Opening with a power hand
There are loosely speaking five types of power hands. Here is a list with the corresponding opening bids:
- Balanced distribution 20+ HCP
- 20-21: open 2C
- 22-23: open 2NT
- 24+: open 2D
- Unbalanced, 18+ HCP, game in hand: open 2D
- 4441/5431/5440, 21+ HCP, 3 or fewer quick losers: open 2D
- Unbalanced, less than 18 HCP, game in hand: open 2C
- Unbalanced, 5+ card major or 6+ card minor 1-suiter, 18+ HCP: open 2C
With any other unbalanced 18+ HCP open at level one.