-Magic numbers:
+* Executive summary:
+
+Acol, 12-14 1NT, Strong twos, transfers, roman key card blackwood
+
+* Magic numbers:
Part score: 19-24 points
3NT / Major game: 25+
Suit grand slam: 35+
7NT: 37+
-Opening:
+* General notes:
+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
+if you make a limit bid, you usually shut up unless forced
+
+** Opening **
+
+Opening points are 12, and/or rule of 20 (points + lengths of two
+longest suits); 11 or 19 if you feel aggresive / it looks good
+
+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
+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
+
+** Replying **
+
+* Reponse to 1 [suit]
+
+pass - <6 points
+2 [suit] - support, 6-9 points (limit)
+3 [suit] - support, 10-12 points (limit, invites game)
+4 [suit] - pre-empt. 5+support, 6-10 points (to play)
+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)
+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
+
+* Response to 1NT
+
+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]
+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
+ [in a minor, this is a thinking-about-slam bid, in a major, aiming
+ for 3NT if you have 2 in the suit, 4[suit] with 3 or 4 cards]
+4H/4S - 6-card suit. to play
+3NT/6NT - to play
+4NT - invitational to 6NT if maximum
+5NT - invitational to 6NT unless minimum
+
+* Response to 2NT
+
+3C - Stayman (as before, but forcing to game)
+3 [suit] 5-card suit, forcing to game
+others, as per 1NT
+
+* Response to 2C (all game-forcing except 2C-2D-2NT (23-24 balanced))
+
+2D - negative (<8 points)
+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]
+
+2NT - negative
+[new] - 5+ cards, 8+ points. game-force
+3[suit] - 3+support, 5-8 points. game-force
+3NT - 8-11 points, flat hand
+
+* Response to pre-emptive 3
+pass - <15 points, no support
+4[suit] - 3+support
+new suit (forcing) / game[suit] - 16+ points
+
+** Rebidding **
+
+* Rebidding after 1-level opening *
+
+Minimum rebid own suit - 5+cards, 12-15 points
+jump rebid own suit - 6+ cards, 15-19 points, very invitational
+
+new suit < old suit - 12-15 points (old suit >= length new suit)
+new suit > old suit [a reverse] - 16-19 points, 1-round force
+ [first suit bid should be best suit when reversing]
+jump new suit - 16-19 points, 1-round force
+
+raise responder - 4+cards 12-15 points
+single jump raise - 4+cards 16-18 points
+game jump raise - 4+ cards 19 points
+
+* NT rebids to show a balanced hand of 15-19 points *
+
+[you opened 1[suit], and partner has replied at the 1-level]
+1NT - 15-17 balanced (limit)
+2NT - 18-19 balanced (limit)
+
+[you opened 1[suit], and partner has replied at the 2-level]
+2NT - 15-17 balanced (limit)
+3NT - 18-19 balanced (limit)
+
+** Later bids **
+
+* 4th suit forcing *
+
+The bid of the fourth suit at 2-level is forcing for one
+round. Responder uses it where they lack a natural bid, but think the
+partnership should go higher. It forces for one round, and opener bids
+(in preference order):
+raise responder's first suit with 3+support
+NT with a stop in the fourth suit
+raise the 4th suit with 4 cards in it
+make the most natural rebid
+
+* After the transfer *
+e.g. after 1NT-1D-1H:
+
+pass - weak hand
+2NT - invitational to part-score or game in H or NT
+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
+4H - promises 6 hearts, to play
+
+* After a 1NT-2S transfer *
+
+opener bids 2NT if minimum:
+pass or bid a minor suit
+
+opener bids 3C if maximum:
+pass, bid 3D, or 3NT
+
+** Slamming :-) **
+
+*Roman Key Card Blackwood*
+
+4NT once a suit has been agreed asks for the 5 key cards (trump K +
+aces):
+5C: 0/3 key cards
+5D: 1/4 key cards
+5H: 2/5 key cards no trump Q
+5S: 2/5 key cards with trump Q
+
+*Cue bids*
+
+These are a bit advanced, so we might not want to bother, but. Once a
+suit has been agreed explicitly or implicitly (e.g. 1NT-3S) and you're
+thinking about slam, bid of a side-suit shows first-round control of
+that suit, which might be a void. A return by either partner to the
+trump suit is often an end to the process
+
+e.g. 1NT-3S-4D shows the first bidder to have 1st-round control in
+Diamonds (and no such control in clubs); you can continue on to
+2nd-round controls if you like.
+
+** Overcalls **
+
+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.
+With more points, double, then bid NT next time.
-Balanced hands (no void/singleton, <=1 doubleton):
-12-14: 1NT
-15-17: 1 of a suit, rebid 1NT
-18-19: 1 of a suit, rebit 2NT
-20-22: 2NT
-23-24: 2Club, then rebit 2NT
+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
-Unbalanced hands:
-6-9, 7-card suit, poor defensive values: pre-emptive 3 (8-card suit: 4)
-12-19 1 of longest suit [rule of 20: open if hcps and length of 2 longest suits>=20]
-16-22, 8 playing tricks, 6-card suit or at least 5-4 two-suiter: 2D,H,S,
-23+ 2Club (forcing to game)
+** Doubles **
+Takeout double needs about 13 points, shortage in the opponents suit.
+Double then bid suggests more like 17+ points
+Double then jump suggests a killer 21+ point hand
+A takeout double is forcing unless you are very strong in the bid
+suit:
+pass [!!] 8+ points, good in trumps, requesting trump lead
+suit - your best suit
+jump-suit - 8+ points
+1NT - 8-11, stop in bid suit
+2NT - 12-13, stop in bid suit
+3NT - 14+, stop in bid suit
+A low-level double when the doubler's partner has passed is nearly
+always a takeout.
+"A double of a suit call below the four level is for takeout when made
+at the player's first opportunity of doubling, providing that the
+doubler's partner has not bid"
+NT doubles are always penalty
+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
~matthewv / bridge / commitdiff