• natural, 5 card majors (in 1st/2nd)
• variable notrump - 12-14 / 15-17 depending on position and vulnerability
• 1♣ and 1♦ opening may be with 3 cards
• 2♦ the only strong opening (GF)
• 2♣ opening - artificial, weak with both majors (54/45/55/64/46)

we play variable notrump: 12-14 HCP in most positions, EXCEPT 3rd position in red and EXCEPT 4th position (when is 15-17).

• 12-14 - open 1NT or 1m - x - 1NT
• 15-17 - 1m - x - 1NT (or open 1NT)
• 18-20 - 1m - x - 2NT
• 20-22 - 2NT
• 23+ - 2D

1H - 1S - 1NT is always 12-14

with 33/43/34/44 minor, we may choose which minor to open, we have no strict rules.

answers to 1m

• inverted minor raises - but NOT in competition and NOT as passed hand. a direct minor raise denies 4 card major. after inverted minor raise, immediate 2NT or 3m from both sides shows minimal hand, NF.
• jump in other minor (1C - 2D or 1D - 3C) is intermediate raise (~ 7-9 HCP), fit jump is weak (~ 3-6 HCP)
• walsh style (majors first, bypassing 1D response).

subsequent actions

• 1m - x - 1NT shows a balanced hand, 15-17 HCP or 12-14, depending on which range 1NT opening would be. usually bypass a major (for example 1C - 1H - 1S shows an unbalanced hand, with balanced hand and 4 card spades, bid 1NT). double checkback after 1NT rebid.
• 1m - 1M - 2NT is either normal balanced 18-20 (may have 3 or even 4 card fit) OR strong hand with minor onesuiter (stronger than 3m). a special 3C relay is used.
• 1m - 1M - 4m/4M both shows a 64 hand with good minor suit (2 big honors). 4m is stronger (4 losers), 4M weaker (5 losers).
• 1m - x - 3NT is to play, based on solid minor

we play double checkback ( even by passed hand?)

• (special sequence) after 1m - 1H - 1NT - 2S is 44 (exactly) majors, INV (NF)
• 2NT is transfer to clubs
• 2C is puppet to 2D, usually with INV hands. natural developments.
• 2D is game forcing, natural developments.

a non-jump reverse by opener is forcing for one round (for example, 1C - 1S - 2H). then

• responder rebid his major with 5(+) cards. this is forcing one round and the only way to show a 5+ cards (for example, 1C - 1S - 2H - 2S)
• the cheapest announce between 4th suit and 2NT is artificial, weak. opener make the most economic call with a normal reverse (~ 15-17) or anything else (natural) with a strong reverse (~ 18+ HCP)
• any other announce is natural and creates GF

1m - 1M - 2NT. this 2NT is alertable, we include here hands like

• 18-20 HCP balanced. may have fit3 or fit4 for responder major
• 18(17)+ with 5m-4M-22
• 18(17)+ with minor onesuiter (stronger than 1m - x - 3m)

thus, 3C is a special relay for clarification:

• 3D = minor onesuiter. responder may rebid his major to search a 5-3 fit
• 3H/S/NT = 18-20 BAL. up the line. if it’s fit, it is 3 card fit. if it’s the other major, it is a 4 card suit.
• 4m (opened minor) = fit4, 5422 (5 in opened minor, fit4 for responder’s major)
• 4om (the other minor) = fit4, 4432
• 4M (fitting responder major) = fit4, 4333

other than this 3C relay, the responder may bid

• 3D = ART, fit for opener minor. the responder major in exactly 4 cards, no interest in searching a 53 fit.
• 1m - 1H - 2NT - 3H (rebid) = ? 6 cards GF ? cannot be very weak (1m - 2H then)
• 1m - 1H - 2NT - 3S = ? 44 similar with the rebid after 1NT ?
• 1m - 1S - 2NT - 3H = ? 55 ? with 54 simply use the 3C relay
• 1m - 1S - 2NT - 3S (rebid) = ? 6 cards GF ?

usually 5 card (very rare, for tactical reasons, may be 4 card in 3rd position).

1NT forcing, pretty standard 2/1 style.

2NT is fit4, at least INV. natural developments.

reverse drury-fit by passed hand.

12-14 or 15-17. we play the same system in both cases. it may have 5 card major, but we have no mechanism to detect this.

1NT

• 2C = simple stayman, only 2D/H/S answers allowed
• 2H/S = transfer
• 2S = transfer to clubs OR BAL INV
• 2NT = transfer to diamonds

weak major 2 suiter. 3-10 HCP. may be 5-5 or 5-4/6-4 either way.

• pas = to play in clubs
• 3D = to play in diamonds
• 2D asks for longer major (2H with 55). then 3C/D is natural invitational
• 2NT is strong, forcing, ask description:
  • 3C = any minimal
    • 3D ask again
      • 3H/S = 54
      • 3N = 55
      • 4C/D = 64
  • 3D = maximal 55
  • 3H/S = maximal 54
  • 4C/D = maximal 64
• 4C ask transfer in longer major, 4D ask for longer major

In competition, after 2C - (DBL) - pas is to play in clubs, 2D is to play in diamonds, redouble ask for longer major.

this is the only strong opening, it is GF.

answers:

• 2H = (any) negative ~ 0-5HCP
• 2S = positive (5+ HCP), no good 6 card suit
• 2N,3C/D/H = transfer. positive with good 6 card suit

those are normal weak two openings. may be with only 5 card if the hand is in range 8-11 HCP and the suit is good (2 big honors). modified 2NT ogust:

• 3C = 5 card suit, 8-11 HCP
• 3D = weak hand, weak suit (6 cards)
• 3H = weak hand, good suit (for example KQJxxx and out)
• 3S = good hand, weak suit (for example Axxxxx x KQx xx)
• 3NT = good hand, good suit (for example KQxxxx x KQx xxx)

20-22 BAL. may have 5 card major, but we have no way to detect this (NO puppet stayman)

• 3C/D/H = normal stayman and transfers
• 4C/D = super texas
• 3S = special. a hand with one or both minors. opener bid 3NT (or 4C with 44 minor) and then
  • 4C = both minors, longer clubs (at least 5 clubs + 4 diamonds). then, 4D sets diamonds as fit, 4H/S sets clubs as fit (cuebid), 4NT reject
  • 4D = both minors, longer diamonds. then 4H set clubs as fit, 4S sets diamonds as fit, 4NT=reject.
  • 4H = club onesuiter, slam INV (4NT keycard, 5C reject invitation)
  • 4S = diamons onesuiter, slam INV (4NT keycard, 5D reject invitation)

opening higher than 3C (including) are natural preempts.

3NT is gambling with nothing outside the solid minor (at most a queen).

in 3rd position (after pass-pass), our preempts can vary from very weak to full opening (tactical).

after our suit overcalls, we play rubens advances. everything starting from cuebid in opp suit (included) to direct fit in partner suit (excluded) is TRANSFER.

rubens advances does NOT APPLY when

• partner overcalled in balancing position
• opponents raise their suit directly

Examples:

1. (1♣) - 1♥ - (pass) - 2♣=diamonds, 2♦=fit invit, 2♥=fit natural
2. (1♥) - 2♣ - (pass) - 2♦=natural F1, 2♥=spades, 2♠=fit inv, 2NT=natural, 3♣=fit
3. (3♦) - 3♠ - (pass) - 4♣=natural, 4♦=hearts, 4♥=spade fit, slam interest, 4♠=spade fit natural

• italian cuebids (first and second round control, up the line)
• 4NT roman keycard blackwood: 30-14-2-2+Q
• 5NT keycard asking when 4NT was bypassed in a cuebidding sequence (same answers as for 4NT)
• 5M - in a slam sequence, 5M bypassing 4NT shows a hand wich either has all controls and ask partner for good trumps OR has good trumps but no other controls to cuebid
• splinters

• standard signals: high encourage, low discourage on suit lead by partner. normal count (high=even).
• lead 4th at NT, 3rd/5th at suit contracts
• (usually) lead high from 2 touching honours (J from KJ10x or J10x)
• first discard italian
• on initial Ace lead (in some cases, we may lead A unsupported by K), italian signal. on initial K lead, distribution (or unblock at NT contract). From AK we may choose to lead A or K.