OTHER OPENING BIDS

  HCP see Note Min length CONVENTIONAL MEANING SPECIAL RESPONSES Notes
1 9+

3

Natural or 4-3-3-3 Splinters. Fit-jumps Inverted raises.

1.1

1.2

1.3

1 9+ 4  
1 9+ 4   Jacoby 2NT
1 9+ 5  
3 bids 0+ 6 3NT = solid minor    
4 bids 0+ ¨ 7      
Openings in third seat may be stretched

DEFENSIVE METHODS AFTER OPPONENTS OPEN

Opponents Open A Natural One of a Suit CONVENTIONAL MEANING SPECIAL RESPONSES Notes
Simple overcall Usually 5+ cards Fit-jumps  
Jump overcall Pre-emptive; 3 = 2 highest unbid    
Cue bid Ghestem 2 extreme suits   1.4
1NT Direct 15-17 As 1NT  
Protective 11-14  
2NT Direct 2 lowest unbid suits   1.4
Protective 20-22 As opening 2NT  
Opponents Open With DEFENSIVE METHODS SPECIAL RESPONSES Notes
Strong 1♣ Truscott/Panama   1.5
Short 1♣/1 Treat as natural    
Weak and Strong 1NT Modified Landy: 2 =/ 2 shows = length 1.6
Weak 2 Dbl for take-out; 2NT=16-18 bal.
Leaping Michaels
2NT Lebensohl 1.7
Weak 3 Dbl for take-out    
4 bids Dbl for take-out    
Multi 2 Dbl: 13-15 or 19+; 2NT=16-18    

SLAM CONVENTIONS

Name Meaning of Responses Action over interference
Roman Key Card Blackwood [1403] 5=1/4, 5=0/3, 5/=2/5 without/with trump queen. 5NT asks for lowest king Dbl=1/4, pass=0/3, etc
Minor-suit RKCB
Major-suit RKCB
4/ is RKCB in bid suit.
Over an opening 1NT/2NT, 4-any-suit is RKCB in that suit.
 
COMPETITIVE AUCTIONS

Agreements after opening of one of a suit and overcall by opponents:

Level to which negative doubles apply

No fixed upper limit

Special meaning of bids

Fit-jumps, 2NT=natural, cue-bid=Jacoby

Exceptions/other agreements

After  UNT, lower-suit cue-bid is forcing raise, higher-suit is forcing with 4th suit

Agreements after opponents double for takeout

Redouble 9+ New suit Forcing Jump in new suit Fit-jump
Jump raise Pre-emptive 2NT Good raise Other  
Other agreements concerning doubles and redoubles:
Doubles are for take-out unless: we have a fit; we have pre-empted; we are doubling a naturally-bid NT.
After penalty double of 1NT, subsequent double by either player is take-out.
Support doubles/redoubles.. Lightner doubles.

OTHER CONVENTIONS

Fourth-suit forcing [1 is natural]
1NT rebid = 15-17 [2 is checkback, asking about range & shape]
After 1X-2Y, 2NT is game-forcing [2 asks], 3NT = flat 15/16
Unassuming cue-bids (show good raise of partner's suit or very strong hand)
Directional asking bids
 

SUPPLEMENTARY DETAILS [1]

(Please cross-reference where appropriate to the relevant part of the card and continue on back if needed)
1.1 Splinter jump shows support for partner [min 4] with typically singleton in bid suit. A splinter bid can be an immediate response, opener's rebid, or an unnecessary [to be forcing] bid at any stage of the auction.
1.2 Raising 1/ to 3/ is pre-emptive, promising 5-card support with no 4-card major. Raising 1/ to 2/ is unlimited with no 4-card major.
Does not apply over interference.
1.3 Jacoby 2NT promises 4+ trump support and is forcing to game. Opener rebids 4-major if minimum. 3-new-suit is a trial bid, 4-new-suit is a splinter.
1.4 Ghestem or UNT shows min 5-5 in specified suits, either weak or strong but not intermediate.
1.5 1-level overcall or 2 shows that suit and next higher suit. Double shows suit doubled and non-adjacent suit, 1NT shows other two non-touching suits. Jump overcall is single-suited or 3-suited.
1.6 2=both majors, 2=4-card major plus a longer minor.
1.7 If partner doubles a weak 2-bid, 2NT shows a weak hand [<8] and requests a 3 relay. 4/ is GF Leaping Michaels, showing bid suit + other major