EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES

In bridge there seems to be an exception to every rule! Here are some of most important ones:

1. With a balanced hand and 12-14 points open the bidding with 1NT except when you have a 5 card major

5 2 A 7 6 K Q J 8 7 Q J 5

This is a balanced hand so open 1NT. (A balanced hand can have a 5 card suit)

5 2 K Q J 8 7 A 7 6 Q J 5

This is also a balanced hand but this time open 1 because your 5 card suit is a major

2. Always open the bidding with your longest suit. If you have two equal length suits open the highest ranking suit except when you have exactly four hearts and four spades, open 1.

A 8 7 6 A 4 Q J 8 7 K J 5

This balanced hand is too strong to open 1NT so open 1, the highest ranking of equal suits.

A 8 7 6 K J 5 4 A 7 K J 5

But this time open 1 because you have exactly 4 hearts and 4 spades.

3. After an opening bid of one of a suit, you need a 4 card (or longer) suit to respond with your suit except when you change the suit and bid a major suit at the two level you promise a 5 card suit.

Here are some examples:

Opening Bid	Response	Number of Cards in suit
1	1	These responses are at the 1 level so only promise 4 cards
1	1
1	2	These responses in a minor suit so only promise 4 cards
1	2
1	2	These responses are at the 2 level AND are in a major suit so must be at least 5 cards
1	2

4. When leading against a trumps contract, a low card promises an honour but never the Ace.

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