LESSON 1.2: HIGHCARD POINTS

a) A bridge hand is first evaluated by counting highcard points (HCP)

b) Each suit has five honor cards and ten highcard points

 Ace (A)= 4 HCP   King (R) = 3 HCP   Queen (D) = 2 HCP   Jack (V) = 1 HCP   Ten (10) = 0 HCP
         
 This hand worth 19 HCP:

  A Q J 5 2         A K 10 9         K Q         3 2

spades = 4 + 2 + 1 = 7 hearts = 4 + 3 = 7 diamonds = 3 + 2 = 5 clubs = 0 = 0

c) Cards from two to nine are called dotted cards and are illustrated by their own value (2, 3 ..., 8, 9) or with an x symbol

d) Singletons J, Q or K's in a suit bid by your opponents shouldn't be added to your point-count

e) Singletons J, Q or K's in a suit not bid by your partner should be valued one point less

f) A hand without an ace is worth one point less except in notrump

   Q J 7         J 10 9 4 3         K         K Q 9 8

  12 HCP in notrump (11 HCP in a suit contract)

g) A hand with all four aces is worth one extra point

   A K         A 7 6 2         A Q J 9         A J 10

  23 HCP + 1 HCP for 4 aces