004

High Card Points (HCP)

Counting up the High Card Points in your hand is the first step towards knowing whether your hand is strong enough to bid.
Bridge <span class="glossary-tooltip glossary-term-27037" tabindex="0"><span class="glossary-link"><a href="https://members.60secondbridge.com/glossary/hcp/" class="glossary-only-link">High Card Points</a></span><span class="hidden glossary-tooltip-content clearfix"><span class="glossary-tooltip-text">High Card Points (HCP) Honour cards (the Ace (A) the King (K) the Queen (Q) the Jack (J) and the Ten (10) in each suit, each of these cards is has a different points value called HCP = High Card Points. There are a total of 40 points in the entire pack of card...</span></span></span> (HCP)
To play Bridge you must evaluate the value and strength of your hand. In valuing your own hand there are three factors to consider; high card points (HCP), distributional points (DP) and total points(TP). In this lesson we will calculate the HCP.
 

High Card Points

Look at the honor cards (the Ace (A) the King (K) the Queen (Q) the Jack (J) and the Ten (10) in each suit, each of these cards is has a different points value called HCP = High Card Points. There are a total of 40 points in the entire pack of cards (10 per suit), therefore an average hand will contain 10 points.

Card Values

Ace (A) = 4 HCP
King (K) = 3 HCP
Queen (Q) = 2 HCP
Jack (J) = 1 HCP
Ten (“T” or 10) = 0 HCP

The 10 and 9 card in any suit are known as Intermediate Cards and have value in a game but not High Card Point values. Some players give the 10 and the 9 a half point each if they are in conjunction with the Jack. From the 8 down to 2 the cards are known as Low Cards or sometimes called “rags” and often written as an “X”








Instant Progress Quiz – Check the correct answer



   3 HCP

   11 HCP

   10 HCP

   4 HCP

   9 HCP

Exercise: Add the HCP in the hand below – how many can you count?



Your Hand

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

This is how bridge hands are written and how you will see them in books and newspapers. The hand with the cards showing is exactly the same hand as the one above.

Answer = 14 HCP. Remember the 10 is worth zero HCP’s

Responses

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.