These Help pages can be downloaded here with the Winning Bridge Shareware game for Microsoft Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP.
If you would rather read a book, take a look at the Help Index page for some suggestions.
Counting Points
High Card Points
Ace= 4 , King= 3, Queen= 2, Jack= 1
Long Points
Count 1 point for each card over the fourth card in any suit, e.g. add 1 point for a 5 card suit, add 2 points for two five card suits, add 2 points for a six card suit, etc.
Short Points
Void = 5
Singleton= 3
Doubleton= 1
To Open
Add High Card Points to Long Points.
Balanced hand if Short Points are less than 2, otherwise unbalanced.
Agreed Suit (Not No Trumps)
Add High Card Points to Short Points
No Agreed Suit or No Trumps
Add High Card Points to Long Points.