[mikestar]

All the recent interest in Zar points has stirred things up about suit evalution, butr what about no trump?

Currently, I'm using HCP + 1 point per card over 4 in my longest suit for NT bidding. According to amny sources, this is a good evaluation method when two balanced hands are deciding how high to go in NT. I'd call this "power NT bidding."

But there are two other types of situations.

1. "Misfit NT bidding" where one or both hands are unbalanced, but no suit fit exists or the only fit is in a minor and values for 5 are not present. Is for example, 5-4-3-1 shape (which is better than 5-4-2-2 for suit play), worse than 5-4-2-2 for NT play? by how much?

2. "Gambling NT bidding" where most of the tricks are going to come from running a suit--for example 1N-3N where responders has AKxxxxx in a minor and no other assets. This will make opposite almost any NT range if the long suit runs. How about a hand like

AQ
Kx
xx
AKQJxxx

which make makes 3N if the clubs run and they lead a major or partner stops diamonds.

On this type of hand would a Zar-type honor count be more accurate than HCP? Gambling NT's require aces and kings to a degree that power NT hands do not.