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12+ High Card Points (HCP) needed to open (Exception is the Rule of Twenty).
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Do not add for length or shortage when opening- use the Rule of Twenty.
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A balanced hand has
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No five card major (A minor is OK)
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No Void
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No singleton
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Not more than one doubleton
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12-14 HCP and balanced open 1NT
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20-22 HCP and balanced open 2NT
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Acol Strong Two system o 2♣ 23+ HCP
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2 of a suit is 20+ points or 8 playing tricks
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Open your longest suit irrespective of quality o Plan your rebid
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Equal length suits open the higher except with 4x♥s and 4x♠s when you open with ♥s.
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4441 hands o Touching suits – open the middle o Otherwise – open the suit below the singleton o Don’t open with a poor 12-13 HCP hand but wait for the others to bid.