2.3 Super-Strong Opening Bids

A.      What is super-strong hands

-          21 HCP & up

-          Worth more than nine playing tricks

B.      How to count playing tricks

1.      In your long suits

-          Count the A and K as winners

-          Count the Q as a winner if the suit contains another honor

-          Count every card after the third card as a winner

2.      in your short suits

-          count A = 1

-          count K with another honor = 1

-          count K with one or more cards but no other honor = 1/2

-          count Q or J with a higher honor = 1/2

C.      with balanced hand

-          21 – 22 points : open 2NT

-          23 – 24 points : open 2C, rebid 2NT

-          25 – 28 points : open 2C, rebid 3NT

D.     With unbalanced hand

-          Open 2C ( the 2C opening is artificial and forcing )

The following hands to open 2C

EX1:

        S: A 6

        H: A K J 10 6 2

        D: A Q

        C: K 8 3

EX2:

        S: A

        H: A K Q

        D: A K J 10 6 5 2

        C: 5 3

EX3:

        S: -

        H: A K Q 8 6 5 4

        D: A Q J 8 7 3

        C: -

The following hand is open 1S, not strong enough for 2C opening ( 21 points, 20 HCP & only 7 playing tricks )

EX4:

        S: Q 7 5 4 3

        H: A K 6 5

        D: A K

        C: A 2