The complete Bridge bidding cheat sheet — point counts, opening bids, responses, and essential conventions.

Bridge bidding can feel overwhelming — there are conventions, point ranges, and coded responses to remember. This cheat sheet covers the Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC) system, the most common bidding framework for casual and intermediate players.

Step 1: Count Your Points

High Card Points (HCP)

Card Points
Ace 4
King 3
Queen 2
Jack 1

Total HCP in a deck: 40 (average hand = 10 HCP)

Distribution Points (for suit contracts)

Feature Extra Points
Void (0 cards in a suit) +3
Singleton (1 card) +2
Doubleton (2 cards) +1

Add distribution points to HCP after finding a trump fit with partner.

Step 2: Opening Bids

HCP Hand Shape Opening Bid
0-11 Any Pass (not enough to open)
12-14 Unbalanced, 5+ card suit 1 of longest suit (1♥, 1♠, 1♦, 1♣)
12-14 Balanced, no 5-card major 1♣ or 1♦ (prepared minor)
15-17 Balanced 1NT
18-19 Balanced 1 of suit, then jump to NT
20-21 Balanced 2NT
22+ Any 2♣ (strong, artificial, forcing)

Suit Opening Priority

With two 5-card suits: bid the higher-ranking suit first. With one 5-card suit: bid that suit. With no 5-card suit: bid the longer minor (1♦ with 4+, 1♣ with 3+).

Open 1 of a major (1♥ / 1♠): Need 5+ cards in that suit. Open 1 of a minor (1♣ / 1♦): May have only 3 cards (prepared minor).

Step 3: Responding to Partner’s Opening

Responding to 1 of a Suit

Your HCP Your Response
0-5 Pass
6-9 Single raise (with support) or 1NT
10-12 New suit at 1 level (forcing) or 2NT
13-15 Jump raise or new suit at 2 level (forcing)
16+ Jump shift (forcing to game)

Supporting partner’s major: With 3+ cards in their suit:

  • 6-9 HCP → raise to 2 (e.g., 1♥ → 2♥)
  • 10-12 HCP → raise to 3 (limit raise)
  • 13+ HCP → raise to 4 (game)

Responding to 1NT (15-17 HCP)

Your HCP Action
0-7 Pass or transfer (to play in a suit)
8-9 2NT (invitational)
10-15 3NT (game)
16-17 4NT (quantitative slam invite)
18+ Explore slam

Essential Conventions

Stayman (over 1NT)

Bid 2♣ to ask partner if they have a 4-card major.

Partner’s Response Meaning
2♦ No 4-card major
2♥ I have 4+ hearts
2♠ I have 4+ spades

Use Stayman when: You have 8+ HCP and a 4-card major. You’re looking for a 4-4 major suit fit.

Jacoby Transfers (over 1NT)

You Bid Partner Bids Meaning
2♦ 2♥ You have 5+ hearts
2♥ 2♠ You have 5+ spades

Use transfers when: You have a 5+ card major and want to play in that suit with the NT opener as declarer (to protect their strong hand).

Blackwood (4NT)

Bid 4NT to ask partner how many Aces they hold (when exploring slam).

Partner’s Response Aces Held
5♣ 0 or 4
5♦ 1
5♥ 2
5♠ 3

After learning Aces, bid 5NT to ask about Kings (same structure).

Quick Game and Slam Targets

Contract Tricks Needed Combined HCP (approx.)
1NT 7 20-22
2NT 8 23-24
3NT (game) 9 25-26
4♥ / 4♠ (game) 10 25-26
5♣ / 5♦ (game) 11 28-29
6 of any (small slam) 12 33-34
7 of any (grand slam) 13 37+

Common Bidding Sequences

Sequence Meaning
1♥ → 2♥ “I have 3+ hearts and 6-9 points”
1♥ → 1♠ “I have 4+ spades and 6+ points” (forcing)
1♥ → 1NT “6-9 points, no heart support, no suit to bid at 1 level”
1♥ → 2♣ “10+ points, 4+ clubs” (forcing for one round)
1NT → 2♣ Stayman (asking for 4-card major)
1NT → 2♦ Jacoby Transfer (showing 5+ hearts)
1NT → 3NT “I have 10-15 points, let’s play game”

Defensive Bidding (Overcalls)

Action Requirements
Simple overcall (1♥ over 1♦) 8-16 HCP, good 5+ card suit
1NT overcall 15-18 HCP, balanced, stopper in opponent’s suit
Takeout double 12+ HCP, support for unbid suits
Jump overcall 6+ card suit, weak hand (preemptive)

Bookmark this page and practice bidding at Rare Pike Bridge →.