Correct contract bridge / by E.V. Shepard ; including the official Laws of contract bridge adopted by the Whist Club, New York, and by all the leading clubs in America.

VI
OPENING BIDS
THIRD OR FOURTH HAND
REVOLUTIONARY as it may appear to Auction players, the requirements for opening contracting are identical for third and fourth hands.
Either third or fourth hand may open the bidding upon any hand meeting the following minimum
requirements:
I. Two sure tricks held;
2. Ability to win a total of five tricks;
3. Ability to furnish five assisting tricks for partner's best declaration or to rebid;
4. Probable ability to safely outbid opponents or
to prevent an adverse game, counting upon partner
for a maximum of two assisting tricks or one defensive trick.
Even if you hold as many as 3 2 sure tricks there
are 82 in Ioo chances that partner holds at least
one defensive trick. His chances to have two assisting tricks for you are still better. The above
rules for opening the contracting are the most
elastic yet formulated and also the most simple for
anyone able to count "sure tricks" and "probable
tricks;" without ability to readily count such values
a player may as well abandon all idea of excelling at
the newer game, whereat former methods of valuation are too crude and inadequate.