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)

CardPoints
Ace4
King3
Queen2
Jack1

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

Distribution Points (for suit contracts)

FeatureExtra 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

HCPHand ShapeOpening Bid
0-11AnyPass (not enough to open)
12-14Unbalanced, 5+ card suit1 of longest suit (1♥, 1♠, 1♦, 1♣)
12-14Balanced, no 5-card major1♣ or 1♦ (prepared minor)
15-17Balanced1NT
18-19Balanced1 of suit, then jump to NT
20-21Balanced2NT
22+Any2♣ (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 HCPYour Response
0-5Pass
6-9Single raise (with support) or 1NT
10-12New suit at 1 level (forcing) or 2NT
13-15Jump 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 HCPAction
0-7Pass or transfer (to play in a suit)
8-92NT (invitational)
10-153NT (game)
16-174NT (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 ResponseMeaning
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 BidPartner BidsMeaning
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 ResponseAces 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

ContractTricks NeededCombined HCP (approx.)
1NT720-22
2NT823-24
3NT (game)925-26
4♥ / 4♠ (game)1025-26
5♣ / 5♦ (game)1128-29
6 of any (small slam)1233-34
7 of any (grand slam)1337+

Common Bidding Sequences

SequenceMeaning
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)

ActionRequirements
Simple overcall (1♥ over 1♦)8-16 HCP, good 5+ card suit
1NT overcall15-18 HCP, balanced, stopper in opponent’s suit
Takeout double12+ HCP, support for unbid suits
Jump overcall6+ card suit, weak hand (preemptive)

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