Hand Evaluation

This is the way the Retropoet values hands. It is somewhat conservative, but it avoids overevaluation when both partners have similar hands.

Opening Bids

  1. Take total high card points (HCP) regardless of singletons, etc.
  2. Add the length of the two longest suits.
  3. If the total is 19, do not open with a one-bid unless the hand contains a four-card spade suit. Add one point for opening purposes only. See the next step.
  4. If the total is 20 or more, open with 2 defensive tricks (or more), except with a hand suitable for a preemtive bid. This method is slightly more liberal than Picture Bidding, which would require 21/2 defensive tricks to open.
    • An ace is 1 defensive trick (DT)
    • An ace-king together is 2 DT.
    • A king-queen combination is 1 DT.
    • An ace-queen combination is 1 1/2 DT.
    • A singleton K is worth zero DT.
    • A king and at least one small card is worth 1/2 DT.
    • An Ace-jack-ten combination is worth 1 1/2 DT.
    • A queen-jack-small combination is worth 1/2 DT.
    • This liberal use of defensive trick valuation helps offset the Retropoet's conservative leanings. If you want to be even more conservative, you can eliminate the last two categories of this list. Then you are bidding based on quick tricks (QT)

Hand Evaluation - Normal

Start with total high card points (HCP). Then make the following adjustments:

Hand Evaluation - Support Points

When you are thinking of supporting partner's suit, you can add support points. Don't use support points if you are considering bidding notrump.

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    Hand Evaluation / Retropoet / Geocities / retropoet@oocities.com / revised June 1998