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Did you know that we all learn differently? Whether you prefer watching, reading, or doing, we use different media to ensure the game actually sticks.

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The Point Count – Instantly Valuing Your Hand (HCP)

Learning Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to accurately calculate the High Card Points (HCP) of any individual hand to gain an objective understanding of its potential strength.

Key Idea

Explanation

A. The HCP Scale

We count points to value a hand. In a standard deck, there are exactly 40 points available in total. Each point is assigned to one of the four top-ranking cards:

B. Why HCP Matters

Your hand’s HCP total is the first piece of data you must acquire. Knowing this score allows you to:

• Assess Strength: Quickly understand if you have an average hand (around 10 HCP), a poor hand (under 7 HCP), or a strong hand (over 13 HCP).
• Communicate: This score will form the basis of all future partnership communication.

Memory Tip

Common Mistakes

Summary

The High Card Point (HCP) system is the fundamental metric in Bridge. It’s a simple 4-3-2-1 count for the Ace, King, Queen, and Jack, respectively. Calculating your HCP total gives you the essential, objective measure of your individual hand’s strength.

Bidding Introduction

Now, things get deeper. This lesson tackles the most confusing part of Bridge: The Auction. We use Video (Auditory/Visual) here to visually demonstrate the “Introduction to Bidding.”

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Calculate the trick target for any bid using the Level + 6 rule.
• Understand that bidding is a competitive Auction to win the contract.
• Distinguish between Forcing (must reply) and Limited (can pass) bids.
• Recognise the need for agreed conventions and transparency with opponents.

Key Idea

Explanation

The Auction

In a real game, you are not just talking to your partner; you are battling the opponents.

• The Goal: You want to buy the contract because your side has good cards.
• The Risk: If you bid too high, you will fail to make your tricks and pay penalties to the opponents.
• The Opposition: They will try to outbid you or disrupt your communication.

Note: For the first few lessons of this course, we will pretend the opponents are silent so you can master your own signals first.

The Maths: Level + 6 (The “Book” Rule)

In Bridge, the first six tricks are assumed. These are called the “Book.” You only start counting your bid from the seventh trick onwards. Every bid is a specific promise to your partner (and a threat to the opposition).

Example 1: If your partner opens the bidding with 1 Spade ♠️: They are explicitly saying: “I promise that together we can make 7 tricks with Spades as trumps.” (The Calculation: 6 Book + 1 Bid = 7 Tricks).

Example 2: If the final contract is 3 No Trumps: You are promising: “We will make 9 tricks.” (The Calculation: 6 Book + 3 Bid = 9 Tricks).

The Hierarchy (The Ladder)

To win the auction, you must bid higher than the previous person. Bidding must always move upwards.

Clubs ♣️ → Diamonds ♦️ → Hearts ♥️ → Spades ♠️ → No Trumps (NT)

If partner (or an opponent) bids 1 Heart ♥️, you cannot bid 1 Diamond ♦️ (because Diamonds are lower than Hearts). You would have to go up a level to 2 Diamonds ♦️.

The Traffic Lights: Forcing vs. Limited

When communicating with your partner during the auction, we use two types of signals:

• Forcing Bids (Green Light): These are commands. They tell your partner: “I am very strong, or I need more information. You are not allowed to pass.”
• Limited Bids (Red/Amber Light): These are statements of fact. They tell your partner: “I have exactly this amount of strength. I have told you everything.” Your partner is allowed to Pass.

Conventions & Agreements

A “Convention” is simply an agreement between partners that a specific bid has a special meaning.

• Core vs. Advanced: In this course, we concentrate on Core Bids. Even some early bids, such as 1NT, can be artificial because they define a very specific point range rather than just a suit. Advanced players add complex layers, but we will focus on the essential building blocks first.
• Transparency: You must be transparent.
• Online: You fill out a digital Convention Card that opponents can view.
• Face-to-Face: You briefly agree with your partner before playing (e.g., “Do we play Weak or Strong 1NT?”).

Memory Tip

Common Mistakes

Summary

Bidding is an auction where you compete to set a trick target (Level + 6). If you bid 1 Spade, you are explicitly promising to win 7 tricks. This conversation relies on a strict hierarchy and a rhythm of Forcing and Limited signals.

A Final Word: If this all seems complicated—don’t worry. That is the reaction from most students! What you have learned here is just an overview to set the scene. These concepts will be introduced gradually, layer by layer, as we progress through the course.