General Approach -
High High Card Card Poi Point ntss (HCP (HCP): ): Ace Ace = 4, 4, Kin King g = 3, Quee Queen n = 2, 2, Jack Jack = 1
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Dist Distri ribu butio tion n Poin Points ts:: Voi Void d = 3, Sing Single leto ton n = 2, 2, Doub Double leto ton n=1
*Points refer to HCP + distribution points, while HCP refers to high card points only.
Opening Bids -
Five Five-c -car ard d maj major ors, s, Three hree-c -car ard d min minor orss
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Open Open the the hig highe herr ran ranki king ng of equa equal-l l-len engt gth h sui suits ts:: 5-5 5-5 / 6-6 6-6
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Notr Notrum ump p hand hand typ types es:: 4-34-3-33-3, 3, 4-4 4-4-3 -3-2 -2,, 5-35-3-33-2 2
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Must open with 13+ points
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Rule Rule of of 20: 20: Open Open if if (HCP (HCP + no. no. of of cards cards in in two two long longes estt suit suits) s) = 20 20 or mor moree
1C / 1D :
13 – 20 Points, 3+ cards
1H / 1S
:
13 – 20 Points, 5+ cards
1NT
:
15 – 17 HCP, balanced hand
2C
:
21+ Points (Artificial Strong Bid)
2D / 2H / 2S: 5 – 11 11 Points, 6+ cards (Weak (Weak Two) Two) 2NT
:
20 – 21 HCP, balanced hand
3 of of a sui suit: t:
At most most 10 Poin Points ts,, 7+ 7+ card cardss (Pr (Pree eemp mpti tive ve))
4 of a suit:
8+ car card ds (P (Preemptive)
Expressing Notrump Hand types: 15 – 17 HCP
Open 1NT
20 – 21 HCP
Open 2NT
22 – 24 HCP
Open 2C and rebid 2NT
25 – 27 HCP
Open 2C and rebid 3NT
12 – 14 HCP
Open 1m and rebid 1NT
18 – 19 HCP
Open 1m and rebid 2NT
Responses: - Must respond with 6 Points or above Opening Bid
Response
1 of a suit
1 of a minor
Higher ranking suit at 1 level
6+ Points, 4+ cards
Non-jump bid at 2 level
11+ Points, 4+ cards
1NT
6 – 10 HCP, unlimited hand
Jump Shift
17+ Points, 5+ cards
Double Jump Shift
See: Splinter
2 of the minor
10+ Points, 5+ cards
3 of the minor
6 – 9 Points, 5+ cards
* Bid 4+ card suits if available instead of raising minor
1 of a major
1NT
2NT
12 – 15 HCP, stoppers in unbid suits
3NT
16 – 18 HCP, stoppers in unbid suits
2 of the major
6 – 9 Points, 3+ cards
3 of the major
10-12 Points, 3+ cards
2NT
13+ Points, 3+ cards (See: Jacoby 2NT)
3NT
15 – 17 HCP, balanced hand
4 of the major
<10 Points, 5+ cards, with singleton or void
2C
See: Stayman
2D, 2H
See: Jacoby Transfer
2S
See: Minor-Suit Transfer
3C, 3D
6+ cards, invite 3NT
3H, 3S
6+ cards, invite small slam
2NT
8 – 9 HCP
3NT
10 HCP
* Bid 2NT or 3NT if you have no interest in suit contracts
2C
2D / 2H / 2S
4C
See: Gerber
4NT
See: Quantitative 4NT
2D
0 – 7 HCP (Negative response)
2H, 2S, 3C, 3D
8+ HCP, 5+ cards
2NT
8+ HCP, balanced hand
2NT
See: 2NT Response to weak 2
Raise of the suit
To Play (further preempt)
3NT
To Play
New Suits Conventions:
Stayman A response of 2C to 1NT is Stayman. It shows 8+ HCP and at least 1 4-card major, and at least 1 doubleton or better shortage. Opener’s rebid:
without a 4-card major
2D
with 4 hearts / 4-4 major
2H
with 4-spades only
2S
If Stayman bidder has 4-5 in majors, he may rebid the longer suit to show his hand: 1NT – 2C – 2D/2H – 2S = Stayman bidder has 4 hearts and 5 spades 1NT – 2C – 2D/2S – 3H = Stayman bidder has 5 spades and 4 hearts Jacoby Transfer A response of 2D or 2H to 1NT is a transfer. 2D is a transfer to hearts, 2H is a transfer to spades. The bidding
Opener’s rebid
1NT – 2D
2H
1NT – 2H
2S
1NT – 2D
3H (Only if Opener has 17 HCP and 4 hearts)
1NT – 2H
3S (Only if Opener has 17 HCP and 4 spades)
1NT – 2D – 2H – 2S = Responder has 5-5 majors, invite game 1NT – 2H – 2S – 3H = Responder has 5-5 majors, forcing to game Jacoby 2NT A response of 2NT to 1 of a major opening shows 13+ Points and 3+ cards. It asks opener to show singleton / void. After 1 of a major – 2NT, opener bids as follows: 3 of other suits
singleton / void in that suit
4 of other suits
strong 5+ cards
3 of the major
18+ Points, no singleton / void
3NT
15-17 Points, no singleton / void
4 of the major
<14 Points, no singleton / void
* Bid 3 / 4 of the major and 3NT as the last option. Give priority to describing you hand shape. Roman Key Card Blackwood A bid of 4NT in the bidding is an inquiry of key cards. If there isn’t previously agreed suit, it treats the last bid suit as trumps. If a suit has been bid and raised, 4NT consider that suit trump. There are 5 Roman Key Cards: 4 Aces + the trump K Response:
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
Splinter A double jump shift to one of a suit opening is a Splinter. It shows 13+ points, a trump fit and a singleton or void in the suit bid. 1H – 3S
13+ Points, 3+ cards, singleton / void spade
1C – 3H
13+ Points, 5+ cards, singleton / void hearts
1H – 4D
13+ Points, 3+ cards, singleton / void diamonds
* 3+ cards are needed to raise major, but 5+ cards are needed to raise minor 2NT response to Weak 2 2NT response to Weak 2 shows 15+ Points and game interest. Opener’s rebid after Weak 2 – 2NT: 3 of the original suit
5 – 7 HCP (minimum hand)
3NT
AKQ or AKJ in the long suit
3 of other suits
Show’s A, K or Q in the suit, 8+ HCP (maximum hand)
Quantitative Notrump: A 4NT bid after an opening bid of 1NT is Quantitative Notrump. It asks opener to bid 6NT with a maximum and pass with a minimum.
Help Suit Game Try: After 1 Major – 2 Major, Opener can try for game by bidding the other suits below 3 of the major. He bid the suit that needs help. 1S – 2S – 3H(game try)
1H – 2H – 2S (game try)
1H – 2H – 3D (game try)
Responder can judge whether to bid game by looking at the game-try suit. If responder has strength / shortage in the suit bid, he can bid game. If responder thinks 2 tricks will be lost in the suit, he bid game only with a maximum (8+ Points). If responder thinks more than 2 tricks will be lost, or if responder wants to turn down the game try, he bid 3 Major. Gerber A 4C response to 1NT and 2NT is Gerber. It asks opener to show the no. of Aces he holds. Opener rebids:
4D
with 0 / 4 Aces
4H
with 1 Ace
4S
with 2 Aces
4NT
with 3 Aces
If the partnership holds all 4 aces, responder may bid 5C to ask for no. of kings. Opener’s rebid is the same. Defensive Bidding After opponents open the bidding: Overcall at 1 Level
8 – 16 Points, 5+ cards
Overcall at 2 Level (non-jump)
10 – 16 Points, 5+ cards
Overcall 1NT
15-18 HCP, balanced hand, stopper in suit bid
Jump Overcall
Weak, preemptive, same as opening at the same level *After opponents 1H, 2S overcall = weak 2S opening
Double
13+ Points with support for unbid suits + 17+ Points in a 1 suited hand ( double first and then rebid)
Michaels Cue-Bid: If overcaller bids the same suit as opener’s suit, it is a Michaels Cuebid. It’s variations are as follow: Opponent open
Overcall
1C
2C
8+ Points, at least 5-5 in Majors
1D
2D
8+ Points, at least 5-5 in Majors
1H
2H
10+ Points, at least 5-5 in spades and a minor
1S
2S
10+ Points, at least 5-5 in hearts and a minor
Overcaller’s partner may bid 2NT to ask his partner to identify his minor. Unusual 2NT After an opponents opening, a jump overcall of 2NT is a unusual 2NT. Unusual 2NT shows at least 5-5 in the 2 lower unbid suits and 10+ Points. e.g. If opponent open 1C, overcall of 2NT = 5-5 in diamonds and hearts If opponent open 1D, overcall of 2NT = 5-5 in clubs and hearts.
