Valuing your Hand

Before you start bidding in a game of bridge you have to start by  working out the points value of your hand.  You do this by adding up the High Card Points (HCP) value of your hand.  It’s easy to do, you count:

4 points for each ace you hold,  3 points for each king, 2 points for each queen and 1 point for each jack.

Example

Your hand contains the K and J of spades, the A of hearts, the Q and J of diamonds and the K of spades.

You have two kings, two jacks, one queen and one ace.  You hold 2 x 3 points (for the kings), 2 x 1 point (for the jacks), 1 x 2 points (for the queen) and 1 x 4 points (for the ace).  A total of (6 + 2 + 2 + 4) 14 points.