Articles
Z Grubsza
~~~~~~~~~
The first round of the auction normally works on the 'step' principle. The
hand is classified as having
few HCP (0-9)
medium HCP (10-15)
many HCP (16+)
and as
balanced (no 5-card major, 6-card minor, singleton or void)
unbalanced.
By opener, Step 1 (pass) : 0-9 balanced
Step 2 (1C) : 0-9 unbalanced
Step 3 (1D) : 10-15 balanced
Step 4 (1H) : 10-15 unbalanced
Step 5 (1S) : 16+ balanced
Step 6 (1N) : 16+ unbalanced
Responder reverses "balanced" and "unbalanced":
Step 1 : 0-9 unbalanced
Step 2 : 0-9 balanced
...
Step 6 : 16+ balanced
The HCP ranges are subsequently subdivided into "thirds":
0-9: 0-4, 5-7, 8-9
10-15: 10-11, 12-13, 14-15
16+: 16-18, 19+ not GF, GF
The last of these is particularly flexible.
7th and 8th step by opener (2C and 2D) show three-suited hands (4441 or
5440 with a 5-card minor) with 10-15 and 16+ HCP respectively. Higher bids
by opener are preemptive; (weak 2 bids should be based on a decent
(6-card) suit). If opener has shown 0-9 HCP, bids of 7th step or higher
by responder are weak and natural. If opener has shown 10-15 or 16+, bids
of 7th to 10th step show a game-forcing three-suiter with shortage in the
suit named; (a bid of no-trumps shows the suit which would be most
expensive to show).
If both players have medium HCP, or one has few and the other many, a bid
of 1st step on the second round by either player is a weak relay, showing
the lowest third of the range. (No weak relay by responder if opener has
already bid one.) If neither player makes a weak relay in this situation,
the auction is forcing to game.
If a balanced hand opposite an unbalanced hand makes a bid of 1st step
before partner has shown a suit, this is a waiting bid, asking partner to
describe his hand further. (If 1st step is already showing a weak relay
then this waiting bid is shown by 2nd step.)
Generally, the first suit bid by an unbalanced hand shows a 5-card suit,
while the first suit bid by a balanced hand shows a 4-card major or a
5-card minor. If both players are balanced and in a game forcing
situation, a minor suit bid shows 4+ cards. This also applies whenever
the minor suit bid establishes the game force.
Unless both players are balanced and the auction is not yet game-forced, a
bid of 2NT on the second round is conventional, showing the suit which is
most expensive to bid, (unless 2NT is step 1 and a relay as above).
When opponents bid
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the opponents bid, pass and double/redouble are now available as
"steps". Pass is always a lower step than (re)double.
If the bidding comes around to you on the first round, and the opponents
have given us extra space, have made space-neutral bids or have taken up
one extra step of space, then just bid the steps normally. If they have
taken up 2 or 3 steps, then merge the first two steps so that 0-9 bal.
and unbal. are both shown by a single bid. If they have taken up 4 steps,
then we normally just bid naturally; but exceptionally, if an opponent
opens 1NT, we merge and bid steps, and subsequently partner bids naturally
unless our loss is back down to 3 steps or fewer.
Sometimes it may be necessary for both players to merge. If a player
merges and bids or doubles, this recovers a step of bidding space. But if
a player merges and passes, no space is regained.
In 2nd seat after an opening bid, bids of 7th step and above are
preemptive. A bid of RHO's suit shows a three-suiter excluding the suit
(provided RHO's bid was natural) with 6-12 points; bids by partner are
then sign-offs at the two-level, and invitational at the 3-level unless
preceded by a Lebensohl 2NT.
In 3rd or 4th seat opposite a 0-9, bids of 7th step and above are
preemptive; a cue-bid in oppo's suit(s) shows a 3-suiter excluding the
suit, and 2NT is unusual. Opposite 10-15 or 16+, 7th to 10th step are
game-forcing 3-suiters as in the uncontested auction.
Examples:
(1D) Pass: 0-9 bal. (1H) Pass: 0-9 (1S) Pass: 0-9
Dble: 0-9 unbal. Dble: 10-15 bal. Dble: 10-15 bal.
1H : 10-15 bal. 1S : 10-15 unbal. 1N : 10-15 unbal.
1S : 10-15 unbal. 1N : 16+ bal. 2C : 16+ bal.
1N : 16+ bal. 2C : 16+ unbal. 2D : 16+ unbal.
2C : 16+ unbal. 2D : diamonds, weak 2H : hearts, weak
2D : 6-12 3-suiter, 2H : 6-12 3-suiter, 2S : 6-12 3-suiter,
short diamonds short hearts short spades
2H : hearts, weak (Merge; 2 steps gone) (Merge; 3 steps gone)
(1S) P (P) Dble: 0-9 (1S) P (1N) Pass: 0-9
1N : 10-15 unbal. Dble: 10-15 unbal.
2C : 10-15 bal. 2C : 10-15 bal.
2D : 16+ unbal. 2D : 16+ unbal.
2H : 16+ bal. 2H : 16+ bal.
(Merge; 2 steps gone) 2S : 3-suiter, short spades,
'preemptive'
(Merge; 2 steps gone)
1S (X) Pass: 0-9 unbal. (1S) X (P) 1N: 0-9
XX : 0-9 bal. 2C: 10-15 unbal.
1N : 10-15 unbal. 2D: 10-15 bal.
2C : 10-15 bal. 2H: 16+ unbal.
2D : 16+ unbal. 2S: 16+ bal.
2H : 16+ bal. 2N: GF, spade shortage
2S : GF, spade shortage (Merge; 2 steps gone)
2N : GF, heart shortage
(1S) X (XX) 1 step gone; don't merge
(1S) X (1N) 1 step gone; don't merge
(1S) X (2C) 2 steps gone; merge
(1S) X (2D) 3 steps gone; merge
(1S) X (2H) 4 steps gone; bid naturally
** In 3rd or 4th seat ** when an opponent has bid or doubled: if a bid of 1H
is available, the steps are rearranged so that 1H and 1S show 0-9
unbal./bal. respectively. If 1H is not available but 1S is, then 1S shows
0-9 unbal. while 1N shows 0-9 bal.
Examples:
1C (X) Pass: 10-15 unbal. 1D (1H) Pass: 10-15 unbal.
XX : 10-15 bal. Dble: 10-15 bal.
1D : 16+ unbal. 1S : 0-9 unbal.
1H : 0-9 unbal. 1N : 0-9 bal.
1S : 0-9 bal. 2C : 16+ unbal.
1N : 16+ bal. 2D : 16+ bal.
2C : clubs, weak (or 3-suiter 2H : GF, short hearts
with short clubs if the 2S : GF, short spades
X showed clubs)
2D : diamonds, weak
(NB this situation never coincides with a situation where merging of 1st
and 2nd steps is required.)
Later in the auction, weak relays and waiting bids are still in force.
Doubles are mostly for take-out, redoubles for rescue.
Uncontested auctions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The three-suited openers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2C (10-15, 4441 or 5440 with a 5 card minor)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2D 0-9 HCP
2H 4 hearts
2S short hearts
2H 10-15 HCP
2S spade shortage, 2NT/3C/3D suit below the shortage
now step 1 is an end-signal asking opener to bid step 1
other bids invitational
2S 16+ GF
2NT spade shortage, 3C/3D/3H show the shortage
responder now fixes trumps
2D (16+, shape as for 2C)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2H not GF
2S spade shortage, 2NT/3C/3D suit below the shortage
now step 1 is an end-signal
opener bids step 1
or breaks to step 2 (19+, not GF)
step 3 (GF)
2S GF
2NT spade shortage, 3C/3D/3H show the shortage
Two balanced hands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pass - 1D: (total = poor + poor)
--------------------------------
totally uninteresting
Pass/1D - 1S: (total = mid + poor)
----------------------------------
1NT most hands
2C/2D natural, to play
2H/2S upper range, Baronial.
Pass/1D/1S - 2C: (total = mid + mid)
-------------------------------------
2D lower 1/3 NF
2H/2S/NT staymanic, mid/lower 1/3
others Natural, GF
2H mid/top 1/3 4 Hearts (F)
3H support, lower 1/3 (NF)
4H support, mid/top 1/3
2S/2NT natural, lower 1/3
3C/3D 4+ cards, may have support, mid/top 1/3
3H suggests fit for the minor and slam interest
3NT To play
others, cue bids agreeing hearts
3S natural GF, may have 4 Hearts but prefer Spade game.
3NT To play
2S mid/top 1/3 4 Spades, <4 Hearts (F)
3H asks partner to bid 3NT
others as over 2H
2NT mid 1/3, no 4cM (NF)
3C/3D top 1/3, 4+ card suit, GF
3S asks partner to bid 3NT
3NT top 1/3, no 4 card Major / 5 card minor
1D/1S - 2H (GF): (total = mid + good)
-------------------------------------
2S 4 Spades
3/4S Natural, fast arrival.
2NT 4 Hearts
3C/3D Natural (now 3H suggests minor suit fit)
3/4H fast arrival
3S/4C/4D Cue bid agreeing hearts
3NT To play
3C/3D 4+ cards, may have support (now 3S shows minor suit fit)
3H/4C/4D Cue bid agreeing Spades
3NT Flat, no support
2NT 4 Hearts, <4 Spades
3C/3D 4+ cards, may have heart support (3H shows minor suit fit)
3H/4H fast arrival
3S/4C/4D Cue bid agreeing Hearts
3NT to play
3C/3D 5-card suit
3H upper range, 4 Clubs
3S upper range, 3-3-4-3
3NT lower range, no 4 card major or 5 card minor.
1S - 2NT: (total = good + good)
-------------------------------
4C Gerber
Balanced opposite Unbalanced:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pass - 1C: (total = poor + poor)
-------------------------------
1D waiting bid
1H/1S 4 spades
1NT natural
Pass/1D - 1H: (total = mid + poor)
----------------------------------
1S waiting
1NT 4 spades
2C/2D 5 cards
2H 4 hearts
Pass/1D/1S - 1NT: (total = mid + mid)
-------------------------------------
2C weak relay
2D/2H/2S natural, NF
2NT 5+ clubs, NF
3C/3D/3H/3S natural, GF
2D no 4-card major, <5 diamonds; or strong with 5-card minor
("waiting")
2H weak relay
2S 3 spades
2NT natural NF
3C/3D 5 cards, GF
3H/3S 3 cards, GF
2NT 5 hearts
2H 4 hearts
2S weak relay
2NT 5 spades, GF
3C/3D natural, GF
3H ivitational
2S 4 spades
2NT weak relay
3C/3D/3H natural GF
3S invitational
2NT 5 diamonds, no 4-card major, invitational strength, NF
3C weak relay, opener bids 3D
3D GF, diamond support or interest in 3NT
3H/3S shows stop
3NT both majors stopped
4C neither major stopped
3H 5 cards
3S 3 card-suit
3S 5 cards
3N to play
3C 5 clubs, no 4-card major, invitational strength, NF
3D weak relay
3H/3S 3 card suit
Pass/1D/1S - 2D: (total = mid + good)
-------------------------------------
2H waiting
2NT 4 hearts
others natural
Unbalanced opposite balanced
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1C - 1H: (total = poor + poor)
------------------------------
Pass with 5 hearts
1NT 5 diamonds
1C/H - 1NT (total = mid + poor)
-------------------------------
1C/1H/1NT - 2D: (total = mid + mid)
---------------------------------
2H weak relay
2S waiting bid, NF
2N 4 spades F
3C/D 5 card-suit GF
3H 4 hearts GF
2S 5 Spades
2NT 5 Hearts
3C lots of hands (clubs or diamonds)
3D good diamonds, GF
3H/3S single suited, GF
1H/1NT - 2S: (total = good + mid)
---------------------------------
2NT 5 Spades
Unbalanced opposite Unbalanced:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1C - 1D (total = poor + poor)
-----------------------------
Pass with diamonds
1H/1S 5 cards
1NT club suit with diamond tolerance
2C club suit
1C/1H - 1S: (total = mid + poor)
-------------------------------
Pass with spades
1NT hearts with minor suit tolerance
2C/2D natural
2H to play
1C/1H/NT - 2C: (total = mid + mid)
---------------------------------
2D weak relay
2H/2S natural
2NT 5 diamonds
3C 5 clubs
>3C GF
2H 5 hearts
2S weak relay
2NT spades, GF
3H invitational
2S 5 spades
2NT weak relay
3S invitational
others GF
2NT diamonds
3C weak relay
3C clubs
3D weak relay
>3C GF natural
1H/1NT - 2H (total = mid + good)
--------------------------------
2NT hearts
others natural
