| Probability 
of Hand Distribution - The priori probability of holding a 
certain hand pattern is based on mathematical odds.  Aspiring Bridge 
players make mental references the hand distribution when bidding or determining the best line 
of play, particularly the most probable 
hand distribution.   Among the 39 
possible hand patterns, 5 hand patterns comprise 70 percent of the the possible 
hands. 
      
        | Longest Suit
 | Distribution Pattern
 | Percentage | Ranking |  
        | 4 | 4-4-3-2 | 21.6 | # 1 |  
        | 4-3-3-3 | 10.5 | # 5 |  
        | 4-4-4-1 |  3.0 |  |  
        |  | 35.10 |  |  
        |  |  |  |  |  
        | 5 | 5-3-3-2 | 15.5 | # 2 |  
        | 5-4-3-1 | 12.9 | # 3 |  
        | 5-4-2-2 | 10.6 | # 4 |  
        | 5-5-2-1 |  3.2 |  |  
        | 5-4-4-0 |  1.2 |  |  
        | 5-5-3-0 |  .90 |  |  
        |  | 44.34 |  |  
        |  |   |   |  |  
        | 6 | 6-3-2-2 | 5.6 |  |  
        | 6-4-2-1 | 4.7 |  |  
        | 6-3-3-1 |  3.5 |  |  
        | 6-4-3-0 |  1.3 |  |  
        | 6-5-1-1 | .71 |  |  
        | 6-5-2-0 | .65 |  |  
        |  | 16.55 |  |  
        |  |   |  |  |  
        | 7 | 7-3-2-1 | 1.9 |  |  
        | 7-2-2-2 | .51 |  |  
        | 7-4-1-1 | .39 |  |  
        | 7-4-2-0 | .36 |  |  
        | 7-3-3-0 | .27 |  |  
        | 7-5-1-0 | .1 |  |  
        |  | 3.90 |  |  
        |  |  |  |  |  
        | Others |  | .50 |  |  
        |  |  |  |  |  
    Card Distribution 
    (remaining two hands)Hand Distribution 
    (suits within a hand)
 High Card Point Count (HCPs in one hand)
 Miscellaneous Probabilities 
    (assorted interesting odds)
 Number of Cards (card quantity in 
    a suit)
 Posteriori Probability (example 
    when additional information is known)
 Suit Combinations (best lead and 
    plays)
 Expected Controls (based on HCP)
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