Traditional Hand Evaluation
First, count your High Card Points.
| For each... | count |
|---|---|
| Ace | 4 |
| King | 3 |
| Queen | 2 |
| Jack | 1 |
If your hand is balanced (see Openings) and partner has not opened (or not had the chance to), then that's all you need consider initially. Otherwise, read on ...
Length points
Add, to the HCP, one point for every card after the fourth in each suit. For example, a seven-card suit would attract three length points.
Shortness (support) points
Do not combine with length points
Instead of counting for length, some advocate counting for shortness. Sources vary as to exactly the circumstances and value of doing so.
Add shortness points according to one of the scales in the following table:
| Length | Scale 1 | Scale 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Void | 3 | 5 |
| Singleton | 2 | 3 |
| Doubleton | 1 | 1 |
- Obviously, you can't count shortness points in partner's suit.
- At least one source (Hoyle's Rules of Games as remembered by WRY) calls for adding points as per Scale 1 when deciding whether to open, and Scale 2 in response if a fit is known.
- At least one source (Klinger, as referenced by Wikipedia) says not to add any shortness points until a fit is known to exist.
Requirements for game and slam
- 24-25 for 3NT, 33+ for 6NT, 37+ for 7NT.
- In suit contracts: 24-25 for 3, 26-27 for 4, 28-30 for 5.
The ranges are less clear in suit contracts, precisely because they are suit contracts.
In a suit, if you've got more than a solid game, think about slam bidding.