Opening 1 of a Major

Requirements for Opening 1 of a Major
(hearts or spades)

• 13+ points
• 5+ in that major

Other Considerations
If you have a longer suit, open that. i.e. with 6 diamonds and 5 hearts, you would not open 1H, but rather 1D.

If you have two 5-card suits (or 6 card suits) that are the same length, open the higher one. i.e. Prefer spades to hearts to diamonds to clubs.

Examples
In all the examples the suits are ordered, from top to bottom, spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs. A number means a card with that number, A = ace, K = king, Q = queen, J = jack, and T = ten.

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AK532

Q74

AT5

63

With 5 spades and 14 points (don't forget to count the 1 distribution point for the fifth spade), open this 1S.

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K7532

Q74

AT5

63

With less than 13 points, just pass.

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AK53

K74

KT43

63

You have 13 points, but you don't a 5 card major, so open this one 1D.

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AK532

AQ743

53

9

You have enough points to open, and two 5 card majors, so open the higher one:  1S.