OTHER OPENING BIDS

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

3

  Splinters. Inverted raises.
2NT natural

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      

DEFENSIVE METHODS AFTER OPPONENTS OPEN

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

SLAM CONVENTIONS

Name Meaning of Responses Action over interference
Roman Key Card Blackwood 1430 5=1/4, 5=0/3, 5/=2/5 without/with trump queen. 5NT asks for lowest side-suit king. Dbl=1/4, pass=0/3, etc
Minor-suit RKCB Unless part of a competitive auction 4/ 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

2NT is natural, and cue-bid is Jacoby

Exceptions/other agreements

Over opponents' UNT, cue-bidding their suits shows support for partner or 5+ in 4th suit respectively.

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, first subsequent double by either player is take-out.
 

OTHER CONVENTIONS

Fourth-suit forcing [1 is natural]
After 1X-2Y, 2NT is game-forcing [3 asks], 3NT = flat 15/16
1NT rebid is 15-17 [2 is checkback], 2NT jump rebid is 18-19
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 may be an immediate response, opener's rebid, or an unnecessary-to-be-forcing bid at any stage.
1.2 Responding 2-minor over 1-minor is unlimited raise and denies a 4-card major. Responding 3-minor over 1-minor is weak raise, no 4-card major. Doesn't apply after interference.
1.3 Jacoby 2NT promises 4+ trump support and is forcing to game. Opener rebids 4-major if minimum. 3-new-suit as trial bid, 4-new-suit as splinter.
1.4 Minor-suit cue-bid shows at least 5-5 in the majors. Major-suit cue-bid shows at least 5-5 in other major + unspecified minor. Usually weak/strong, not intermediate, also for UNT.
1.5 If partner doubles a weak 2-bid, 2NT shows a weak hand [<8] and requests a 3 relay.
1.6 A bid of 4/ is a game-forcing bid showing at least 5-5 in the suit bid and the unbid major. Responder picks the contract or cue-bids.
1.7 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 hand.