Bridge Game Tips: Improve Your Bridge Game by Understanding the Suit Quality Test

The Suit Quality Test guide measures how passionate a suit you hold. The Suit Quality or SQ regularly decides whether the suit is passionate enough to bid at a agreed level. Useful just about whenever suit quality is a relevant criterion, it is useful for pre-empts, weak twos and overcalls. The SQ determines whether you can meet the deprivation of to insist on your suit as trumps.

Count the digit of honors in the long suit and then add the total digit of cards in the long suit. The resolution is the SQ of that suit. For example, Q-8-7-4-2 has 1 distinction and 5 cards. 1 + 5 = SQ of 6.

The SQ must equal or exceed the digit of tricks for which you are order for an overcall. With an SQ of 6, such a suit is not excellent enough for an overcall even at the one-level (seven tricks requires an SQ of 7). K-J-9-5-4 has an SQ of 7 (2 honors + 5 cards). That is excellent enough to overcall at the one-level (assuming you have enough extra strength) but not passionate enough for a two-level overcall.

Count the J or 10 as an distinction card for the SQ Test only if you also hold a higher distinction in the long suit.
J-8-5-4-3-2 has an SQ of 6. Do not count the jack if you have no higher honor.
K-J-8-4-3-2, however, has an SQ of 8. The jack is full regard as an distinction in view of the fact that the king is also present.

The Rule of 10 is a useful manufactured goods of the Suit Quality Test. You may insist on that suit as trumps if you have a suit with an SQ of 10,. For example, suppose you hold:
A 3
K Q J 10 6 4
8 7
Q 3 2
Partner opens 1D , you bid 1H and partner rebids 2D . What now?

The heart suit has an SQ of 10 (4 honors + 6 cards). Therefore, you must insist on hearts as trumps and jump to 4H . Even if partner is void in hearts, chances are you will lose only one trump trick.
Change the hand to:
A 3
K Q 8 6 4 3
8 7
Q J 10

Now, after 1D : 1H , 2D , you must bid only 3H . That is a passionate rebid and shows six hearts, but the suit wants support from partner. You would not fancy being in 4H contrary a void or low singleton.

2009
Ron Klinger is probably the world's leading bridge author and teacher with more than fifty books to his credit. He is also an Australian Grand Master and a World Bridge Federation International Master.
To keep up with the latest news about Ron, take a look at his blog
To improve your bridge game, sign up for Ron Klinger's free Bridge MiniCourse