Bridge Tips MEL'S HAND EVALUATION AND THE ... - BridgeWebs

Bridge Tips
MEL’S HAND EVALUATION AND THE RULE OF TWENTY
1. The 4-3-2-1 Point Count System overvalues Queens and Jacks, overvalues balanced hands,
undervalues Aces and Kings and undervalues hands with long suits.
2. Mel says, “studies show an Ace is really worth 4¼-4½ points and a King is really worth 3¼-3½
points. Queens are not really worth 2 points and Jacks are not worth 1 point.”
TIP: Hands that have a lot of Queens and Jacks are not as good as the point count system says
and hands with lots of Aces and Kings are worth a little more than the point count system
suggests. Bid accordingly.
3. The “Rule of 20” is simple enough. It says that lacking 12 or 13HCP, you
add your HCP to the number of cards you hold in your two longest suits.
If that comes to 20, you open.
THE RULE HAS ONE A GREAT FLAW!
The rule guides us into opening many hands that are not opening bid material because they have too
many Queens and Jacks and not enough Aces and Kings.
Example: S-7, H-QJ765, D-A4, C-QJ764 (10HCP+10 cards in H and C)
Example: S-J6, H-AJ874, D-K865, C-Q7 (11HCP+9 cards in H and D)
4. Consider using “Mel’s Rule of 20 + 2”
If the number of cards in your two longest suits + the number of your HCP = 20, open only if you
have at least 2 “quick tricks.”
“Open light if you want, but if you do, have long suits and Aces and Kings.”
A. KJ74, QJ832, KJ3, 6 2 longest suits____plus HCP____plus QT____=_____ Open? Y N
B. 8, Q5, KJ763, KJ865 2 longest suits____plus HCP____plus QT____=_____ Open? Y N
C. AJ8632, A7654, 6, 2 2 longest suits____plus HCP____plus QT___ =_____ Open? Y N
D. KQ854, 4, AJ764,873 2 longest suits____plus HCP____plus QT___ =_____ Open? Y N
E. KJ76, A85, Q42, Q32 2 longest suits____plus HCP____plus QT___=_____ Open? Y N
F. KJ76, A8, Q843, Q52 2 longest suits____plus HCP____plus QT___=_____ Open? Y N

DIRECT SEAT INTRUSION AFTER A 1NT OPENER
How do you know when it is right to intrude?
Mel’s Rule of 8: If the number of cards in your two longest suits minus your losing
trick count equals 2 or more…….and you have at least 6 HCP……intrude!
There are at least ten conventions partnerships have developed over the years to allow them to intrude
on auctions that begin 1NT. Duplicate players should learn at least one of them. Please see the
SCLHDBC Website for an explanation of “DON’T” (Disturbing Opponents’ No Trump) which is
easy to learn and will be discussed next month in Kent’s Bridge Tips.
Mel’s rule is actually his rule of 2 + 6. You must have 6 HCP.
The bidding has started with 1NT by your RHO. Should you intrude? Y N
You hold:
A. J75, AQ8652, Q4, 76 # of cards in two longest suits_____minus LTC =______ Y N
B. AKJ73, Q82, Q7, K65 # of cards in two longest suits_____minus LTC =______ Y N
C. AQJT42, J75, K4, K2 # of cards in two longest suits_____minus LTC=______ Y N
D. 6, AJ8, JT2, KJT8462 # of cards in two longest suits_____minus LTC=______ Y N
E. QJT4, 72, KQ853, T5 # of cards in two longest suits_____minus LTC=______ Y N
(You need a convention for example E.)
BALANCING SEAT INTRUSION AFTER A 1NT OPENER
How do you know when it is right to intrude?
Mel’s Rule of 2: In the pass out seat, bid if you have two or more shortness points, regardless of
HCP and Vulnerability!
After 1NT -pass-pass, do some counting. Give opener 16HCP. Give his partner 4HCP. Count your
HCP. Partner has the rest. So, intrude whenever you have two or more distributional points.
YOU REALLY NEED A CONVENTION TO INTRUDE IN BALANCING SEAT.
A. Q842, A76, 5, J7532 Intrude (But you need a convention.)
B. Q742, A95, 743, J62 pass
C. KJ8543, 6, 853, 763 Intrude
D. 7, K852, Q8754, 762 Intrude (But you need a convention)