Andrew:

Rules of 20

More rules in BridgeCast this week from Level 3. BridgeCast is Andrew's monthly subscription service, join him as he presents a daily deal. To find out more click here. It is also Rule thirteen, in Andrew's "Rules, Acronyms and Ditties" book which is, providing the inspiration, for his current series of Level 3 daily videos on BridgeCast.

The Rule of 20: Open the bidding when your total points added to the number of cards in your two longest suits equal twenty or more.

The Rule of 20 is a great guideline for opening the bidding with slightly fewer than 12 points. Once the bidding has been opened, though, the Rule of 20 is defunct until the next deal.

Open the bidding (One-of-the-longest suit) with these four hands:

Hand i)

Hand ii)

Hand iii)

Hand iv)

♠ Q J 9 6 2

♥ A K 8 7

♦ J 4 2

♣ 2

♠ J 9

♥ A Q 10 2

♦ 4

♣ Q J 8 6 3 2

♠ 2

♥ A Q 4

♦ K Q 9 4 3 2

♣ 10 9 7

♠ J 10 8 7 3

♥ 8 6

♦ A K J 4 3 2

♣ --

11+5+4

10+6+4

11+6+3

9+6+5

It must be said though that the above hands really look the part: almost all their high-cards in their long suits with nice
sequential honour-combinations.

The Rule of 20 fails to take into consideration such important factors as whether the honours are in the long suits or whether opening the bidding will lead to an easy rebid. I would not open the following three hands, although they do satisfy the Rule of 20.

Hand i)

Hand ii)

Hand iii)

♠ Q 2

♥ J 9 7 2

♦ Q 9 4 3 2

♣ A Q

♠ K

♥ A 9 6 2

♦ J 9 7

♣ K 8 5 3 2

♠ Q J 8 2

♥ 9 8 4 3 2

♦ K

♣ A J 4

Don’t get me wrong though – bridge is a bidder’s game. Strain to opening the bidding; strain to overcall; strain to respond. Talk yourself into passivity at your peril. For every hand with fewer than 12 points which satisfies the Rule of 20 that you pass, you should open four or five.

South Deals
None Vul

♠	A 6 4
♥	A J 7 5 3 2
♦	6
♣	K J 2

♠	J 9 2
♥	K 9
♦	J 8
♣	10 9 8 7 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10
♥	Q 10 4
♦	Q 9 7 5
♣	A Q 6 4

♠	Q 8 7 5 3
♥	8 6
♦	A K 10 4 3 2
♣	—

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦1
Pass	1 ♥	Pass	1 ♠2
Pass	2 ♣3	Pass	2 ♠4
Pass	4 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Rule of 20 opener: just nine points but 11 cards in the two longest suits (and, perhaps unsurprisingly all nine points in those long suits).
Five(+) ♦ - four(+) ♠ shape.
Too strong to repeat hearts (non-forcing), South uses Fourth Suit Forcing, “We’re going to game, more information please”.
Showing the fifth spade and therefore a sixth diamond (South would open 1 ♠ with five ♠-five ♦).

4 ♠ by South

Lead: ♣ 10

West led ♣ 10 v 4 ♠, covered by ♣ J and ♣ Q, declarer throwing ♥ 6 to avoid shortening his trumps. Unable to continue clubs without promoting ♣ K, East switched to ♥ 4 – to ♥ K and ♥ A. Declarer crossed to ♦ AK and ruffed ♦ 2, West discarding ♥ 9. He ruffed ♣ 2 then ruffed ♦ 3 with ♠ A (key play) so that he could lead ♠ 6 towards ♠ Q. East rose with ♠ K and led ♥ Q, West overruffing ♠ 7 with ♠ 9, but declarer could ruff a third club, cash ♠ Q felling the last two trumps (phew!), then table ♦ 10 4. 10 tricks and game made.

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Rules of 20