Balanced Hand in Bridge

This is an important definition.  If you are opening the bidding, knowing whether your hand is balanced or unbalanced can be key to deciding your opening bid.

What is a Balanced Hand in bridge?

There are four suits in a pack of cards – spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs.

A balanced hand WILL contain cards in all four suits (so your hand will contain cards in each of the suits – spaces, hearts, diamonds AND clubs)

A balanced hand will NOT contain a void (no cards in a suit)

A balanced hand will NOT contain a singleton -(just one card in a suit)

A balanced hand CAN contain only ONE doubleton

A balanced hand CAN contain a 5 card suit

The patterns for a balanced hand are:  4 3 3 3 , 4 4 3 2, 5 3 3 2.  All other patterns are unbalanced hands.

Here are some examples of balanced hands:

If you are considering opening the bidding with a No Trumps bid then you will need to hold a balanced hand – so it is vital that you understand what makes a balanced hand in bridge.

In Acol bridge you open the bidding with a bid of 1NT if you hold a balanced hand with 12 – 14 high card points and  you don’t hold a 5 card major suit.

In American standard bridge you open the bidding with 1NT if you hold a balanced hand and 15 – 17 high card points – regardless of whether or not your hand has a 5 card major suit.

Now that you have a better understanding of what a balanced hand is, it’s time to sign up for your trial membership of No Fear Bridge.

To learn Acol bridge, join HERE.

To learn American standard bridge, join HERE.