2. Beginner Non-Competitive Bidding Roadmap
There are seven lessons in the Beginner Non-Competitive Bidding course. Each lesson has two parts. One part on bidding and one part on a declare play technique. Being able to play the hand correctly is more important than bidding the hand correctly. The diagram below lists the lessons in the non-competitive bidding course.
Each lesson video is 45-60 minutes. Print and review the lesson handout before the lesson; take notes. If you enjoy a lesson, click on:
2.01 Basic Building Blocks: Everyone must start at the beginning! Lesson topics include the deck (number of cards, suits, and their rank), the bidding tree, introduction to scoring, high card points, length points, and other introductory concepts about the game.
2.02 Opens: Discussed are the requirements to open the bidding 1 NT, one of a major with a 5+ card suit, one of a minor suit with a 3+ card suit, and showing a strong hand by opening two of a suit or 2NT. Also presented are the rules used to decide which suit you open when you have different shaped hands (e.g., two 5-card suits, no 5-card major).
2.03 Responses to 1NT Open: Partner has opened 1NT showing 15-17 high card points, 2+ cards in each suit, and no 5+ card major. What you bid depends on the number of points you have and the shape of your hand (how many cards you have in a suit). The lesson presents a bidding sequence chart between the Opener and the Responder to show when and how to sign off with 0-7 points, invite game with 7-8 points, and bid game with 10+ points in a suit or NT. Also introduced is the partnership finding a Golden Fit of 8+ total cards in a suit.
2.04 Responses to Major Suit Open: The first priority in the bidding system is finding a Golden Fit in a major suit (Heart [♥] or Spades [ ♠]). The second priority is to determine if NT is a viable contract (do we have blockers in all four suits?) The last option is playing the contract in a minor suit (♦/♣). In this lesson, we describe how the Responder revalues his hand using distribution points after finding a major suit Golden Fit of 3+ cards after Opener opens the bidding in a 5+ card major. The lesson presents a diagram of the different bidding sequences between the Opener and the Responder to show what to bid based on the number of distribution points in the Responder's hand (0-5, 6-9, 10-11, or 12+) and then the bidding sequence between Opener and Responder to sign ff, invite game, or bid game.
2.05 Responses to Minor Suit Open: As strange as this may sound, the primary goal after your partner opens one of a minor (♦/♣) is still to find a 4-4 Goden fit in ♥/♠'s if the Responder bids 1 in Heart or Spade. The lesson presents a diagram of what the Opener's 2nd bid should be based on the number of distribution points (less than or equal to 15, 16 to 18, or 19+) and then how to determine whether to signoff, invite game, or bid game.
2.06 More Major Suit Fit Chances: In this lesson, we show how the Opener can show a 6+ card on his 2nd bid and how the Responder uses this information. Since Responder's 1st bid of 1♥/♠ only promised 4+ cards, we show how the Responder can now show a 5+ or 6+ card major suit with his 2nd bid in various bidding sequences.
2.07 Play in NT or Minor Suit: Once we determine there is no possibility for a 4-4, 5-3, or 6-2 Golden Fit in a major suit, we next look to see if we can play in NT. Why? To make a game in NT requires winning 9 tricks (3NT); to make a game in a minor requires winning 11 tricks (5♦/♣). We discuss how to show blockers to determine if we can play in NT or must investigate bidding game in a minor suit as a last resort.