===== Openings ===== ==== Guidelines ==== We open ALL hands between 7 and 13 hcp. We pass ALL hands 0-6 or 14+ (1st and 2nd seat). When we open, we usually show the exact number of cards in a major (or both). Usually we deny length in the other major. Exception: the 1c (in 1st and 2nd) and 1h (3rd, 4th) openings can contain also 4 spades (if 11-13 hcp). When we open a minor, we deny lenght in both majors (0-3 hearts, 0-3 spades). With a 4 card major and a longer minor, we always open with the major. ==== 1st and 2nd seats ==== * pass = 0-6 any shape or 14+ (17+ balanced) * 1c = 4H, 7-13 unbal (2-under) * 1h = 7-9 / 14-16 bal * pass = always an option (3+ hearts) * 1s = relay (2-under style) * 1nt = 7-9 * full system on (stayman, transfers, smolen) * 2c = 14-16, no 5 card major, no 6 card minor * 2d = asking for 4 card major * 2h, 2s = 4 cards * 2nt = no 4 card major, minimum hand, non-forcing * 3c, 3d = 5 cards, maximum hand * 3nt = no 4 card major, no 5 card minor, maximum hand * 2h = 5 cards, inv+, forcing 1 round * 2s = 5 cards, inv+, forcing 1 round * 2nt = no 4 card major, invite * 2d, 2h, 2s = 14-16, 6d / 5 card major * 2nt = 6c, 14(bad 15) hcp * 3c = 6c, 16(good 15) hcp * 2c, 2d, 2s = non-forcing, 5 cards * 1nt = 10-13 ==== 3rd and 4th seats ("responses" to pass) ==== * 1c = 0-6 or 14+, any shape * 1h = 7-13, 4!H, unbal * 1s = nat, forcing, does not promise 14+ hcp but may have * 1nt relay, does not promise 14+ hcp but may have * 2c, 2d = non-forcing, 6 cards * 2nt = 4+fit, 14+ * jump new suit = fit + the named suit * 1nt = 7-16 bal ==== All seats ==== * 1d = 4s, 7-13, unbal (2-under) * 1s = 5-4 / 5-5 minor, 7-13 hcp * 2h = 7-13, 4-4 / 5-4 majors * 3h = 7-13 hcp, 5-5 / 6-5 majors * 2c -> 4d 2-under * 4h, 4s, 5c, 5d = to play * 4nt = ask for specific aces ===== Interference ===== ==== Over our pass ==== * Assume weak opening, bid accordingly (natural bidding) * If they overcall with a bid not promissing a specific suit * dbl = 13-15 balanced or 18+ any (multi style) * new suit = natural, opening values * lowest NT available = 16-18 bal * If they overcall with a bid promissing a specific suit * dbl = regular takeout (can be very weak if classic shape) * new suit = natural, can be very weak, partener should cue-bid if 14+ * lowest NT available = 16-18 bal * Any subsequent action from the initial passed hand shows 14+ * Exception 1: fit bids where a cuebid was available below game level * Exception 2: stayman + transfers after a natural NT overcall by partner ==== Over our 2-under openings ==== * They double * pass = to play * rdbl = relay bid, at least invitational values * 2nt / 3nt = fit showing raise * new suit (at minimum level) = non-forcing, to play [including the intermediary bid that is used as a relay if they don't double] * new suit (any jump) = fit + the named suit * They overcall * dbl = pass if not singleton or void in this suit or a very special hand, usually denies fit * pass = strongly suggests a singleton elsewhere * cue-bid * new suit = natural, singleton in the doubled suit or 10 cards in the 2 suits bid * suit rebid = natural, singleton in the doubled suit or a very special hand (for instance a 7222 hand that opened lower than the normal level according to the system) * 2nt = 4 card fit, 10+ hcp * cuebid = 3 card fit, at least invitational values * new suit (at minimum level) = natural, forcing * new suit (any jump) = fit + the named suit ==== Over our 1h ==== * They double * pas = 3+ hearts, non-forcing (usually 4, 3 only with 2344 shape) * rdbl = 15+, any shape * subsequent doubles by us = penalty * 1s = 3+ spades, non-forcing * 1nt = 10-15 balanced * 2c, 2d = 5 cards, non-forcing * 2h, 2s = 5 cards, 10-15 * 2nt = 5-5 minors, 10-15 * 3c, 3d = 6 cards, 10-15 * >=3h = to play * They overcall promising a specific suit * dbl = take-out for the specific suit * new suit = constructive (will play game opposite 14-16) * They overcall without promising a specific suit * dbl = take-out for the suit bid * new suit = constructive ==== Over our 1nt ==== * They double * rdbl = strong hand, at least invitational values; our pass is forcing after a rdbl; subsequent doubles are for penalty * 2c, 2d, 2h, 2s = to play, 5 cards+, non-forcing * 2nt = good fit (4 cards), max hand * fit = 4 cards, min hand * pass = denies a strong hand and a 5 card suit, not forcing * pass = 4333 * 2c, 2d, 2h, 2s = 5 cards * rdbl = 4-4-3-2 shape * start finding a fit on the 2nd level * They overcall and promise a specific suit * dbl = take-out for the suit promised * lebensohl applies * They overcall and do not promise a specific suit * dbl = take-out for the suit bid * lebensohl applies ==== Over our 2h ==== * They double * 2nt, 3c, 3d, 3h, 3s = system on * 2s does not promise anything about spades, but partner must pass * subsequent double * 2nt = bid your best minor * 3c, 3d = absolutely to play, no questions asked use 2s as an escape sequence when we get doubled in 2h and partner has something like 2-1 majors * They overcall 2s or 3h natural * dbl = take-out, probably 3 cards in the other major, singleton or void in this one * They overcall a minor * dbl = see the 2-under double after a natural overcall (proposing penalty if partner is not singleton) ===== Rebids ===== ==== after pass - 1c and pass - 1c - 1d ==== pass - 1c * 1d = 0-6, any shape * pass = 0-6, any shape The following bids are simmetric and apply both after (pass - 1c - ?) and after (pass - 1c - 1d - ?) * 1h = 18+, any shape * 1s = 0-4 hcp, 0-4 spades * pass = 18-20, 5 spades * 1nt = 20-21 * stayman + transfers + smolen * 2c = absolute game forcing * 2d = no 5 card major, no 6 card minor * 2nt = 24+ * stayman + transfers + smolen * 2h, 2s = 5 card suits * 3c, 3d = 6 card suits * 2d, 2h, 2s, 3c = 18-22 hcp, nat (21-22 if 2s) * 2nt = 22-23 * stayman + transfers + smolen * 1nt = 0-4, 5+ spades * 2c = absolute game forcing * 2d = nothing to add (to the 5 card spade suit) * 2d, 2h, 3c = 18-22 hcp, nat * 2s = to play (2-3 spades, 18-21 bal or semi-bal) * 2nt = 22-23, 0-2 spades * 3s = 22-23, 3 spades / 18-21, 4 spades * 2c = 5-6 hcp, balanced, game forcing * 2nt = balanced hand or semibalanced * stayman + transfers + smolen * 2d, 2h, 2s, 3c = nat, unbal * 2d, 2h, 2s, 3c = 5-6 hcp, 5+ cards, game forcing * 3d, 3h, 3s = 0-4 hcp, 7 cards * 1s, 2c, 2d, 2h = 5 cards, 14-17 * 1nt = 17-19 * >=2s = solid suit, 14-17, "bid what you can make" ==== after 1nt ==== * stayman, transfers and smolen apply ==== after 2-under bids ==== Assume x is the 2-under opening * x+1 = relay bid, at least invitational values * x+2 = 7-9 (bad 10) hcp * any other bid = natural, 11-13 (good 10) hcp * 2nt (when available and =/= x+1) = 4 card fit, 10+ hcp * x+2 = to play * new suit = very nice shape, maximum hand, natural * new suit = nat, non-forcing, 6+ cards * pass = 0-2 cards * fit = 3 cards * x+6 = (see new suit) * jump new suit (=/= x+6) = fit + the suit named Exception: after 3s * 3nt = to play * 4d = relay bid * 5c = minimum hand * 4h, 4s = shortness * 4nt = shortness in diamonds After 3nt opening * usually pass with a strong hand * 4c = relay (slamish) * 4d = minimum hand * 4h, 4s = shortness, maximum hand * 4nt = shortness in clubs, max hand ==== after 2h ==== * 2s = to play * 2nt = relay bid, 0-3 hearts, 0-3 spades, game forcing * 3c, 3d = 4 cards, 4441 shape * 3h, 3s = 5 cards in the suit named (5-4 shape) * 4h, 4s = 6 cards in the suit name (6-4 shape) * 3c = 4+ hearts, invitational+ * 3h = does not accept the invitation * anything else = natural, 9-10 hcp, game forcing * 3d = 4+ spades, invitational+ * 3s = does not accept the invitation * anything else = natural, 9-10 hcp, game forcing * 3h, 3s = to play * 3nt = to play ==== after 3h ==== * 3s = to play * 3nt = to play * 4c = heart fit, slam invite * 4h = minimum hand * 4d = spade fit, slam invite * 4s = minimum hand