Last Updated: September 3, 2026 Force Point (Fp) Counting Your Base Number (B#) is the strength of your hand contract tricks (the tricks above the first 6 tricks, which are not counted in the game of bridge) The strength of your bridge hand is: B# = all tricks minus 2 Singleton Ace = 2 Ace = 1.5 King = 1.0 Singleton King = 0.5 !! Queen = 0.5 Any Singleton = 0.5 (except Singleton Ace) Void = 0.5 !! Learn to count visually: Find an Ace + a Queen or 2 Kings and do not count them. Count only the rest. So, you will never forget to subtract 2 at the end. The game's Play Level (PL) is the sum of both partners' Base Numbers (B#s). The Control Points (CP) are the values of Controls you have. The values of the real Controls are: K = 4 CP, Ace = 6 CP. The values of the pseudo Controls are: Singleton = 4 CP, Void = 6 CP (10 CP when you do not have any TOP Honor opposite in the same suit). ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

Force Point Explicit Counting Singleton Ace = 2 contract tricks (1.5 for the Ace +0.5 for the Singleton) Ace = 1.5 King = 1.0 Singleton King = 0.5 !! NOTE: If you discover an Ace opposite the Singleton King, raise it to 1.0 Queen = 0.5 Any Singleton = 0.5 (except Singleton Ace). NOTE: Do not duplicate the count of the Singleton Queen. Do NOT scan the Singleton Queens at all ! Void = 0.5 !! For a 7-card mono suit (with at least one Honor), add 0.5; for an 8- card suit, add 1.0, and so on … NOTE: For any 7222, add 0.5 for the 3 doubletons in addition to 0.5 for the 7-card suit. The Formula is: 0.5*(n - 6), where ‘n‘ is the sum of the cards in the long suit. For 6/5 bi-color add 0.5, for 6/6 bi-color add 1.0, for 7/6 bi-color add 1.5, and so on. Do not duplicate the count of the 7-card suit by counting it separately from the bi-color! The Formula is: 0.5*(m - 10), where ‘m‘ is the sum of the cards in both long suits. Subtract 0.5 when you don’t have any Honor in your 5+card suit ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

Adjustments Do not make any Positive Adjustment for 8+ by 1Trump! Do not make any Positive Adjustment for 7 by 2 Trump if you do not have any Honor in the short Trump! The Positive Adjustments Add 0.25* (force*point) for 4 Aces (in one or both hands). Add 0.25* (force*point) for AQJT+. Add 0.25* (force*point) for Ax + Ax. Add 0.25* (force*point) for AKxxxx by xx side suit with the 2 Controls (not in the Trump) NOTE: The force*point can be added only by the Quest (the player who investigates partners' hands using Relays, the Interrogator) Add 0.5 for your 9-card Super FIT or for 9-card Super FIT in your Opponents’ hands! Add 0.5 for 10-card Super FIT if you do NOT have an Honor in the short Trump suit or when your Super FIT consists of 5 by 5 cards or when it is 8 by 2 cards! Add 1.0 for any 6 by 4 or 7 by 3-card Super FIT if you have an Honor in the short Trump suit or for 10-card Super FIT in your Opponents’ hands! NOTE: Do NOT add anything for any 11+ card Super FIT if you have AK in that suit (in one or in both hands)

Add 1.5 for any 11+ card Super FIT (in both hands) but only if you have a 6+/5+ bi-color! Immediately add 0.5 to your B# on the fly by the time of the bidding, when any of the opponents bid your Singleton or Void, but only if your B# is not enough to Overcal. If you use the upgrade, do not duplicate it later if you discover that this is a "good" Singleton or a "good" Void. Add 0.5 for any Singleton opposite Axxx suit (no other TOP Honors) or for a FIT in Opponents’ hands if you have a Singleton / Void in that suit! Add 1.0 pt for any Singleton opposite Ax(x) !! (no other TOP Honors) or for a Super FIT in Opponents’ hands if you have a Singleton / Void in that suit ! NOTE: Do not add anything for a Singleton opposite any Axxxx+suit Add 0.5 for a Void opposite xx(xx) empty suit (‘x’ up to Jack) or for a Super FIT in Opponents’ hands if you have a Void in that suit ! Do not add anything for a Void opposite any Axxxxx+suit Add 0.5 for 6 by 2 FIT in a side suit with the 2 Controls (not in the Trump) Add 0.5 for the 3 TOP Honors (AKQ) in a side 5 by 2 or 4 by 3 Misfits suit (but not in a 4 by 4 suit), even for 4 by 2 cards with all 4 Honors (not in the Trump) Add 0.5 for KQJx+ in а side suit (not in the Trump) Add 1.0 for KQJTx+ in а side suit (not in the Trump)

Add 1.0 for AKQxx(xx) in a side suit (in both hands, not in Trump). Add 1.0 for a Singleton Кing opposite АQx+ (0.5 for the King + 1.0 for the 3 TOP Honors). Do not add anything for a Singleton ’x’ opposite АQx+ Add 1.5 for 5 card AKQJT side suit (not in the Trump, in one hand) ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ The Negative Adjustments For NT contracts: Subtract 0.5 if you do NOT have 5 by 3 or better FIT (4 by 4 will not help). NOTE: Never play a 3 NT contract with 2 by 2 in a suit with only 1 TOP Honor !! For suit contracts: If you have chosen a Misfit for a Trump, your PL with Majors will go 0.5 down (except with a 5 by 2 Misfit with at least 1 TOP Honor between the 2 cards), but with Minors your PL always goes 1 down. For any 6-card suit opposite a Void, your PL will go 1 down. For any 7-card suit opposite a Void, your PL will go 0.5 down. Subtract 1.0 for any two 4+ cards opposite Singletons or Voids Subtract 1.0 for any King opposite a Void (“bad” Void) except in the Trump suit. Subtract 1.0 for any King (no Ace) opposite a Singleton (except in the Trump suit).

Subtract 1.0 for any King + Ace opposite a Void("semi-bad Singleton) except in the Trump suit. Subtract 0.5 for any King + Ace opposite a Singleton ("semi-bad" Singleton, except in the Trump suit). Subtract 0.5 for an Ace + a Queen opposite a Void("semi- bad"Void) NOTE: Do not subtract or add anything for an Ace + a Queen opposite a Singleton. Subtract 0.5 for any 2 Mirror suits (especially when you have only one FIT) if there are not 2 TOP Honors in the suit !! Subtract 0.5 for any 5+ card suit without any Honors. NOTE: Mirror suits are 2 by 2, 2 by 3, 3 by 3, 3by4!! Subtract 1.0 for full Mirror hands despite the TOP Honors in the suits! For any Singleton opposite any Singleton (except an Ace), add 0.5 ! For a Singleton Ace opposite any Singleton, add 1.0 ! Your Trump Play Level is equal to your NT Play Level, but only if you have any 5 by 3 or better FIT (4 by 4 FIT will not help you !). If you do not have such FIT, your NT PL will be 1 below your suit PL. For any contract: Subtract 0.5 when the difference of partners' B#s is >=5.5 (it works with Negative Bases too) Subtract 0.5 when you have 3 or 4 Aces which are more than your Kings and no Queen. NOTE: Do not do that if you have only 1 or 2 Aces !

More Negative Adjustments 1. For 5 by 2 Trump Misfit in Minors, downgrade your PL by1.0 2. For 5 by 2 Trump Misfit in Majors, if you do not have a TOP Honor in the 2-card Trump suit, downgrade your PL by 0.5. 3. For 5 by 2 Trump Misfit in Majors, if you do have a TOP Honor in the 2-card Trump suit, don’t do anything! 4. Be aware to apply the Negative MIRROR Adjustments with 2 balanced or ambiguously balanced hands (hands that consist of 5+ card suit but no V / S) Some ambitious bridge players, mostly mathematicians, have made Bridge Hand Evaluators, some of them very good, but a few of them have connected it to a newly created Bidding System, because it is hugely time-consuming! It is not easy to create a successful Bidding! Fortunately, you already have both the Fp Explicit Hand Evaluation Counting and the Fp Bidding System, but do not forget: The Playing is your own responsibility! ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ The Simple Theory The Bidding space is divided by Bases. Each Base consists of 0.5 points and has a number, so the B# shows the hand’s strength. The sum of both partners' B# will supply the game’s PlayLevel (PL) before the Adjustments (if any).

Find Your Base Number (The B#, the contract tricks, your exact strength): B# = the sum of all Honor & Distributional points minus 2.0. To find your PL (Play Level) for the FIT suit, use the sum of both partners' B#s. Your NT PL = your suit PL if you have a 5 by3(or better length) FIT (4 by 4 won’t help!), if you do not have a Void or a Singleton. In any other cases, your NT's PL is lower (usually by 1) than your suit's PL. When your partner discovers your exact distribution using the SCOR - SCOR convention (which simultaneously shows the exact length of your Basic suit along with your side suits!) and on the next Relay your exact shape, your partner may ask you for your exact B#. Answer by steps. Your 1st step answer must show your initial B# shown by the Opening bid. For any of the next steps, you must show a higher B# with 0.5 increments. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Control Points (CP, the Controls) Ace = Void = 6 CP King = Singleton = 4 CP NOTE: The Void must be counted for 10 CP (when you are sure that it is opposite an empty TOP Honors suit). Also, when asked for CP, show only your real CP, if your partner is aware of your exact distribution. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

How to show all of your CP & EQ with 1 answer only? With up to a 6-card suit or a 5/5 bi-color, to discover the 1st step CP correct answer, both players must use the Formula: The 1st step CP = 4*B#, along with 4 EQ (Equivalent Queens): The 1st step answer will show CP = 4*B# along with 4 EQ. The 2nd step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 2 along with 3 EQ. The 3rd step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 4 along with 2 EQ The 4th step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 6 along with 1 EQ. The 5th step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 8 along with no EQ. Next divide the rest of your CP by 2 to discover how many additional steps to add to show the total of your CP. For example: Suppose you have 5 card suit, B3 and 20 CP and your partner uses 4♣ bid asking you for your all TOP Honors. Your 1st step answer for CP = 4*B# = 4*3 = 12, so the rest of your CP = 20 - 12 = 8 Next divide the rest of your CP by 2 to find the additional steps: 8/2 = 4 (for a total of 5 steps) . For example: The 1st step after 4♣ Relay is 4♦. So, 4 more steps are: 4♥, 4♠, 4NT, 5♣. Your answer after 4♣ Relay must be the 5thstep = 5♣, showing a total of 20 CP along with zero EQ. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

With a 7-card suit or a 6/5 bi-color, to discover the 1st step CP correct answer, both partners must use the Formula: The 1st step CP = CP = 4*B# - 2, along with 5 EQ” The 1st step answer will show CP = 4*B# - 2 along with 5 EQ. The 2nd step answer will show CP = 4*B# along with 4 EQ. The 3rd step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 2 along with 3 EQ. The 4th step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 4 along with 2 EQ. The 5th step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 6 along with 1 EQ. Next divide the rest of your CP by 2 to discover how many additional steps to add to show the total of your CP. For example: Suppose you have 7 card suit + a Singleton, B(3.5), and your partner uses a 4NT bid asking you for your all TOP Honors Your 1st step answer for CP = 4*B# - 2 = 4*3.5- 2=12, sotherest of your CP = 18 - 12 = 6 Next divide the rest of your CP by 2 to find the additional steps: 6/2 = 3 (for a total of 4 steps) The 1st step after 4NT Relay is 5♣. 3 more steps are: 5♦, 5♥, 5♠. Your answer must be the 4th step = 5♠, showing a total of 18 CP along with 2 EQ. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ With an 8-card suit or a 6/6 bi-color or a 7/5 bi-color, to discover the 1st step CP correct answer, both partners must use the Formula: The 1st step CP = CP = 4*B# - 4, along with 6 EQ: The 1st step answer will show CP = 4*B# - 4 along with 6 EQ.

The 2nd step answer will show CP = 4*B# - 2 along with 5 EQ. The 3rd step answer will show CP = 4*B# along with 4 EQ. The 4th step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 2 along with 3 EQ. The 5th step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 4 along with 4 EQ. The 6th step answer will show CP = 4*B# + 6 along with 3 EQ. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ In all cases, for any of the next step answers, raise the CP by 2 and lower the EQ by 1. That way, you will discover the exact number of all partners' TOP Honors with 1 question - 1 answer only! No other bridge system in the world can do that ! ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ How to show your TOP Honors by SCOR After discovering the exact number and the kind of the partner’s CP and EQ, the Quest may ask for the colors of the TOP Honors. The answers are by SCOR and will show the "2 of a kind" by priority: 2 Kings K + Q K + A A + K + Q (1st show K + Q, then show K+ A) 1 King 3 Kings (show naturally the omitted suit, the suit where you don't have a King) 2 Queens 3 Queens (show naturally the omitted suit, the suit where you don't have a Queen) 2 Aces

3 Aces 1 Ace Some useful information To make 3 NT you will need PL >= 4.0+ & 22+ CP. To make 4 HE or 4 SP you will need PL = 3.5 or PL >= 4.5 in both cases along with 22+ CP NOTE: NEVER play 4 HE or 4 SP with an exact PlayLevel(PL) = 4.0 if you do not have a Singleton or a Void; play 3NT instead ! That area is the Fp Bermuda Triangle and your contract will sink ! Some important things you better know . To make 5 CL or 5 DI you will need PL >= 5.0 &28+CP!. To make a small SLAM in a suit, you must have PL >= 6.0 along with 32+ CP To make a Small SLAM in NT, you must have PL >= 5.5! along with 34+ CP . NOTE: Never play a SLAM with PL= 6 & 30 CP only! ThrPL must be at leas 7.0. A Small SLAM is possible even with 30 CP when you have a sidecard suit with all 3 TOP Honors or 2 good FITs or if you have 1 good FIT + 1 Super Fit of 10+ Trumps with both Controls. Be careful & investigate by yourself. To make a GRAND SLAM you must strictly have PL>=7.5 & 36 or 40 CP (not 38, which are physically impossible and must be lowered immediately to 34 CP !)

NOTE: A GRAND SLAM is possible with 36CP(all 4Aces)2 good FITs (with all TOP Honors) or 1 good FIT + 1 Super FIT of 10+ Trumps with both Controls. If your partner asks you directly for your Controls (before asking you for your exact B#) use the Formula to calculate it: B# = any CP / 4 – 1, where any CP = real + pseudo CP The Table below shows the approximation between HCP and the Fp B#s (courtesy of Mr. Aleksander Dulevski). It is useful only when you plan to play NT Contracts ! Notice the arithmetical HCP progression by rising with 3 HCP for any 1.0 Fp count up for easier remembering! B# .. HCP B# .. HCP B# .. HCP B# .. HCP B# .. HCP -1.0 = ~ 4 -0.5 = ~ 6 0 = ~ 7 0.5 = ~ 9 1.0 = ~ 10 1.5 = ~12 2.0 = ~13 2.5 = ~15 3.0 = ~16 3.5 = ~18 4.0 = ~19 4.5 = ~21 5.0 = ~22 5.5 = ~24 6.0 = ~25 6.5 = ~27 7.0 = ~28 7.5 = ~30 8.0 = ~31 8.5 = ~33 NOTE: The table’s HCP shown are for balanced hands (no5 card suit, no Singleton by Fp requirements). If you persist in knowing your HCP for mild to ambiguous unbalanced hands, expect 1 HCP less than the shown HCP. With more unbalanced hands, expect 2-3 HCP less than the shown HCP. Remember that B# = 1.0 ~ 10 HCP for balanced hands (no 5-card suit, no Singleton by Fp requirements) & B# = 1.0 ~ 9 HCP for unbalanced hands. That will help you to find the HCP very fast for any B#.

Go to: http://force-point to obtain the complete ForcePoint bridge bidding system set for 4 Team players for $9.99 via PayPal (tax included, no hidden fees): - The e-Book - 4 "Slam after Slam with ForcePoint" about the ForcePoint bidding system. - The digital version - 4 ‘Sysnotes’ computer programs (no installation necessary) for use by the time you play liveor ontheInternet. Lifetime free upgrade of the ‘Sysnotes’ data file. - Free licenses will be automatically granted for the right to use the Force Point Bidding on International Tournaments No licenses are needed for using Force Point Bidding in domestic Pair or Team Tournaments. Mr. Pavel Boev The Force Point Bidding Developer https://www.facebook.com/groups/1133524473730926 http://force-point.com Search by Google: force-point-system@force-point-bridge.com The corrected 7th final edition of the book ”Slam after Slam with Force Point” will be sent for publishing in standard color on 12/07/2026 & expected to hit the market by the end of August 1026. The PDF eBook along with the DEMO Counting & the Sysnotes computer programs (the digital book of the Force Point Bridge Bidding System for the Windows operating system) will be on sale on: http://force-point.com

The price of the Force Point complete set actually dropped by over 70%. Now the cost for a Team of 8 players + 2 coaches is $14.99 (before it was $13.05 for a pair), and it is possible to keep it that low because I almost fulfilled my goals! So, any Team bridge player can obtain this tremendous weapon for a fraction of the cost, between $1.50 and $2.50. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Send an SMS to the New York-based phone: +1 - (718) - 66 - FIT IN (+1 - (718) - 663- 4846) Around the world, use the TOLL-FREE phone: +1 - (844) - JIDAI 2B (+1 - (844) - 543- 2422) If you have any questions about Force Point Bidding or would like information on how to arrange up to 8 hours of free consultation about the system in BBO, do not hesitate to call or to send an SMS. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣