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THE SCIENCE: SIMPLY SCIENTIFIC FOUR-CARD MAJORS ----------------------------------------------- The general style is to open a major whenever possible with a minimum. 1C/D Natural, 4+ cards 1H/S Natural, very light, 4+ cards, could have longer minor if less than 14 1NT 14-16/17 BAL including all 5H/S (332) types 2C 22+ BAL or distributional FG (Kokish) 2D/H/S Weak 2NT 20-21 BAL Responses to 1C (1D is similar) ------------------------------- 1D/M Acol-style (1D-2C is 11+, usually five clubs) 1NT 6-10 2C/3C Limit 2D/M Strong (as is 1D-3C) 2NT 'Reese', 11-12 BAL 3D/M Void splinters FG (natural and weak is a sound alternative) 3NT 13-15 BAL, soft Special continuations after (say) 1C-1H --------------------------------------- 1NT 11-13 BAL(ish), over which 2C is Checkback, others NF 2H Natural, over which 2S/3C/3D are all forcing game-tries 2NT 17/18-19 BAL 3D Mini-splinter (as are all jump reverses) 1D-2C ----- 2D (5)6D NF 2H/S 5D 4H/S 14+ FG except that 3C by partner is non-forcing 2NT 11-13 BAL 3C 4C NF 3D 6D FG 3H/S Splinter FG 3NT 17/18-19 BAL Responses to 1H (1S is similar) ------------------------------- 1S Acol-style 1NT 6-12 in principle (could be very weak non-vulnerable) 2C/D Natural FG (optionally by a passed hand 2C/D = 3/4 trump Drury, 8-11) 2H Limit, three-trump raises discretionary 2S Strong 2NT 11-12 with three spades, suitable for suit play 3C/D Intermediate, about 10-12 with a good six-card suit (likewise 1S-3C/D/H) 3H Limit, four trumps 3S/4C/D Splinter, six or seven losers 3NT 13-15, exactly three spades NF 4H Weak 1H-1NT ------ Pass 11-13 BAL, weak canapes 2C Transfer showing diamonds 2D 6H minimum or 5H 4C strongish: partner usually completes to 2H 2H 5H 4C about 14-16 (less with an extra club) 2S 5H 4S 18+ F1 2NT 17/18-19 BAL 3C/D 5H 5C/D FG 3H Invitational, maybe not quite sound 3S/4C/D Auto-splinter, showing a void 3NT Gambling 4H To play Similarly, after 1S-1NT: 2C/D Transfers showing diamonds/hearts 2H Equivalent to 1H-1NT-2D Continuations after (say) 1S-1NT-2C (the general idea is to bid what you would have done if partner had bid a natural 2D): Pass Bad hand with clubs (must take the blame if wrong) 2D Preference 2H Natural, NF 2S Preference; false preference shows about 8-10 2NT 11-12 3C/H About 8-10, natural (did not jump shift) 3D/S Limit After (say) 2S, opener might proceed: 2NT 5224 16-17 3C 5S 5C invitational 3D '5134' F1 3H '5341' F1 3S 6S 4C invitational 3NT 5224 18-19 Continuations after a 2/1 game-force, (say) 1S-2C: -------------------------------------------------- 2D Balanced 11-13 (maybe 18-19) or weak canape 2H 5S 4H any strength 2S 6S any strength 2NT 4D (replacing 2D) any strength 3C 4C in principle minimum 3D/H Splinter with extra values 3S One-loser spade suit with extra values 3NT 17/18-19 BAL After a step one rebid, responder bids 2NT if he hasn't much to say, allowing opener to get his canape off his chest, show a five-card major, three-card support or whatever. A suit rebid by responder shows a distributional hand: a six-card suit, 5/5, four-card support for opener etc. 3NT is firmly to play.
