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200: Acol Bidding System

The Acol bidding system is mainly used by bridge players in the UK, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Though less widespread internationally than systems like Standard American or Precision, Acol remains popular, especially among social and club players. It’s considered beginner-friendly and is a "natural" system, meaning bids generally reflect the strength and length of your cards.

  • Opening Bids: Typically, you need at least four cards in the suit you're bidding, or you may bid a weak no trump with a balanced hand.

  • Responses and Re-bids: You respond based on your own hand, again usually needing four or more cards in the suit you bid, showing strength and good suits.

  • Weak No Trump Opening Bids: Used when you have a balanced hand without a strong suit.

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Course Content

Opening the Bidding at the 1 Level

Responding to partners opening bid
Opening the bidding at the 2 level
Responding to partner's 2 level opening bids
Openers rebid - openers second bid
Responders Rebid - Responders Second Bid
Pre-emptive opening bids
Responding to pre-emptive opening bids
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  • 25 Lessons

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The Acol Bidding System

*If you live in the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand Acol is the most widespread system Acol has the following characteristics:
  • It is a natural system: most opening bids, responses and rebids are made with at least 4 cards in the suit bid, and most no trump bids are made with balanced hands.
  • It is a four-card major system: only four-card suits are required to open 1♠ or 1♥, unlike Standard American and many other systems where five-card suits are typically required.
  • It makes extensive use of limit bids: limit bids describe the hand so closely, in terms of high card points (HCP) and shape, that the one who makes the limit bid is expected to pass on the next round, unless partner makes a forcing bid.
  • Understanding and correct use of limit bids and forcing bids is fundamental to applying the system: all no trump bids below the level of 4NT are limit bids, as are all suit bids that merely repeat a suit already bid by the partnership; changes of suit may be forcing or not depending on the approach bids.
  • The level of the 1NT opening bid influences other bids: the normal choice is between a “weak no trump” (12–14 HCP) and a “strong no trump” (15–17 HCP).
  • All 1 of a suit opening bids then promise at least 4 cards in the bid suit
  • Notrump follow-up conventions include Stayman, Jacoby transfers Blackwood and Gerber Convention.
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