When Partner Opens a Major Suit

With support and 6 to a bad 10 points, raise to two.
With support and a good 10 to 12 points, raise to three.
Sith support and 13+ points, bid a new suit, then raise to game.
With 6 to 10 points and no support, bid 1N.
With 11 to 12 points and no good suit, bid 2N.
With 13+ points and no good suit, bid 3N.
With 10+ points and a good suit to bid, bid that suit.

Cheat Sheet

FYS129
Freshman Bridge Class
James S. Plank
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~plank

When Partner Opens a Minor Suit

With 6+ points and a 4+ card major, bid the major.
Otherwise, with 6 to 10 points, bid 1N.
With 10+ points and a good suit, bid that suit.
With 11 to 12 points and no good suit, bid 2N.
With 13+ points and no good suit to bid, bid 3N.

When you and your partner have both bid

If you and partner do not have the points for game, pass or make a minimal rebid.
If partner has shown a limited range of points and you have the magic 25 points, bid game!
If partner has shown a limited range of points and you may have the magic 25 points, invite partner.
If partner's points are unlimited, try to limit your hand by bidding notrump, raising partner, or rebidding your suit.

Overcalls

You need 8+ points and a 5+ card suit to overcall at the one level.
You need 11+ points and a 5+ card suit to overcall at the two level.
Support partner with trump support.
If partner has overcalled and you have 10+ points, make a bid.

Opening Leads

Lead highest honors from sequences like KQJ.
Do not lead aces or from aces against a suit contract.
Lead 4th best from length and strength.
Singletons are nice leads against suit contracts.

Leads in the Middle of the Hand

Keep leading highest honors from sequences (like JTx).
Lead low when you like the suit.
Lead high when you don't like the suit.

Signals

High means you like it
Low means you don't!
Watching partner's signal often tells you what to do!