High card points ("HCP") are the cornerstone of hand evaluation. They represent numeric values for each honor card:
Ace = 4 points
King = 3 points
Queen = 2 points
Jack = 1 points
Thus, each suit contains a total of 10 HCP, and every deal (52 cards) contains a total of 40 HCP. The maximum for a single hand is 37 HCP, e.g.
Opening the Bidding
First and foremost, HCP are used to decide if a hand is strong enough to open the bidding. The general rule is that you need at least 12 HCP to open the bidding at the 1-level. Example:
This hand contains 12 HCP and is strong enough to open 1
In contrast, this hand only has 11 HCP and is not strong enough to open 1
is a partnership agreement about the specific meaning of a natural bid. Examples of treatments in Standard American opening bids:
- 1 / = 3+ clubs / diamonds
- 1 / = 5+ hearts / spades (i.e. 5-card majors)
- 1NT = 15-17 HCP with "balanced" distribution (i.e. no singleton/void, and no more than one doubleton)
The following hand contains 16 HCP and therefore warrants a 1NT opening bid:
Side note: in the old days, a 1NT opening bid promised 16-18 HCP. This is why bridge newspaper columns typically show 1NT bids containing exactly 16-17 HCP - to keep all readers happy.
High card points are also used to determine the appropriate response to an opening bid. 6 HCP are generally considered the minimum for responding to a natural 1
is a partnership agreement about the meaning of an uncommon or artificial bid. High card points are frequently used to define conventional agreements. Examples of conventions in Standard American opening bids:
- 2 = Artificial, showing 22+ HCP or 9+ tricks
- 2 / / = A weak two bid, showing 5-10 HCP and a 6-card suit
Adjustments to HCP
The following bidding guidelines are closely related to HCP:
High card points were popularized by American bridge icon Charles Goren
in the first half of the 20th century. They remain one of the most basic and essential guidelines today.