Steve Mai EBU 109431

Mark Simpson EBU 486912

Strong Club; Mini No Trump
1 NO TRUMP OPENINGS AND NON STANDARD RESPONSES
Strength 10-12 No Singleton; No 6-card suit
Asks for 4 or 5 card Major:
Responses
2♦:4-hearts; 2♥: 4-spades; 2♠/2NT: Neither, Min/Max;
Unpassed 2♣ 3♣: Both (4-4); 3♦: 5-hearts; 3♥: 5-spades
Passed
Puppet to 2♦: (Pass: 5+ diamonds; 2♥: Both Majors)
Weak major/invitational minor (Note 10) Both Majors, Weak
2♦ Transfer to Hearts 2♥ Transfer to Spades
Range Enquiry or long weak minor Both minors
2♠ Transfer to Clubs 2NT Both Minors, weak
Other 3 Suit: Natural (GF); Games: to play
If doubled (Direct) 2 Suit: Natural; XX: 4-3-3-3; Pass: FORCING (Note 1)
If doubled (Pass Out) Opener's 2 Suit: Natural; XX: 4-3-3-3; Pass: 4-4-3-2
X:Takeout; 2NT: Balanced, game try with stopper.
If overcalled (Natural)
New suit: Competitive. NON-FORCING
If overcalled (artificial) Suit: Natural, (GF); 2NT: Both minors (GF); X: (15+) Bal

TWO LEVEL OPENINGS AND RESPONSES

Bid Meaning Responses Notes
2♦: Forcing enquiry
6+ Clubs (11-15)
2♥: (11-12); 2♠: (13-14);
OR
2♣ 3-suited hand (11-16) with
2NT: (15-16); 12
3♣: 6+ Clubs (11-13);
Singleton/Void diamond
3♦, 3♥, 3♠: 6+ Clubs (14-15)
Weak two ♥/♠ (5+ cards) 2♥: non-forcing relay.
2
2♦ (wide-ranging in 3rd seat) 2♠: Heart game invitation non-forcing.
3
OR 4-4-4-1 shape, (17-20) 2NT: Forcing relay.
4-card major (as Bid) 2NT: Forcing enquiry (3♣: min)
2♥
and 5+-card club suit. 3♣ preference non-forcing 4
2♠ 11-15 HCP Raise (or 4♣) game invitational.
3♣: 5-card Puppet Stayman;
2NT Balanced (21-22)
3♦/3♥: Transfers
ASPECTS OF SYSTEM WHICH OPPONENTS SHOULD NOTE
1♣ Opening: 16+ HCP, any distribution.
1♦ Opening: May be doubleton; May have 5 clubs
 OTHER OPENING BIDS
Min
Bid HCP SPECIAL RESPONSES Notes
length
1♣ 16+ 0 1♦: (0-7 HCP) or (8+ HCP, 4-4-4-1); Asking bids. 5, 11
2m: 5+ cards, no 4-card major. 3♦: Pre-emptive 7
1♦ 11-15 2
2NT: Balanced, Forcing; 2♥/2♠: (0-5HCP) 13
Single raise: (9 losers); Jump raise: (8 losers);
1♥
11-15 5 2NT: Good raise to 3 or more. 8
1♠
Fit Showing Jump shift 6
3 bids 6-10* 5
*Wide-ranging in 3rd seat. Weak to Intermediate in 4th seat.
4 bids 6-10* 7

DEFENSIVE METHODS AFTER OPPONENTS OPEN

ONE OF A SUIT MEANING SPECIAL RESPONSES NOTES
2NT value raise 8
Simple overcall 5+ cards, Natural, Rule of 19
Fit Jump 6
Jump overcall 5+ cards, Weak (Wide-ranging in 3rd seat). May conceal a second suit.

Cue bid Rule of 25: (Of minor) Both majors; (Of major) Both minors
Direct: 15-17 HCP
1NT Stayman, Transfers
Protective: 11-14 HCP
2NT Rule of 19: (Over minor) Both majors; (Over major) Both minors

THEY OPEN DEFENSIVE METHODS RESPONSES

1NT: Any single suit other than spades (2♣: pass/correct)
Strong 1♣ 2♣/2♦/2♥: Suit bid & higher suit; 2♠ (and higher suit bids): Natural
X: 16+ HCP Bal. (1♥: ♣; 1♠: ♦; 1NT: minors; 2♣: Stayman; 2♦/2♥: transfers)
Strong 2♣/2♦ Suits: Natural, 5+ cards, Weak to Intermediate.

Short 1♣/1♦ Treat as natural.

1 No Trump 2♣: Both majors; 2♦: Single major suit; 2♥/2♠: Suit bid + a minor
Any Range X: Penalty vs weak NT (4-card major & 5-card minor)
X: Take Out. 2NT: Lebensohl
Weak 2 SUITS: Natural, Intermediate
2NT: Balanced, 15-17 HCP, Stopper Stayman, Transfers
X: 15+ HCP, Balanced 2NT: Lebensohl
Multi 2♦ Suits: 15+ HCP, Natural
2NT: Balanced, 18-19 HCP, Stopper
X: Balanced 2NT: Lebensohl
Ekren 2♦
2♥: both minors, longer clubs 2NT: Lebensohl
2♠: both minors, longer diamonds 2NT: Lebensohl
Direct bids
2NT: both minors, equal length 3m: Weak Take Out
15+ HCP
Minor suits: Natural 3M: Stopper for NT
X: Take-out up to 4♥; Penalty, 4♠ or higher
Higher suit bids
4NT: Unusual (minors over 4♥, any two suits over 4♠)
 SLAM CONVENTIONS
Name Meaning of Responses
5♣: 0 or 3 Key Cards;
Roman Key Card 5♦: 1 or 4
Blackwood (RKCB) 5♥: 2
5♠: 2 with trump Q
Agreed suit: 0

1st step, 1 ace; Next suit up asks for cuebid.

Sidewinder
NT shows ace of relay suit
After low level suit
2nd: 2 aces; Next suit up asks which two CRO style
agreement in
1st step: 2 Same colour; 2nd: 2 Rank; 3rd: 2 Odd
game forcing auction
3 :3
rd

Suit above trumps asks for kings (agreed suit: 0)

Short Suit Ace Ask 4 of short suit asks for aces (other than that of the short suit).
Three-suited hands only 1st step: 0 aces; 2nd: 1 ace; 3rd: 2 aces; 4th: 3 aces
Action over X/XX: 0, Pass: 1 (All methods above)
interference
 OTHER CONVENTIONS
4th SUIT FORCING:
Shows values for game and asks partner for more information about his distribution.
Major Suit Feature Ask 2♣:
Asks for clarification of major suit holdings and range after a 1NT rebid by 1♦ Opener
2 level replies show 13-14 HCP, 3 level 15-16
2♦/3♦ Shows both 3-card support for Responder’s major and 4 cards in the other.
2 or 3 of Responder’s major shows 3-card support and denies 4 cards in the other.
2 or 3 of the other major denies 3-card support and shows a 4-card suit.
2NT or 3♣ denies both features
SCRAMBLE:
Bidding sequence in which we bid 4-card suits upwards to find a fit.
LEBENSOHL:
2NT shows either the values for game with a stopper in the opponent’s suit, or a
moderate hand that wishes to compete for a part score only. (Puppets to 3♣ for
pass/correct)
A direct raise to 3NT denies a stopper, Opener will Scramble if he does not have one
either.
New suits at the 3 level are game forcing.

WE OPEN AND THEY OVERCALL

Level to which negative doubles apply 4♥ or suit agreement if lower.
Special meaning of bids 2NT: value raise (Note 8)
Cue bid: Treat as strong take out
Exceptions / other agreements Fit showing jump shifts.9

WE OPEN AND THEY DOUBLE FOR TAKE-OUT

XX No 4-card fit, 9+ HCP New suit Natural, 5+ cards, non-forcing
2NT Good raise to 3 level (Note 8) Jump Shift Fit showing (Note 6)
Other agreements concerning doubles and redoubles
In competitive auctions, a double by 1NT Opener shows 4-card support for Responder’s suit.
Double asks for unusual lead against freely bid slam or No Trump game.
 WE OPEN 1♣ AND THEY DOUBLE OR OVERCALL
Pass: 0-4 HCP (over intervention up to 2♣) 0-7 HCP over anything higher
X/XX: 8+ HCP except for Impossible Negative (See below)
Jump shifts or bids at 3 Level: Impossible Negative (shortage in suit bid)

Other bids (below) are semi-positive 5-7 HCP.

After double (Clubs or values) or 1♦ (Diamonds with or without another suit)
Transfers: 1♦ (over X) or 2♦ (over 1♦)=♥; 1♥=♠; 1NT=The other minor.
1♠: Balanced (does not promise a stop) (with both majors bid 2♣)(Always ON)
1NT: Minimum with stopper.
2♣: Asks for a 4-card major.
2♦=♥; 2♥=♠; 2♠=negative
2♣: Both majors (4 or 5 cards in each suit)
2M: To Play (minimum hand)
2♦: Asks for shape
2♥/2♠: NOT USED (to keep the strong hand concealed)
2NT*: Equal length
3♣*: 5 hearts & 4 spades
3♦*: 5 spades & 4 hearts
*After any of these, 3 of a major is a game try.

After 1NT (Any meaning)

2♣: Both majors (4 or 5 cards in each suit, as above)
Transfers: 2♦=♥; 2♥=♠
2♠: Balanced (does not promise a stop) (with both majors bid 2♣)(Always ON)
2NT: Minimum with stopper.
3♣: Asks for a 4-card major.
3♦=♥; 3♥=♠; 3♠=no 4-card major
After 1M (With or without a 2nd suit) (Also over double for majors)
1♠: Balanced (same as above)
Transfers: 1NT=♣; 2♣=♦; 2♦ (over 1♠)=♥; 2♥ (over 1♥)=♠
2♠: Balanced (over 1♠)(same as above)

The step below their suit cannot be a transfer, so these show both minors (5-5)
1♥ (over X); 2♦ (over 1♥); 2♥ (over 1♠) (Acceptance rules as for transfers)

They make a single jump overcall (2♦ - 2♠):

2 of suit: natural, semi-positive
2NT: lower ranking suit, semi-positive (Puppets to 3♣ for pass/correct)
 SUPPLEMENTARY DETAILS
PASS IS FORCING. It is either strong, or weak with at least two 4-card suits.
1 Opener must bid a 5-card suit or redouble.
After a redouble, Responder will Scramble (weak), or pass (strong).
After 2♥ or 2♠, if he has a weak two Opener will pass or correct.
After 2NT he will show his suit as follows:- 3♣: transfer to hearts; 3♦: transfer to spades
2
Acceptance of transfer invites game.
Bid of next step forces game
After 2♥ or 2♠, Opener will bid the step below his short suit.
2NT for short ♣; 3♣ for ♦; etc.
After 2NT Opener bid the step below his short suit.
3
3NT for short ♣; 4♣ for ♦; etc.
*Responder may ask for the range by cue bidding Opener's short suit.
Opener bids up stepwise by two point increments:- 1 st step: 17-18 HCP; 2nd: 19-20
After 2NT Forcing relay:
3♦: 3 or 4 -card suit, 14-15 HCP
4
3 of the other major: 3-card suit, 14-15 HCP
3 same major: 2-4-2-5, 14-15 HCP
After the 1♦ relay Responder's rebids show 5-7 HCP except for:
Jump raises: 0-5 HCP, 4+card support (Law of Total Tricks).
2NT over 1 Major: 6-7 HCP with 4+ card support.
5 Single raise of minor: 6-7 HCP with 4+ card support.
Jump shift: Singleton in a 4-4-4-1 shape hand. (8+ HCP) (Impossible
Negative)
3NT: Singleton in Opener's Suit (Impossible Negative)
Jump shift (3♣ – 4♦, and 4♥ over 1♠):
6
Lead directing, pre-emptive raise with values concentrated in the shift suit
Raises of diamond openings deny a 4-card major.
Jumps are pre-emptive (up to 9 HCP)
7 Single raises 10+ HCP
Subsequent new suit bids show stoppers to explore for possible No Trump game or slam.
System ON over intervention
2NT: 3+-card support, 10+ HCP
OPENER'S REBIDS:
Jump to game: Good hand no shortages nor side suit
3m: Better than minimum, may be 3-card suit (13+ HCP)
8
3 of original major: minimum (11-12 HCP)
3 of the other major: Splinter if hearts agreed, natural if spades
4m: Splinter
System ON over intervention
 SUPPLEMENTARY DETAILS CONTINUED
After any relay, 3m is game try in a minor, 6+cards with 2 of AKQ
2♠: 3 spades & 4 hearts (3♥: To Play);
10
2NT: Both Majors (4-4), (3M: To Play)
2♥: Any other hand, (2♠: To Play)
A raise of Responder’s suit asks for number of top honours held.
Responder bids stepwise as follows: -

1st step: All of AKQ;

2nd step: 2 of AKQ;
3rd step: 1 of AKQ;
4th step: None of AKQ
11
After this Opener may ask for side suit controls by shifting to the suit he is
interested in. Responder bids stepwise according to how good his control is: -

1st step: 1st (A or void);

2nd: 2nd: (K or singleton);
3rd: 3rd round (Q or doubleton);
4th: None
After the 2♦ range enquiry, 3♦ asks for description of the short suit
3♥: small (2-Q) singleton ♦;
12 3♠: singleton K;
3NT: singleton A;
4♣: void ♦
(After 2NT)
Opener shows which minor is held (and range) or whether balanced, as follows:
3m: minimum with single suit clubs/diamonds;
13 3M: max with single suit clubs (♥) or diamonds (♠)
3NT: Balanced (13-16)
4♣: Both minors
System ON over intervention
 OPENING LEADS
(For all the card combinations shown, clearly mark the card (Hatch over this box if using non-
normally led if different from the underlined card). standard leads).

AK AKx K Q 10 KQx K J 10 K 10 9 Q J 10
v. Suit contracts

QJx J 10 x 10 x x 10 9 x 987x 10 x x x Hxx

Hxxxx
Hxxx Hxxxx xx xxx xxxx xxxxx
x

A K x (x) A J 10 x K Q 10 KQx K J 10 K 10 9 Q J 10
v. NT contracts

QJx J 10 x 10 x x 10 9 x 987x 10 x x x Hxx

Hxxx Hxxxx Hxxxx xx xxx xxxx x x x (x) x

x
Other agreements in leading, E.g high level contracts, partnership suits: -
We do not normally lead from a doubleton in an unbid suit.

CARDING METHODS
Primary method Secondary method

On Partner’s lead Low encourage Standard Count

(Reverse Attitude) High discourage McKenney

On Declarer’s lead We do not usually signal Standard Count

First: Subsequent:
When discarding
Low encourage
(Reverse Attitude) LOSERS
High discourage

Other carding agreements, including secondary methods (state when applicable) and exceptions to
above

McKenney Suit preference

The lead* or discard** of a high card asks for the higher of the other two suits; a low one, the lower.

*When leading for partner to ruff,

**To direct a switch when continuation of originally led suit is not wanted.

Revised September 2022