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Here we can practise basic Acol opening bids.
You must open all hands with 12 or more high card points (hcp). You can also open at the one-level with 10 or 11 points if the hand satisfies the rule of 20.
If you are balanced, bid as follows:
| Points | Bidding Plan |
| 0-11 | Pass. Hopefully partner will show a suit you can support. |
| 12-14 | Open 1NT |
| 15-17 | Open a suit, planning to rebid in NT |
| 18-19 | Open a suit, planning to jump rebid in NT |
| 20-22 | Open 2NT |
| 23+ | Open 2♣, planning to rebid in NT |
If you are opening a suit, and have less than 20 hcp, open your longest suit. Don't worry too much about the strength of the suit, it is the shape that counts. When you have equal longest suits:
With two four card suits, bid the lowest first (leaving room for partner to bid your higher suit at the 1-level).
With two five card suits, bid the highest first.
With three four card suits (4-4-4-1), if there are three suits in a row (a black singleton), open the middle suit, otherwise (a red singleton) open the suit below the gap:
4441 4414 4144 1444.
With at least 20 hcp and a 5-card suit or better, open 2♣, planning to rebid the suit.
With a balanced 20-22 hcp, open 2NT
With a balanced 23-24 hcp, open 2♣, planning to rebid 2NT.
With a balanced 25+ hcp, open 2♣, planning to rebid 3NT.
More information: NZ Bridge Lesson: Strong Openings
With less than an opening hand, you might still be able to open the bidding if you have a long suit. The objective is to take bidding space away from the opponents.
With a good 6-card suit in !D, !h, or ♠, and 6-10 hcp, open your suit at the 2-level: 2!D, 2!H, or 2♠
With a good 7-card suit in ♣ !d, !h, or ♠, and 6-10 hcp, open your suit at the 3-level: 3!C, 3!D, 3!H, or 3!S
How good should it be? This is a matter for partnership agreement. In the exercises below we assume your pre-empts are sound - reasonable high-card strength in your long suit.
What are good features for your pre-empt? Holding intermediate cards in your suit (10, 9, 8, 7); having a singleton or void; being not vulnerable vs. vulnerable opponents; being in first or third position.
What are bad features in a pre-empt? High cards in side suits; a side 4-card major suit (even a 3-card major may mean you lose a major fit); being vulnerable; being in second position.
Does vulnerability matter? Yes. A common guideline is The Rule of 2 and 3: calculate how many tricks you think you can take in your own hand, and, if vulnerable, add 2, and if not vulnerable, add 3, to calculate the level to bid to.
More information: NZ Bridge Lesson: Pre-emptive Openings
You can practise opening bids on the hand below...