3 Acol, 12-14 1NT, Weak twos, transfers, roman key card blackwood, Multi
8 Part score: 19-24 points
17 new suits often force for one round
18 jumps to game are usually "shut up"
19 "invitational to x" means bid x if maximal for previous bid
20 "support" is usually 4 cards (should add up to 8)
21 if you make a limit bid, you usually shut up unless forced
25 Opening points are 12, and/or rule of 20 (points + lengths of two
26 longest suits); 11 or 19 if you feel aggresive / it looks good
28 1 [suit] promises at least the above - generally pick the longest suit
29 1NT is 12-14 points balanced (limit)
30 2C is 23+ points. Usually game-forcing
31 2[other] 6-10 points, good 6-card suit (2 of A-Q, 3 of A-10)
32 2NT is 20-22 points balanced (limit)
33 3 [suit] pre-empt 7-card suit 7-9ish points
34 3NT pre-empt solid (AKQ at least) 7-card minor "Weak Gambling 3NT"
35 4 [suit] pre-empt as 3, but 8-card suit
37 A weak 2 denies a 4-card major or good 3-card major
39 (with 15-19 points balanced, open 1[suit] and rebid xNT - see below)
46 2 [suit] - support, 6-9 points (limit)
47 3 [suit] - support, 10-12 points (limit, invites game)
48 4 [suit] - pre-empt. 5+support, 6-10 points (to play)
49 xNT - denies support for partner (other responses do not)
50 1NT 6-9 points (doesn't need to be balanced), no 2-level bid (limit)
51 2NT 10-12 points, balanced (limit)
52 3NT 13-15 points, balanced (limit)
53 1 [new] 6+ points, 4+ cards, 1-round force
54 2 [new < suit] 8-9+ points, 5+ cards, 1-round force
55 jump [new] 16+ points, 5+ cards (or support), game force
59 pass - <11 points, no long suit
60 2C - Stayman (bid 2 of a 4-card major or 2D if none)
61 2D/2H - Transfer (bid 2 of next suit)
62 2S - 11 points or long minor (bid 2NT if minimum, 3C if maximum)
63 2NT 12 points; invites game if opener maximal
64 3 [suit] - 5 cards in suit, forcing 1 round
65 [in a minor, this is a thinking-about-slam bid, in a major, aiming
66 for 3NT if you have 2 in the suit, 4[suit] with 3 or 4 cards]
67 4H/4S - 6-card suit. to play
69 4NT - invitational to 6NT if maximum
70 5NT - invitational to 6NT unless minimum
74 3C - Stayman (as before, but forcing to game)
75 3 [suit] - transfers (to a 5-card suit), game-forcing
78 * Response to 2C (all game-forcing except 2C-2D-2NT (23-24 balanced))
80 2D - negative (<8 points)
81 Positive responses often suggest slam prospects
82 2NT - balanced, 8+ points, game-force
83 2 [suit] 5-card suit with an honour ~7+ points. game-force
84 3 [suit] decent 6-card suit. game-force
86 * Response to 2[suit] "RONF" (raise is the only non-forcing bid)
88 Raises are limits and opener must not bid again:
89 3 [suit] - 3/4 support 6-13 points
90 4 [suit] - 4/5 support 6-13 points (may be weaker with 5)
92 Other bids are forcing:
93 new suit - 16+ points 5+ cards, no support
94 2NT - 16+ points or 13+ points with 3+ support, opener shows a feature
95 (i.e. a stop) or rebids if none
96 3NT - 16+ points, stoppers in all other suits, signoff (likely to be a
97 tough contract, esp if communication bad)
99 * Response to pre-emptive 3
100 pass - <15 points, no support
102 new suit (forcing) / game[suit] - 16+ points
106 * Rebidding after 1-level opening *
108 Minimum rebid own suit - 5+cards, 12-15 points
109 jump rebid own suit - 6+ cards, 15-19 points, very invitational
111 new suit < old suit - 12-15 points (old suit >= length new suit)
112 new suit > old suit [a reverse] - 16-19 points, 1-round force
113 [first suit bid should be best suit when reversing]
114 jump new suit - 16-19 points, 1-round force
116 raise responder - 4+cards 12-15 points
117 single jump raise - 4+cards 16-18 points
118 game jump raise - 4+ cards 19 points
120 * NT rebids to show a balanced hand of 15-19 points *
122 [you opened 1[suit], and partner has replied at the 1-level]
123 1NT - 15-17 balanced (limit)
124 2NT - 18-19 balanced (limit)
126 [you opened 1[suit], and partner has replied at the 2-level]
127 2NT - 15-17 balanced (limit)
128 3NT - 18-19 balanced (limit)
134 The bid of the fourth suit at 2-level is forcing for one
135 round. Responder uses it where they lack a natural bid, but think the
136 partnership should go higher. It forces for one round, and opener bids
137 (in preference order):
138 raise responder's first suit with 3+support
139 NT with a stop in the fourth suit
140 raise the 4th suit with 4 cards in it
141 make the most natural rebid
143 * After the transfer *
144 e.g. after 1NT-1D-1H:
147 2NT - invitational to part-score or game in H or NT (shows 5 hearts)
148 3H - promises 6 hearts, invitational to game
149 new suit - promises 5-4 or 5-5, game-forcing
150 3NT - option to move to 4H or stay in 3NT
151 4H - promises 6 hearts, to play
153 * After a 1NT-2S transfer *
155 opener bids 2NT if minimum:
156 pass or bid a minor suit
158 opener bids 3C if maximum:
163 *Roman Key Card Blackwood*
165 4NT once a suit has been agreed asks for the 5 key cards (trump K +
169 5H: 2/5 key cards no trump Q
170 5S: 2/5 key cards with trump Q
174 These are a bit advanced, so we might not want to bother, but. Once a
175 suit has been agreed explicitly or implicitly (e.g. 1NT-3S) and you're
176 thinking about slam, bid of a side-suit shows first-round control of
177 that suit, which might be a void. A return by either partner to the
178 trump suit is often an end to the process
180 e.g. 1NT-3S-4D shows the first bidder to have 1st-round control in
181 Diamonds (and no such control in clubs); you can continue on to
182 2nd-round controls if you like.
186 Against a 1-level bid, 1NT shows 16-18 points and a stop in the bid
187 suit (you may bid stayman on top if relevant), unless in fourth place
188 where it is 12-14 as normal e.g. 1H-p-p-1NT or p-p-1H-1NT.
189 Responder uses Stayman/Transfers if they had not previously bid
190 With more points, double, then bid NT next time.
192 1[suit] overcall is 5+cards, 8-16ish points
193 2[suit] overcall is 6+cards, 12-15ish points
194 a game overcall in a major with 6+cards 17+ points can be worth a shot
196 ** Overcalls of 1NT **
199 Double - 15+ points (for penalties) [or 19+ facing strong 1NT]
201 (the following bids are all alertable)
202 2C - 5-4 or 5-5 in the majors
203 2D - a 6-card major with no side suit
204 2H/S - 5 H/S, 4+ in a minor
205 2NT - at least 5-5 in the minors
206 3C/3D - 10-15 points, good 6+ card suit
207 3H/3S - 7+ cards, 5-9 points, pre-empt
209 * Response to 2C (which showed 5-4/5-5 majors)
210 Pass - 6+ clubs (non-forcing)
211 2D - equal length in majors
212 2H/2S - sign-off preference for H/S
213 2NT - 12-14 balanced (natural, non-forcing)
214 3C - 15+ game-force, artificial
215 3D - 6+ diamonds, 10-14 points
216 3H/3S - invitational in H/S
218 * Response to 2D (showed a 6-card major)
219 Pass - 6+ diamonds(!)
220 2H - sign-off in H OR invitational in S (3S over 2S correction)
221 2S - sign-off in S OR game-going in H (4H over 3H correction)
222 2NT - artificial, game-going [see below]
224 * Response to 2H/2S (showed a 5-card major, 4+ minor)
225 Pass - 2/3 of the bid suit (and no 4+ minor)
226 2NT - artificial, please bid your minor suit
228 3[suit] - support, invitational to game
229 4[suit] - support, to play
230 new suit - denies support, 6+ cards (or 5+ if 2S)
232 * Response to 2NT (showed at least 5-5 minors)
234 3D - to play (denies club support)
235 3H/3S - 6+ in that suit, no minor support
237 4C/4D - 3+ support, invitational
240 * Continuation of 2D-2NT sequence:
248 Takeout double needs about 13 points, shortage in the opponents suit.
249 Double then bid suggests more like 17+ points
250 Double then jump suggests a killer 21+ point hand
252 A takeout double is forcing unless you are very strong in the bid
254 pass [!!] 8+ points, good in trumps, requesting trump lead
255 suit - your best suit
256 jump-suit - 8+ points
257 1NT - 8-11, stop in bid suit
258 2NT - 12-13, stop in bid suit
259 3NT - 14+, stop in bid suit
261 A low-level double when the doubler's partner has passed is nearly
263 "A double of a suit call below the four level is for takeout when made
264 at the player's first opportunity of doubling, providing that the
265 doubler's partner has not bid"
266 NT doubles are always penalty
267 doubles of suit escapes from doubled NT are always penalty
268 doubles of openings up to 3[suit] are usually takeouts
269 doubles of overcalls up to 2S are usually takeouts
271 ** Defences to overcalls of 1NT **
273 * Defence to a Natural 2C overcall
275 otherwise, like response to 1NT
277 * Defence to other natural overcalls
278 Dble for penalties, other bids natural
280 * Defences to Multi-Landy bids
281 (i.e. what to do when partner's 1NT is overcalled thus)
283 Generally, pass unless you have roughly invitational values (so
284 11ish); other bids are natural except:
286 Against 2C overcall (5-4/5-5 majors):
287 Dble - I can penalize at least one of the majors
288 3C - Natural and forcing
290 Against 2D overcall (6-card major):
292 3D - Natural and forcing
294 Against 2H/2S (5-card major, 4+ minor):
295 dble - Penalties in the bid suit
296 3[suit] - Game-forcing Stayman
298 Against 2NT (at least 5-5 minors):
299 dble - I can penalize at least one of the minors
300 3C - Stayman, not game forcing
301 3D - Stayman, game forcing
302 3H/S - natural, game forcing