* Executive summary:
-Acol, 12-14 1NT, Strong twos, transfers, roman key card blackwood
+Acol, 12-14 1NT, Weak twos, transfers, roman key card blackwood, Multi
+Landy overcalls of 1NT
* Magic numbers:
new suits often force for one round
jumps to game are usually "shut up"
"invitational to x" means bid x if maximal for previous bid
-"support" is usually 4 cards
+"support" is usually 4 cards (should add up to 8)
if you make a limit bid, you usually shut up unless forced
** Opening **
1 [suit] promises at least the above - generally pick the longest suit
1NT is 12-14 points balanced (limit)
-2C is 23+ points, at least 5 quick tricks. Usually game-forcing
-2 [other] has one 6- or two 5-card suits, >=8 playing tricks. 1r force
+2C is 23+ points. Usually game-forcing
+2[other] 6-10 points, good 6-card suit (2 of A-Q, 3 of A-10)
2NT is 20-22 points balanced (limit)
3 [suit] pre-empt 7-card suit 7-9ish points
3NT pre-empt solid (AKQ at least) 7-card minor "Weak Gambling 3NT"
4 [suit] pre-empt as 3, but 8-card suit
-(with 15-19 points balanced, open 1[suit] and rebid xNT - see below
+A weak 2 denies a 4-card major or good 3-card major
+
+(with 15-19 points balanced, open 1[suit] and rebid xNT - see below)
** Replying **
xNT - denies support for partner (other responses do not)
1NT 6-9 points (doesn't need to be balanced), no 2-level bid (limit)
2NT 10-12 points, balanced (limit)
-3NT 12-15 points, balanced (limit)
+3NT 13-15 points, balanced (limit)
1 [new] 6+ points, 4+ cards, 1-round force
2 [new < suit] 8-9+ points, 5+ cards, 1-round force
jump [new] 16+ points, 5+ cards (or support), game force
pass - <11 points, no long suit
2C - Stayman (bid 2 of a 4-card major or 2D if none)
-2D/2H - Transfer (3 of next suit if 4+card and maximal, 2 of next otherwise)
- [a break (3 of unexpected suit) shows maximum and xx in bid suit]
+2D/2H - Transfer (bid 2 of next suit)
2S - 11 points or long minor (bid 2NT if minimum, 3C if maximum)
2NT 12 points; invites game if opener maximal
3 [suit] - 5 cards in suit, forcing 1 round
* Response to 2NT
3C - Stayman (as before, but forcing to game)
-3 [suit] 5-card suit, forcing to game
+3 [suit] - transfers (to a 5-card suit), game-forcing
others, as per 1NT
* Response to 2C (all game-forcing except 2C-2D-2NT (23-24 balanced))
2D - negative (<8 points)
+Positive responses often suggest slam prospects
2NT - balanced, 8+ points, game-force
2 [suit] 5-card suit with an honour ~7+ points. game-force
3 [suit] decent 6-card suit. game-force
-* Response to 2[suit]
+* Response to 2[suit] "RONF" (raise is the only non-forcing bid)
+
+Raises are limits and opener must not bid again:
+3 [suit] - 3/4 support 6-13 points
+4 [suit] - 4/5 support 6-13 points (may be weaker with 5)
-2NT - negative
-[new] - 5+ cards, 8+ points. game-force
-3[suit] - 3+support, 5-8 points. game-force
-3NT - 8-11 points, flat hand
+Other bids are forcing:
+new suit - 16+ points 5+ cards, no support
+2NT - 16+ points or 13+ points with 3+ support, opener shows a feature
+(i.e. a stop) or rebids if none
+3NT - 16+ points, stoppers in all other suits, signoff (likely to be a
+tough contract, esp if communication bad)
* Response to pre-emptive 3
pass - <15 points, no support
e.g. after 1NT-1D-1H:
pass - weak hand
-2NT - invitational to part-score or game in H or NT
+2NT - invitational to part-score or game in H or NT (shows 5 hearts)
3H - promises 6 hearts, invitational to game
new suit - promises 5-4 or 5-5, game-forcing
3NT - option to move to 4H or stay in 3NT
Against a 1-level bid, 1NT shows 16-18 points and a stop in the bid
suit (you may bid stayman on top if relevant), unless in fourth place
-where it is 12-14 as normal e.g. 1H-p-p-1NT.
+where it is 12-14 as normal e.g. 1H-p-p-1NT or p-p-1H-1NT.
+Responder uses Stayman/Transfers if they had not previously bid
With more points, double, then bid NT next time.
1[suit] overcall is 5+cards, 8-16ish points
2[suit] overcall is 6+cards, 12-15ish points
a game overcall in a major with 6+cards 17+ points can be worth a shot
+** Overcalls of 1NT **
+
+Pass - <9 points
+Double - 15+ points (for penalties) [or 19+ facing strong 1NT]
+
+(the following bids are all alertable)
+2C - 5-4 or 5-5 in the majors
+2D - a 6-card major with no side suit
+2H/S - 5 H/S, 4+ in a minor
+2NT - at least 5-5 in the minors
+3C/3D - 10-15 points, good 6+ card suit
+3H/3S - 7+ cards, 5-9 points, pre-empt
+
+* Response to 2C (which showed 5-4/5-5 majors)
+Pass - 6+ clubs (non-forcing)
+2D - equal length in majors
+2H/2S - sign-off preference for H/S
+2NT - 12-14 balanced (natural, non-forcing)
+3C - 15+ game-force, artificial
+3D - 6+ diamonds, 10-14 points
+3H/3S - invitational in H/S
+
+* Response to 2D (showed a 6-card major)
+Pass - 6+ diamonds(!)
+2H - sign-off in H OR invitational in S (3S over 2S correction)
+2S - sign-off in S OR game-going in H (4H over 3H correction)
+2NT - artificial, game-going [see below]
+
+* Response to 2H/2S (showed a 5-card major, 4+ minor)
+Pass - 2/3 of the bid suit (and no 4+ minor)
+2NT - artificial, please bid your minor suit
+3NT - to play
+3[suit] - support, invitational to game
+4[suit] - support, to play
+new suit - denies support, 6+ cards (or 5+ if 2S)
+
+* Response to 2NT (showed at least 5-5 minors)
+3C - to play
+3D - to play (denies club support)
+3H/3S - 6+ in that suit, no minor support
+3NT - to play
+4C/4D - 3+ support, invitational
+4H/4S - to play
+
+* Continuation of 2D-2NT sequence:
+3C - Hearts, maximal
+3D - Spades, maximal
+3H - Hearts, minimum
+3S - Spades, minimum
+
** Doubles **
Takeout double needs about 13 points, shortage in the opponents suit.
doubles of suit escapes from doubled NT are always penalty
doubles of openings up to 3[suit] are usually takeouts
doubles of overcalls up to 2S are usually takeouts
+
+** Defences to overcalls of 1NT **
+
+* Defence to a Natural 2C overcall
+Dble - Stayman
+otherwise, like response to 1NT
+
+* Defence to other natural overcalls
+Dble for penalties, other bids natural
+
+* Defences to Multi-Landy bids
+(i.e. what to do when partner's 1NT is overcalled thus)
+
+Generally, pass unless you have roughly invitational values (so
+11ish); other bids are natural except:
+
+Against 2C overcall (5-4/5-5 majors):
+Dble - I can penalize at least one of the majors
+3C - Natural and forcing
+
+Against 2D overcall (6-card major):
+Dble - Stayman
+3D - Natural and forcing
+
+Against 2H/2S (5-card major, 4+ minor):
+dble - Penalties in the bid suit
+3[suit] - Game-forcing Stayman
+
+Against 2NT (at least 5-5 minors):
+dble - I can penalize at least one of the minors
+3C - Stayman, not game forcing
+3D - Stayman, game forcing
+3H/S - natural, game forcing
~matthewv / bridge / blobdiff