TEXTURE and HAND SHAPES

1. Shape: 5/5 or 6/5 hands are great even with low point counts
2. Good texture:

• Your points in your long suits 
• A sequence KQJ, even JT9 can be useful
• Aces are good
• The more T's and 9's the better 

1. A 7 card fit can be as good as an 8 card fit if there is quality in the suit eg (KJ)
2. A fit in two suits is worth extra tricks
3. Texture is less important in a 9 card fit
4. Bid game with weak hands and a 10 card fit

A splinter or a game try can help decide if slam or game is still possible based on the hand combinations

1. If you have a 6 card suit. Game can be made on less points
2. A highly distributional hand 5521, 7411, 6511. These are worth more than the point value. Losing trick count is more accurate for these hands
3. A five or 6 card suit in No Trumps 
4. With a 9 or 10 card fit
5. Concentrated points
6. Good midrange cards (good texture) in a long suit
7. An honour with support in partners suit

1. With poor texture in the trump suit and an 8 card fit
2. Points in your short suits, not your long suits
3. A shortage in partners suit opposite points in your hand
4. With a flat hand
5. Scattered points

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More than just point count the shape and texture of the hand are important

• Aces are good cards, the more the better
• Points should be mostly in the long suits
• 10's and 9's matter, the more the better
• if short suits have points ideally it should be an A or Kx
• A sequence in honors is good

• Points in partners suit/s are good - UPGRADE the hand
• If your partner has a shortage eg singleton it is better for you not to have points in this suit - DOWNGRADE the hand
• If interference - points in the opposition suit are good for defence but are wasted for declarer

• A 6 card suit is good because it provides a big source of tricks  and a reliable trump source to control a hand so bid higher with KQJT42
• Downgrade a 8 card suit fit with Q532, or A874 or K542