Tutorial

Bidding Defence Declarer

Openers' first bid with a balanced hand and 12-14 points

No-trumps is the only contract where game can be made with 9 tricks It is the most profitable contract in the game and so must be bid whenever balanced hands are in evidence. Note that balanced hands can be judged in one of two ways. The best way is to say that if they are not unbalanced, they must be balanced! Unbalanced hands have one or more singletons or voids or two or more doubletons. Your other approach is to specify the shape of balanced  hands which are 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 or  5-2-3-3. Any other shape is unbalanced.

The most frequently occurring balanced hands for opener are those with 12-14 points and so these are reserved for an opening bid of one no-trump. The only exception is where you hold a respectable five-card major suit with two honours or more within this point-range. This will probably play better in a suit contract and you should open one of the major and rebid two of the major.

Note that you must put aside your fears relating to one small doubleton. God or other considerations will come to your aid.

Note that

•  this bid is preemptive as it forces the opponents to the two level. 
• some partnerships prefer a higher range for this opening bid---say 15-17. They won't bid it as often as you. This higher range is advisable if you ever play rubber bridge for high stakes--£1 a hundred or more.
• You don't have to find a rebid unless forced by partner.