This bridge bidding cheat sheet puts the standard numbers on one page: how many points you need to open, how to respond, what opener's rebid shows, and how to compete. It follows the 2/1 Game Force bidding system, the modern form of Standard American and the default system of the BridgeDummy Bidding Room, with the main SAYC differences noted; most of it also works for Acol except the 1NT range and four-card majors.
Keep it next to you for your first sessions, use the flowchart to choose your opening bid, then test yourself with the quiz at the end.
Points and Openings
Count high card points: A = 4, K = 3, Q = 2, J = 1. The deck has 40.
| Combined points | Usually enough for |
|---|---|
| 25-26 | Game in 3NT or a major |
| 28-29 | Game in a minor |
| 33 | Small slam |
| 37 | Grand slam |
| Opening | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 1♣ / 1♦ | 12-21; 1♣ 3+ cards, 1♦ 4+ cards (3 only with 4-4-3-2) |
| 1♥ / 1♠ | 12-21, 5+ cards |
| 1NT | 15-17 balanced (Acol: 12-14) |
| 2♣ | 22+ or game in hand, artificial |
| 2♦ / 2♥ / 2♠ | Weak: 6-card suit, 5-10 or 5-11 HCP |
| 2NT | 20-21 balanced |
| 3 of a suit | Preempt: 7-card suit, weak hand |
Light openings: open with 10-11 HCP when HCP plus the length of your two longest suits is 20 or more (the Rule of 20). In fourth seat, add HCP and spades and open with 15.
Which suit: longest first; with two five-card suits, the higher; with no five-card major, the longer minor (1♣ with 3-3, 1♦ with 4-4).
Bridge Bidding Flowchart
Use this flowchart when nobody has bid yet and it is your turn. Go down the steps and stop at the first one that fits your hand.
- Count your high card points. With 22 or more, or a hand that can make game on its own, open 2♣.
- Check your strength. With 12-21 HCP, go to step 3. With 10-11 HCP, go to step 3 only if the Rule of 20 says open. With less, go to step 6.
- Is your hand balanced? With 15-17 HCP open 1NT, and with 20-21 HCP open 2NT. With any other balanced count, go on to step 4 and plan a notrump rebid.
- Do you have a five-card major? Open 1♥ or 1♠. With five cards in both majors, open 1♠.
- No five-card major? Open your longer minor. With 3-3 in the minors open 1♣, and with 4-4 open 1♦.
- A weak hand with a long suit? With a good six-card suit and about 5-10 HCP, open a weak two: 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠. With a seven-card suit and a weak hand, open three of the suit. Otherwise pass.
In fourth seat, add your HCP and the number of spades you hold, and open only with 15 or more.
Responses
To one of a major (1♥ / 1♠), as an unpassed hand (see what 1NT means in every system):
| Response | Points | Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | 0-5 | |
| Single raise | 6-10 | 3+ trumps |
| 1NT | 6-12, forcing one round (some pairs: semi-forcing; SAYC: 6-10, not forcing) | Over 1♥, no four-card spade suit; may hold 3-card support |
| New suit, one level | 6+ | 4+ cards, forcing |
| New suit, two level | 12+, game forcing (SAYC: 10+, forcing one round) | 4+ cards (2♥ over 1♠: 5+, and some pairs do not play it as game forcing) |
| Limit raise (3 of major) | 10-12 | 4 trumps (with 3, bid 1NT forcing, then jump to 3 of opener's major; SAYC: 3-4) |
| Jacoby 2NT | 13+ | 4+ trumps, game forcing |
| Game raise (4 of major) | Under 10 | 5 trumps and shape, preemptive |
To one of a minor: show a four-card major first (cheapest first with 4-4), otherwise raise with support or bid notrump: 1NT = 6-10, 2NT = 11-12 invitational, 3NT = 13-15 in many 2/1 partnerships (SAYC: 2NT = 13-15, 3NT = 16-17). A new suit at the two level without a jump (1♦ - 2♣) is forcing.
To 1NT (15-17):
| Response | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pass | 0-7, balanced |
| 2♣ | Stayman, asks for a four-card major |
| 2♦ / 2♥ | Transfer to hearts / spades, 5+ cards |
| 2NT | 8-9, invitational |
| 3NT | 10-15, to play |
| 4NT | 16-17, invites 6NT |
Opener's Rebids and Notrump Ranges
| Opener's strength | Rebids that show it |
|---|---|
| 12-14 balanced | 1NT rebid |
| 12-15 unbalanced | Rebid own suit, raise partner once, new lower suit |
| 15-17 balanced | Open 1NT |
| 16-18 | Jump rebid of own suit, jump raise, reverse |
| 18-19 balanced | Open one of a suit, jump to 2NT |
| 19-21 | Jump shift (game forcing), raise to game |
| 20-21 balanced | Open 2NT |
| 22-24 balanced | Open 2♣, rebid 2NT |
Any new suit by responder is forcing for one round, and in 2/1 a new suit at the two level over 1♥ or 1♠ is forcing to game (see what 2♣ means in every system). A new suit by opener at the one level is not forcing, but responder passes only when very weak.
Rule of ThumbBalanced notrump ladder: 12-14 open and rebid 1NT, 15-17 open 1NT, 18-19 open and jump to 2NT, 20-21 open 2NT, 22-24 open 2♣ and rebid 2NT.
Overcalls and Doubles
| Action | Shows |
|---|---|
| One-level overcall | 8-16, good 5-card suit |
| Two-level overcall | 11-16, good 5+ card suit |
| 1NT overcall | 15-18 balanced, stopper in their suit |
| Weak jump overcall | 6-card suit, weak hand, like a weak two |
| Takeout double | Opening values, short in their suit, support for the others (or 17+ any shape) |
| Michaels cue bid | 5-5 two-suiter (both majors over a minor) |
| Unusual 2NT | 5-5 in the two lowest unbid suits |
| Negative double | Responder's double of an overcall: the unbid major(s), 6+ |
After partner's takeout double, bid your longest suit even with nothing. Jump with about 9-11, cue-bid their suit with 12+.
Common Conventions in One Line
- Stayman: 1NT - 2♣ asks for a four-card major. See Stayman.
- Jacoby transfers: 1NT - 2♦ / 2♥ show five or more of the next suit up.
- Blackwood: 4NT asks for aces; Roman Key Card counts the trump king as a fifth ace.
- Gerber: 4♣ over notrump asks for aces.
- Strong 2♣: 2♦ is a waiting response; see strong 2 clubs.
- Weak twos: 2NT asks for a feature or uses Ogust steps.
- Negative double: shows the unbid major after an overcall.
- Jacoby 2NT: game-forcing raise of a major with four trumps.
- Michaels and the unusual 2NT: two-suited overcalls.
For the full list grouped by job, see bridge conventions.
TipA cheat sheet sticks once you use it. In the BridgeDummy Bidding Room you bid random deals with EPBot robots in 2/1, SAYC, Acol, Precision or Polish Club, and the free What Should I Bid? tool takes any hand and auction and shows the engine's call and what it means.
Practice: Bidding Basics
Your right-hand opponent opens 1♦. Your call?
Your RHO opens 1♦. Nobody vulnerable. What do you bid?
Your hand:
For practice with a score, try the bidding puzzles: you are South and pick one call, and every option is tested double dummy on many deals that fit the auction.