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Detail specifications 65AZ - Level 1 ★

Points count

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Points count
To evaluate the strength of a hand points are attributed to High cards (HCPs) :
Honors : ace king queen jack
Points : 4 3 2 1
If a fit is found with your partner, meaning that the camp has at least 8 cards in the chosen trump suit, you should also use the notion of support or shape points to better evaluate your hand's strength.
SWNE
1
A
K
10
Q
8
7
2
K
9
8
3
9
8
Problème E99500
12 HCP in total : 7HCP in ♠, 2 in ♥,3 in ♣ total.
 
SWNE
1
A
10
9
6
10
9
A
K
J
10
9
8
7
problème E99501
12H again 4 HCP in ♠ and 8 in ♣...but this hand has a lot more values than the previous one!
 
 
support (or Shape) points
If a fit has been found, you should add extra values linked to your hand's shape:
  • For the 9th trumpcard in your camp : 2 points. beyond that: 1 point per trump card
  • A chicane : 3 points
  • Avsingleton : 2 points
SWNE
1
Pass
3
Pass
A
K
9
4
Q
10
9
3
5
4
2
6
4
problème E2243
Certain of a 9 card fit, add 2 points for the extra length in trump. A "small doubleton" is also worth a point. The addition :9HCP+2S+1S= 12 HS
 
 
Wasted values
With the same number of HCPs, two hands can have very different strength
  • A 4432 ou 4333 shape: makes it very difficult to establish a suit or trump a loser . It will therefore require more HCP to make the contract.
  • Dispersed Honors in all suits are much less effective that concentrated ones in 2 suits
SWNE
1
Pass
2
J
4
3
K
4
3
2
J
6
3
K
J
5
Problem E2212 Do not even count 10HCP here. Know how to depreciate isolated middle honors and to devalue 'over regular' shapes. That is how you'll get an execllent judgment of hand's strength.
 
 
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