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.