3 Acol, 12-14 1NT, Strong twos, transfers, roman key card blackwood
7 Part score: 19-24 points
16 new suits often force for one round
17 jumps to game are usually "shut up"
18 "invitational to x" means bid x if maximal for previous bid
19 "support" is usually 4 cards
20 if you make a limit bid, you usually shut up unless forced
24 Opening points are 12, and/or rule of 20 (points + lengths of two
25 longest suits); 11 or 19 if you feel aggresive / it looks good
27 1 [suit] promises at least the above - generally pick the longest suit
28 1NT is 12-14 points balanced (limit)
29 2C is 23+ points, at least 5 quick tricks. Usually game-forcing
30 2 [other] has one 6- or two 5-card suits, >=8 playing tricks. 1r force
31 2NT is 20-22 points balanced (limit)
32 3 [suit] pre-empt 7-card suit 7-9ish points
33 3NT pre-empt solid (AKQ at least) 7-card minor "Weak Gambling 3NT"
34 4 [suit] pre-empt as 3, but 8-card suit
36 (with 15-19 points balanced, open 1[suit] and rebid xNT - see below
43 2 [suit] - support, 6-9 points (limit)
44 3 [suit] - support, 10-12 points (limit, invites game)
45 4 [suit] - pre-empt. 5+support, 6-10 points (to play)
46 xNT - denies support for partner (other responses do not)
47 1NT 6-9 points (doesn't need to be balanced), no 2-level bid (limit)
48 2NT 10-12 points, balanced (limit)
49 3NT 12-15 points, balanced (limit)
50 1 [new] 6+ points, 4+ cards, 1-round force
51 2 [new < suit] 8-9+ points, 5+ cards, 1-round force
52 jump [new] 16+ points, 5+ cards (or support), game force
56 pass - <11 points, no long suit
57 2C - Stayman (bid 2 of a 4-card major or 2D if none)
58 2D/2H - Transfer (3 of next suit if 4+card and maximal, 2 of next otherwise)
59 [a break (3 of unexpected suit) shows maximum and xx in bid suit]
60 2S - 11 points or long minor (bid 2NT if minimum, 3C if maximum)
61 2NT 12 points; invites game if opener maximal
62 3 [suit] - 5 cards in suit, forcing 1 round
63 [in a minor, this is a thinking-about-slam bid, in a major, aiming
64 for 3NT if you have 2 in the suit, 4[suit] with 3 or 4 cards]
65 4H/4S - 6-card suit. to play
67 4NT - invitational to 6NT if maximum
68 5NT - invitational to 6NT unless minimum
72 3C - Stayman (as before, but forcing to game)
73 3 [suit] 5-card suit, forcing to game
76 * Response to 2C (all game-forcing except 2C-2D-2NT (23-24 balanced))
78 2D - negative (<8 points)
79 2NT - balanced, 8+ points, game-force
80 2 [suit] 5-card suit with an honour ~7+ points. game-force
81 3 [suit] decent 6-card suit. game-force
86 [new] - 5+ cards, 8+ points. game-force
87 3[suit] - 3+support, 5-8 points. game-force
88 3NT - 8-11 points, flat hand
90 * Response to pre-emptive 3
91 pass - <15 points, no support
93 new suit (forcing) / game[suit] - 16+ points
97 * Rebidding after 1-level opening *
99 Minimum rebid own suit - 5+cards, 12-15 points
100 jump rebid own suit - 6+ cards, 15-19 points, very invitational
102 new suit < old suit - 12-15 points (old suit >= length new suit)
103 new suit > old suit [a reverse] - 16-19 points, 1-round force
104 [first suit bid should be best suit when reversing]
105 jump new suit - 16-19 points, 1-round force
107 raise responder - 4+cards 12-15 points
108 single jump raise - 4+cards 16-18 points
109 game jump raise - 4+ cards 19 points
111 * NT rebids to show a balanced hand of 15-19 points *
113 [you opened 1[suit], and partner has replied at the 1-level]
114 1NT - 15-17 balanced (limit)
115 2NT - 18-19 balanced (limit)
117 [you opened 1[suit], and partner has replied at the 2-level]
118 2NT - 15-17 balanced (limit)
119 3NT - 18-19 balanced (limit)
125 The bid of the fourth suit at 2-level is forcing for one
126 round. Responder uses it where they lack a natural bid, but think the
127 partnership should go higher. It forces for one round, and opener bids
128 (in preference order):
129 raise responder's first suit with 3+support
130 NT with a stop in the fourth suit
131 raise the 4th suit with 4 cards in it
132 make the most natural rebid
134 * After the transfer *
135 e.g. after 1NT-1D-1H:
138 2NT - invitational to part-score or game in H or NT
139 3H - promises 6 hearts, invitational to game
140 new suit - promises 5-4 or 5-5, game-forcing
141 3NT - option to move to 4H or stay in 3NT
142 4H - promises 6 hearts, to play
144 * After a 1NT-2S transfer *
146 opener bids 2NT if minimum:
147 pass or bid a minor suit
149 opener bids 3C if maximum:
154 *Roman Key Card Blackwood*
156 4NT once a suit has been agreed asks for the 5 key cards (trump K +
160 5H: 2/5 key cards no trump Q
161 5S: 2/5 key cards with trump Q
165 These are a bit advanced, so we might not want to bother, but. Once a
166 suit has been agreed explicitly or implicitly (e.g. 1NT-3S) and you're
167 thinking about slam, bid of a side-suit shows first-round control of
168 that suit, which might be a void. A return by either partner to the
169 trump suit is often an end to the process
171 e.g. 1NT-3S-4D shows the first bidder to have 1st-round control in
172 Diamonds (and no such control in clubs); you can continue on to
173 2nd-round controls if you like.
177 Against a 1-level bid, 1NT shows 16-18 points and a stop in the bid
178 suit (you may bid stayman on top if relevant), unless in fourth place
179 where it is 12-14 as normal e.g. 1H-p-p-1NT.
180 With more points, double, then bid NT next time.
182 1[suit] overcall is 5+cards, 8-16ish points
183 2[suit] overcall is 6+cards, 12-15ish points
184 a game overcall in a major with 6+cards 17+ points can be worth a shot
188 Takeout double needs about 13 points, shortage in the opponents suit.
189 Double then bid suggests more like 17+ points
190 Double then jump suggests a killer 21+ point hand
192 A takeout double is forcing unless you are very strong in the bid
194 pass [!!] 8+ points, good in trumps, requesting trump lead
195 suit - your best suit
196 jump-suit - 8+ points
197 1NT - 8-11, stop in bid suit
198 2NT - 12-13, stop in bid suit
199 3NT - 14+, stop in bid suit
201 A low-level double when the doubler's partner has passed is nearly
203 "A double of a suit call below the four level is for takeout when made
204 at the player's first opportunity of doubling, providing that the
205 doubler's partner has not bid"
206 NT doubles are always penalty
207 doubles of suit escapes from doubled NT are always penalty
208 doubles of openings up to 3[suit] are usually takeouts
209 doubles of overcalls up to 2S are usually takeouts