Lesson 11 of 19
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007 – Total Points (TP)

007

Total Points (TP)

Most bidding systems use a point-count system for hand evaluation using a combination of high card points plus distributional points. These points are the indicators of how high your partnership can afford to bid without incurring a penalty
Bridge Hand Evaluation – Beginner Bridge Lessons Having calculated your HCP (High Card Points) and your DP (Distribution Points) obtain your Total Points (TP) by adding HCP to your DP. Your TP is the total which helps decide whether you should make an Opening Bid or Pass (P). If you are analysing your hand for a No Trump contract do not use total points; use only high card points.



When to use Short suit DP’s and when to use Long suit DP’s

    1. Before partner has bid, valuing your own hand
  • High Card Points (HCP) = Yes
  • Long suit distribution points (LSDP) = Yes
  • SSDP = No
  • Your total points (TP) = Long suit distribution points (LSDP) + High Card Points (HCP)

    2. After finding a ‘Fit’ with partner in a Suit Contract
  • High Card Points (HCP) = Yes
  • Long suit distribution points (LSDP) = No
  • SSDP = Yes
  • Your total points (TP) = SSDP + High Card Points (HCP)

    3. No Trump Contracts
  • High Card Points (HCP) = Yes
  • Long suit distribution points (LSDP) = No
  • SSDP = No
  • Your total points (TP) = High Card Points (HCP) only


Total Points (TP) – Practice Game

TP counting for experienced players is effortless but for beginners it can really slow down the bidding. Use our Total Points lesson and Practice Games to make your TP counting effortless.







Instant Progress Quiz – Check the correct answer



  Yes

  No



Your Hand

  • A K 9 8 7
  • A K 10 8 6
  • 4 2
  • 4

Exercise: What is the Total Point (TP) count for the hand?
Answer: You have 2 five card suits , so 2 DP + 14 HCP your hand is worth 16 TP if it is played in a suit. The DP’s do not count in a No Trumps contract so if you were counting for NoTrumps this hand is only worth 14 TP

Responses

    1. Great question Steve – South had seven Heart suit cards but with 16 total points was too strong to open 3H. Opening at the 1 level is suitable for Total points 12-19. If South opened 3H they may have miss out on a Game or Slam because partner assumed they were weak and long. Norths 3C bid – When you are responder to an opening bid the points change. North made a jump shift (force bid) showing points and forcing partner to bid for another round.

    1. It depends on the bidding system you use. for Acol the jump bid means 5+ but preferably 6 hearts and a strong hand (16+ points)
      If you are playing Standard American you may assume that partner has 6+ hearts and a strong hand (16+ points)

    1. If you’re talking about notrump, don’t ever lie about your points (I’ve been known to fib a lot. Opener promises 15-17 points. 2 notrump is 20-21, and a strong 2 club bid promises 22-24 pts.

      1. Hahaha – indeed what you say is very true! A lot of new partnerships get into strife when their partners don’t play the system they have agreed on.

        Some partnerships play that opening 2NT means you hold 20-22 HCP
        and
        Opening 2C means 23+ points

    2. No, your hand contains 16 points in the example above.
      Two Aces total points = 8 points (High Card)
      Two kings total points = 6 points (High Card)
      One extra point for the 5th card in spades (long suit distribution points)
      and
      One extra point for the 5th card in hearts (long suit distribution points)
      Total = 16 points

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.