Five Common Bidding Mistakes
AI-assisted editorial content · Not independently verified expert advice
Bidding mistakes can cost valuable points at club level. Here are five common pitfalls and practical ways to avoid them.
1. Forgetting to count distribution
High-card points are only part of the story. ♠ K Q J 9 6 / ♥ A 8 7 5 4 / ♦ 6 / ♣ 5 2 has 10 HCP and two five-card suits. It meets the Rule of 20 (10 HCP + 10 cards in the two longest suits), a useful guide for considering an opening rather than an automatic instruction.
2. Opening 1NT with the wrong range
If your agreement is 15–17, stick to it. Opening 1NT with 13 makes partner's later decisions impossible. With a balanced 12–14 in a strong-notrump system, open a suit and rebid 1NT.
3. Passing partner's forcing bid
In a standard natural system, a new suit at the one level by an unpassed responder is forcing for one round. After 1♦ – Pass – 1♠ – Pass, opener must bid again, even with a minimum. Responses by a passed hand and competitive auctions may follow different agreements.
4. Supporting a major too slowly
Show a known major-suit fit at the level your strength warrants. After partner opens 1♥, holding ♠ K 7 6 4 / ♥ Q 9 8 3 / ♦ J 7 2 / ♣ 6 4, a simple 2♥ raise shows your fit and modest values in a standard natural system. With a stronger hand, use your agreed invitational or game-forcing raise instead.
5. Bidding the same hand twice
Once you have described your hand, trust partner. If you showed 6–9 points with a single raise, do not jump to game on the next round because the opponents competed.
Key advice
- Agree your notrump range and forcing bids with partner before the session.
- Count distribution as well as points.
- Show fits early — especially in the majors.
- Describe your hand once, then let partner decide.