The Rule of Twenty

This guidance rule is helpful in deciding whether a hand should be opened in a suit at the 1 level. For hands that meet your range for opening 1 no-trump with the required shape, then this ‘rule’ is not required.

There are several methods that can be used to help to decide whether you should open at the 1 level

Count your points- 12pts

The rule of twenty

Count your losers- 7 losers

All have to be used with a modicum of judgement. The rule of 20 states that you add up your points plus the length of your two longest suits. If the result comes to 20 or more consider opening in the longest suit.

A9876

62

KQJ95

8

This meets the rule of 20, 10 cards in two longest suits plus 10pts. You will note that the honour cards are well placed. Those who only count points would pass this hand. However consider this hand:

KJ962

Q8

KJ743

5

This hand again meets the rule of 20, but both suits are poor, and judgement would suggest passing this hand as opener. If you are counting losers, both hands would meet the 7 loser criteria. The following hand is worth looking at

KQ76

43

AQ974

108

This hand meets the rule of 20 (9 cards +11pts), so open 1 but change it slightly

KQ7

963

AQ974

108

This hand does not meet the criteria. So the rule of 20 is helpful with these common 11pt hands. If you are 5-4 in two suits consider opening, if only 5-3-3-2 shape then pass. 5-5 hands and 10 pts will meet the criteria if all the points are in the two long suits