 | 1C = 11-22 with 4+C, or 15-19 balanced, without 4D or 5H or 5S
| 1D = 11-22 with 4+D
| 1H = 10-22 with 5+H
| 1S = 10-22 with 5+S
| 1N = 12-14 balanced. Balanced is fairly loosely interpreted.
| 2C = 23+ or GF
| 2D = Multi: 5 card weak 2M, (or a very strong Acol 2D)
| 2H = 6 card weak 2H
| 2S = 6 card weak 2S
| 2N = 20-22 balanced
| 3C,3D,3H,3S are all fairly standard preempts
| 3N = Solid minor, very little outside
| 4C,4D = preempts
| 4H,4S = Sort of preemptive, but may be expecting to make.
| |
Extras:
When legal to do so, it is often better to play the multi without the strong option, in order to make it more destructive. It is slightly superior, and also more fun, to play the following modifications in 3rd and 4th seat: 1S = 9-22,4+S, may be very weak, and if <=12 HCP, say, may have a longer minor. 1N = 15-17 balanced. Another modification is only used if another extra piece of system is used (transfers over 1C). When this is played, all strong balanced hands, even if they hold 4D, are opened 1C.The general preemptive style is heavily affected by position and vunerability. Being in 1st or 3rd seat, being non-vulnerable, or opponents being vulnerable all encourage pretty frivolous, wide-ranging preemption. Thus 2nd in at V-VN, all preempts are pure, and sound, while 3rd at VN-V, everything is pretty random.
| 1D = 4+D, unless GF values, denies 4+H or 4+S
| 1H = 4+H, may conceal longer D if not GF.
| 1S = 4+S, may conceal longer D if not GF.
| 1N = balanced, 4+C, 6-9
| 2C = 4+C, 11+, denies a 4 card major
| 2D = 4+C, fit bid, with D side suit and C support. Values for 3C
| 2H = ditto with H side suit
| 2S = ditto with S side suit
| 2N = Preemptive C raise (6C)
| 3C = Semi-preemptive C raise (6C) | |
After 1C-1D/1H/1S, opener tends to rebid 1N, which shows 15-17 balanced, whenever he holds a strong balanced hand, unless he holds 4 card support for a major, in which case he will raise to the 3 level. After 1C-1x-1N, 2C now is checkback, asking opener to clarify his major suit shape- it is at leat invitational.
After 1C-1H/1S, opener tends to raise to 2H/2S on most minimum hands with 3 card support. Responder can then bid 3C/3D NF, showing a 4 card major, and C support, or 5 diamonds, and an invitational hands, and step 1 as an enquiry, asking opener to clarify his support and shape- opener should rebid above 3H/3S with 4 card support.
Extras:
After 1C-1D-1N, 2C is checkback, but is GF. After 1C-1H/1S-1N, 2C is an puppet to 2D, after which responder can show various invitational types, and 2D is GF checkback. Transfer responses to 1C- 1D=4+H, 1H=4+S, 1S=4+D are an improvement on the above system, but the the follow ups involve some quite involved agreements to gain maximum advantage from the bids.
2) 1D:
| 1H = 4+H
| 1S = 4+S
| 1N = 6-10, balanced, denies 4H or 4S
| 2C = 4+C, 10.5+
| 2D = 4+D, 11+ denies 4H or 4S
| 2H = 4+D, 4+H, 8+
| 2S = 4+D, 4+S, 8+
| 2N = 5+D, preemptive
| 3C = 4+D, 5+C, 8+
| 3D = 5+D, semipreemptive | |
3) 1H:
| 1S = 4+S
| 1N = 6-10 any shape without 4S or 3H
| 2C = 4+C, 10.5+
| 2D = 4+D, 10.5+
| 2H = 3H, 6-9
| 2S = 4+H, 5+S, values for 3H at least
| 2N = 4+H, values for at least 3H, so about 9+, may be a little shaded.
| 3C = 4+H, 5+C, values for 3H at least
| 3D = 4+H, 5+D, values for 3H at least
| 3H = 4H,preemptive
| 3S = 4H+, splinter
| 4C = 4H+, splinter
| 4D = 4H+, splinter
| 4H = 5H+, to play, not constructive. | |
After 1H-1S-1N, checkback is played.
After 1H-1S, opener raises to 2S on most bad hands with 3 card support.
2/1 bids are pretty sound, and the ensuing auction is rarely dropped
below 2N.
Extras:
The modified version of checkback may be played over 1H-1S-1N.
After 1H-1N, a forcing 2C relay may be used to clarify the responder's
shape and strength.
Instead of the given use for 2N,3C,3D and 3H, the following structure
('Bergen raises') may be used:
2N = 4H, GF raise.
3C = 4H, invitational raise.
3D = 4H, semipreemptive raise.
3H = 4H, preemptive raise.
The following '2-tier' splinters may be played:
3S = any void splinter - then 3N asks which void.
4C,4D = usual splinters
3N shows a spade splinter.
4) 1S: | 1N = 6-10 without 3S usually
| 2C = 4+C, 10.5+
| 2D = 4+D, 10.5+
| 2H = 5+H, 10.5+
| 2S = 3S, 7-10
| 2N = 4+S, invitational raise at least, as over 1H, about 9+
| 3C,3D,3H = Fit bids, similar to over 1H
| 3S = 4S, preemptive
| 4C,4D,4H = splinters | |
Very similar system is played to over 1H.
Extra:
Again, similar to over 1H. In 3rd an 4th, in response to a 4S opener, which can possibly be weak, the following sort of structure can be used: 1N = 6-10 denies 4S 2C = 5+C, 10-11 NF 2D = 5+D, 10-11 NF 2H = various hand types, mainly balanced with 10-11, or with 3S 2S = 4+S, 6-9 etc.6) 1N:
| 2C = Stayman, but also used on all invitational balanced hands.
| 2D = 5+H, transfer
| 2H = 5+S, transfer
| 2S = 5+C, transfer
| 2N = 5+D, transfer
| 3C = 6+C, to play
| 3D = 6+D, to play
| 3H = 5+H, slam try
| 3S = 5+S, slam try.
| 3N = To play
| 4C = Gerber (!!) | |
After a transfer, say 2D-2H, bids of 2N, 3H are natural and invitational,
NF, but bids of a new suit are natural and GF. Opener should cue bid on
the way to 4H in these sequences if his hand is suitable for slam.
After 2S, opener bids 2N if he has Qxx or better in C, otherwise bids
3C.
The auction 1N-2S-2N-3C is GF, so opener may not pass.
Similarly over 2N for diamonds.
Extra:
2D and 2H transfers can be broken on non-minimum hands with 4 card support- the precise style you use should be agreed.7) 2C:
| 2D = negative, <8, else natural, GF |
Extra:
It is quite reasonable to play 2C-2D-2H as showing either H or 25-26 balanced Then, 2S is an enquiry, and 2C-2D-2H-2S-2N shows the balanced type. But this only comes up very rarely.8) 2D:
| Pass = Whenever responder feels this is likely to be the best spot.
| 2H = To play in 2H opposite a weak 2H
| 2S = To play in 2S opposite a weak 2S, but to go higher opposite H.
| 2N = Minor suit enquiry
| 3C = Strength enquiry
| 3D = Invitational in unspecified major
| 3H = To play in 3H or 3S, correctable
| 3S = To play in 3S or 4H, correctable
| 3N = To play
| 4H = To play in 4H or 4S, correctable
| 4S = To play | |
| 3D = any minimum or superlative with H;
(responses to this, are correctable, with 3D bidder making a big move to
show the strongest type.)
| 3H = Good, with H
| 3S = Good, with S
| 3N = Superlative with S | |
| Pass = to play if opener's side suit is diamonds
| XX = asks opener to bid his suit
| 2M = shows support to at least the 3 level in the other major
| higher bids as uncontested | |
| 2S = Constructive, NF
| 2N = Natural enquiry
| 3C = Constructive, F1
| 3D = Constructive, F1
| 3H = 3H, to play.
| 3S = 4+H, S side suit
| 3N = To play
| 4C = 4+H, C side suit
| 4D = 4+D, D side suit
| 4H = 4+H
| 4S = To play
| 4N = RKCB | |
11) 2N:
| 3C = 5 card stayman
| 3D = 5+H
| 3H = 5+S
| 3S = minor suit stayman
| 3N = to play
| 4C = C, GF
| 4D = D, GF
| 4H = To play
| 4S = To play
| 4N = quantitative | After 3C:
|
After a 2/1 response to a 1 level bid, 4th suit forcing sets up a GF.
Otherwise, 4th suit isn't totally GF, but any sign of extras by either
side will make it GF.
In minor suit auctions, (i.e. where a minor has been agreed), 4N is not
RKCB, which is what it usually is otherwise. There 4N shows a bad bid of
5m while a direct bid of 5m is, although NF, forward going.
Extra:
It is possible to play 2/1 bids over 1H/1S as forcing to 2N, and this certainly can make some auctions a lot easier.
2) After 1D:
Very similar to over 1C. All the same applies.
3) After 1H: After a simple overcall:
| New suits are F1
| 2N = limit raise, or better, 4+H
| 3H = preemptive
| 3x (cue bid) = sound limit raise with only 3H
| Jumps in new suits are fit bids.
| X is negative, showing strength in unbid suits; over 1H-2C/2D,
shows 4S. | |
| 1S = S, F1
| 1N = C may be quite weak
| 2C = D may be quite weak
| 2D = 3H, sound raise to 2H, or better
| 2H = 3H
| 2N = 4+H, limit raise or better
| 3H = preemptive
| Jumps in new suits are fit bids | |
5) Defence to a multi 2D: something like
| X = 12-16 balanced or a big hand (Lebensohl applies after 2D-X-P/2H/2S) 2N = 17-19 balanced
| others natural | |
For more details on treatments in competitive auctions, see 'Partnership Bidding at Bridge' by Segal and Robson.
-----------------------
