 Clubs because your longest suit is clubs. Clubs is lower ranking than hearts, and so you have to bid it at the 2 level.

Example 3

Here you have 2 kings, 2 queens, and no distribution points, giving you 10 points. Assume again that your partner opened the bidding with 1 Heart. Then on this hand you should jump bid in hearts by replying with 3 Hearts, because this is your longest suit.

Note :

A jump bid in a suit can only be used to indicate 10 to 12 points if the same reply suit as that opened is used, otherwise 13 or more points would be indicated.

Example 4

Here you have 2 aces, a queen, a jack, and no distribution points, giving you 11 points. Assume again that your partner opened the bidding with 1 Heart. You have a flat hand, and your weak suit is the suit that your partner has bid, so together you probably have cover in all suits. This means that 2 No Trumps is your best bid on this hand.

Note :

A jump bid in no trumps is needed on this hand, as a simple raise to 1 No Trump would indicate only 6 to 9 points.

After your partner has done an opening suit bid at the 1 level (e.g. 1 Heart), your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 13 or more points, you have these options :

• Jump bid in a different suit to that bid by your partner, providing that you have at least 4 cards in the reply suit. Jump bidding means that you make a bid at a level one higher than that allowed by the rules. So, assuming that your partner bid 1 Heart, if your reply suit was spades, you would bid 2 Spades, but, if your reply suit was diamonds, you would bid 3 Diamonds.
• Make a game bid of 3 No Trumps, 4 Spades, 4 Hearts, 5 Clubs or 5 Diamonds. To decide whether you should make a game bid, you need to understand about 'bidding targets'.
• Make a slam bid of 4 Clubs or 4 No Trumps, 4 Spades, 4 Hearts, 5 Clubs or 5 Diamonds. To decide whether you should make a game bid, you need to understand about both 'bidding targets' and 'slam bidding'.

Example 1

Here you have an ace, 2 kings, a queen, and a doubleton, giving you 13 points.

First let us assume that your partner opened the bidding with 1 Diamond. Then you jump bid in a different suit by replying with 2 Spades, because spades is your longest suit. Spades is higher ranking than diamonds, so a jump bid involves going to the 2 level.

Now let us assume that your partner's opening bid was 1 Spade. Then you should make a game bid by bidding 4 Spades, because you can support your partner's suit, and you have sufficient points to go straight to game.

Example 2

Here you have an ace, 2 kings, 2 queens, and a doubleton, giving you 15 points.

First assume that your partner opened the bidding with 1 Club. Then you should make a game bid by bidding 3 No Trumps, because you have a flat hand and your weak suit is that bid by your partner, so together you can expect to have cover in all suits.

Now suppose that your partner had bid 1 Diamond. Then you could do a game bid in diamonds by bidding 5 Diamonds, as you have support for your partner's diamonds, and you and your partner have sufficient points between you to go to the 5 level. To show your spades by bidding 2 Spades, a jump bid, would also have been legitimate. The weakness in clubs now prevents you bidding no trumps.

Note

Strictly speaking, the value of the above hand for the No Trump contract is 14 points, since you should not count distribution points for a No Trump contract. However, in this case the outcome of the bidding is the same.

Example 3

Here you have 2 aces, 2 kings, 2 queens, and a void, giving you 21 points. With 6 hearts and 3 Honours in them, you want ultimately to be in a heart contract whatever your partner has. As you know what contract you want to end up in, all that has now to be decided is whether you should go for a game or a slam bid. As together you and your partner have sufficient points for a slam, you should look for this by bidding 4 No Trumps (Blackwood convention) if your partner bid 1 Club, or otherwise 4 Clubs (Gerber convention).

Note

You should be looking for a slam bid if you and your partner have 30 or more points between you. There are too many points to be lost by not going for it to be faint-hearted about this !

After your partner has done an opening bid of 1 No Trump, your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 5 points or less, you say 'no bid' or 'pass' if your longest suit is 4 cards, otherwise you bid your longest suit (called doing a 'weak take out').

Example 1

Example 2

After your partner has done an opening bid of 1 No Trump, your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 6 points or more, you then have the following options :

• If you have at least 4 cards in either hearts or spades (a 'major' suit), you should bid 2 Clubs (the Stayman convention). This means that you are asking for your partner to respond with 2 Hearts or 2 Spades if he or she has a 4-card major suit.
• If you have no major suit with 4 cards, you should bid 2 No Trumps.

Example 1

Note

When you bid 2 Clubs using this convention, the bid is not indicative in any way of the strength or length of your hand in clubs.

Example 2

Note

If you have 10 or more points, you may consider going direct to a game or even a slam bid.

After your partner has done an opening suit bid at the 2 level (e.g. 2 hearts), your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 4 points or less, you must always bid, as the 2 level opener is 'forcing'. You have the following options :

• Raise in the same suit that your partner bid, if you have at least 4 cards in your partner's suit, i.e. bid the same suit at the 3 level.
• Bid 2 No Trumps if you cannot support your partner's suit.

Example

Here you have no points, or arguably 1 point for a doubleton. A hand of zero value is called a 'Yarborough' !

If your partner has bid 2 Diamonds or 2 Hearts, you have support for your partner in both those suits, so you bid 3 Diamonds or 3 Hearts, according to your partner's bid.

If your partner's bid was 2 Clubs or 2 Spades, you bid 2 No Trumps, indicating both your lack of points and your lack of support for your partner's suit !

Note

A cautious player might decide to pass on a Yarborough, but in so doing he or she may miss the opportunity of getting a game. Generally speaking, the scoring system for rubber bridge is such that it favours more adventurous players.

After your partner has done an opening suit bid at the 2 level (e.g. 2 hearts), your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 5 points or more, you have these bidding options :

• Bid an alternative suit to that bid by your partner.
• Do a game bid. See 'Bidding targets'.
• Do a slam bid. See 'Bidding targets' and 'Slam bidding'.

Example 1

Here you have an ace, a jack, and a doubleton, giving you 6 points.

It is instructive here to consider what you should respond to each possible opener :

• To 2 Clubs : Reply either 2 Spades (higher ranking of 2 4-card alternative suits) or 3 No Trumps (you have cover in hearts, length in diamonds and spades, and your weak suit is your partner's suit). You might prefer the more cautious 2 Spades, because of the doubleton heart suit.
• To 2 Diamonds : Reply 2 Spades (longest alternative suit, and you cannot go to game in diamonds by bidding 5 Diamonds, because this requires you to have more points).
• To 2 Hearts : Reply 2 Spades (higher ranking of 2 4-card alternative suits, and you have insufficient length to bid hearts)
• To 2 Spades : Reply 4 Spades (you have the support required, a 4-card suit, and the points, to go directly to game).

Notes

• To go directly to game in no trumps (3 No Trumps), you need to be sure that you and your partner together have adequate cover, by way of strength or length, in all 4 suits.
• The value of this hand for a no trumps contract is 5 points, since distribution points should not be counted; this is still sufficient for a game bid.

Example 2

Here you have an ace, 2 kings, a queen, and a jack, giving you 13 points.

On this hand you should only go straight to looking for a slam if your partner opened 2 Diamonds, by bidding 4 Clubs (Gerber Convention). If your partner bid any other suit, you have insufficient length to be sure that this is the best suit for your contract, so then bid your longest suit, 2 Diamonds in response to 2 Clubs, otherwise 3 Diamonds. You only go into the Gerber or Blackwood bidding sequence after you have established what suit you want to end up in.

Notes

• It is essential you establish suit before going for a slam. If you're unsure what suit it's best to be in, always first bid your longest suit at the lowest possible level, and so give you and your partner bidding space to establish your best suit.
• Do not get confused here with the standard response to a 2 No Trump Opening bid for 0 to 4 reply points of 3 Diamonds (the Flint Convention). The Flint Convention only applies to a 2 No Trump opening bid.

After your partner has done an opening bid of 2 No Trumps, your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 4 points or less, you must always bid, as the 2 level opener is 'forcing'. The standard bid here is 3 Diamonds, known as the Flint Convention, as it is simply an indicator of your points, and it is possible you could even have a void in diamonds !

Example

Here you have no points, or arguably 1 point for a doubleton. A hand of zero value is called a 'Yarborough' ! So your bid is 3 Diamonds. This does not mean that your longest suit is diamonds, although it happens to be in this example.

Note

A cautious player might decide to pass on a Yarborough, but in so doing he or she may miss the opportunity of getting a game. Generally speaking, the scoring system for rubber bridge is such that it favours more adventurous players.

After your partner has done an opening bid of 2 No Trumps, your bid then depends on your reply points. Your bidding options are as follows :

• Bid 3 Clubs, 3 Hearts or 3 Spades, depending on which is your longest suit.
• Do a game bid. See 'Bidding targets'.
• Do a slam bid. See 'Bidding targets' and 'Slam bidding'.

Here you have an ace, a jack, and a doubleton, giving you 6 points.

You should bid 3 Spades on this hand. There are various reasons why this bid is the right one :

• You have 4 cards in spades, a major suit.
• You have insufficient strength or length in spades to make a game bid in spades.
• You have insufficient points for a slam bid
• Your alternative 4-card suit, diamonds, is lower ranking and is in any case used to indicate less points than you hold, in the Flint Convention.
• Your weakness in clubs could be exposed if you bid 3 No Trumps.

To summarise, by bidding 3 Spades, you give yourself and your partner the best chance of getting into the right contract, either 3 No Trumps or 4 Spades. Let your partner decide.

Here you have 2 queens and 2 jacks, giving you 6 points.

You should do a game bid of 3 No Trumps on this hand. Your hand is flat, and the suit in which you have no Honours is also your longest.

Here you have a king, a doubleton and a singleton, giving you 6 points.

You should do a game bid of 4 Hearts on this hand. Your hand is uneven, so unsuitable for a no trumps contract, but you have sufficient points and length in hearts to go straight to game.

• You should not be deterred from a game bid when appropriate by your lack of Honours. Your partner has opened 2 No Trumps, and so has plenty of them !
• If this hand had a 4-card heart suit and a more even distribution, it might be better to bid 3 Hearts, and let your partner decide on the contract he or she wants.

Here you have an ace, 2 kings, a queen, and a jack, giving you 13 points.

On this hand you can go straight to looking for a slam bid by opening 4 Clubs (Gerber Convention). As you have a flat hand and your partner opened 2 No Trumps, you can know immediately that no trumps is a suitable contract. You have sufficient points to look for a slam bid, so there is no point in beating about the bush - go for it !

It is essential you establish suit before going for a slam. Suppose that you had 13 points with an uneven distribution, and say a 5-card club suit with your highest card a 10 in that suit. The best contract might then be in clubs, your partner's strongest suit, or no trumps, in any other words anything ! So then bid 3 Clubs, letting your partner know where your length is, and then, after your partner has decided what it's best to be in, do your slam attempt with 4 No Trumps (Blackwood Convention - you cannot use the Gerber Convention when clubs has already been bid).

After you and your partner have gone through the initial sequence of an opening bid and a reply, thereafter further bidding depends to a large extent on the rough guide to bidding targets. The table below gives the relationship between the joint value of the hands held by yourself and your partner, and the bidding level you should end up at. For instance, if you hold 15 points and your partner holds 11 points, giving a joint value of 26 points, then for a suit contract the appropriate level is 4 (e.g. 4 Spades), and for a no trumps contract, the appropriate level is 3 (i.e. 3 No Trumps).

This is particularly important when trying to do a game bid. A game bid is 3 No Trumps, 4 of a major suit (hearts or spades), and 5 of a minor suit (clubs or diamonds).

Bidding targets (rough guide) :

Example

Here you have 2 kings, 2 queens, a jack, a singleton, giving you 13 points.

Suppose that you opened the bidding with 1 Heart. Consider your next response after various replies from your partner :

• Partner's reply is 2 Clubs or 2 Diamonds - your partner has indicated 10 to 12 points, so jointly you have at least 23 points. In this case, bid 2 Hearts, keeping at the 2 level for now. If your partner has 12 points, he or she can subsequently take the bidding to game, as your partner knows that jointly you have at least 25 points. (Note that you should only repeat your hearts if you have at least 5 of them).
• Partner's reply is 2 Hearts - your partner has made a weak response, indicating 6 to 9 points. Your response is 'no bid' or 'pass', as you may jointly only have 19 points !
• Partner's reply is 1 Spade - your partner may have anything from 6 to 12 points (giving 19 to 25 points jointly). You don't know what the appropriate level you want to end up is, so keep the bidding low at this stage by bidding 1 No Trump. This tells your partner that you only have about 13 points, and that you have cover in clubs, diamonds and hearts. Your partner then has the information needed to decide on the best contract.
• Partner's reply is 2 Spades - your partner has indicated length in spades and at least 13 points, so bid 3 No Trumps. Jointly you have at least 25 points and cover in all suits, so you have the information to go for a game bid.
• Partner's reply is 3 Clubs or 3 Diamonds - your partner has indicated length in clubs or diamonds, and at least 13 points. In this case, bid 3 Hearts, showing your partner that you have 5 cards in hearts. You cannot go to a game bid in clubs or hearts (5 Clubs or 5 Diamonds), as jointly you may only have 26 points, and you require 28 points. So you repeat the hearts in the hope that your partner may have some spades or some hearts support, and you can get to a game contract more easily in no trumps or hearts.
• Partner's reply is 2 No Trumps or 3 Hearts - your partner has indicated 10 to 12 points (giving you jointly perhaps 23 points). A game bid of 3 No Trumps or 4 Hearts would be risky, being 1 level higher than you perhaps should be - discretion would tell you to respond with 'no bid'.

Notes

• If you already have some points towards game, you may wish to terminate the bidding at a lower level than the bidding targets would allow you to go. This should give you an easy contract.
• If your partner has 17 or more points, once the suit you want to end up in has been established, it is up to your partner to initiate a slam bidding sequence, as only he or she knows that you have sufficient points to do this.

There are a lot of extra points to be won by bidding and making a slam, and so it is important not to miss opportunities. A small slam is a contract at the 6 level (e.g. 6 Clubs), and a large slam a contract at the 7 level (e.g. 7 Clubs). There are various issues involved in this :

• Deciding on whether to go for a slam. This depends on the value of the hands held by you and your partner, and you can see from the 'bidding targets' table that at least 32 points are normally required for a slam bid. However, you should enter into the slam bidding process with rather less known points (e.g. 30), because you can 'duck out' at the 5 level, or even the 4 level; your partner may have a few more points than you credit him or her with.
• The timing of the start of the slam bidding process.The key thing here is to have decided on what contract you want to end up in before you begin the process.
• Deciding whether to use the Gerber Convention or the Blackwood Convention. The Gerber Convention allows you to start the slam bidding process at a lower level (4 Clubs as opposed to 4 No Trumps for Blackwood), giving you more bidding space, and so is preferred whenever possible. There are 2 circumstances under which Blackwood is necessary, firstly when a genuine club bid has already been made, secondly when the bidding has already reached a higher level than 4 Clubs.
• The bidding process.The first bid by the player initiating the process is 4 Clubs or 4 No Trumps, asking his or her partner to show the number of aces held. The response is shown in the table; for instance, a response bid of 4 Hearts to 4 Clubs indicates 1 ace. The initiator may then either do a 5 level bid of 5 Clubs or 5 No Trumps, asking his or her partner to show the number of kings held, or alternatively a 'shut out' bid for the contract (e.g. 5 Diamonds).

Note

If a Stayman 2 Clubs bid has been made, but no other clubs bid, the Gerber convention can still be used.

Example

Here you have 2 kings, 2 queens, a jack, a singleton, giving you 13 points.

Suppose that your partner opened the bidding at the 2 level. Then together you have sufficient points for a possible slam bid. Let us consider what your response should be to each possible 2 opener:

• 2 Clubs.You have support for your partner in clubs with a 4-card suit, so you can go straight to 4 No Trumps (Blackwood Convention), asking your partner for aces. A bid of 3 Hearts would also be valid, and could gain you extra points if you ended up in a contract of 6 Hearts. The Gerber Convention of 4 Clubs cannot be used, because clubs has been bid.
• 2 Diamonds.You do not have adequate support for your partner in diamonds, so you need to establish the suit for your contract first. Therefore, first show your long suit by bidding 2 Hearts. After your partner has bid again, perhaps by going to game (e.g. 4 Hearts), and you know the contract you wish to be in, you can initiate the slam bidding sequence with 4 Clubs or 4 No Trumps, as appropriate.
• 2 Hearts.You have good support for your partner's opening bid, so you should bid 4 Clubs, asking for your partner's aces.
• 2 Spades.Your initial reaction may be that, with the strength you have in all other suits, this is ideal for a no trumps contract. But, distribution points should not be counted on a no trumps contract, so the value of your hands jointly may only be 31 points, which may be insufficient for a no trumps contract. So on this hand you should respond with 3 Hearts, hoping that your partner may then bid 4 Hearts, and give you a better chance of making a slam (after a bid of 4 No Trumps by yourself) .
• 2 No Trumps.You do not have an even distribution, so bid 3 Hearts. Only bid 4 Clubs or 4 No Trumps after you know what suit you want to be in for your contract.

Now suppose that on the same hand you had opened the bidding with 1 Heart, and your partner had 20 points with support in hearts, then your partner's response should be 4 Clubs, asking for aces. You should reply with 4 Diamonds, indicating that you have no aces, as per the table. Your partner must then consider whether to continue with the slam attempt. If he or she only had 2 aces, then there would be a good chance of losing 2 tricks, so a bid of 4 Hearts would then perhaps be best. On the other hand, with no or only 1 missing ace, your partner should bid 5 Clubs, asking you to show your kings. You then bid 5 Spades, and your partner is forced to take the bidding to 6 Hearts for the slam contract.

Note

After your response of 4 Hearts in the last situation, if your partner had 2 missing aces, but a void in one of the suits with a missing ace, he could expect to 'trump in' in that suit, so could continue with the slam bid attempt.

If you have a 7-card suit, at least one outside trick, and 7 to 11 points, you can do what is called a preemptive bid by bidding 3 of the long suit (e.g. 3 Diamonds). An outside trick means that you would expect to make a trick 'outside' your long suit.

Example

Here you have a king, a queen, 2 jacks, and 3 doubletons, giving you 10 points.

You also have a 7-card suit, diamonds, and 1 outside trick, the king of hearts, so you have all the requirements for a preemptive bid of 3 Diamonds.

Notes

• In a doubleton the king of hearts has a fair chance of making, so it counts as an outside trick. However, the jack of clubs would probably not make, so that would not count as an outside trick.
• The typical response of your partner to a preemptive bid is 'no bid'. If your partner bids, he or she should consider the 'bidding targets' for assessing the points needed to bid higher.

A bid of 'Double' can mean 2 completely different things, depending on when it is used :

• If you have a void or singleton in the suit opened by the opposition at the 1 level, and 9 to 11 points, you should bid 'Double'. This actually gives quite a lot of information to your partner, who may respond with a genuine bid.
• If the opposition has made a bid above the 1 level, and you are sure they would not make the contract, you should bid 'Double'.

Notes

• Excuse the pun, but you need to be doubly sure the opposition will not make the contract after you have doubled, if your doubling would put them into game if they make the contract. For instance, if the opposition bids 2 Hearts and you double them, if they make the contract, they get 120 points instead of 60, and have made a game.
• If a member of the opposition is confident of making the contract on which he or she has been doubled, a bid of 'Redouble' should be made. In practice, this is quite a rare event.

Example 1

Here you have an ace, 3 jacks, a doubleton, and a singleton, giving you 10 points.

If the opposition bid 1 Spade, you have a singleton spade and an appropriate number of points for doubling the opposition, so bid 'Double'.

Example 2

Here you have an ace, a king, 3 jacks, a doubleton, and a singleton, giving you 13 points.

If you had opened one heart, your partner had responded with 2 Clubs, and subsequently the opposition had ended up in a contract of 5 Diamonds, a 'Double' would seem well justified, as the chance of you making at least 3 tricks, with perhaps 20 Honours points between you, and a 5-card diamond suit, would seem very good. In this case relatively few points can be lost by doubling, but the points to be gained if the opposition goes well down are substantial, particularly if the opposition is 'vulnerable' (see 'Scoring').

Note

A 'Double' to an opposition bid of 3 Diamonds on the same hand would seem risky, as the opposition could hold a 7-card diamond suit, and be doubled into game.

The first lead made by the defense is often crucial to whether the bid contract is made or not. There are various possible opening leads, depending on the bidding that has gone before, and the cards held :

• Partner's suit. If your partner has made a bid, the best opening lead may be a low card in your partner's suit.
• Singleton. If you hold a singleton, and the opposition contract is in another suit, the lead of that singleton card is always a good lead. This gives you a good chance of being able to 'trump in' at some stage.
• Doubleton. If you hold a doubleton, and the opposition contract is in a different suit, the lead of the higher of the 2 cards is often a good lead (known as 'petering'). When subsequently you play the lower of the 2 cards, if trumps have not yet been used up, your partner then knows that a subsequent lead from him or her in that suit may result in a 'trump in' from you, and you gain an extra trick.
• King from AK or KQ. If you hold an ace and a king or a king and a queen in a particular suit, the lead of the king is often a good lead. Whatever the result of the lead, you will normally still have a potential winner left in your hand.
• 4th highest of your longest suit. This lead is standard for a no trumps contract, and is only appropriate to this. It improves your chances of ultimately gaining tricks from the low cards in your longest suit.

Note

The same principles on leads apply to all leads, not just the opening lead, though the latter is particularly important.

Example

On this hand an opening lead from any suit is possible, depending on what has happened before :

• 7 of clubs. This is the best lead if the opposition contract is in another suit. This gives you a good chance of 'trumping in' later.
• 10 of diamonds. This is a good lead if your partner has bid diamonds, particularly if the contract is in clubs. Note that the middle of the 3 cards should be led first, so that when you next play the higher card, your partner knows you were not 'petering'.
• King of hearts. King where you also hold the queen is a good lead if there has been no bid from your partner, and the contract is in clubs.
• 5 of Spades. The 4th highest of your longest suit is the standard opening lead for a no trumps contract.

The scoring system is fully described on the web site http://www.pagat.com/boston/bridge.html.

In general, the scoring system favours the more adventurous players. Effectively, you lose points heavily by failing to bid a game, rubber or slam that is made. Having said that, there are heavy penalties for reckless bidding - 3 or 4 down when doubled and vulnerable is pretty serious ! These points are illustrated in the sample score sheet below.

The score sheet is for an imaginary rubber. The bracketted numbers would not normally appear, and reference the hands in sequence.

The hands in this imaginary rubber went as follows :

1. 'WE' bid 1 Club for 20 points 'below the line', and made 2 Clubs for an overtrick, representing 20 points 'above the line'.
2. 'WE' bid 2 Spades, but only made 1 Spade. One undertrick when not vulnerable gave 'THEY' 50 points 'above the line'.
3. 'THEY' bid and made 3 No Trumps for 100 points below the line, giving game (a line is drawn below the points accumulated by both sets of players for the completed game). 'THEY' now became 'vulnerable'.
4. 'WE' bid and made a small slam in hearts, giving 180 points below the line, and game. There are also another 500 points for the small slam when not vulnerable, and another 100 points for 4 Honours (4 of ace,king,queen,jack,10 in the contract suit). 'WE' now became vulnerable.
5. 'WE' bid 4 Hearts but only made 1 Heart, and were also doubled. The penalty points for going 3 down when doubled and vulnerable are 800 ! These points go to 'THEY' above the line.
6. 'WE' bid and made 1 Spade and were doubled. 'WE' got double the points for the spade contract, giving 60 points below the line, and an extra 50 points above the line for making a contract when doubled.
7. 'WE' bid 1 No Trump and made 2 No Trumps, giving 40 points below the line, and 30 points above the line. 'WE' now had 2 games for rubber, giving a further 500 points for a rubber won by 2 games to 1.

The accumulated points for the rubber is shown at the bottom of the sheet, 1500 points for 'WE' and 950 points for 'THEY'.

'Honours' are not shown on the BOOP summary page. This is because in the BOOP system we do not usually bother with Honours points. This can be regarded as an optional extra for BOOP players. Remember though to count them when playing with non-BOOP bridge players.