Hand Type Calculation Hands Percent Odds Against Example: A-K A-K-Q-J-10-9-2 A-K-Q A, but note that changing the 9 to the eight would disqualify it. (OK, I invented the last one.)Ī guaranteed 7 NT hand must have all four aces and no possible loser regardless of the remaining distribution and opening lead in other words, you can claim 13 tricks before the lead.

Clarification of terms: A Yarborough has no card above a nine. This table lists hand types based on general characteristics. For example, 26c2 means ∲6 choose 2 which can be done in 325 ways I could have just use the number 325, but the notation is more meaningful to show how the number is derived.

Think of this as N choose R which means, given N items, the number of ways to select R of them. *Combinatorial notation (NcR) is frequently used. In the few cases in which the odds favor a holding it is indicated simply as favored. For cases related to HCP, see the separate work on High Card Expectancy. General Criteria Hand Patterns Suit Lengths Specific CardsĮach table lists a variety of hand types, the method of calculation*, the number of possible bridge hands, the percent probability (rounded to four decimal places) and the approximate odds against being dealt such a hand.

Check out the following tables for answers. What are the odds against being dealt a Yarborough? Or a singleton? Or 4-3-3-3 shape? Or an eight-card suit? Or all four aces? Or about anything else of interest or not.

Odds of 4 out of 5 39