The Rule of 20 in Puente Acol
The Rule of 20 is a technique used by players in the card game of bridge. Four players play bridge and each player is dealt a hand of 13 cards. Before the auction begins, each player adds up the number of points he has in his hand, counting four points for each ace, three for each king, two for each queen, and one for each jack he has. Then, starting with the player to the dealer’s left and working clockwise around the table, the auction is usually started by the first player who has 12 or more High Card Points (HCP).
Can you open the offer with less than 12 points?
Generally, if a player has less than 12 points, they will pass. However, sometimes, due to his shape or composition, a player may think that his hand is adequate to open the auction, even if it does not contain 12 points. How can the player decide if he passes or opens the auction? This is where the rule of 20 comes in. It is used in only one situation: when deciding if his hand is suitable to open the auction and has less than 12 points. The Rule of 20 will help you decide if a hand with less than 12 points is suitable to open.
Using the rule of 20
If no one else has opened the auction when it’s your turn and you think your hand is good enough to consider opening, you should start by adding up the points of your highest card. Then add to that total the length of your two longest sticks. If the total is 20 or more, your hand passes the Rule of 20 and you can open the auction if you wish.
Here are some examples to help you understand.
hand 1
(spades) A 7 5 4
(hearts) 6 5 3
(diamonds) AK 8 5 3
(clubs) 9
Hand 1 has 11 HCP. The lengths of the two longest sticks are five and four. This makes a total of 20, so the hand is suitable for opening.
hand 2
(s) 8 3
(h) CG 9 5 4
(d) KJ 6 4 2
c) 5
Hand 2 has only 10 points but has two 5-card suits. So adding the points (10) to the length of the two longest suits (10) gives a total of 20. Pass the rule of 20 so we can open with one of a suit.
hand 3
(s) QJ 4
h) A 7
(d) 10 7 5
(c) KJ 8 6 3
Hand 3 has 11 points, but adding the length of the two longest suits (5 + 3) only gives a total of 19. This hand does not pass the 20 rule and is therefore not suitable for opening.
