Bidding Tip #4

It is dangerous to count extra points for short suits or long suits before the bidding starts !

1. If partner bids your short suit, that reduces, not increases, the value of your hand.
2. If one of your opponents bids your long suit, that decreases, not increases, the value of your hand.

If you let the bidding develop, you will see whether your long or short suits are working for or against you.

You hold: ♠Axxx ♥x ♦Qxxxx ♣xxx

1. What is this hand worth? If partner opens 1♥, it is a 6-point hand.
2. If partner opens 1♠, it is a 9-point hand (3 points for the singleton)
3. If LHO opens 1♦ and partner overcalls 1♥, the Q♦ has probably lost it's value not to mention the fifth diamond. You are now looking at a 4-point hand!

Be patient with distributional evaluations until you hear the bidding