MASTER POINT PRESS • TORONTO, CANADA
Acknowledgements
First and foremost I must give a huge thank you to Ray Lee for taking a
chance on me, a first-time bridge author.
Secondly, to Gail Greenberg and Barbara Seagram, who were my first
bridge teachers. Besides being excellent bridge teachers, both went out of
their way to share their expertise with me in so many different ways and
inspired me to eventually become a bridge teacher and book author too.
Lastly, I wish to wholeheartedly thank my daughter Sarah Aves and
her husband Andrew Farncomb for their unwavering support of me as I
translated a dream of authoring a bridge book into a reality. From the first
mention of my idea, through the culmination of the book’s publication,
they encouraged me and were so proud of me for accomplishing my goal.
Text © 2021 Dianne Aves
Cover image © Anastasiia Yanishevka/123RF Stock Photos
All rights reserved. It is illegal to reproduce any portion of this material, except by special
arrangement with the publisher. Reproduction of this material without authorization, by
any duplication process whatsoever, is a violation of copyright.
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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: Counting at bridge : the easy way to improve your game / Dianne Aves.
Names: Aves, Dianne, author.
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 2021029213X | Canadiana (ebook) 20210292180 | ISBN
9781771400657
(softcover) | ISBN 9781771405744 (PDF) | ISBN 9781771407205 (HTML) | ISBN
9781771407700 (Kindle)
Subjects: LCSH: Contract bridge. | LCSH: Counting.
Classification: LCC GV1282.3 .A94 2021 | DDC 795.41/5—dc23
Editor Ray Lee
Copy editor/interior Sally Sparrow
Cover design Olena S. Sullivan/New Mediatrix
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 24 23 22 21
Contents
Introduction �������������������������������������������������������������������������������5
Chapter One: Your First Opportunity to Start Counting���������������9
Chapter Two: How Many High-card Points Does My Partner Have?��� 19
Chapter Three: Counting Sure Winners in Notrump Contracts ���27
Chapter Four: Counting Losers in a Suit Contract�����������������������39
Chapter Five: The Rule of Eleven�����������������������������������������������53
Chapter Six: Using Count Signals���������������������������������������������63
Chapter Seven: Counting Distribution�����������������������������������������77
Chapter Eight: Counting Declarer's High-card Points������������������92
Chapter Nine: Counting Declarer's Tricks���������������������������������107
Chapter Ten: Show-outs and Counting Distribution���������������123
Chapter Eleven: Counting Distribution as Defenders�������������������149
Introduction
Beginning and intermediate players may think of counting as simply
counting their high-card points (HCP) or maybe counting how many
trumps are still out there. And perhaps, as newer players, this is all the
counting they need to be doing. After all, they’ve got their hands full try-
ing to remember when and what to bid, following suit and remembering
the few conventions they have tackled. However, at some point in time,
everyone needs to learn about counting if their goal is to become a compe-
tent or excellent bridge player.
What is there to count? Well, there’s a lengthy list. Here are some
of the many items on that list: counting the number of sure winners in
notrump contracts, counting the number of losers in suit contracts, count-
ing HCP, figuring out hand and suit distributions, counting the number of
tricks for declarer, counting the number of tricks for the defense, counting
the number of HCP your partner and declarer have — and more. The
length of the list may seem daunting, but not all of these things have to
be learned at once. Start with some of the easier types of counting and
progress from there. Most of all, be patient with yourself. Counting is one
of the most difficult skill sets to learn in bridge. At first you have to force
yourself to count. Over time (maybe a long time!), it will become second
nature to you — like breathing or walking.
You’re right to ask, ‘Why do I need to learn counting?’ The answer
is that once you are counting, you will be gaining valuable information,
which will help you to choose the correct line of play as declarer and to
avoid having to guess so often, both as declarer and as a defender. Some of
this information you may need early in the play, while sometimes the fork
in the road comes later on in the hand. The goal is to have the information
at your fingertips at the point in time where you need to make a critical
decision.
So what should you be counting, as a priority? Certainly, you must
be counting HCP, as you already do. On defense, you can at least get an
idea from the auction about how many HCP the declaring side has and
therefore how many HCP the defenders have. If both sides bid during
the auction, then as declarer you know something about how the HCP
Introduction | 5
and one or more suits are distributed in the defenders’ hands. Often, the
opening lead reveals some information too. It will tell declarer something
about the distribution of the suit led, and it may give an idea of which
cards are in which defender’s hand. If a defender leads the ace from an
ace-king combination, for example, declarer already knows about 7 of that
defender’s HCP.
Declarer also wants to know the distribution of suits in the defenders’
hands. If one defender opens a weak two-spade bid, declarer knows that
defender has six spades. As the play continues, declarer can probably figure
out the distribution of that defender’s seven other cards. Once declarer has
found out the distribution of that hand, he will know the distribution of
the other defender’s hand too. Counting may help declarer in deciding
which way to play a two-way finesse. It might also give declarer an idea
about whether to finesse for a queen or play for the drop.
Certainly, in a suit contract, declarer must focus on counting the
trump suit. The biggest mistake beginners make is miscounting the trump
suit. Usually this is because somebody ruffed in. Declarer may end up
drawing one too many rounds of trumps as a result and this might con-
tribute to a poor score.
In a notrump contract, declarer can sometimes set up an extra win-
ner in a hidden four-card side suit where the declaring side has a 4-3 fit.
Declarer needs to keep track of all cards played in that suit because one
defender might discard incorrectly from his own four-card holding and
inadvertently set up an extra winner for declarer.
Defenders have reasons to count too. The first counting they do results
from bids made during the auction. For example, they may already know
declarer has a 5-3 fit in the trump suit or that declarer has a six-card mi-
nor. In a notrump contract, defenders will know if the declaring side has
just the minimum number of HCP required for a 3NT contract when the
auction has gone 1NT – 2NT; 3NT. Contrast this with the auction 1NT
– 4NT; 6NT. In the first auction, the opponents have gone through an in-
vitational sequence where opener has accepted the invitation to game. The
declaring side probably has just enough for game. The defenders probably
have around 14 or 15 HCP. In the second auction, responder is looking for
slam with his 4NT quantitative bid. Declarer accepts the invitation, so he
has at least 16 and maybe 17 HCP, or else he has more than a minimum
6 | Counting at Bridge
plus a long suit that is a source of tricks. In this auction, the defenders are
likely to have very few HCP.
If one defender has opened with a preemptive 3♦ bid, showing seven
diamonds, when his partner counts dummy’s diamonds and his own, im-
mediately that defender knows how many diamonds declarer has. If the
partner of the preemptor leads what appears to be a high diamond, this
could be from a doubleton or it could even be a singleton. During the play,
if everyone follows to two rounds of diamonds, everyone knows that only
one player, the preemptor, has any diamonds left.
As you proceed through each chapter of this book, you will be intro-
duced to the various types of counting, how they work and why they are
likely to help you. You will begin to recognize, as the play of a hand con-
tinues, that you should always be asking yourself, ‘What have I learned so
far?’ After you’ve answered that question, what you do next might be less
of a guess and more of an informed decision, and so more likely to help
you to achieve a better score.
Finally, let me add this simple thought. You can’t count everything on
every deal. That would be exhausting. Get in the habit of asking yourself,
‘What is my problem?’ and then using your counting skills, whatever they
are at the time, to help you solve that problem. In the long run, use count-
ing to try to get a picture of all four hands — without peeking! Consider
how much easier declaring and defending would be if you could ‘see’ all
four hands. By the end of this book, you’ll be well on the way to being able
to do that!
Introduction | 7
Chapter One
Your First Opportunity to Start
Counting
What is ‘counting’ in bridge? Well, let me count the ways!
I choose a broad definition of counting. Anything that has to do with
counting tricks, counting high-card points (HCP), counting distribution
or showing count, I include in my definition. You can be counting as de-
clarer or as a defender. You can even be counting during the auction. Ask
any expert about the importance of counting and they will tell you that it
is a skill you must learn if your goal is to become an accomplished bridge
player.
Believe it or not, this book isn’t long enough to cover all the aspects of
counting, but it’s a good start. As you learn, practice, practice and practice.
At first it may seem tedious, but eventually it will all become second nature
to you — if you’re patient with yourself. Counting is a full-time job that
begins with the auction. In this chapter we’ll be listening to the auction
and seeing how that helps us to count the hand.
Players who wish to become good counters must have a clear under-
standing of the language of bridge: the bidding. The ‘picture’ of the hand
that you build from the auction evolves over time. It’s important for every-
one to listen carefully to the auction and remember it. Once the play be-
gins, you may revise your initial impressions, but you have to start count-
ing somewhere. While listening to the auction, look for negative inferences
as well as positive ones — they are just as significant. Of course, judgment
is also important. Contested auctions provide even more information to
both sides. Again, look for both what is said and what is not said.
Many clues about HCP and distribution are embedded in the auction.
It’s your job as a player, either a defender or declarer, to extract these clues
from the auction. Remember, however, that while very useful, your infor-
Chapter One: Your First Oppor tunity to Star t Counting | 9
mation may not be exact, and as the play progresses you may have to adjust
some of your initial assumptions.
Before I start talking about specific auctions and examples in the chap-
ters that follow, I want to add a few general statements about counting
HCP and points for distribution when evaluating your hand. Once you
and partner have found a fit, you may count extra points for shortness in a
side suit. At any time, you may also count an extra point or two for extra
length in the trump suit or in a side suit. Of course, this affects your total
points, which are different than your HCP. In notrump auctions, we usu-
ally consider HCP only when opening 1NT or 2NT. Responder in these
auctions may count points for distribution if a fit in a trump suit has been
found. The main point is that sometimes your HCP and your total points
may differ.
For the examples in this book where I speak of HCP, keep in mind
that the partnership may indeed have more total points than the number
of HCP mentioned. Since this is not a book specifically about hand evalu-
ation, for the most part I have dealt with HCP, not total points. As a result,
your estimates for partner’s or the opponents’ HCP may be correct or they
may vary a bit because of extra points allotted for distribution.
Here are a few examples to illustrate what I mean.
In notrump auctions, HCP counts are usually pretty easy to esti-
mate. That’s especially the case when the auction goes 1NT – 3NT or
1NT – 2NT – 3NT. It looks like both hands here are balanced since there
has been no transfer bid made, nor has Stayman been used. Your estimates
for HCP in both hands are probably correct within a point or two.
If an auction goes:
Opener Responder
1♠ 4♠
Responder probably has five spades and less than an opener. The partner-
ship may not have the 25 HCP or so usually required for game. In fact,
the game may be bid and the contract made with considerably fewer than
25 HCP. Take this into account when, as a defender, you estimate your
partner’s HCP. If responder had a better hand with more HCP, he could,
10 | Counting at Bridge
for example, use Jacoby 2NT instead of an immediate raise to 4♠. The
auction would then go something like this:
Opener Responder
1♠ 2NT
3♣ 4♠
In this case, responder should have an opener (counting HCP and any
points for shortness) with four-card spade support. In addition, opener has
shown a singleton or void in clubs. With extras or a good side suit, opener
may bid on after the 4♠ bid. As you already know, slams can be bid and
made even if the partnership has only enough HCP for game, when extra
distribution (like a singleton or void) makes the slam possible.
Consider this auction:
Opener Responder
1♠ 2♣
2♥ 2NT
3♥ 4♥
Here opener is at least 5-5 in spades and hearts. With a singleton or void,
he might have opened with fewer than 12 HCP. Some would open such a
hand with as few as 10 HCP, with the majority of the honors in their long
suits. Responder has 10+ HCP for his 2♣ response. The partnership has
found a 5-3 fit in hearts. The total HCP for the partnership could be as low
as 20, but game is still possible because of extra points allotted for distri-
bution. Keep this in mind when you are estimating HCP for the declaring
side and therefore for your partner as well.
You can see from the above examples that estimating HCP for either
side can be a bit tricky, but it’s definitely still worth doing. Remember
that you are attempting to get a picture of the other three hands at the
table. Your initial estimates for HCP may be off a bit but once the auction
is over, the opening lead is made, the dummy comes down and declarer
follows a certain line of play, you will know more, and you may revise your
initial estimates.
Chapter One: Your First Oppor tunity to Star t Counting | 11
POINTS TO REMEMBER
• Learning to count requires determination and patience, but it
produces great rewards. Tackle one type of counting at a time and
become comfortable with it before moving along to the next one.
• Knowing as much as possible about high-card points and distri-
bution helps you to declare and defend better. You will be guess-
ing less.
• Your first opportunity to count occurs during the auction. There
you can estimate the number of HCP each player has and get a
pretty good idea of the distribution of at least some suits.
• Remember the auction during the play. Positive and negative in-
ferences from the bids are significant.
• In a contested auction you will get more information about HCP
and distribution.
• As the play of the hand progresses, you may have to alter some-
what your initial ideas about HCP and/or distribution.
16 | Counting at Bridge
Practice
For each auction, draw conclusions about opener’s and responder’s HCP and
shape.
1. West North East South
pass pass 1♠
pass 2♠ pass 4♠
all pass
2. West North East South
2NT
pass 3NT all pass
3. West North East South
1♣ pass 1♥
pass 3♣ pass 3NT
all pass
4. West North East South
1♥ 1NT
pass 3NT all pass
5. West North East South
1♦ 1♥ 1NT
all pass
Chapter One: Your First Oppor tunity to Star t Counting | 17
Answers
1. The opening bid of 1♠ shows five or more spades and at least 12 HCP. North
should have 6-9 HCP and three or more spades for a raise to 2♠. When
South bids game following the 2♠ bid, he must have 18 or 19 HCP. We
know this because North could have had as few as 6 HCP. To bid game, the
partnership should hold about 25 HCP. With fewer than 18 or 19 HCP South
would either have passed 2♠ or bid 3♠ to invite game.
2. South’s opening bid of 2NT shows 20-21 HCP with a balanced hand. When
responder bids 3NT, he must have at least 5 HCP and not more than 12. With
more than 12, North would bid 4NT, quantitative, asking partner to bid 6NT
with the maximum 21 HCP.
Responder has not bid Stayman nor made a transfer bid, so he has a
balanced hand, probably with no four- or five-card major. It’s possible he
could have four hearts or four spades if his hand is 4-3-3-3, but that’s too flat
to warrant playing in a suit contract.
3. North opens 1♣, likely with four or more clubs. South’s 1♥ response shows
four or more hearts and a minimum of 6 HCP. North’s rebid of 3♣ shows a
six-plus-card suit and a hand in the 16-18 HCP range. With 8-9 HCP and
stoppers in the other suits, South bids the 3NT game. He may have club sup-
port but has decided that there’s no point being in 5♣ when 3NT is a possi-
bility. Nine tricks are easier than eleven, and more overtricks are available
in 3NT.
4. East opens 1♥ — 12 or more HCP and at least five hearts. South’s 1NT over-
call shows 15-18 HCP and at least one stopper in hearts. It does not guaran-
tee stoppers in all the other suits. North’s rebid of 3NT must mean that he has
10-14 HCP, a balanced hand and no five-card spade suit. With five spades
he would have made a transfer bid. (Negative inference again.) Poor West
is broke!
5. North opens the bidding with 1♦, showing a minimum of 12 HCP and almost
certainly four or more diamonds. East’s overcall of 1♥ indicates at least five
hearts and a minimum of 6 HCP. South’s 1NT bid after the overcall must show
at least one heart stopper and 6-9 HCP. When the opening bidder passes
1NT, he must have a minimum opener and a balanced hand. With more than
a minimum, he might not have passed.
18 | Counting at Bridge
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NOVICE/INTERMEDIATE
Everything Counts
Bridge teachers emphasize to their students the
importance of counting — points, distribution,
tricks, and so on. But it’s hard to teach and even
harder to learn, let alone assimilate to the point
where counting becomes automatic as one is
playing. This book introduces the concept of
counting for newer players, and helps them
to begin acquiring a skill that is critical to their
becoming better players.
DIANNE AVES (Canada) is a retired
math teacher who is now a professional
bridge teacher. This is her first book.
MASTER POINT PRESS